Technology Tuesday

Here’s another example of how Imagine! uses video making tools such as GoAnimate to share information with our stakeholders in interesting and easy to understand ways – a video created by our Family Support team to explain Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Medicare, and the Waiver system.
  Can’t see the video? Click here.

Video Thank You To Jensen Guitar Company and The Willow River Music Emporium

On Wednesday, we told you how Jensen Guitar Company and The Willow River Music Emporium made a generous donation of a guitar to Imagine!’s Charles Family SmartHome as part of their "Gift of Music" Giveaway program. Music is a staple at the Charles Family SmartHome, and the new guitar will be a great addition. The residents made a special “Thank You” video just for the good folks at Jensen Guitar Company and The Willow River Music. Enjoy!

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

Touring Imagine!’s Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont earlier this week: representatives from Atlantis Community. Located in Denver, Colorado, Atlantis Community, Inc. has operated an Independent Living Center for over 40 years. Atlantis Community supports the right of people with disabilities to take control over their own lives with full and informed consent, primarily by providing a variety of consumer-directed services—from advocacy to education to transitioning people out of nursing homes and into their very own apartments. They are doing building some new affordable housing units, some of which will be for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and were touring the home to share ideas, ask questions, and discover lessons learned from our SmartHome experiences.

Thank You, Jensen Guitar Company and The Willow River Music Emporium

Today we’d like to offer our thanks to Jensen Guitar Company and The Willow River Music Emporium for their generous donation of a guitar to the Charles Family SmartHome as part of their "Gift of Music" Giveaway program. Music is a staple at the Charles Family SmartHome, and the new guitar will be a great addition. It's so heartwarming when a small local business gives back so generously, and we are most appreciative. Pictured below is Charles Family SmartHome Site Supervisor Russ Christiansen picking up (and picking) the guitar.

Technology Tuesday

For today’s Technology Tuesday, we’d like to offer our sincere thanks to the Safeway Foundation for a grant that will help us implement more technology into our services.

With the generous support from the Safeway Foundation’s grant of $3,100, Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department will purchase electronic tablets, equipment and applications to help prepare participants for work assignments and to foster their success in specific jobs. Participants will use the electronic tablets in developing general skills to facilitate job placement, including reading and basic mathematics. The electronic tablets will also benefit participants in learning specific job-related skills to facilitate independence. Examples include task prompting, video reminders of the steps involved in certain tasks, and communication with offsite job coaches of changes in job duties. Ultimately, the end result are participants who are engaged, have increased self-worth, and an enhanced quality of life.

Thank you, Safeway Foundation, for partnering with Imagine! to ensure access to technology for all!

Pictured below are (left) Susan Morris, Safeway’s Denver Division President and Michelle Conkey, Imagine!’s Grant Writer.

“Programming Hope” Premieres In Denver

You are encouraged to check out the upcoming premiere of "Programming Hope" this Wednesday, November 18, 7:30PM at the Mayan Theatre in Denver. The film deals with unemployment and independence for adults on the spectrum, and one unlikely man's mission to change the future for his son and many others with an innovative solution. The Denver screening will be one night only.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

Touring Imagine!’s Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome this past Monday: some extraordinary supporters of Imagine! and our SmartHomes, including Lynda and Bill Johnson, Beverly and Gene Shaw, and one of our favorite people in the whole world: Bob Charles.

Technology Tuesday

Below is an example another application for iPads used by Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source team during its Foundations of Communication class. The app being used is called Finger Paint with Sounds. Essentially, this turns the entire screen of the iPad into a vibrant environment of color and sound. This is an excellent tool for bringing the artistic experience to life for individuals we serve.

Kara’s Own Success!

We are extremely happy to share today the note below from “Kara’s Own Voice,” a campaign to convince Apple to restore functionality to Aida Reminder, a voice reminder app. They are closing their campaign for the best of reasons – they were successful! Check out the note below, originally posted Kara’s Own Voice’s official change.org page.

Nov 9, 2015 — We are “officially” closing “Kara’s Own Voice”!!! As posted before, Apple restored Aida Reminder App to its full functionally again when Apple made changes to iOS9 in September!!! 

Now it is our turn to thank Apple for listening!!! Please take a minute to email accessibility@apple.com to say “thanks Apple!” 

In this the month of Thanksgiving we are feeling especially blessed by all of you who took time to support us, and to Apple for really hearing about why this change was so necessary! 

1104 signatures, 28 pages of comments and support from many around the world allowed us to “educate Apple” on the need for this function for Kara and so many like her with memory and scheduling challenges! 

When the app was officially updated in the Apple App store we were recognized by the Aida Reminder Developer Sergio Licea. He thanks Kara and me for voice reminders being back!!! We thank all of you. 

We are forever grateful for you taking the time to sign, share and support this important petition. Please take a moment to thank Apple either directly or if you are so inclined, mail your thanks to karasvoice@gmail.com with a photo showing you saying “Thank You Apple” We are creating a picture montage to send to Accessibility later this month as our Thanksgiving for being heard. 

Thanks you supporters, thank you Apple and thank you change.org for giving us a voice and making a difference!! 

Thanks to the readers of this blog who supported the campaign, and thanks to Apple for demonstrating their commitment to supporting apps that help give a voice to individuals who haven’t always had that luxury.

Visiting Anderson Farms

It is cold here in Colorado today, but that wasn’t the case last week when the ladies living at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome took advantage of some beautiful fall weather to visit Anderson Farms. Thanks to Cailin Nygren for sharing these photos.

Presentable

Imagine!’s SmartHomes guru Greg Wellems is presenting today at the Maine Association for Community Service Providers’ Conference “The Future is Now: Technology for Inclusiveness and Excellence." Greg will is presenting on: Implementing Technology – from SmartHomes to SmartSupports. Thanks for representing us so well, Greg!

Technology Tuesday

Susan, who lives in Imagine!’s Manhattan Group Home, diligently makes use of any tools available to increase her independence. Here's a picture of her taking advantage of the house desktop to navigate Via's website in order to quickly and easily schedule her transportation for the week! Keep up the great work, Susan!

Mandy's Halloween Book

Mandy, who lives in Imagine!’s Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome, has published another book – this time it is about Halloween. Yes, the holiday just passed, but why not get it now to beat the rush for next year?

Check it out here.