Kain Forecasts the Weather and Future Success

Kain Darby, who is graduating from high school next month, is taking active steps to become a meteorologist. He visits the WETM news station in Elmira every 3 to 6 months to practice presenting weather forecasts. Kain has been shadowing and participating in activities with a meteorologist at the station for almost four years. Recently, the station recorded a video to show the progress he has made with weather reporting.

“Since the day I met him, Kain Darby has wanted to be a meteorologist,” says Jennifer Chissom, a Care Coordinator at Person Centered Services. Jennifer has worked with Kain for almost two years, helping connect the young man to community opportunities and resources. During this time, she has watched him grow toward his career interests.

“I want to thank everyone for supporting me,” says Kain. “Ever since I can remember I’ve been interested in weather. I like the extremeness – snow and thunderstorms especially interest me.”

Care Coordination at Person Centered Services is a major source of support for Kain as he pursues his goals. Jennifer helped Kain obtain Medicaid so he can access services through the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. She is also assisting Kain and his family with the transition out of high school and into college.

Recently, Jennifer wrote Kain a letter of reference for a scholarship. He hopes to attend SUNY Oswego after completing an Associate’s degree at Corning Community College. While in college, Kain plans to major in his favorite subject — meteorology.

“My role in Kain’s life has been to help him identify what skills he would like to learn to become independent at college, in the community and at home,” says Jennifer. “Kain and his family are a pleasure to work with and I am grateful to be part of their lives.”

“Jennifer has been wonderful,” says Don, Kain’s father. “There are a lot of non-standard services she has gone out of the way to get for us. We haven’t come up with an issue she hasn’t helped us weave our way through.”

Person Centered Services will continue to support Kain while he enters the next phase of his life and gains the knowledge and experience he needs to become a meteorologist. It will be exciting to see where the future takes him as he teaches us all more about the weather!

Watch Kain report the weather below: