Check Out The Latest SmartHomes Newsletter

Imagine!’s latest SmartHomes newsletter is available online. Check it out here. 

Presentable

 

Imagine!’s SmartHomes guru Greg Wellems will be presenting tomorrow at the Pennsylvania Provider Alliance’s monthly meeting. Greg will be discussing “Developing Technology as a Core Service.” The Pennsylvania Provider Alliance has 57 provider members, providing all types of residential, in-home, day, employment and clinical services throughout PA. They are interested in using technology more effectively to provide supports, and assisting the individuals who they serve to use technology to experience increased independence in the community. Who better to provide that kind of input than Greg?

SmartHome Garage Sale Aug. 15-16

Residents at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome, located at 1806 Iris Avenue in Boulder, are having a garage sale on Saturday, August 15, and Sunday, August 16. The sale is from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm on both days. The residents have been going through their personal belongings to see what they’d like to sell. Some of the items that will be for sale are: movies, books, furniture, clothes, electronics, and home décor. Please try to stop by, and even if you don’t purchase anything, you can pretty much count on being greeted with enthusiasm by the friendly residents (like Rebecca, pictured below).

Technology Tuesday

This week’s Technology Tuesday is another exciting edition of “Chris’s Corner,” featuring a communicative update from Chris Baumgart, Imagine!’s Assistive Technology Specialist. 

Chris’s Corner 

Welcome back, Fellow Corner-ians!

In this installment of The Corner takes us over to the communication lab at Imagine!’s Boulder CORE/Labor Source site, where participants are using iPads as communication devices.

As you may or may not know, there are many options available for individuals requiring assistance to communicate, and different devices have different advantages. Many of these devices, however, carry an extremely hefty price tag, and the process to acquire one typically requires a lengthy approval process through a major insurer. For the participants in this communication lab, some of whom are in various stages of this process, an interim solution has been devised. Participants are using iPads in the classroom setting to relay anything from the days of the week, or the weather, or how they are feeling at the moment, to participating in group gameplay. Here are a couple of photos of this in action!

Now, as all of you sophisticated tablet and touch-screen users know all too well, not all buttons, icons, and text fields are created equal. The simple act of touching a touch screen does not equate to communicating, so this communication lab is also working on the art of discrimination. In other words, the art of pressing the correct button to ensure that something happens. The importance of this cannot be overstated. When someone is communicating how he or she may be feeling at a given time, or communicating a choice that he or she may have, it’s important that the participant is actively selecting the icon or button that realistically communicates that choice, rather than pressing any old button on the screen to do the trick. To that end, a few of the activities for this communication lab are dedicated to just that purpose. Each screen presented to a client during this activity has a number of buttons. One button serves an active purpose, be it a video of an animal making its signature sound in the case of the Animal Safari, or playing a section of a music video that participants enjoy watching. Any number of additional buttons may be present for an individual, each of which is a ‘null’ button that does not have an action associated with it.

Note above the two buttons, one with an icon, the other without. Only one serves a function. And below is Cari on Animal Safari.

In this way, participants learn to discern the buttons or icons that more correctly represent the thought, feeling, or choice that he or she would like to communicate, thus adding another tool to his or her communication tool box.

Stay tuned for more, corner-ians!

A Trip To The Zoo

Recently, Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome staff members Ian griffin and Max Gatz took the whole house to the Denver Zoo. Numerous jokes were made about the monkeys, and the penguins, bears, and peacocks were listed as the favorites among the residents. Thanks to Site Supervisor Shannon Bundy for sharing the pictures!

SmartHome Residents Fly Like An Eagle With Steve Miller

The Smart/Santa Fe group had a blast at the Steve Miller Band concert last night at Red Rocks. Imagine!’s Santa Fe home residents Donna and Gerald joined their good friends and former housemates, Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome residents Rebecca and John, for a rockin’ night full of good tunes and dancing. All reports were that they had a great time, but no word on if they took the money and ran. Thanks to Ian Griffin, Sarah Fenton, and Haylee Boggs for helping out!

Rebecca was worn out after the show!

Mandy's Art

Here’s a fun picture of Mandy, who lives in Imagine!’s Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome, posing in front of some of her original artwork at last Friday’s Imagine! CORE/Labor Source Art Show and Performance, held at the Diary Center for the Arts in Boulder.

Technology Tuesday

This week’s Technology Tuesday brings another episode of Leah’s Apartment.

Leah, a young woman with intellectual disabilities, is sharing the story of her work towards a more independent life, facilitated by Imagine! using low and high-tech solutions, through a series of webisodes titled “Leah’s Apartment.” Here’s Episode Three – Leah using the induction stove to cook a meal independently.
  Can’t see the video? Click here.

A Spoonful Of Sugar

Last Saturday, Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome residents Mandy and Lana went to see the play "Mary Poppins" at the Boulder Dinner Theater. They said they enjoyed it very much and Mandy's favorite part was the music and dancing and the singing. Thanks to Site Supervisor Shannon Bundy for sharing the pics!

Registration Open For 2015 ANCOR & AAIDD Technology Summit & Showcase

Registration is open for the 2015 ANCOR & AAIDD Technology Summit & Showcase, scheduled for October 16th near Denver, Colorado, immediately following the annual Coleman Institute 15th Annual Conference: Inequality and the Rights of People with Cognitive Disabilities to Technology and Information Access, and will be held in the same hotel. Participants must register separately for each event they plan to attend.

What to Expect?
Plenary sessions, cutting edge concurrent sessions on technology issues in disability supports, and networking with colleagues. The 2015 Technology Showcase will feature vendors who can support your back-office infrastructure needs, equip your staff with tools they need and help you get to more person-centered supports with the help of technology.

Three plenary sessions will address funding strategies for delivering technology supports, the growing use of wearable technology, and new technology-based assessment tools.

Six in-depth concurrent sessions will focus on smart homes, legality and ethics of remote monitoring, low tech solutions, operationalizing technology in organizations, and a two-part discussion for service providers on solutions to common technology challenges.

Who Should Attend?
There is something for everyone at the 2015 Technology Summit and Showcase – whether you’re already using cutting edge technology in your organization or just getting started.

More information here.

Technology Tuesday

Check out this article from our friends at DirectCourse (who create online curricula designed to help those who support the needs of others build more rewarding careers) about Imagine!’s Technology Architect Alex Andrews being honored as ANCOR’s National Direct Support Professional of the Year.

Work At The SmartHome!

Are you looking for a career with meaning? Imagine! is a progressive, statewide leader in services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our services are community-based and mission driven. We value creativity, innovation and teamwork. Our employees enjoy flexible work schedules, comfortable work environments, great benefits, as well as challenging and valuable work with friendly, supportive co-workers. We offer comprehensive orientation, training, and opportunities for professional development. Right now, Imagine! has an opening for a Primary Direct Care Provider at the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont. Check out the video below to learn more about working at Imagine!, then click here to learn more.
  Can’t see the video? Click here.

Summer Concert At The SmartHome

Today we’d like to give a shout out and thank you to Stephen Beal. Stephen put on a classical concert last week at the Charles Family SmartHome as part of the “Innovations Summer Concert Series.” Charles Family SmartHome supervisor Russ Christiansen has organized this opportunity for local musicians to bring music to the individuals at many of Imagine!’s group homes over several weeks during the summer months. Stephen's concert at the Charles Family SmartHome was a huge hit, and we so appreciate his willingness to share his time and talent!

Apple To Restore Full Function To Aida Reminder

We’ve spoken several times on this blog about “Kara’s Own Voice,” a campaign to convince Apple to restore functionality to Aida Reminder, a voice reminder app. Well, we’re excited to share that Apple has confirmed that the release of iOS 9 in September will bring back the full function of the Aida app and other voice prompting apps!

Check out this article to learn more.

Volunteer Takes Toby And Stacey Out To The Ballgame(s)

Today we’d like to give a big shout out to Kayla Rockwell, who has been volunteering with Charles Family SmartHome residents Toby and Stacey to offer one on one softball support so that they may participate in the Longmont SCOPE (Longmont Recreation Services' therapeutic recreation program committed to providing recreational programs and activities for people of all abilities) softball league this summer. Kayla volunteers each week for the hour long games and has been a great help out on the field! Thanks to Site Supervisor Russ Christiansen for sharing this story and the pictures below.

Technology Tuesday

This week’s Tech Tuesday brings another edition of “AppAbility” – where Imagine!’s Technology Architect Alex Andrews provides short instructional videos and reviews of apps that may be beneficial for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities or related conditions. Today's episode: a demonstration of Time Timer.

Can’t see the video? Click here. 

Fireworks At Folsom For The Fourth

On Saturday night, Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome Staff member Kevin Gray took Rebecca and Johnny to see the fireworks at the University of Colorado’s Folsom Field. By all reports, they had a great time!

Happy Fourth Of July

Happy Fourth of July from John and Rebecca, who live in Imagine!’s Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome.

Annual CORE/Labor Source Art Show And Performance Set For July 17

Since 2008, Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source (CLS) program has held an annual celebration at the Dairy Center for the Arts in Boulder, where artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities share their artistic expressions. This year’s theme for the live performances and exhibits is “originality,” and consists of original compositions of choreography, poetry, song, and original interpretations of well-loved works that many will recognize. You might even catch a few of the residents of Imagine!’s SmartHomes joining in on the fun! We are all very excited, and cannot wait to enjoy the artistic expressions that await us on July 17.

The CLS art show begins at 6:00 PM, and the live performances begin at 7:00 PM. We hope that we will see you there!
  Can’t see the video? Click here.