SmartHome Staffer Shares His Thoughts

We mentioned a couple of days ago that Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Gerald presented longtime Imagine! supporter Todd Saliman with an original painting. Gerald attended the event with SmartHome staff member Richard Lowe. Afterward, Richard sent the email below. Thanks for sharing, Richard!

I dropped Gerald off last night after he had presented one of his paintings in thanks to a Colorado lobbyist who is advocating for Imagine! state funding. Most of the SmartHome consumers were in the living room, and when we told them where we’d been, they applauded. Literally applauded; everybody was so happy for Gerald, who beamed like only Gerald can. Rebecca smiled and raised both hands above her head for high-fives when she told me that she had a new job. John told me about loving his job. Lana said that she was having a meeting this Friday for getting a job. Chris has worked at Imagine!’s Dixon Building for years now. Donna loves working at In Clover.

What impressed me was the excitement and pride each consumer expressed when they spoke of their jobs. Working is a very significant step for CORE/Labor Source consumers. Through work they graduate from being solely recipients of services, to participants in the creation of value, and this positively affects their self-esteem in obvious ways. Through work they are developing a stronger sense of “I CAN!,” which is bound to spill over into other areas of their lives.

It’s what we’re doing at Imagine!: Creating and providing innovative supports . . . so that people who have disabilities can lead fulfilling lives of independence and quality.