Technology Tuesday

Since this is National Direct Support Professional Week, we thought it would be a good idea to use this Tech Tuesday give a shout out to Imagine!’s very own Brodie Schulze, who will be participating in an American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) webinar this Thursday entitled “DSPs Unplugged.” A moderated panel of direct support professionals, including Brodie (the 2017 Colorado DSP of the Year), will share their reflections, lessons learned, and ideas for providing critical support for people who rely on our services. The webinar platform technology makes it possible for DSPs from different parts of the country to share their insights in a single online setting.

Learn more, or register for the webinar here.

Technology Tuesday

This week’s Tech Tuesday takes us to the Boulder hub of Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source, where we see Gerald showcasing some pretty exciting tech. He’s equipped with the latest generation of a product known as HotHand USB. It’s a simple device that sends MIDI signals wirelessly through Bluetooth to a desktop, and with simple motions, can help create some pretty powerful music. Gerald can be seen doing just that in this video, taken at the Dairy Center for the Arts, where he used the HotHand to add layers of guitar music into a musical performance. 

Can’t see the video? Click here. 

If you’d like more information on the HotHand, or about ways that this device is being employed by musicians currently, check out this link.

Keep up the good work, Gerald!

Technology Tuesday

We are happy to report that the good folks at Imagine!’s Charles Family SmartHome have completed the initial install and setup of their first permanent SmartSupports tech station. The tech station will be used to support individuals with technology based Individualized Support Services Plans and communication device needs. The lab includes a permanent station for Dynovox storage and charging, iPad utilization and skill development, as well as syncing with the SmartHome TV to display and let individuals interact with their house calendars. The SmartHome team have also allocated space for simple switch usage using their PowerLink device and a number of cause and effect tools created by University of Colorado Engineering students over the years.

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

Touring the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont on Monday: Cathy Jarret, Candidate for Longmont City Council and Beryl Durazo, Executive Director of the Firehouse Art Center.

Technology Tuesday

At the 2017 Imagine! CORE/Labor Source Art Show and Performance, held last Friday, August 18, iPads were used so patrons could experience a virtual biography of the artists who had paintings on display.

Here’s an example video of the biography of our good friend Gerald.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Partial Eclipse of the SmartHome

Residents of the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont enjoying this morning’s eclipse.

Technology Tuesday

Goally is a local startup developing a "smart clock" to enhance a child with autism’s ability to perform routine activities of daily living independently. Goally is a stress-reducer for busy parents and a way of helping children develop a sense of mastery and control.

They are currently seeking beta testers to test a prototype Goally for two weeks (zero cost) and provide feedback.

Beta volunteers should:

• Have a child with autism between the ages of 5 and 18 
• Be willing to provide feedback by phone and via the app during the test period 

Go to www.goally.co/jfk to sign up and learn more.

Technology Tuesday

It may be hard to believe, but it is almost time for school to start! For us at Imagine!, that means another opportunity to collaborate with University of Colorado Engineering students in a class taught by Associate Professor Melinda Piket-May.

For the past eight years, students in these classes have worked on projects to design adaptive technologies to aid increased independence for some of the individuals Imagine! serves. Check out the video below to see some examples of previous assistive tech projects created by CU students. We look forward to sharing more at the end of the semester!

 Can’t see the video? Click here.

Technology Tuesday

Today, we’d like to thank Microsoft for their incredibly generous donation of $661,565.00 in Microsoft software to Imagine! in support of increasing our capacity for enterprise improvements. By not having to purchase these software items, Imagine! is able to deliver more services to the 3,500 individuals with intellectual disabilities in Boulder and Broomfield counties.

Microsoft believes technology can do amazing things. That's why they partner with thousands of organizations like Imagine! around the world to help each one achieve its mission. Through Microsoft Philanthropies, they provide technology tools, training and resources that can help create opportunities and transform communities. We are honored to be part of their global community!

Thank you, Microsoft, for your demonstrated commitment to creating a world of opportunity for all abilities.

Anthony Celebrates One Year Anniversary at Oskar Blues

Anthony, a resident at Imagine!'s Charles Family SmartHome, is proud to celebrate over one year of employment with Oskar Blues Brewery through Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department. Since its inception in 1984, CORE/Labor Source’s Supported Employment Program has been providing innovative employment opportunities to people with developmental disabilities. Today, Anthony received his own work shirts and has taken great pride in working for such a caring and supportive company.

Technology Tuesday

Imagine! has launched a new data system for the service records of the people that we serve. The new system is Netsmart’s Evolv.

Evolv is an EHR (electronic health record) system with well-designed functionalities for demographic management, service delivery tracking, and reporting. The switch to Evolv from our previous database was made necessary when the previous database no longer met our needs.

Imagine! is a large and incredibly complex organization, and our records reflect that complexity. We need a system to track the records of the people we serve that is able to navigate data, including the huge number of our funding sources and the huge variety of services we provide, all while protecting the personal health information of the 3,500+ individuals whose information we are storing.

No out of the box software was going to fit the bill, so the Imagine! Evolv team spent the better part of a year reworking the software to meet our needs. Even now that we have gone live, the Imagine! Evolv team is continue to work on fixing little issues that have cropped up. For the most part, however, the switchover has been very smooth, and most importantly, the folks we serve have not seen any disruption in their services.

Technology Tuesday

Save the Date! 

The 2017 Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities Conference on Cognitive Disabilities and Technology is set for November 2. 

To learn more about the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities and the upcoming conference click here.

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

Touring Imagine!’s SmartHome today: Nancy Rezac, Executive Director of Visit Longmont and Sharon O'Leary, a former special education professional. Helping out with the tour was Imagine! ambassador extraordinaire Leona Stoecker and, of course, some of our great staff members.

Technology Tuesday

Over the past 10 years, people have traveled from all over the country, and even from other countries, to tour Imagine!’s SmartHomes and see first-hand how technology is changing the way we can, and should, deliver services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (here’s a few examples of recent “tourists.”)

Of course, we understand that not everyone can make the trip to tour the homes in person. That is why a few weeks ago, we hosted a tour live on Facebook, and we’re sharing a video of that tour with you today. It is a bit lengthy, and the camera work isn’t perfect, but if you have the time, watching the video is a great way to learn about all the amazing things happening at the SmartHomes, and how Imagine! is working to create a world of opportunity for all abilities.

Thanks to Chris DiRosa, tour guide extraordinaire, for taking us on this journey.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

Touring Imagine!’s SmartHome today: Cindy Acree, from The Elizabeth Richardson Center in Arkansas. She is interested in incorporating assistive technology into The Elizabeth Richardson Center’s settings, especially remote supports. Thanks for taking the tour, Cindy!

Technology Tuesday

This week's Tech Tuesday takes us to Imagine!’s Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome, where Karen can be seen back in her Standing Lift. The lift gives her more control when she transfers in and out of her wheelchair, and has helped her build up her lower body strength.

This may look familiar, as we've shared a Tech Tuesday on this before, but Karen injured her knee back in November, and has been working diligently on her PT since so she could get back to using her Standing Lift – and the hard work has paid off!

Great job, Karen, and thanks for sharing this with us!

Technology Tuesday

This week's Tech Tuesday takes us to the Charles Family SmartHome, where Shelly has found new and exciting ways to control her environment. In the past, because of her significant physical disabilities, Shelly has had to rely on others to control certain aspects of her environment – say, opening and closing window blinds or turning on and off a room humidifier.

But technology has changed that, and the tech keeps on improving, sometimes with the help of some friends.

For example, a team of engineering students at the University of Colorado recently put together a really fascinating project for the benefit of Shelly.

First, a little background. New products like the Amazon Echo or Alexa can use verbal commands to operate any number of household devices or control entertainment options. However, there is still a gap for individuals like Shelly who are non-verbal, as these devices may not be able to “understand” the commands.

The CU student project “teaches” Echo and Alexa to understand non-verbal commands (like grunts), so even non-verbal individuals can take advantage of the amazing opportunities for independent action and environmental control these devices bring. Shelly has been testing the project, and it's proven to be very exciting as a proof of concept, but we still have some adjustments to make before it can be reliable for everyday use.

In the meantime, Shelly continues to use her DynaVox, controlled by a head switch, to communicate directly with Amazon to do any number of exciting things, as you can see in the video below. Of course, we've only just scratched the surface of what we can do, so stay tuned for more!

Great work, Shelly!
  Can’t see the video? Click here.

Technology Tuesday

Today's Tech Tuesday provides another opportunity to hear from some of the pod people at Imagine!.

Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department hosts a Radio class that, thanks to instructor Jonny Brennan and the assistance of our good friends at KGNU radio (including use of their studio), gives participants the opportunity to learn how to produce their own radio show/podcast.

Here's what the class has to say about their most recent episode:

"This month our class explored the concept of "Positive Self-Talk". In our last episode we discussed the importance of self-advocacy and standing up for oneself when interacting with others, but what happens if it is our own attitude that we need to adjust? Sometimes in life we allow negative thoughts to enter our minds and while being aware of these thoughts is important, allowing them to take over is something we try to steer clear of. Being able to talk to yourself and build yourself up to get through difficult times is a skill we all can strive to develop and maintain. Today you will hear us practicing our positive self-talk to use in our daily lives. Enjoy!" 

Listen here.

You can also check out previous podcasts here. 

Technology Tuesday

Today we’d like to introduce Rob Foster, our very first Imaginect recruited employee (pictured below, in the middle).

What’s Imaginect (pronounced imagine – eckt)? We’re glad you asked.

Imagine!’s service delivery is very labor intensive. The unemployment rate in Boulder County is at historically low levels, making finding qualified workers challenging. In addition, many in our growing elderly population desire personal supports that are similar to the personal supports for those with I/DD. This means that for the foreseeable future Imagine! will be facing increased competition for services coupled with a shrinking workforce available to provide those services.

 In short – we’re short workers and need to find more.

To address this critical need, we have reimagined how (and who) we recruit to fill these positions by developing an app called “Imaginect,” which takes an Uber style approach to employee recruiting, engaging a team of on-demand employees pulled from typically underutilized labor pools such as college students or retirees.

Imaginect is about flipping Imagine!’s approach to workforce recruiting on its head. Currently, Imagine! caregivers are hired “one size fits all” - employees who are expected to work standard 8-hour shifts performing direct care duties as well as tasks such as cooking for clients and cleaning homes. Imaginect assigns tasks such as cooking, janitorial work, or simple care giving duties to the on-demand employees.

Since these tasks don’t require full shifts, the on-demand employees can use Imaginect to select times, dates, and locations convenient for them, vastly increasing our available labor pool while tapping into the CU-Boulder student population. Using this labor pool for these tasks frees up time for full-time employees to focus on other tasks designed to allow individuals we serve to become active, participating members of their communities.

Imagine! is currently testing this app at one of our residential sites – that’s where Rob will be working. Eventually, we plan to use this app to bolster our workforce for our day services such as employment services and life enrichment classes for adults with I/DD, and early intervention services, after school, and summer camp programs for children with I/DD.

In the spirit of self-determination and self-directed services, we also hope for a future where families will use Imaginect to direct their own trusted and qualified workforce to meet their unique needs.

We’ll keep you posted as we move out of the testing phase and move toward fully engaging Imaginect as another tool designed to create a world of opportunity for all abilities.

  Can’t see the video? Click here.

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

Touring Imagine!’s Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont last week: representatives from the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and architects from RNL Design. RNL is working with CDHS to redesign the department’s Grand Junction Regional Center Campus, and they were checking out a few of Imagine!’s homes to discuss ideas and best practices.

Technology Tuesday

Anthony and Shelly, who live at Imagine!'s Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont, are set up with their own iPads, accounts, and tools needed to navigate their devices using simple switch technology.

Shelly has had very promising results with this year-old technology. Her head switch uses Bluetooth and connects to any device compatible with Bluetooth. She uses subtle head movements on the head switch to select buttons and icons on the device. The progress will improve as she fine tunes this feature with custom settings on her iPad. Because her head switch is Bluetooth compatible, she can use this at home, day program, and work.

Anthony is learning how to use the cloud and access his calendar and email on any device. This feature helps him stay up to date with doctor appointments and his supported employment schedule. All of his devices are equipped with “support navigation,” which allows for a specific app to be locked to prevent unintentional jumping between apps. He also uses the read feature, which allows him to hear audibly the text on any page.

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

Touring Imagine!’s Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont Monday: good friends from RE/MAX of Boulder.

Technology Tuesday

Today’s Technology Tuesday features a guest blogger! We thank our good friends at Cerebral Palsy Guidance for sharing the information below. 

 

Adaptive Technology Helps Kids with Cerebral Palsy Get Active 

Adaptive sports are so important for children with physical disabilities. Too often children with cerebral palsy and other conditions are limited, not included, and aren’t given the opportunities to get active and enjoy sports like other kids do. This is changing, though, and it’s changing for the better. While there was once a time when people assumed a child with disabilities couldn’t participate, more individuals, schools, communities, and non-profit groups are ensuring that these children can participate, and adaptive technology plays a big role.

Cerebral Palsy and Limitations
Cerebral palsy is a neurological condition. It impacts muscles and motor skills, and although symptoms and severity vary by individual, most children with cerebral palsy have at least some physical limitations. Depending on the type of cerebral palsy, a child may struggle to control muscle movements, may have jerky or floppy movements, may have a hard time with balance and coordination, or may even be unable to walk.

Treatments for cerebral palsy can improve mobility. Surgeries, for example, can readjust tight muscles or joints to make moving easier and less painful. Physical and other therapies can help a child stretch and build muscles, learn how to move in ways that are less painful, and generally be more mobile. Sometimes medications help too. A big part of treatment for mobility issues in cerebral palsy is adaptive technology.

What is Adaptive Technology?
For everyday needs, adaptive technology may be as simple as a walker or a standard wheelchair. Where adaptive technology gets more fun and exciting is when it gets kids with cerebral palsy involved in sports. There are many more devices available now than ever before that allow kids with limitations to participate. Athletic wheelchairs, for instance, have come a long way and can help a child get involved in sports like basketball, racing, and even ice hockey.

Adaptive equipment for sports is used for both kids and adults with a variety of disabilities. The technology has advanced greatly in recent years. There are even adaptive devices that can help a person with a disability surf, skateboard, race in moto-cross, compete in cross-fit, and even play golf. Boundaries are being torn down thanks to new technologies in adaptive sports.

Adaptive Sports Organizations Pave the Way
The technology is just one piece of the puzzle in getting children with disabilities involved in sports. There also has to be opportunity and availability. This is where dedicated organizations step in and use the technology to make sure kids have the chance to participate. Groups like the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs, Disabled Sports USA, the Special Olympics, and the Paralympics are leading the charge.

These groups provide opportunities and events and advocate for children and teens with physical and other disabilities, like cerebral palsy. Some of the groups mainly organize events around the country, while others actively participate in schools and communities creating models and funding programs to help children get involved at the local level.

Having a physical disability, having limitations or a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, is no longer a sentence that means sitting out when other kids get involved. Thanks to advocacy and technology, more children than ever are using adaptive equipment to participate in sports and to enjoy what all children enjoy: being active and social.

Congratulations, Victoria!

Every month, Imagine!’s Innovations department presents the “Super Hero of the Month” award to the employee or provider who has best demonstrated excellence in one or more of our Innovations Quality Standards:

• Health, Safety, and Wellbeing 
• Effective and Efficient 
• Respect and Dignity 
• Opportunities 
• Integrity 
• Care 

This month, the award was presented to Victoria Laverty, who is the Site Supervisor for the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome.

Victoria was nominated by the site Nurse Case Manager, who wrote:

I would like to nominate Victoria Laverty for the Super Hero of the Month Award. The Bob and Judy Charles Smart Home has been short-staffed recently, and Victoria has done an amazing job in making sure the house runs as smooth as possible. Victoria has been working the floor as well as being present at the house for long hours, and has maintained a smile throughout. Besides being the Site Supervisor and keeping the house running, she also solves everyday problems of the house and the individuals that live there. Problem solving and getting things done through logistics is an everyday task for Victoria and she does it with a chuckle and smile. Victoria has done an amazing job!

Victoria shows compassion to the individuals of the Bob and Judy Charles Smart Home. When you step into the house you know it is a home. Please give Victoria the recognition she deserves for going the distance to keep shifts covered and the Bob and Judy Charles Smart Home running.

If you see Victoria around, please congratulate her on being our Super Hero of the Month!

Technology Tuesday

Imagine! Releases New App & Could Win $10k With Your Help

Like many businesses, Imagine! is facing a shrinking workforce and low unemployment rates. This combination makes it hard to recruit and retain Imagine! employees to support the people we serve. To tap into potential new employee markets, such as college students and retirees, Imagine! has created an app, similar to Uber, to offer "on-demand" short employment shifts. This opportunity was made possible by an Imagine! Foundation donor. We are calling the app “Imaginect.”

Meanwhile, the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County is working with tech startups to provide early stage corporate philanthropy by pledging 1% of their resources to nonprofits (called Pledge 1% Colorado). Out of this, they created a Nonprofit Pledge 1% Pitch Contest as a part of Boulder Startup Week.

The Pitch Contest, through an interactive and fun event, seeks to recognize and support entrepreneurial and innovative nonprofit ideas to solve pressing problems and critical issues facing Boulder County. Their goal is to support organizations in developing and testing new solutions to community challenges and leveraging investment to achieve impact. We submitted an application on the “Imaginect” on-demand employment app and we were chosen as a finalist to pitch the idea and could win $10,000!

The Nonprofit Pitch Contest is tonight, Tuesday, May 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the Boulder Theater. We will make a 3-minute pitch, and the audience and a panel of judges will vote on the winning pitch. Please plan to attend, cheer us on, and vote! You can register by clicking here (it is free).

Check out the video and flyer below for more information on Imaginect.

 

Can’t see the video? Click here. 

Technology Tuesday

Chris DiRosa, who is the Site Supervisor at Imagine!’s Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont, has been selected to receive the Longmont Rotary Club’s 2017 Citizen Compassion Award for his outstanding efforts in the Longmont community.

Chris has been a huge part of Imagine!’s technology initiatives over the years. He hosts tours of the Charles Family SmartHome, he has presented on behalf of Imagine! at ANCOR’s Technology Summit and Showcase, and in general acts as one of Imagine!’s strongest “Tech Ambassadors.” So to honor his award, it seemed like a good use of a Technology Tuesday post to share a couple of videos Chris has made about tech use at Imagine!.

Here’s Chris talking about technology use at Imagine!’s Santa Fe Group Home.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

We’ve talked many times about how we collaborate with University of Colorado Engineering students to create adaptive equipment projects for individuals served by Imagine!. In this video, Chris shares some of the projects and discusses how they are used in The Charles Family SmartHome. 

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Technology Tuesday

This week’s Technology Tuesday is a regular one we get to share, and it is always one of our favorites.

Once again, students in a University of Colorado Engineering class taught by Professor Melinda Picket-May have collaborated with Imagine! to provide assistive technology for individuals we serve. We’ve been doing this for more than seven years. Each semester, students form small groups and select projects that have been identified by Imagine! staff members as something that will meet the needs of a specific individual served by Imagine!. The collaboration has truly been “win-win.” The students get real, hands-on experience on a unique and challenging engineering task, and people served by Imagine! get a piece of adaptive equipment designed specifically for their needs.

Below are some projects from Spring Semester 2017 students:

Wrist Stabilizer

This was designed for an individual served by Imagine! who struggles with tremors, making using devices that require fine motor skills a challenge. With the stabilizer, the individual will now be able to use an iPad with ease.

Bluetooth Switch

This was also a design for an individual who needs assistance with mastering fine motor skills. This Bluetooth switch was designed specifically for one individual served by Imagine!, and was created to react to the way her body moves naturally, so she could access an iPad.

Wago Opener

Wago products are designed for electronic interfaces. Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department provides staffing for GE Lighting, which uses these Wago products. The device created by the student allows one of the employees who has limited range of motion in his arms to effectively and efficiently open the Wagos at GE, making him a more productive employee.

Sensory Vest

This sensory vest was designed for two individuals served by Imagine! who are non-verbal so that they can be put in control of their own interactive environment. 

Reprogrammable Voice Remote

Individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities may find it challenging to control certain aspects of their environment – say, opening and closing window blinds or turning on and off a room humidifier. New products like the Amazon Echo or Alexa can open doors for verbal commands to operate those tasks. However, there is still a gap for individuals who are non-verbal as these devices may not be able to “understand” the commands. This project “teaches” the devices to understand non-verbal commands (like grunts) so even no-verbal individuals can take advantage of the amazing opportunities these devices bring.

And here’s a couple of bonus student projects, not for people served by Imagine! but still very cool:

Line Laser for People with Parkinson’s Disease 

3D Sunglasses for People with Dry Eyes

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

Touring Imagine!’s SmartHome yesterday: UPS Foundation Charitable Giving Committee members. The UPS Foundation has a long history of supporting Imagine!, both financially and through volunteering, and we are delighted that they are so willing to remain actively involved in our mission of creating a world of opportunity for all.

Technology Tuesday

This week's Tech Tuesday takes us to the Art Lab at our CORE/Labor Source hub in Longmont, where they're putting a new spin on a (relatively) old twist. Some time ago, we had implemented adaptive brushes for people to use in Art Classes, allowing individuals with mobility challenges to reach the canvas with their paintbrushes and create their own masterpieces (see Shelly painting pictured above).

Now, we've added a little conductive tape, and voilà! An adaptive stylus for painting on an iPad. Now project the image on the iPad through a projector, and Toby (pictured below) can see what he's doing in fine detail right in front of him. Excellent work, team!

Technology Tuesday

Imagine!’s Annual Community Forum is scheduled for next Tuesday, April 25. We understand that not every is able to attend this event in person. Some people have family or work obligations, while others may have mobility or health concerns that make traveling to our headquarters difficult.

That is why we are using some simple technologies to ensure the forum is accessible to as many people as possible.

If you can’t join in person, you can attend by phone by calling 1-877-668-4490 and using access code: 800 999 446. While listening in, you can view the corresponding slideshow presentation at http://imaginecolorado.org/online-multimedia-events. 

And if you can't join in at that particular time, the event will be recorded and available online (same link as above) afterwards.

You can even submit your questions/comments online in advance: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ImagineForum2017

We hope you will be able to join us, whether in person or virtually.

Below are some other details about the upcoming event.

You Are Invited to the Annual Imagine! Community Forum

Tuesday, April 25, 2017 from 7:00-8:00 PM

Imagine!’s John Taylor Conference Center 

1665 Coal Creek Drive, Lafayette, CO, 80026 

Join us for our Annual Community Forum on Tuesday, April 25. Representatives from Imagine!’s staff and Board of Directors will be on hand to answer questions and receive input from families and local community members.

Topics to be discussed include:

• The State of the State 
• Legislative Update/Budget Perspectives 
• Workforce Capacity 
• Boulder County Pay for Performance 
• Housing Survey Results 

To attend in person: R.S.V.P. to (303) 665-7789

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

Touring Imagine!’s SmartHome this morning: Andrea Hall, staff member for Ken Buck, US Representative for Colorado’s 4th District. Andrea asked some great questions about our homes and how they positively impacted the lives of the people we serve, and we appreciate her time and interest. Andrea is pictured on the left with Imagine! Ambassador extraordinaire Leona Stoecker.

Technology Tuesday

This week's Tech Tuesday takes us to our Longmont CORE/Labor Source (CLS) location, where participants are collaborating on a "Day in the Life of CLS" project, which catalogues the day to day happenings at CLS. Participants of all abilities can join in the fun, even participants with limited mobility, through the use of a simple switch. Users can employ the switch to start and stop recordings, toggle between photos and videos, zoom in and out, and even control the camera’s flash. It's another fun way to catalogue all the great things going on in Longmont CLS. Keep up the great work, everyone!