Imagine!'s SmartHomes Blog

Happy Birthday, Gerald!

2012-02-10T08:44:00.000-08:00

Wishing the happiest of birthdays to Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Gerald. Make it a great one, G!

Check Out Donna's Blog

2012-02-09T08:48:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is SmartHome resident Gerald’s birthday. How are he and his sweetheart Donna (also a SmartHome resident) going to celebrate?

Check out Donna’s latest blog post to find out.

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

2012-02-08T10:10:00.000-08:00

Touring the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome this past Monday: Gary Svoboda, along with Imagine! Foundation Board Members Jay Montgomery and Valorie Simpson, who brought three guests to see first hand how technology is changing the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Would you like to take a tour? Click here.

Mandy, Gerald, and Donna at Assistive Technology Coalition Meeting

2012-02-07T13:36:00.001-08:00

Imagine! SmartHome residents Mandy, Gerald, and Donna are part of the Assistive Technology Coalition, a State-level council organized by Assistive Technology Partners. The trio is helping to advise the council on how they see, view, and experience the use of assistive technology in the Colorado. These meetings are not to serve individual problems, but require members to think of the bigger picture and understand themselves and their experiences within a group. Mandy, Gerald, and Donna are certainly providing that bigger picture view, and bringing value to the council, as the video below demonstrates.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

2012-02-02T09:53:00.000-08:00

Exciting news! Attendees of the Council for Exceptional Children’s 2012 Convention and Expo, scheduled for this April, will be able to sign-up to tour Imagine!’s SmartHomes and see first-hand how technology is changing the lives of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Presentable

2012-02-01T08:38:00.000-08:00

SmartHomes guru Greg Wellems is scheduled to present at the New York State Association of Community and Residential Agencies’ 2012 Annual Conference in April. New York is going through a major revision of its service delivery system for people with developmental disabilities, and technology will be a major factor in that transition. Naturally, they are looking for experts, and you can’t be more knowledgeable than Greg on this subject!

Bubble Fun

2012-01-31T10:45:00.000-08:00

Residents of the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont took advantage of some nice weather recently to get outside, get some fresh air, and play with bubbles. Enjoy the pics!

Imagine! - Two Stories

2012-01-30T10:29:00.000-08:00

At the Imagine! Celebration this past Friday, a video was debuted with two stories that demonstrate the impact Imagine!’s work has on the lives of those they serve, as well as their families. Several SmartHome residents made cameo appearances. Check it out below.

Congratulations, Sandy!

2012-01-27T08:44:00.000-08:00

Congratulations are in order for Alexander E. “Sandy” Bracken, who was appointed yesterday to the University of Colorado Quigg and Virginia S. Newton Endowed Chair in Leadership.

Sandy also happens to be the President of the Imagine! Foundation Board of Directors and has been a great supporter of Imagine!’s SmartHomes for a long time. Way to go, Sandy!

Read this article from the Boulder Daily Camera to learn more.

Check Out The Latest SmartHome Newsletter

2012-01-26T11:43:00.000-08:00

Imagine!’s latest SmartHome newsletter is available online.

Check it out by clicking here.

Check Out Donna's Blog

2012-01-25T10:09:00.000-08:00

What are SmartHome sweethearts Donna and Gerald planning for Donna’s birthday? Check out Donna’s latest blog post to find out.

Anthony and Wes Play Bingo

2012-01-24T10:10:00.000-08:00

Here’s some nice pictures showing how some simple technologies can allow some of the individuals living in our SmartHomes be more independent and take charge of some simple tasks in their lives in ways that weren’t possible before. In the photos, Charles Family SmartHome residents Wes and Anthony are playing chess. Wes is using a head switch attached to his wheelchair to operate the spinner – giving him control over his spins!

SmartHomes In The News

2012-01-23T08:47:00.000-08:00

Imagine!’s SmartHomes project is featured in the latest edition of Apostrophe magazine, a non-profit magazine for and by people with developmental disabilities.

Check out our story by clicking here, we’re on page 32!

Thanks Apostrophe!

Wii Pictures

2012-01-20T09:40:00.000-08:00

Presentable

2012-01-19T13:05:00.000-08:00

SmartHomes guru Greg Wellems and SmartHomes PR guy Fred Hobbs are scheduled to present at the Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota (ARRM) technology showcase and conference .

The conference’s goal is for “nationally known experts to enlighten Minnesota providers, self-advocates, families and case managers about how technology is transforming services and supports for people with disabilities.”

Have fun Greg and Fred. We know you’ll do great!

Imagine! Celebration Supports SmartHomes

2012-01-18T09:24:00.000-08:00

The 11th Annual Imagine! Celebration and Dinner and Auction is fast approaching! The date is set for January 27, 5:30 -9:30 PM, at the Plaza Hotel Longmont. Proceeds from the event go to support Imagine!’s programs, including our SmartHomes project.

If you are interested in attending, you can order tickets online by clicking here.

Even if you can’t attend in person, you can still participate in the Imagine! Celebration’s
Live Auction through proxy bidding online. Online bids will be accepted through Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

Click here to take part in the online bidding.

There are some great items available in the online bidding, including:

Wine-A-Month Special Selection

You will benefit as Liquor Mart’s Fine Wine Manager personally selects one bottle of wine each month for one year for top-notch value and quality. 12 bottle total. Expires 1/31/2013.

Donor: Liquor Mart

Bountiful Barbecue

Round up your friends for a West End Tavern market style BBQ for 20 people with Colorado's best beef brisket, slab of pork ribs, whole chicken, hot links, pork shoulder, and choice of sides. Redeemable at West End Tavern or delivered to you.

Donor: Big Red F Restaurant Group

California Wine Tour

Delight in the La Bellasera luxury hotel in Paso Robles, CA where 80 world class wineries are within ten miles. Includes one room for two people for two nights, a two-day car rental, and $250 in air fare credit. Restrictions apply, and space is subject to availability. Expires 10/31/2013.

Donor: Cain Travel

Leona's Luscious Baked Bread

Enjoy a delicious, freshly baked loaf of bread each month for a year made by renowned bread maker, 1997 Colorado Mother of the Year, former Longmont Mayor, and former Imagine! Foundation President Leona Stoecker. Delivery details to be arranged with Leona.

Donor: Leona Stoecker

African Photo Safari

This unforgettable adventure starts with six days and six nights for two people at a Zulu Nyala Lodge located in South Africa’s province KwaZulu-Natal on the east coast of South Africa. Your stay will include authentic African meals and two guided photo safaris per day. You will be situated in the heart of one of South Africa’s most diverse conservation regions nestled between the great Hluhluwe, Mkuze, and St. Lucia Reserves. It is home to many animals including elephant, rhino, buffalo, and leopard. This is a birder’s paradise and for those who love plants, the trees are especially rewarding. This beautiful site was also the location for the filming of “I Dreamed of Africa." You are sure to make memories to last a lifetime!

Donor: African Eyes Travel

Spectacular Ouray

Get away for a one week stay in beautiful Ouray, Colorado. This lovely three bedroom home accommodates six people comfortably with 2200 sq. ft. and 2-1/2 baths. The home is in a very secluded area but conveniently located north of Ouray, only five minutes to the hot springs pool and downtown Ouray and less than an hour to the gondola at Telluride. You will also receive up to 10 passes to the Ouray Hot Springs Pool which is open year round. No matter the season, you will find a plethora of activities and spectacular views with winter downhill and Nordic skiing, summer hiking and biking, cascading waterfalls, 4-wheeling, and so much more in the “Switzerland of America.” Home is available select weeks after May 1, 2012; arrange time with owner.

Donor: Jay & Kathy Montgomery

Cape Cod Getaway & Whale Watch

Relax for a full week in an authentic, remodeled Cape Cod house with room for six adults and two children. You will be five minutes from the ocean with beaches sure to please kids and adults alike. Included is an unforgettable three hour whale watching boat excursion for four. Sept. - Oct. 2013.

Donors: George & Kristin Karakehian

Avalanche Suite

Celebrate an Avalanche win in style with a luxurious Club Level Suite located on center ice to see the Colorado Avalanche battle the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, March 3 at 7:00p.m. You will receive 20 tickets, four Lot A - VIP parking passes, and two Premier Lot passes located adjacent to the arena. Your Suite tickets also give you access to the VIP entrances at the Pepsi Center 1 1/2 hours prior to your event. Extensive catering menu is available, though not a part of this package.

Donor: Colorado Business Bank

Gorgeous Greek Island Villa

Enjoy a magical week at a deluxe villa on Lefkas island off the west coast of Greece. Villa sleeps eight in four bedrooms with tennis courts, a pool, and breathtaking ocean views. Cross the swing bridge to the mainland or settle in at your villa and enjoy the island's many offerings including sailing, diving, windsurfing, exploring ancient archeological sites, or simply soaking up the sun. Redeemable in 2013, and timing is flexible but needs to be confirmed with owner.

Donor: The Palmos Family

Craft Beer Bonanza

Show your love of local craft beer with a package put together especially for you by Liquor Mart with hand selected gear, group tours, and gift certificates to your favorite local breweries. From Avery Brewery you will receive two 10 oz glasses, two Avery T-shirts, and a gift certificate for a brewery tour and beer for up to 10 people. Boulder Beer will outfit you with two pint glasses, two Boulder Beer T-shirts, and $50 in gift certificates. From Left Hand Brewing Company you will receive Beer For A Year including two pint glasses, a Left Hand/Mountainsmith sixer cooler, a growler jug, and a gift certificate to visit the tasting room once a month for a year to fill your new growler or half gallon jug. From Oskar Blues you will receive two pint glasses, two Oskar Blues T-shirts, and a $50 gift card. From Twisted Pine Brewery you will receive two pint glasses, two Twisted Pine T-shirts, and a $50 gift card. Top off your tour with a gift certificate to Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery for $100 and $25 to use at Old Chicago!

Donors: Local Craft Breweries and Liquor Mart

Rowdy Round-Up

Enjoy Steamboat Springs in the summer. Spend four nights in a Steamboat Springs condo while you get ready for the experience of a lifetime cattle drive (June 1 -Oct 15, 2012) for four or a Wagon Dinner Ride for four from Saddleback Ranch. Then cheer on the real cowboys and cowgirls with four tickets to the Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series. Rodeo runs Friday and Saturday evenings from June 15 to August 18, 2012.

Donors: Dennis & Debra Paul

Family Reunion in Durango

Luxuriate for seven days in this beautiful Durango vacation home with six bedrooms, two lofts, and 4 ½ baths, easily accommodating up to 12 people. Every bedroom has vaulted ceilings, skylights, a small patio, and stunning views of the mountains. The kitchen features granite countertops and new appliances. Looking over the great room is a game loft with a large screen television and regulation size pool table. Expires 1/31/2013 with flexible dates arranged with owner as available.

Donors: Don Sullivan & Paige Lawrence

SmartHomes In The News

2012-01-17T09:01:00.000-08:00

There was a very nice article in Sunday’s Longmont Times-Call. It features a story about Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source radio broadcasting class – and Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Mandy is quoted: "Life can be challenging and life can be scary, but you just have to learn that life is what it is. And you have to learn to be brave and be successful in any way you can."

Read the article here.

And check out the video that accompanied the article!

Then Again, What Do I Know?

2012-01-13T11:46:00.000-08:00

Imagine! CEO Mark Emery has his own blog titled “Then Again, What Do I Know?” Mark recently made a blog post that highlights some important people who toured Imagine!’s SmartHomes over the past few years.

Check it out by clicking here.

Gerald Counts Inventory At Twisted Pine

2012-01-12T09:35:00.000-08:00

We’ve told you before how Charles SmartHome resident Gerald has been working at The Twisted Pine Brewery in Boulder, helping out with inventory using his DynaVox, an assistive communication device. Keep in mind that five years ago, Gerald couldn’t even count to ten! Check out the pictures of him hard at work, and make sure to read the captions as they show the process Gerald uses to count the inventory.

Many thanks to Twisted Pine for its continued support of Gerald and many others served by Imagine!.

Gerald on the way to the work area

Gerald is instructed to record 28 cases of 12 oz. bottles into his DynaVox. Gerald chooses the 20 square using a head switch on his computer, which then puts the numbers 20-29 on his screen

Here's the 20s page

Gerald has correctly recorded 28 cases of 12 oz bottles

Gerald is instructed to record 35 large barrels of beer into his DynaVox

Gerald has recorded 35 large barrels of beer into his DynaVox

Gerald with his CORE/Labor Source Employment Specialist Richard Lowe

Gerald with Twisted Pine Brewery's Justin Tilotta

Mandy Uses Adaptive Wii Device

2012-01-11T09:36:00.000-08:00

We have mentioned before that a group of CU Engineering students created some simple adaptive devices to help support Imagine! SmartHome residents, including a system that allows users of power wheelchairs (which are quite heavy) to use a Wii board. Here’s a fun video of Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Mandy using the system.

Note that she’s getting some assistance – through using this device has shown that people who use wheelchairs for mobility don’t always have the opportunity (or reason) to shift their body from side to side – so they are using muscles they rarely use. Playing Wii games using this adaptive system encourages that kind of movement, and allows the users to build up their core strength by doing so. Good news all around!

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

2012-01-10T10:24:00.000-08:00

Touring Imagine!’s Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome yesterday: representatives from System 7 Technology Design, a Boston-based company that designs, installs and supports technology systems utilizing the same processes that designers and architects use to create beautiful spaces. Thanks for joining us, Ashley and Aileen!

Happy Birthday Rae!

2012-01-09T08:30:00.000-08:00

Last week, Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Rae celebrated her birthday. Happy belated birthday Rae, we hope you had a great time!

US Congressman Cory Gardner Tours SmartHome

2012-01-06T10:21:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, US Congressman Cory Gardner, who serves Colorado’s 4th District, took a tour of the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont. Congressman Gardner demonstrated an in-depth knowledge of the system of funding and delivering services to individuals with developmental disabilities. He asked some great questions and offered his help on increasing awareness of Imagine!’s efforts to use technology to provide services in a more cost efficient and effective manner.

A highlight of the tour was when SmartHome resident Shelly demonstrated how she used her DynaVox (a computerized communications device) to access her own music and movies. Good job, Shelly!

Please enjoy photos from the tour below.

We really appreciate having you tour, Congressman Gardner!

SmartHomes guru Greg Wellems explains the SmartHomes concept to Congressman Gardner while Imagine! CEO Mark Emery looks on.

Congressman Gardner meets with SmartHome resident Toby.

Mike Bennett, on left, is Congressman Gardner's District Director.

Charles Family Site Supervisor Site Supervisor Kristen Conboy watched along with Congressman Gardren as SmartHome resident Shelly showed how she used her DynaVox (a computerized communications device) to access her own music and movies

SmartHome resident Shelly showed Congressman Gardner how she used her DynaVox (a computerized communications device) to access her own music and movies

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

2012-01-05T08:38:00.000-08:00

Scheduled to tour the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont today: United States Congressman Cory Gardner.

CU Engineering Class Adaptive Equipment Project Fall 2011 -- Adaptive Stroller

2012-01-04T12:11:00.000-08:00

A group of CU Engineering students in a 2011 Fall Semester class taught by Associate Professor Melinda Piket-May worked on projects to design simple adaptive technologies that aid increased independence for some of the individuals Imagine! serves. The video below shows a project where students created an adaptive stroller.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

CU Engineering Class Adaptive Equipment Project Fall 2011 -- Reprogrammable Remote

2012-01-03T11:26:00.000-08:00

A group of CU Engineering students in a 2011 Fall Semester class taught by Associate Professor Melinda Piket-May worked on projects to design simple adaptive technologies that aid increased independence for some of the individuals Imagine! serves. The video below shows a project where students created a reprogrammable remote.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

CU Engineering Class Adaptive Equipment Project Fall 2011 -- Adjustable Shelf 2

2011-12-30T09:11:00.000-08:00

A group of CU Engineering students in a 2011 Fall Semester class taught by Associate Professor Melinda Piket-May worked on projects to design simple adaptive technologies that aid increased independence for some of the individuals Imagine! serves. The video below shows a project where students created an adjustable shelf.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

The Magical Christmas Holiday

2011-12-29T10:06:00.000-08:00

Note: Mandy lives at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder, and is using some of the technology in the SmartHome and in CORE/Labor Source classes to write articles for the Imagine! employee newsletter. Below is her latest contribution.

The Magical Christmas Holiday

There was a big rocking chair. It was painted red and green and it was very comfortable. This man sat in it and then put on his red velvety outfit with white furry trim and a big black belt with a shiny buckle. He had four gold buttons going down the front of the red velvet jacket with white furry trim on the cuffs of his sleeves and on the bottom of his pant legs. He had big black shiny boots with a buckle. Every once in a while he would put extra polish on his boots. The polish made them bright and beautiful. His nose was as red as a cherry. He had a long white beard and a red stocking hat with furry white trim. He had a white tassel on the top of his hat. He had a black sack over his shoulder with lots of toys in it for all the good girls and boys. His stomach jiggled and shook as he walked.

There was a little girl walking by. She looked very excited for Christmas day. The little girl walked up with a big smile on her face and said "Hi." Santa patted his knee and asked the little girl to come and sit with him. The girl said, "Sure, I would love to." Santa read "The Night Before Christmas." Then Santa started talking to the little girl about what she wanted for Christmas. The little girl said, "I don't care." Right before the little girl left, Santa asked the little girl if she was interested in helping him put up the Christmas tree. The little girl’s eyes lit up with happiness. The little girl said "I would be delighted to." Santa and the little girl started to put up the tree together.

They put all kind of neat ornaments, garlands, lights, and something that can make the Christmas lights on the Christmas tree blink to the rhythm of the Christmas music that was playing. The girl’s mom had handmade a Christmas carpet to put under the Christmas tree. The carpet had a whole bunch of different Christmas scenes on it. The mom gave the carpet to the little girl and the little girl carried the carpet over to where Santa was sitting. Santa and the little girl helped each other put the carpet under the Christmas tree.

They had one last step they needed to do to help the Christmas tree look complete. They finished by putting the Candy-Canes on the Christmas tree. They were very happy with way it all turned out. They put lots of work into it and made it really nice. The Christmas tree lit up the whole town. The lights were bright as the people walked up and down the street. The children were waiting for Santa to greet them. The little girl had her picture taken with Santa. Then she said, to Santa, "I need to say goodbye." Santa said, "Wait, I have a copy of the book I was reading you, The Night Before Christmas." The little girl said, “Oh thank you" and handed Santa her own Christmas list. She wanted a toy computer and games.

Santa started to practice and prepare for his one special night. He is a star. He only comes once a year. The little ones can see him from afar. He can see up close. Where, nobody knows. He comes around when everyone is asleep and doesn't peep. He brings lots of toys to all the good girls and boys. He drives a car made of candy.

CU Engineering Class Adaptive Equipment Project Fall 2011 – Adjustable Shelf 1

2011-12-28T09:00:00.000-08:00

A group of CU Engineering students in a 2011 Fall Semester class taught by Associate Professor Melinda Piket-May worked on projects to design simple adaptive technologies that aid increased independence for some of the individuals Imagine! serves, including Imagine! SmartHome residents. This video below a project where students created an adjustable shelf.

Can't see the video? Click here.

CU Engineering Class Adaptive Equipment Project Fall 2011 – Adjustable Assistive Wall Mounted Arm

2011-12-27T09:23:00.000-08:00

A group of CU Engineering students in a 2011 Fall Semester class taught by Associate Professor Melinda Piket-May worked on projects to design simple adaptive technologies that aid increased independence for some of the individuals Imagine! serves. The video below shows a project where students created an adjustable assistive wall mounted arm for SmartHome resident Gerald.

Can't see the video? Click here.

Merry Christmas From The SmartHomes!

2011-12-25T11:37:00.000-08:00

On behalf of SmartHome staff members and residents, we would like to wish you a happy holiday season, and a safe and prosperous New Year.

Happy Birthday, Loren!

2011-12-23T09:06:00.000-08:00

Wishing the happiest of birthdays to Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont resident Loren. Make it a great one, Loren!

Check Out The Latest SmartHomes Newsletter

2011-12-21T08:57:00.000-08:00

The latest SmartHomes newsletter is online. Check it out here.

CU Engineering Class Adaptive Equipment Project Fall 2011 -- Wheelchair Laundry Attachment

2011-12-20T08:19:00.000-08:00

A group of CU Engineering students in a 2011 Fall Semester class taught by Associate Professor Melinda Piket-May worked on projects to design simple adaptive technologies that aid increased independence for some of the individuals Imagine! serves. This video below shows a project where students created wheelchair laundry attachment for SmartHome resident Anthony.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHome?

2011-12-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

Touring the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont today: Bobby Danos, President of the Longmont Association of Realtors. We hope you enjoy the tour, Bobby!

Wii The People

2011-12-16T10:18:00.000-08:00

Really cool stuff to share today.

A group of CU Engineering students in a 2011 Fall Semester class taught by Associate Professor Melinda Piket-May worked on projects to design simple adaptive technologies that aid increased independence for some of the individuals Imagine! serves. In the next few weeks we’ll be sharing the projects.

Today, we’d like to show a project where students built and adaptive Wii board that allows individuals who use wheelchairs to play Wii games. Below is a video of the students demonstrating their project.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Now, check out this video of Imagine!’s Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Donna using the adaptive Wii board at the home.

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Thanks to Professor Piket-May and especially the students for their hard work.

Christmas Decorations at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome

2011-12-15T07:59:00.000-08:00

A couple of weekends ago, residents of the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder set out to decorate their home for the holidays. Kudos to staff member Brent Bowen, who organized a house resident meeting beforehand so that the residents could discuss what they wanted for decorations. Brent even came in on his day off to help set this up! Thanks, Brent, for helping to make the SmartHome so jolly!

Presentable

2011-12-14T08:43:00.000-08:00

SmartHomes guru Greg Wellems, SmartHomes Project Manager Sterling Wind, and SmartHome technology guy Kevin Harding are hosting a series of webinars for ANCOR on “Strategically Implementing Technology in Your Organization.” These webinars are designed to introduce a strategic process for helping service providers incorporate technology into their organizations to strategically succeed in an ever-changing world.

Tomorrow they will host the first webinar: “Step 1: Know What’s Out There”

Interested? Learn more or sign up here.

Imagine! Presentation at Boulder/Denver New Tech Not-For-Profit Night

2011-12-13T08:31:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011, Imagine! SmartHomes tech guys Kevin Harding and Alex Andrews presented at the Boulder/Denver New Tech Not-For-Profit night. It was a great opportunity for them to introduce Imagine!’s SmartHome project (and other tech projects Imagine! is involved in), introduce a couple of small projects that we need assistance with, recruit volunteers, and get some help/guidance from a highly technical crowd.

Kevin and Alex reported that they got great feedback from the group. Thanks for hosting us, BDNT!

Below is the short PowerPoint presentation Kevin and Alex shared with the group.

Imagine! Presentation at Boulder/Denver New Tech Not-For-Profit Night

View more presentations from Fred Hobbs

Happy Birthday, Lana

2011-12-12T07:58:00.000-08:00

Wishing the happiest of birthdays to Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Lana. Make it a great one, Lana!

Charles Family SmartHome Christmas Tree Decoration Party

2011-12-09T09:04:00.000-08:00

Some nice pictures of residents of the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont decorating their Christmas tree.

Lana Creates Ornaments For Whole Foods Charity Event

2011-12-08T09:52:00.000-08:00

Artist/consumers in Imagine!'s CORE/Labor Source art classes, including SmartHome resident Lana, have completed another project that provided a great community connection. Whole Foods Market, located at 2905 Pearl Street in Boulder, will be displaying tree ornaments created by the artist/consumers. “It was a beautiful simple project that consisted of clear glass ornaments that the students cut up small pieces of tissue paper and glued on with watered down Elmer’s glue,” said Alethea Chorey, Art Instructor for the class. The end result is an ornament that looks like stained glass.

The ornaments will be attached to several seasonal displays that Whole Foods Market will have throughout the store. Customers will be able to purchase them for a five dollar donation to Community Food Share.

Nice work, Lana, and thank you, Whole Foods!

Senator Mark Udall Tours SmartHome

2011-12-07T09:47:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday, we had a VIP tour the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder – Senator Mark Udall. Senator Udall seemed very impressed with the technology in the home and its potential to impact the lives of so many individuals with developmental and related disabilities. He asked some great questions and offered to assist Imagine! as we work to incorporate more and more technology into the services for some of our most vulnerable citizens.

Several members of Imagine!’s Board of Directors attended the tour as well, and most of the residents of the home were there to greet the Senator and discuss their lives living in a high tech home.

Thanks for touring, Senator Udall!

Today Is Colorado Gives Day

2011-12-06T03:00:00.000-08:00

Today is Colorado Gives Day, and Imagine! is again participating. Donations made online Imagine!'s website (using any of the “Donate Here” buttons) today will also be eligible for partial matching funds.

The “Donate Here” button takes you directly to the Community First Foundation site and saves the 5.5% bank fee for credit card donations.

Last year individuals donated $4,675 to Imagine! on Colorado Gives Day, and we received $177.68 in matching funds from the Circle of Giving Incentive Fund. But $8.4 million was donated across Colorado last year, and $320,000 in incentive funds were given out, so we have room to grow!

If you are thinking about making a gift to Imagine! before the end of the calendar year, please consider doing it online today (you can also designate Imagine!'s SmartHomes project in the “Any comments or special instructions” box if you would like).

Happy Birthday, Toby!

2011-12-05T10:46:00.000-08:00

Wishing the happiest of birthdays to Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont resident Toby. Make it a great one, Toby!

Check Out Donna's Blog

2011-12-02T09:34:00.000-08:00

Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Donna has made a couple of new posts on her blog. It sounds like she’s really getting into the Christmas spirit, singing holiday songs and decorating the SmartHome. Check out her blog to learn more.

Happy Birthday, John!

2011-12-01T08:47:00.000-08:00

Wishing the happiest of birthdays to Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident John. Make it a great one, John!

Marguerite Salazar SmartHome Tour

2011-11-30T09:26:00.000-08:00

We had a great tour of the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome yesterday with Marguerite Salazar, Regional Director for Region VIII of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Joining Director Salazar were Doyle Forrestal, Regional Outreach Specialist for Region VIII of the US Department of Health and Human Services, and Todd Saliman, from Policy Matters. The tour guides were Imagine! CEO Mark Emery, SmartHomes guru Greg Wellems, SmartHome Project Manager Sterling Wind, and Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome Site Supervisor Chantelle Tweten.

Director Salazar asked some insightful questions, including our favorite question: “How can I help?” The tour guides gave some concrete examples of how she can help champion our goal of using technology to serve some of our most vulnerable citizen, and Director Salazar promised to share information with her boss, US Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius.

Thanks for taking a tour, Director Salazar!

A Zolo/SmartHome Thanksgiving

2011-11-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

Last week, Dave Query and the Big Red F Restaurant Group hosted a free Thanksgiving Dinner for Imagine! clients and their families at Zolo Southwestern Grill in Boulder. This is te eighth year he has hosted this event.

Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome residents were on hand to enjoy the meal, seen in the picture below.

The event was once again a huge success. 360 meals were served in three seatings -- turkey, dressing, all the trimmings, pumpkin pie. Donations to Imagine! at the event came to $816, and one generous person left a check for $500. What a great day!

Thanks to Dave, Zolo staff, and all the volunteers for creating another special Thanksgiving for the people Imagine! serves.

Check Out The Latest SmartHome Newsletter

2011-11-28T10:35:00.000-08:00

Imagine!’s latest SmartHome newsletter is online. Check it out by clicking here.

And you can sign up to have the newsletter emailed to you every month! Just click here.

Happy Thanksgiving From Chris

2011-11-23T11:32:00.000-08:00

A short “Happy Thanksgiving” wish from Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Chris.

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHome?

2011-11-22T12:33:00.000-08:00

Another VIP has scheduled a tour of Imagine!’s Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome.

On Saturday, December 3, the SmartHome team is looking forward to welcoming U.S. Senator Mark Udall and to demonstrating the many technologies in the homes that are designed to improve the lives of residents and that one day may be used in individual or family homes to increase independence among people with developmental disabilities. Thanks, Sen. Udall.

You can be a VIP tourist, too! Click here to sign up online for your own SmartHome tour.

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

2011-11-21T10:45:00.000-08:00

Scheduled to tour Imagine!’s Bob and Judy Charles SmartHomes next week: Patti Micklin, Development Director for our good friends at Special Transit.

How Technology Can Increase Employment Opportunities For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities

2011-11-18T09:28:00.000-08:00

Imagine!’s SmartHomes guru Greg Wellems is currently attending the Alliance for Full Participation’s 2011 Summit. This year’s summit is focusing on employment.

Our experience with our SmartHomes tells us technology has a role in increasing employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Click here to read one such story, about SmartHome resident Gerald, who is using technology to do inventory work and communications work.

The coolest part of the story? A few short years ago Gerald couldn’t read, write, or count to 10! Technology has changed all that, and the opportunities for more stories like Gerald’s are limitless!

Guess Who’s Touring The SmartHome?

2011-11-17T08:16:00.000-08:00

We’ve got a VIP scheduled to tour the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome at the end of the month. Marguerite Salazar, Region VIII Regional Director for the US Department of Health and Human Services is planning on touring to see first hand how technology is changing the lives of some of our most vulnerable citizens. Another example of how interest in what we’re doing continues to grow!

Mandy's Short Story - "The Circle of Life"

2011-11-16T10:19:00.000-08:00

Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Mandy has been writing original stories and poems for the Imagine! employee newsletter. Check out her latest story, entitled “The Circle of Life”

The Circle of Life

A circle is round. You can make many different kinds of things out of a circle. Circles can be made in many different colors and sizes. You can form a circle out of clay with your hands. After you are done you can put it in the oven and then watch it expand and turn it into a cooking pan. You can put the ingredients in the pan and then wait for it to bake and then it will turn into a chocolate cake. Then you have to let it stand and cool and then we put the frosting on it and decorate it. You can decorate the cake with anything you want.
After the cake is done the kids toss it
in their tummies and they say yum,yum,yum
now we have to run. You can make a ball out of a shape of a circle. You can toss the ball in the air and watch it come back. We hope the ball doesn't hit the wall and make something fall. If the ball bounces, I don't know what it counts as. When the ball hits the ground . It doesn't make a sound and it doesn't weigh a pound. you can make a friendship circle. They can be the hardest ones to deal with at times. Because friends can get pretty close and then in the end you may have to close the door and open a new one.

Tracking New Tracking Systems

2011-11-15T09:07:00.000-08:00

In our efforts to improve our location tracking system in our SmartHomes (which we hope will allow us to better document resident activities based upon data collection) we have been meeting with several companies to determine which system will best meet our needs. Late last week, we met with the good folks from Q-Track and Ubisense to learn about their location systems.

We’ll keep you posted!

SmartHomes In The News

2011-11-14T08:04:00.000-08:00

The November issue of ANCOR LINKS features a story submitted by SmartHomes project manager Sterling Wind about how, and more importantly, why, Imagine! incorporated green technologies into its SmartHomes – along with data showing that the decision to go green is already paying dividends! Read the story by clicking the link here (p.13).

Way to go, Sterling!

Check Out Donna's Blog

2011-11-10T08:16:00.000-08:00

Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Donna just made another blog post. It discusses music, art, poetry, and computers. A true renaissance gal!

So, what Beatles song is she singing in music class? What poet is she reading? How is she becoming more comfortable with using her computer? Guess you’ll have to read her blog to find out.

Click here to check it out.

Interest In SmartHomes Continues To Grow

2011-11-09T08:53:00.000-08:00

Imagine!’s two SmartHomes continue to garner national and even international attention. As the first two homes in the nation to use technology in a comprehensive way to enhance the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities, more and more organizations and thought leaders in the field are recognizing that Imagine!’s innovative and forward-thinking SmartHomes can serve as a model for the future of residential care.

Additionally, interested parties are learning how the various technologies, or SmartSupports, being tested and refined in Imagine!’s SmartHomes can offer solutions geared toward allowing individuals with disabilities to live independently, or with their families and loved ones, for longer periods of time.

For example, more than 500 visitors have taken a tour of either the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder or the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont, and many have toured both homes. People taking the tour have come from all across the nation, and as far away as England, France, and Russia. No matter where the visitors are from, they all leave the tours impressed with how technology is improving the lives of some of our community’s most vulnerable citizens. Learn more about the free tours, or sign up to take a tour yourself, by clicking here.

Taking a tour of Imagine!’s SmartHomes isn’t the only way people are learning about this unique and ambitious project, however. SmartHome staff members have been invited by organizations across the country, from Alaska to Washington D.C. (at the World Bank, no less), to present on SmartHomes and SmartSupports at a wide variety of conferences and events. To date, almost 40 presentations have been made by members of the SmartHome team. To learn more about SmartHome presentations, click here.

SmartHome team members have also begun providing consulting services to other organizations looking to incorporate technology into their services. In just the past three months, Imagine! has consulted on technology plans for organizations based in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Maine.

The desire of so many organizations to learn about this project serves as yet another reminder of how Imagine!'s SmartHomes continue to be recognized as an innovative approach to improving clients’ self-sufficiency and ability to engage with the community while optimizing the efficiency and effectiveness of caregivers.

Mandy's Halloween Story

2011-11-08T13:53:00.000-08:00

Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Mandy has been writing original stories and poems for the Imagine! employee newsletter, using voice to text technology. Check out her latest story, entitled “The Halloween Adventure!”

The Halloween Adventure
by Mandy

The holidays are upon us. One of the holidays is the last day of October. The kids get to dress in their costumes and have a parade at school. The kids get to have parties in schools too. That meams they get sugar and treats. It's a parents nightmare. The kids come home from school and they are bouncing off the walls. The teachers don't make phone calls. The teachers don't care if the kids swear. Halloween is not over yet. After it turns dark you can only see the stars in the midnight Sky. The only light we had was the light from the moon. We saw a witch on her broom. The kids went door to door and asked for candy.

Happy Halloween! The kids were tired and they went home and went to bed.

Presentable

2011-11-07T08:49:00.000-08:00

Imagine! SmartHomes Project Manager Sterling Wind and PR guy Fred Hobbs are scheduled to present at the Council for Exceptional Children 2012 Convention & Expo, April 11-14, on "Using Social Media to Connect, Communicate, and Network Regardless of Ability/Disability."

Hope's Choices

2011-11-04T10:13:00.000-07:00

As proud as we at Imagine! are of our SmartHomes, we know that the homes themselves can only serve a very few people. That is why part of the second phase of our SmartHomes project is to test and refine technologies that can be used by other individuals with intellectual, developmental, or related disabilities.

Here's one example of where we've started that effort. In the video Parts One and Two below, Hope, a individual served by Imagine! (but not a SmartHome resident) is using technology to learn the first step in communicating on her own by pushing a button to indicate choices. That may seem simple, but for someone like Hope, who has never had the capability to verbally or physically indicate her preferences to others, the simple act of making his own choice is a profound first step toward independence.

The videos also demonstrate how Imagine! is taking a system-wide approach to implementing technology to improve the lives of those we serve. Part One takes place at Hope’s Group home, a residence that is specifically designed and operated for people with significant developmental and physical disabilities. Part Two takes place at Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department, which provides day services for Hope and many others. This helps bridge the learning process between the two services and sets her up for success in a more complete way.

Part One

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Part Two

Can’t see the video? Click here.

Check Out Donna’s Blog

2011-11-03T08:24:00.000-07:00

Have you checked out Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Donna’s blog lately? She added a couple of new posts this week – details on how she spent Halloween and a report on her visit to the circus. What did she find funny about the circus? It wasn’t the clowns – so I guess you’ll have to read her blog to find out!

SmartHomes In the News

2011-11-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

Imagine!’s SmartHomes guru Greg Wellems is featured in the latest edition of the magazine “ComputerTalk for the Pharmacist” discussing Imagine!’s use of CaraSolva’s MedSupport system in our SmartHomes and in other Imagine! group homes. Check it out here, Greg's on page 34. Way to go, Greg!

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

2011-11-01T10:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we had guests touring the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome from several states. Our guests included Scott Bowling, President and CEO of Exceptional Children's Foundation in California, Jeremy Bramlick from Minnesota, Chris Valcek from Nebraska, Terry Whitworth from California, Allan Pressel, of CharityFinders.com (who joined the tour via Skype), and Chris Valcek from Nebraska.

Are you interested in taking a tour? Click here.

Happy Halloween From The Charles Family SmartHome!

2011-10-31T08:35:00.000-07:00

The residents of the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont attended a fun Halloween party this weekend. Check out the cool costumes!

Check Out Donna’s Latest Blog Entry

2011-10-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

What scary, stealthy characters are Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome residents Donna and Gerald going to dress up as for Halloween? The answer is in Donna’s latest blog entry. Click here to find out . . . if you dare!

Imagine!’s Assistive Technology Laboratory – We're Almost There!

2011-10-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

We mentioned a while back that we have been working on creating an Assistive Technology Laboratory that will serve as our new headquarters for helping individual consumers identify, obtain, and learn to use the specific assistive technology devices that will allow them to reach their full potential. The lab will help us with the second phase of our SmartHomes project – expanding the use of technology beyond the SmartHomes into individual and family homes. We’re almost ready! Here’s some pictures of our tech staff putting some of the final touches on the lab. Exciting stuff!

Strategically Incorporating Technology

2011-10-25T08:11:00.000-07:00

On October 14, 2011, Imagine!’s SmartHomes guru Greg Wellems gave a presentation at the annual ANCOR Technology Conference. Greg spoke about the importance of strategically implementing technology for organizations which are looking to use technology as a way to enhance services for individuals with developmental disabilities. This was a powerful and important message to share as more and more organizations are realizing the potential that technology has to offer, but aren’t quite sure where to start. Greg’s presentation offered solutions for building a solid foundation on which to develop technology use in the DD field.

Take a peek at his presentation below.

Strategically Incoporating Technology

View more presentations from Fred Hobbs

Leona Stoecker: Imagine!’s SmartHomes Giving Spark!

2011-10-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

Today we’d like to offer a well deserved “congratulations” to Imagine! Foundation board member and past president (as well as a super SmartHome supporter) Leona Stoecker, who on Friday was awarded the Giving Spark Award at the Longmont Community Foundation Giving Celebration.

We’d like to quote here an email that Kathy Coyne, another Foundation board member, wrote to Leona last night after the ceremony, as it is said so beautifully and captures how we all feel. Kathy was attending on behalf of HospiceCare of Boulder & Broomfield Counties, which was a finalist for the Longmont Community Foundation’s Collaborative Excellence Award.

Leona,

It was so nice to see you tonight and I do hope I’m one of the first to congratulate you on the honor and award received at the Longmont Community Foundation Celebration!

You’ve been such a gift to the Longmont community and to Imagine! I can’t thank you enough for your efforts.

I wasn’t surprised, but everyone at my table mentioned how wonderfully you served the organization with your comments upon receiving the award. So perfectly done!

You’re such a treasure and I so appreciate your leadership!

Many thanks and congratulations again--also to your beloved Bernie, for his support of your efforts, as I know that means a lot to you and to our community!

Thanks so much, Kathy, and especially and always to our dear Leona!!

In the pictures above, Leona is shown with her award, and also with her husband Bernie.

Check Out Donna's Blog!

2011-10-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

You may be aware that SmartHome resident Donna has been doing an online diary on the SmartHomes blog for awhile. She has become skilled enough with her speech to text software that she is now making more frequent dairy entries. So now is a great time to re-introduce her own blog – “Donna’s Diary.” Click here to check it out (the latest post is an original story about aliens!), and be sure to come back often for updates!

Gerald's Creative Writing

2011-10-20T08:09:00.000-07:00

We’ve mentioned before how technology is helping Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Gerald learn to read and write. Here are some pictures of his hard work coming to fruition as he writes his own creative story about Halloween using his DynaVox. Gerald uses the elbow switch on his wheelchair to type. He is writing as part of a creative writing class in Imagine!’s CORE/Labor department. Way to go, Gerald!

Presentable

2011-10-19T09:20:00.000-07:00

Imagine! SmartHomes guru Greg Wellems and project manager Sterling Wind are presenting this week on SmartHomes and SmartSupports at the Maryland Association of Community Services Annual Conference.

Keep up the good work, guys!

Wes and Toby Connect 5

2011-10-18T07:47:00.000-07:00

The video below features Charles Family SmartHome residents Toby and Wes. The video is of an EAC, or Educational Activity Curriculum. The activity is called Connect 5, and is in many senses a modified tic-tac-toe board. The board contains 25 squares (five across and five down). The board is further broken down into four color-coded quadrants: red, blue, yellow, and green.

The game is played as follows: each player begins by selecting either the corner square in any of the quadrants, or the center square. From there, the player may then move up to three times in any (allowed) direction before selecting a square. The player may choose a square at any time during those three moves. Players with two adjacent playing pieces receive five points, three pieces receive ten points, four pieces receive 15 points, and five automatically wins the game. Games may be played until a player places five squares in a row, or until a player reaches a predetermined score.

This activity is designed for users with communication devices, as well as those without. This activity allows players to learn colors, directions, communication device navigation (where applicable), peer socialization, and turn taking. Any of these skills can be learned by any player at any time, and multiple skills can be learned by multiple individuals, all through one activity, thus maximizing the efficacy of the staff member facilitating (The activity is designed for 2-10 participants, where possible).

Most importantly, the learning process is fun!

Happy Birthday Rebecca!

2011-10-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

Wishing the happiest of birthdays to Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Rebecca. Hope it is a great one, Rebecca!

SmartHomes Take Center Stage

2011-10-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

We've done a couple of posts this week about Imagine!'s participation in the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities' Annual Conference. The Coleman Conference is not actually the only conference around technology and the field of developmental disabilities that happened this week in Colorado. Actually, there were three of them, and Imagine!'s SmartHomes project played a key role in them all.

But let's let someone else do the "talking" today. Below is a post from Imagine! CEO Mark Emery's blog from last Friday where he discusses the conferences and Imagine!'s central role in them.

Next week, Colorado will be the epicenter of three great opportunities for people who serve those with one or more developmental disabilities to learn about what’s going on in our field.

On Tuesday, October 11 and Wednesday, October 12, Alliance will be hosting the Six State Summit, where leaders in the DD field from Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming will meet and discuss legislative issues and the state of their states.

On Thursday, October 12, The Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities will be hosting its annual conference.

And on Friday, October 13, ANCOR will be hosting its annual technology conference.

All three conferences will be held at the Westin Westminster Hotel, just down the road from Imagine!. And all three conferences will feature Imagine! and our use of technology prominently.

For example, I will be speaking at a roundtable discussion at the Coleman Conference on “Leading an Organization to Adapt and Use Emerging Technology,” and my esteemed colleague Greg Wellems will be speaking on “How Organizations Can Create Partnerships to Develop Innovative Tech Solutions to Improve Services.”

Even more exciting, an individual who receives services from Imagine!, Mandy K., will be participating as a self-advocate at a Wednesday Coleman pre-conference event.

Mandy lives in the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder, and Imagine!’s two SmartHomes are the centerpieces of our efforts to use technology to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our services. Participants in all three conferences have scheduled tours at our SmartHomes.

We will also have an information booth on our SmartHomes at the Coleman conference. The information booth will display a PowerPoint presentation that provides a simple overview of the who, how, why and what of the SmartHomes.

I am proud of our efforts to incorporate technology into our services and Imagine!, and it pleases me to see that so many other organizations are recognizing the power and potential technology has to improve the lives of so many.

Mark And Greg Speak At Coleman Conference

2011-10-13T19:44:00.000-07:00

Imagine! CEO Mark Emery and SmartHomes guru Greg Wellems spoke today at the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities Annual Conference. Mark spoke on cloud computing and its implications for services, and Greg spoke about using technology for residential services. Enjoy some not so great photos of them in action.

Congratulations, Mandy

2011-10-12T14:27:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Mandy, who is speaking as a self-advocate at a Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities pre-conference event today!

Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

2011-10-10T08:33:00.000-07:00

Touring the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome today to get a first hand demonstration of technologies being used there to improve the lives of those with developmental disabilities: representatives from Maine-based Charlotte White Center as well as reps from the Jacob Brewer Home (also from Maine).

Are you interested in touring our SmartHomes? Then click here.

SmartHomes (and Gerald) in the News

2011-10-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

SmartHome resident Gerald is featured in the latest edition of ANCOR LINKS, the ANCOR newsletter. The story is about how he used technology to get a job. Really good stuff and well worth the time to read. Click here and find his story on page 15.

SmartHome Overview

2011-10-06T09:12:00.000-07:00

Next week’s Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities Conference will feature Imagine! and our SmartHomes project prominently. Imagine! CEO Mark Emery and SmartHomes guru Greg Wellems are scheduled to speak, many participants are planning to tour the SmartHome, and we will have an information booth at the conference. The information booth will display a PowerPoint presentation that provides a simple overview of the who, how, why and what of the SmartHomes. Take a sneak peek below.

About Imagine!’s SmartHomes

View more presentations from Fred Hobbs.

Donna's Diary - September 2011

2011-10-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

You may be aware that SmartHome resident Donna has been keeping an online diary. Up to now, she has only been posting once per month. Now, she has started using speech to text technology that is allowing her to more easily keep her diary up to date. Below are her diary entries from September. Look for more soon!

Tuesday September 6
I wrote a short story about eight little girls and their boyfriends. They got married and all of them lived in a huge house. The women cleaned up the house for their husbands, and the girls went and got stuff for their husbands at the store. They all ended up having kids and that made for a big family for holidays and stuff. Today I went to music class at CORE and was singing “When I’m 64,” a Beatles song. I am about to go start playing computer games with the rest of my house mates and that's all for now.

Today is September 13
Today I was in music class and art class. I really enjoyed doing art class. And story class where I ran my own stories. I made some drawings and sketches. I played the symbols in music class and when I got home I'd played a computer game that we earned points for. Today I got an anniversary card from a friend wishing my husband (Gerald) and me good thoughts from here on out. Yesterday my husband and I ran out for dinner. My husband and I went to Applebee’s for dinner and he had a spicy chicken and I had steak and potatoes and it was good.

PS: In the computer game that we played I tried for first place with another housemate.

Today is September 15
I went to CORE and then I went to work at In Clover. At work I did a box of treats for dogs. I was very proud of the work we got done. We worked for a new provider for the dog treats we have never worked with before. It took the entire day. When we got finished we cleaned up after we had eaten lunch. We ate lunch in a different building and met some new friends and that was enjoyable. And after lunch we went back to work and did a little more and were ready to come home for the day. I'm looking forward to a great weekend with my house mates.

Today is September 19
This weekend I hung out with my husband and we had some visitors at the SmartHome. We had some church friends come over and we read a magazine and sat outside. My friends brought over some chocolate chip cookies and boy were they delicious and were freshly made. We just sat outside and enjoyed the weather and we loved it and they loved it too. I am so happy that the dictation is working very well. I’m reading my blog and it's working very well.

Anthony Bakes A Cake

2011-10-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

SmartHome resident Anthony has been learning new cooking skills with the help of task prompters in the kitchen of the Charles Family SmartHome. Check out some pictures of him making a cake. I hope he’s planning to share!

Guess Who’s Touring The SmartHome?

2011-10-03T09:08:00.000-07:00

Touring Imagine!’s Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome today: Jane Fouchey and some of our FRIENDS from just up the road in Broomfield. They are building a new building and would like to see some of the ideas that have been incorporated into the SmartHome.

FRIENDS of Broomfield has a mission to enrich the lives of our friends with developmental disabilities and their families by creating opportunities for participation in every aspect of community life.

Welcome, FRIENDS!

SmartHome Staffer Shares His Thoughts

2011-09-30T11:02:00.000-07:00

We mentioned a couple of days ago that Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Gerald presented longtime Imagine! supporter Todd Saliman with an original painting. Gerald attended the event with SmartHome staff member Richard Lowe. Afterward, Richard sent the email below. Thanks for sharing, Richard!

I dropped Gerald off last night after he had presented one of his paintings in thanks to a Colorado lobbyist who is advocating for Imagine! state funding. Most of the SmartHome consumers were in the living room, and when we told them where we’d been, they applauded. Literally applauded; everybody was so happy for Gerald, who beamed like only Gerald can. Rebecca smiled and raised both hands above her head for high-fives when she told me that she had a new job. John told me about loving his job. Lana said that she was having a meeting this Friday for getting a job. Chris has worked at Imagine!’s Dixon Building for years now. Donna loves working at In Clover.

What impressed me was the excitement and pride each consumer expressed when they spoke of their jobs. Working is a very significant step for CORE/Labor Source consumers. Through work they graduate from being solely recipients of services, to participants in the creation of value, and this positively affects their self-esteem in obvious ways. Through work they are developing a stronger sense of “I CAN!,” which is bound to spill over into other areas of their lives.

It’s what we’re doing at Imagine!: Creating and providing innovative supports . . . so that people who have disabilities can lead fulfilling lives of independence and quality.

Interest In SmartHomes Continues To Grow

2011-09-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

Word about our SmartHomes continues to spread, and interested parties are contacting us from unexpected places. Case in point: on Wednesday, SmartHome project manager Sterling Wind received a call from a staff member for Texas State Senator Kirk Watson, wanting to discuss disability services, assistive technology, and our SmartHomes.

Sterling did his very best to answer the questions, because he knows better than to mess with Texas!

Thanks, Senator Watson, for looking into new ways of serving some of our most vulnerable citizens.

Gerald Thanks Imagine! Supporter

2011-09-28T08:26:00.000-07:00

Last night at Imagine!’s Board of Directors meeting, Imagine! SmartHome resident Gerald presented Todd Saliman with a framed piece of artwork that Gerald painted himself in honor of Todd’s tireless work on behalf of Imagine! and individuals with developmental disabilities across the state of Colorado.

Todd’s resume is quite impressive. From 1994 to 2002, Todd served in the Colorado House of Representatives. During his term he spent four years on the influential Joint Budget Committee. From 1996 to 2002 Todd also served on Imagine!’s Board of Directors. From 2003 to 2006, Todd served as a lobbyist for Imagine!, and in 2006 Todd was appointed by then Colorado governor Bill Ritter to head the state’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting. After helping with the transition into the current Governor John Hickenlooper’s administration, Todd has returned to lobbying for Imagine! and other clients, joining forces with Tanya Kelly-Bowry as part of the Policy Matters lobbying firm.

The common thread running through all of Todd’s accomplishments is a deep commitment to protecting some of Colorado’s most vulnerable citizens – individuals with developmental disabilities. His often heroic efforts during a time of deep economic uncertainty has meant that funding for services in our state has avoided some of the deep and painful budget cuts that otherwise may have hit our field. As Imagine! CEO Mark Emery put it, “There isn’t one individual with a developmental disability in our state that hasn’t benefited because of Todd’s work.”

In the picture below, Imagine! CEO Mark Emery (far left) claps as Todd (second from left) holds up Gerald’s painting. Greg Wellems (second from right) and Gerald look on.

Congratulations Todd, and thanks for all you have done for us!

Congratulations, Leona!

2011-09-26T08:55:00.000-07:00

Today we’d like to offer our congratulations to Leona Stoecker, past president of the Imagine! Foundation Board of Directors and one of the staunchest supporters of our SmartHomes project. Leona has been named as a finalist for the Longmont Community Foundation’s “Giving Spark” Award. Whether she wins or not, her spark is invaluable to us at Imagine!.

To learn more about all the great things Leona does for her community, click on the graphic below. The story is from when Leona was recognized as an icon of Boulder County by the Boulder County Business Report in a special publication called “Milestones: Icons and History of the Boulder Valley.” To make the picture bigger so you can read it better, just click on it again.

Thanks Leona, for all you have done for our SmartHomes!

Presentable

2011-09-23T09:49:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, September 29, Imagine! SmartHomes project manager will be working at a SmartHomes information booth during the 2011 IBM Employee Extravaganza. IBM has been a supporter of Imagine! and our SmartHomes in the past, and this is a great opportunity for us to meet face-to-face with IBM employees and show them how technology is changing the lives of some of our most vulnerable citizens.

Thanks, IBM!

Now You’re Saving – On Gas!

2011-09-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

Our decision to use green technologies when building our SmartHomes is already paying dividends in the form of cost savings. Below is an energy use comparison between the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont and a comparable home operated by Imagine! from January 2011 through August 2011.

You can see that we are seeing significant reductions in average energy use and saving an average of $3.36 per day! That is the kind of savings that can really add up in the long run, and the money saved can be used to provide more services to more individuals with developmental disabilities. Good stuff!

Guess Who’s Touring The SmartHome?

2011-09-20T09:36:00.000-07:00

We had a great tour yesterday at the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont. The “tourists” included local Longmont residents who visited with past Imagine! Foundation Board president (and all around superstar SmartHome supporter) Leona Stoecker.

Do you want to tour Imagine!’s SmartHome and see first-hand how technology is improving the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities. Just click here.

CU Students Developing Assistive Tech For SmartHomes Residents

2011-09-19T08:25:00.000-07:00

Once again, students in CU Professor Melinda Piket-May’s Engineering class will be working on projects to design some simple adaptive technologies for SmartHome residents and other individuals served by Imagine!. This has turned into a great collaboration that is mutually beneficial. Students are meeting today with SmartHome team members to get started. They will see the presentation below to give them a sense of the history of services for individuals with developmental disabilities, and why the projects they are working on are so important.

Learn more, and to see videos from previous class projects, by clicking here.

A Brief History of Services for People With Developmental Disabilities in Colorado – And a Glimpse at the Future

View more presentations from Fred Hobbs

SmartHome Staffers To Present At ARC Convention This Weekend

2011-09-15T10:58:00.000-07:00

Are you planning on attending the Arc National Convention in Denver this weekend? Superstar SmartHome staffers Sterling Wind and Fred Hobbs will be presenting as part of the Exchange – a series of roundtable discussion groups - on “Using Social Media to Connect, Communicate and Network Regardless of Ability / Disability.”

Can’t make it to the convention? Get a sneak peak at their presentation below:

Using Social Media To Connect, Communicate, and Network Regardless of Ability/Disability

View more presentations from Fred Hobbs

Can’t see the presentation? Click here.

Thanks To Our SmartHome DSPs

2011-09-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

This week is National Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week.

So today we’d like to give a great big shout out to the DSPs who work side by side with SmartHome residents to help them live, learn, work, and play in our community. Even though the SmartHomes are infused with technology, in the end, it is the DSPs who ensure that the technology is a means to a bigger end: a better life for the residents living there.

SmartHome DSPs work hard every to to ensure SmartHome residents are living meaningful, productive lives, and participating in community activities including work, recreation, and volunteerism alongside other community members.

Visit http://www.youneedtoknowme.org/ to learn more about DSPs and the tremendous difference they make each day in the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities.

And click here to see Imagine! CEO Mark Emery’s recent blog post honoring the all the dedicated DSPs who work for Imagine!.

Happy Anniversary Gerald and Donna!

2011-09-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

Wishing a happy anniversary (albeit a day late) to Boulder’s cutest couple: Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome residents Gerald and Donna. Here’s to many more!

Presentable

2011-09-12T12:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, we’ve done several “Presentable” blog posts in a row. That’s only because so many organizations are looking to Imagine!’s SmartHomes as a model for a new way of providing services, whether in individual homes or in a congregate residential setting.

Here’s the latest example. In October, at the 3rd Annual ANCOR Technology Leadership Summit, SmartHomes guru Greg Wellems will be presenting on: Strategically Incorporating Technology in Your Operations.

Good luck Greg!

Presentable

2011-09-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

In October, SmartHomes project manager Sterling Wind is scheduled to present on our SmartHomes at the Pennsylvania Community Providers Association (PCPA) 2011 Conference. Earlier this year, Greg Wellems presented on the same subject at PCPA’s annual technology conference. The SmartHomes were such a hit there they invited us back to their overall conference.

Hats off to you, Sterling!

Presentable

2011-09-08T08:14:00.000-07:00

Interest in what we are doing at our SmartHomes and how we are using technology to better serve those with developmental disabilities continues to grow. At the end of this month, SmartHomes guru Greg Wellems and PR guy Fred Hobbs will be presenting at the Oregon Disability MegaConference. Greg will discuss assistive technology, Fred will talk about social media. We know they’ll do Imagine! proud!

Mandy's Short Story - The Little Girl’s Birthday Dream

2011-09-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

Note: The story below was written by Mandy, who lives at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder, and is using some of the technology in the SmartHome and in CORE/Labor Source classes to write articles for the Imagine! employee newsletter. If you cross paths with Mandy, please thank her for her valued contributions to the newsletter.

There was a little girl. She had a dream. The little girl couldn't decide what she wanted for her birthday. She was turning four. She still wanted to learn to read. The parents and teachers felt she needed to learn her ABCs, counting, colors, writing, spelling, words, and math. The parents said, yes indeed. The little girl said, I go to school to play with my friends and to learn how to cook. I'm not in school to learn about everyday life skills. Most kids my age want to go to school and they like school. I think school is boring. I don't have to get up in the morning to get on the bus for school. I’m not going to college and I don't have any knowledge. My friends are doing things I'm not but I'm going to cooking school. I like reading cookbooks, just not regular books for school.

The little girl had her fourth birthday. She got a toy kitchen and things to put in the oven. She invited all her friends in the neighborhood. She got a chocolate cake with trick candles for her birthday cake. Have a great day. It's my birthday.