Happy Halloween!

Check Out The Latest SmartHome Newsletter

Imagine!’s latest SmartHome newsletter is available online.

Check it out here.

SmartHome Halloween Party

Residents from both of Imagine!’s SmartHomes gathered this weekend for a Halloween party – a truly spooktacular event!

Anthony shares a happy moment with Mario.

Toby was ready to call a penalty if anyone stepped out of bounds.

Shelly celebrates breaking out of jail.

Loren was a spooky ghost!

John's sweater was perfectly in the spirit of the event.

Rebecca's ghoulish costume brought shivers to the party attendees.

Officer Gerald was there to keep the peace.

Dr. Wes was in the house.

Shelly Painting

Assistive technology doesn’t always mean the latest, greatest high tech equipment. Sometimes it can be the simplest of things. In the pictures below, Shelly, who lives in the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont, uses a wooden dowel attached to a paintbrush to show her creative side. Without the dowel/paintbrush combo, Shelly wouldn’t be able to reach the canvas. That small adaptation has opened up whole new worlds of opportunity for Shelly.

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

Yesterday, more than 60 attendees of the ASSETS 2012 Conference on Computers and Accessibility took a tour of the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder.

The 14th ASSETS conference explored the design, evaluation, and use of computing and information technologies to benefit people with disabilities and older adults. ASSETS is the premier forum for presenting innovative research on mainstream and specialized assistive technologies, accessible computing, and assistive applications of computer, network, and information technologies.

Many of those attending the tour came from universities across the country and even across the world, including DePaul University, Washington State University, the University of Tampere (in Finland), the University of Maryland, and the National Taiwan University.

By all accounts, the tour was a success, and great information was shared back and forth.

Anthony and Loren At The Pumpkin Patch

The weather is supposed to get colder today in Colorado. Good thing Anthony and Loren, who live in the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont, have already made their trip to the pumpkin patch!

Rebecca's Birthday Party

Enjoy these photos from Rebecca’s birthday party at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder.

The birthday princess enjoyed the entire evening

(from left). Rebecca with friends Gerald and John.

Donna gave us a sneak preview of her Halloween Viking costume.

John got a kick out of having his picture taken through the Halloween cob webs in the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome living room.

Mandy enjoys an arm rub and kind words from her friend Donna.

Rebecca gives her butterfly piñata a good whack.

You can see a chunk taken out of the upper right of the piñata.

Lana Plans On Voting

This photo was taken recently when Lana, who lives at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome, attended a live webcast at Imagine! of the National Forum on Disability Issues, an historic nonpartisan event, focusing on the disability positions of the 2012 Presidential candidates. Here’s what she had to say afterward on the Imagine! Voices blog:

"The voting meeting went really good. I learned a lot, and I will be voting."

 

Rae's Painting

Look at this lovely painting by Rae, who lives in the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder. She painted it for her niece’s brithday present.

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

Touring the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont today: 14 representatives from the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).

Across Colorado, too many workers with proven skills are currently left out of the workplace. As Colorado's leading placement organization for people with disabilities, DVR is working to change this by bridging talent and ability so companies and employees succeed.

We look forward to sharing with them what we’ve learned about technology and how it can assist in  allowing individuals with a variety of disabilities find and maintain meaningful employment.

 

Happy Birthday, Rebecca!

Wishing the happiest of birthdays today to Rebecca, who lives in the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder.  Make it a great one, Rebecca!

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

Scheduled to tour the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome tomorrow: Curtis Slater, Research Coordinator for Vecova.

Operating since 1969, Vecova is an accredited, non-profit society and a registered charity. We provide a wide range of supports and services for individuals with developmental disabilities and diverse needs. Vecova is an affiliate Research Institute of the University of Calgary. Our Research Services have garnered a national reputation for producing accessible, practical research that is responsive to the needs of the disabilities sector.

Welcome, Curtis!

Chris Loves Living In The SmartHome

Today, let’s let Chris (who lives in the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome) do the talking:

“I love living in the SmartHome. When I first moved in here, I didn’t know what to do with any of the computer stuff. Now I find videos on the internet, play games, send audio emails, and listen to music, especially country and rap. I really do love this place.”

Rebecca Is Working Hard To Improve Her Health

Here’s a fun video of Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Rebecca walking without using her walker. As part of a plan to improve her health Rebecca has been getting encouragement from staff and others to use her walker properly and even to walk without it. This has really improved her strength and she has been regularly walking short distances without her walker. It has been great to see how motivated Rebecca has been!



Can’t see the video? Click here.

Technology Assisting Employment

The latest edition of ANCOR LINKS, the newsletter for the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) is dedicated to National Disability Employment month, and there’s a great story about a young lady served by Imagine! who is using technology to develop lasting job skills.

 We thought we’d share the story on our blog as well. Enjoy:

When people ask Tom Riley about his job, his response often surprises people. "My job is to work myself out of a job,” Tom says. Tom is director of Colorado-based Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department, which has been providing innovative supported employment solutions for people with disabilities and the businesses that employ them since 1984. Tom’s comment reflects a passion for the importance of work, and the belief that a diverse workforce strengthens society.

Tom sees his role as more than someone who assists individuals with disabilities in finding meaningful employment. He also sees himself as a sort of facilitator, helping members of the community at large in understanding what kind of supports they can provide to help individuals with disabilities become more independent and successful. If Tom can be successful in educating the community, his job of having to teach people employment skills will eventually disappear.

Technology is taking Tom’s dream of working himself out of a job one step closer to reality, and Kendra’s story shows why.

As part of her services through CORE/Labor Source, Kendra is participating in a Project SEARCH program in Boulder, Colorado. Project SEARCH is a national program that provides real-life work experience to help youth with significant disabilities make successful transitions from school to adult life. The focus of the program is on helping participants gain work experiences which will prepare them for lifelong employment and independence.

Kendra’s task on the day we visited her was to assemble marketing packets for Boulder Community Hospital. A task prompter on her smart phone offered simple, step-by-step guidance through the job activity

Even with the support and resources of the Project SEARCH team, Kendra still faces challenges in maintaining successful employment. She is currently serving an internship at Boulder Community Hospital, but like many of us, Kendra sometimes struggles to stay focused on her responsibilities.

This is where technology comes in. Kendra has been equipped with a smart phone (which she has named “Lucky”) containing software that provides task prompting for her job duties. When Kendra loses focus or is unsure of her next steps, the task prompter is right there to offer simple, step-by-step guidance through complex job activities.

Kendra shows the screen of her smart phone, which prompts her on her next job tasks

Using the task prompting system has opened a new world of possibilities for Kendra. In years past, she would have required the constant attention of a job coach or a Direct Support Professional in order to maintain any kind of employment. The time and resources needed to support individuals with needs similar to Kendra’s would have likely been a barrier to her ever getting and keeping a job. Now, as she becomes more skilled at using her task prompter, she is becoming more independent and more capable of fulfilling her job responsibilities with a decreasing amount of supervision.


Kendra uses her hand held task prompter, which she has nicknamed “Lucky,” to guide her through her work

The task prompting software is enabling Kendra to become a contributing member of her community, paying taxes and spending her hard earned money at local shops and restaurants. But the benefits of this technology don’t end with individuals like Kendra. It also makes it much easier for businesses to hire, and retain, individuals with disabilities. Something as simple as a hand held task prompter eliminates many of the barriers that have prevented businesses from using this extensive labor pool in the past, and other technologies that address other barriers that have historically limited employment opportunities for people with disabilities seem to be cropping up almost every day. The possibilities seem almost limitless.

Donna’s Job Has Some Great Benefits

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. So today, we’d like to share this great picture of Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Donna taken at her job at In Clover. Donna is sharing the love with Floyd and Henry after a productive day. Looks like a pretty great place to work!

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

Touring Imagine!’s Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont last week: Sandra Ackler, Program Director for Pennsylvania-based Lynch Services.

Lana Working At The Sink

Check out this picture of Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Lana working at The Sink in Boulder. "She works hard and the quality of her work is always awesome!" Way to go, Lana!

John Is Working Hard At His Jobs

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident John shared this about his jobs via audio email for a recent Imagine! Voices blog post:

“Hi, this is your friend John speaking. I am working really hard at the Hungry Toad and Timberline, and I want to tell you that. Here’s a good joke. ‘What did the fish say when he ran into the wall? Dam.’ I hope you know that.”

In The News

As you may know, one of Imagine!’s main goals is to get technology into the hands of families and individuals so they can develop skills and tools needed to perform tasks more independently and better engage in their communities.

Our SmartHomes project is one example. Here’s another:

Check out this great story from today’s Broomfield Enterprise about Imagine!’s Family Support grants and how they are sometimes being used to purchase technology to improve the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities. One family highlighted in the story used the funds to purchase an iPad to help their son learn and communicate.

Rebecca Talks About Her Jobs

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Many of the residents living at Imagine!’s SmartHomes are gainfully employed, working hard and paying taxes.

Rebecca, who lives in the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome, used the Imagine! Voices blog to say this about her jobs and what she uses her wages for:

"I am still working two jobs, polishing and rolling silverware at both Rock Bottom Restaurant and the Chophouse in Boulder. I am saving money from my paychecks to take a trip to Richmond, Virginia to visit my aunt and uncle."

Many companies throughout Boulder and Broomfield counties hire individuals served by Imagine!. Click here to see a list of those businesses, and we encourage you to visit them and say “thank you.”

We'll Miss You, Sarah

It is with the greatest sadness that we share today that Sarah, who lived in the Charles Family SmartHome, passed away Saturday, Sept. 29th, 2012, at her mother's home. Sarah had a dazzling smile, a twinkle in her eye, and a zest for life that was inspiring to her housemates, the staff at the SmartHome, and the community at large. She was greatly loved and will be greatly missed. Rest in Peace, Sarah.

There will be a viewing for Sarah's friends and family who want to see her to say goodbye at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, 326 Terry Street, Longmont, CO 80501 on Wed. from 6-8 p.m., after which she will be cremated. A celebration of her life (she would want a big party) will take place on Thursday at 1:00 at Westview Presbyterian Church, 1500 Hover St, Longmont, CO 80501, followed by a reception of chocolate milk, PB & J sandwiches, and cake. Memorial contributions may be made to the Imagine! Foundation.

SmartHome Residents Attend National Forum on Disability Issues Webcast

On Friday, Imagine!'s Innovations department hosted a live webcast of the National Forum on Disability Issues (NFDI).

NFDI is a non-partisan, collaborative effort and the only national campaign event to focus specifically on disability issues. The forum offered the 2012 presidential candidates a platform to present their policy positions on disability issues directly to the disability community.

Approximately 30 Imagine! consumers, employees, and other community members attended the webcast. There was an opportunity for people to check their voter registration status and to register to vote.

Residents of the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome were there, and made it clear that their voices matter in this upcoming election.