Upcoming Presentations

Members of Imagine!’s SmartHomes team continue to be in demand, making presentations across the country about this ambitious project and how technology can be used to improve the lives of those with developmental disabilities and related conditions. Here are a few upcoming examples:

On August 4, 2010, in Cripple Creek, CO, Imagine!’s Director of Public Relations Fred Hobbs will present: Getting Social: Why Service Organizations Need To Embrace Social Media at the Arkansas Valley Community Center Leadership Training Conference.

On October 15, 2010, in Vail, CO, Imagine!’s Director of Business Development Greg Wellems and Imagine!’s Director of Public Relations Fred Hobbs will present: SmartHomes and SmartSupports: The Future of Residential Care at the Housing Colorado Now! Conference.

On November 11, 2010, in Baltimore, MD, Imagine!’s Director of Business Development Greg Wellems will present at a session entitled: Using Technology to Create Disease Management and Community-Based Service Programs at The Open Minds 2010 Institute for Behavioral Health Informatics 6th Annual Conference on the Future of Technology in Behavioral Health.

And on December 9 and 10, in Denver, CO, SmartHomes Project Manager Sterling Wind and Imagine! Director of Public Relations Fred Hobbs will present: Using Social Media To Connect, Communicate And Network Regardless Of Ability/Disability at the TASH 35th Annual Conference entitled Embracing Difference.....It's Time!.

To see a list of past presentations by SmartHome leaders, click here.

Meet SmartHome Residents This Friday Evening!

The Millennium Harvest House in Boulder is continuing its support of the community by hosting non-profit groups during each of the 2010 FAC Rockin’ The Gardens concerts. The Millennium is located at 1345 28th Street, Boulder, CO 80302 (just south of the intersection at Arapahoe and 28th Streets, behind the Safeway).

Imagine! will be a featured non-profit at the FAC on July 23, from 5:30 – 9:30 PM. The event is free and features a performance by the Steve Thomas Band.

SmartHome residents from C.O.R.E./Labor Source art classes will be on hand, and attendees of the FAC will have opportunities to meet the residents, learn about Imagine!, and are welcome to draw and paint with the residents.

Last year, many kids who attended the concert sat side by side with Imagine! artists, creating mini masterpieces together. I’m looking forward to seeing the creative artwork I’m sure will emerge from this year’s event.

Please consider joining us!

Gerald and Donna's Honeymoon

This past May, Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome residents and lovebirds Donna and Gerald went on their long anticipated honeymoon. Check out the pictures from their trip below. If you want deets on the trip, read Donna’s May online diary entry.

Upcoming Presentation

This coming December, SmartHomes Project Manager Sterling Wind and PR guru Fred Hobbs will be presenting at the 2010 TASH Conference, the largest and most progressive international conference advancing equity, opportunity and inclusion for people with disabilities. The title of the presentation is: "Using Social Media To Connect, Communicate And Network Regardless Of Ability/Disability."

Leah at Public Speaking Class

On June 25, Charles Family SmartHome resident Leah participated in a public poetry reading at Buzz Coffee in Longmont as part of a public speaking class she is taking through Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department.

Why Our Partners Are So Important

We have talked about the importance of the collaborations we are developing as part of our SmartHomes project, partnerships that allow us to develop new technology products to increase the efficiency of service delivery. Check out this great story in the Boulder County Business Report about our relationship with CaraSolva to see just one example.

Thanks For The Support

We are so proud of our work on the SmartHomes project, be we know we couldn’t do it by ourselves. The support we get from our community is tremendous. For instance, we wanted to take a moment to thank the Longmont Community Foundation, which recently provided a couple of grants to help out with the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont.

The Steven Holmes Fund of the Longmont Community Foundation provided a $500 grant in support of the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont.

In addition, the Longmont Community Foundation provided another $540 grant for the Charles Family SmartHome.

To see a list of all of this project’s generous supporters, click here.

Mandy at Public Speaking Class

On June 25, Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Mandy participated in a public poetry reading at Buzz Coffee in Longmont as part of a public speaking class she is taking through Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department.

Check Out The Imagine! Foundation Blog

The Imagine! Foundation, responsible for the great fundraising efforts surrounding the SmartHomes, has launched a blog to keep donors, consumers and their families, colleagues, and friends up to date on recent donations, grants we've received, programs we're involved in, and the people who make the Foundation work. Take a look!

Meet Charles Family SmartHome Resident Loren

Loren is happy-go-lucky young man. Loren goes to CORE four days a week and talks about his favorite staff often. When at home he likes to hang out with his housemates and staff, but he is a huge music fan and spends a lot of time with his much loved CD’s. Loren loves to go out for coffee or lunch and especially enjoys it when his mom can join him. Loren is looking forward to the technology at the Smart Home that will allow him to call his mom independently.

See pcitures of Loren at the Charles Family SmartHome dedication here.

Rae Self Portrait

Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Rae recently painted a self portrait. Nice work, Rae!

Donna's Diary - June

Have you seen Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Donna's latest online diary entry? If not, check it out below to find out how the Boulder residents celebrated their roomate Mandy's birthday - fun stuff!

And see all of Donna's diary entries here.

Photo courtesy of Ann Boettcher from Annieb’ Photography

I just got back from Target where I was buying some new clothes. I used my personal needs money for shopping. I like to put the money I earn from my job in the bank. I have direct deposit which helps me to save money, and that way it’s there when I need it.

A couple weeks ago we had a big birthday barbecue party for Mandy. A lot of us wore homemade tie dye t-shirts because we knew that would make Mandy happy. She is a sweetheart and we are both happy to be housemates.

Since Gerald and I got back from our honeymoon, we’ve been hanging around the house a lot since we spent a lot of money. It’s a good trade off though, and it was worth it. Today Gerald and I took a stroll around the neighborhood near the iris gardens. Even though it’s hot, I love the summer time and the heat. I do better in the heat than I do in the cold. Some people are polar bears and like the winter, but I’m one of those who likes to “hibernate” in the winter. In the summer I’m out all over the place enjoying the warmth.

Gerald just got his motorized chair back and boy is he glad. It had been in the shop for two weeks for repairs. He missed his independence and is really happy to have it back. He’s the same way I am when my chair breaks down. Things are great though, and now I’m going outside to enjoy some of that summer warmth.

Meet Charles Family SmartHome Resident Wes

Wesley loves listening to KOOL 105, swimming and going contra-dancing. Wesley is considered a pioneer for technology here at Imagine!. He has been utilizing a DynaVox, an augmentative speaking device, since he was a teenager and is a master with environmental controls. Wesley is looking forward to being able to expand his independence through the new technologies offered at the Charles Family Smart Home.

See pictures of Wes at the Charles Family SmartHome dedication here.