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Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

Representatives of East Carolina Behavioral Health are planning to visit Colorado next Thursday, June 5, to tour one of our SmartHomes and to learn more about Imagine!'s approach to applying technology, including consumer tech, remote monitoring, and enterprise technology.

Donna And Gerald Get Bolder

Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome residents Donna and Gerald participated in the Bolder Boulder this past Memorial Day. From the looks of the pictures, it appears they had a great time!

Technology Tuesday

In order for us to be successful at using technology to improve the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities, we must ensure our staff members are also comfortable with and understand the various technologies we are using. This picture is from a training taking place at the Charles Family SmartHome. Site Supervisor Chris DiRosa says: “This month we are focusing on adaptive communication device training. A Dynovox is a fantastic tool to allow many of our residents to communicate and control their environment through the use of technology. Dynovox users at our SmartHome are able to control their TVs, radios, and lights all through the use of their adaptive devices. Because of the amazing work being done here by Imagine!, residents are able to enhance their independence and express themselves like never before! Pictured is Isaac (with Toby assisting) teaching a class on device set up and troubleshooting.”

Donna Uses Computer To Make Personalized Card

Here’s one of the many simple ways Imagine! SmartHome residents are able to use technology to stay in touch with friends and families. In the photo, Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Donna shows a card she made on the computer. It’s a note to her friend Aneta, who sends Donna nice notes regularly.

Mandy Just Called To Say . . .

This blog post came to us in an email from Kelly Faus, who is an Instructor in Imagine!s CORE/Labor Source department. One of the classes Kelly teaches is a music class that is held at KGNU radio station in Boulder, and the class, which includes Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Mandy, recently finished another song, their take on Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called To Say I Loved You." Take a listen below.

The musicians in the song are as follows:
--Vocals by Scott
--Organ Sound by Mandy
--Guitar Sounds by Frank
--Drum Sounds by Frank and Scott

Scott wanted to give this song to his girlfriend as a gift.  The class will put all of their work into an album once they finish one more song!  They have previously recorded a cover of Derek and the Dominos' "Layla" and "Mandy's Song," written by Mandy.

Can't see the video? Click here. 

A Cool Meeting

This photo below was taken yesterday afternoon, as Lana, Donna, and John were leaving their monthly Innovations Advocacy Council meeting. The housemates from the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder have been volunteering as members of the Innovations Advocacy Council for the past year.

Yesterday's agenda included discussing the creation of a logo for the council, having a table at Imagine!'s Supported Living Services Provider Fair on May 29, and the Family Model for residential services.

John, displaying his typical positive attitude, came out of the two hour meeting with a smile and when asked about the meeting, replied, "It's cool." John's enthusiasm made us wonder how many of us come out of a two hour meeting feeling like that! Well done John.