Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

Last Thursday, Shawn Criscito, from Pennsylvania’s McGuire Memorial, which provides comprehensive services to people with developmental and physical disabilities, toured Imagine!’s Charles Family SmartHome. At McGuire Memorial, almost every individual served has their own iPad, as well as their own Apple TV. They are also utilizing devices like the eye-gaze Tobii/Dynavox i15, other touch Dynavox devices, Switchamajig, Powerlink, and wired and Bluetooth switches. The tour gave Shawn, SmartHomes guru Greg Wellems, and Imagine! Technology Architect Chris Baumgart the opportunity to share ideas, lessons learned, and discuss what’s next in the world of technology and services for individuals with a variety of disabilities.

Technology Tuesday

For today’s Technology Tuesday, we thought we’d share a picture of Imagine! Charles Family SmartHome resident Toby using a button to control a YouTube video of a Denver Broncos game through a USB interface switch during an Imagine! CORE/Labor Source Communication Class. Way to go Toby!

Teaching A Therapy Dog New Tricks

Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome residents have a volunteer therapy dog named Piper come once a week on Thursdays to visit. The residents love teaching Piper the Therapy Dog new tricks. Lana recently taught Piper how to dance! Thanks to Site Supervisor Shannon Bundy for sharing the picture below.

Support The Innovations Fall Formal

Imagine!’s Innovations department (which oversees Imagine!'s SmartHomes) is hosting a crowdfunding campaign for its Second Annual Innovations Fall Formal! The Innovations team hopes to raise $1,500.00 to create a festive event that is as spectacular and memorable as the individuals served by Imagine!.

The Fall Formal, scheduled for October 23, is a celebration for all of the individuals who receive services from Innovations. It promises to be a fun and social atmosphere full of dancing, friends, and community, and YOU can make it happen!

Your gifts will pay for a live band, a photo booth, nutritious snacks, and masquerade-themed decorations. Check out the video below to learn more, and then please consider clicking here to donate. Please feel free to share with your friends and loved ones!

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Thank you for helping us make this the best formal event ever!

Technology Tuesday

Imagine! is participating in a pilot project testing WaiverMarket.com to see if it offers a way for individuals and families to research provider agencies and the services they provide.

Rather than write a long description of the project, I thought I’d use technology and create a short video explaining what we’re doing, and what we hope to achieve. Enjoy!

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Mandy and Stacy Show Off Their Acting Chops

Yesterday Mandy, who lives in the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome, and Stacy, who lives in the Charles Family SmartHome, participated in the filming of a video for the Longmont Department of Public Safety. The video will be about accessible parking spaces and the importance of citizens respecting those spaces and leaving them open for those who really need to use them.

You can see them in the pictures below with Brian, who is directing the video.

We’re not sure if there is a category in the Academy Awards for local Public Service Videos, but if so, we’re voting for Mandy and Stacy for “Best Actresses.”

Technology Tuesday

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has proclaimed the week of September 14-18 as Direct Support Professionals (DSP) Week. DSPs are the heart and soul of Imagine!, and we are so grateful for their dedication to our mission and the people we serve.

So for today’s Technology Tuesday post, we’d like to invite you to revisit some previous Technology Tuesdays featuring DSPs associated with Imagine! who have used technology in ways that improve the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Below is a short video featuring Imagine! Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Johnny and Site Supervisor Shannon Bundy sharing how they are using an iPad app to overcome language barriers and communicate effectively.

Can’t see the video? Click here. 

Check out another video about using technology to improve communication, featuring Alicia Nelson and her friend Tommy.
  Can’t see the video? Click here. 

Kelly Faus used technology in a variety of ways to open the doors to musical expression for individuals in Imagine! CORE/labor Source classes. Below, enjoy an original video the students created for a song they wrote themselves.

Can’t see the video? Click here. 

These are just a few examples of how Imagine! DSPs have embraced technology as a way to enhance services. There are plenty more - every day DSPs are making a huge difference in the lives of those withe cognitive challenges. So if you see an Imagine! DSP this week (or any DSP, for that matter), please pat them on the back, give them a high five, or just say “thanks.”

Celebrating DSPs

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has proclaimed the week of September 14-18 as Direct Support Professionals (DSP) Week. DSPs are the heart and soul of Imagine! and our SmartHomes, and we are so grateful for their dedication to our mission and the people we serve. If you see an Imagine! DSP this week, please pat them on the back, give them a high five, or just say “thanks.”

John Enjoys Sunshine On His Shoulders

Last Saturday, Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident John and staff member Margaret Kuwata took a trip to Estes Park to see a John Denver Tribute concert. John said his favorite part was when they sang the song, "Sunshine on My Shoulders.” The pictures seem to indicate that John and Margaret were on a Rocky Mountain High the whole time!

Toby Tackles Broncos 7K

Charles Family SmartHome resident Toby and his good friends Donna and Gerald participated in the Broncos 7K Run/Walk on Sunday. Looks like they had a great time!

Technology Tuesday

Today I’d like to tell you about Telematics.

Telematics refers to the use of wireless devices and “black box” technologies to transmit data in real time back to an organization. Typically, it's used in the context of automobiles, whereby installed or after-factory boxes collect and transmit data on vehicle use, maintenance requirements or automotive servicing.

You may not be aware of this fact, but Imagine! has a rather large fleet of vehicles that we use to transport the individuals we serve to the various activities, like to job sites, or activities in the communities, or to medical appointments.

Our fleet is vital to our success, and we are embarking on a pilot project to test Telematics to identify how best to utilize those assets. It will also help determine which vehicles should be replaced and when.

We are starting the pilot out this month with a demo, which will include five vehicles from our CORE/Labor Source and Out & About departments. During this time, we will have a chance to test the product as well as familiarize ourselves with the program. If all goes well, we’ll place an additional 40 vehicles on the plan within these two groups. At the end of the first year we’ll determine the value of adding other parts of the fleet.

How It Will Work 
GPS units will be linked to each vehicle’s own computer. This provides live vehicle location (tracked on the web via computer or smart phone), as well as vehicle diagnostics, such as fuel consumption, speed/direction of travel/routes and stops, idle-time, etc.

Each department will be able to track their own specific fleet as well as see the entire Imagine! fleet for comparison purposes. Detailed data reporting in regards to specific vehicles or the whole fleet will be used to benchmark opportunities for improvements.

Results 
We are hoping to achieve/improve on the following:

Safety

• vehicles and their occupants will be visible 24/7 to supervisors. This is especially important during bad weather days or in the event of a breakdown 
• companies using Telematics report a reduction in their accident rates 
• this program comes with free 24/7 roadside services available to enrolled vehicles 
• vehicle alerts when seatbelts are not in use while moving 

Fuel Savings

• by monitoring idle times, monitoring driving habits (speeding, fast acceleration, harsh braking), and monitoring each vehicle's fuel efficiency 
• improved dispatching/routing leading to fewer miles traveled 

Maintenance 

• automated service alerts (oil changes, safety inspections, etc.) will help ensure services are done in a timely fashion 
• all Department of Transportation safety recall notices will be sent automatically 
• engine trouble codes will be transmitted for proactive mechanical attention 

We’re excited to embark on this project. Whenever we are able to be more efficient with the logistics of our work, it means we can focus more energy and resources on delivering great services and opening doors to community participation among individuals with intellectual disabilities.

A Night At 3 Margaritas

The Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome crew went out to dinner last weekend to their favorite place: 3 Margaritas! Rebecca was excited to get to wear a sombrero and Johnny very much enjoyed his dinner. Staff said it was a fun casual, night out. Thanks to Site Supervisor Shannon Bundy for sharing these pics!

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!

This edition of Chris’s Corner takes us to a Balanced Living class at the Boulder Hub of Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department. As we saw in the previous edition of Chris’s Corner, people are in full swing using iPads as communication devices. If you didn’t see that post, you can check it out here.

Today I’d like to show you another method of using these iPads for communication. Many people have challenges using a touch screen for communication, especially when it comes to fine motor control, and discriminating between several buttons on a screen. One of the work-arounds that we’ve begun implementing in Balanced Living is employing a separate iOS device as an individual switch.

It works like this: If the iPad you’re using is equipped with the GoTalkNow, and is connected to a WiFi network, a separate iOS device (for ease of access, a smaller device, such as an iPad mini, an iPhone, or an iPod Touch works best) can be equipped with the Attainment Switch app, and then you will be prompted to connect with the desired iPad, and voilà! You have a switch accessible iPad that can be customized to suit the user’s needs. Suddenly you have an accessible communication device without the hefty communication device price tag. Check out the pictures below!

That’s all for this week’s Corner! Stayed tuned for another edition!