Anthony and Sarah's Birthday Party

Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont residents Anthony and Sarah recently had a joint birthday celebration. Enjoy some photos from the party – it looks like they had a great time!

Technology Allows Eddie to Make His Own Decisions

As proud as we 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 below, Eddie, a individual served by Imagine! (but not a SmartHome resident) is using technology to learn the first step in communicating on his own by pushing a button to indicate choices. If he pushes the button, he can see clips from his favorite movie, “The Hangover.”

That may seem simple, but for someone like Eddie, who has never had the capability to verbally or physically indicate his preferences to others, the simple act of making his own choice is a profound first step toward independence. Simply choosing to see the video or not helps him become an emergent communicator, and change a lifelong mindset of dependence. Using Boardmaker software by Myers Johnson, Eddie is learning about cause and effect, and beginning to recognize that he can have control over his choices.

This is only an initial step in what will be a long and arduous process. But it is a great example of how technology can change the lives of even those who have spent their entire lives with significant physical and developmental disabilities and have not had the opportunity to direct their own life choices.

Keep up the hard work, Eddie!



Can’t see the video? Click here.

International Tourist Part III

Imagine!’s SmartHomes are becoming an international destination for leaders across the globe who are looking into new ways of providing services for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

We mentioned that in the past week and one half, we’ve have visitors from India and France.

And on Tuesday, we added a visitor from England to that list. Rob McNeill, Vice Consul and Trade & Investment Officer, Information and Communication Technology for the British Consulate-General, Chicago, dropped by to see first hand to see how technology is changing the lives of some of our community’s most vulnerable citizens.

The tour was arranged by Geoff Cooper, President and CEO of CaraSolva – one of our longtime partners in searching for ways to use technology to enhance services.

In the pictures below, Vice Consul McNeill is wearing the black suit, and Mr. Cooper is in the blue shirt. You’ll also see SmartHomes project manager Sterling Wind and technology guru Chris Baumgart demonstrating various technologies.

Thank you for touring, Vice Consul McNeill!

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

Wishing the happiest of birthdays to Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont resident Sarah today.

We hope your birthday wishes come true!

Happy Birthday Anthony!

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

Sen. Bennet Staffer Tours SmartHome

Last week, James Thompson, Regional Director for US Senator Michael Bennet, took a tour of the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont. In the picture below, SmartHomes guru Greg Wellems explains how the technology in the home is changing the lives of the residents living there, and also how the technology can impact future services for many more individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Thanks for touring, James!

International Tourist Part II

It has been a busy week for international tours to our SmartHomes.

Last Tuesday, Thilakam Rajendran, Managing Director of India-based ARUNIM, took a tour of the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder.

Then, on Friday, the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome saw its second international tourist in one week when Charles Consel, Professor of Computer Science, University of Bordeaux toured the home.

Professor Consel shared information on his areas of research, including working on smart technologies for seniors, and listened intently as we demonstrated the technologies currently available in our SmartHomes, technologies we’re looking at, and how the needs of seniors and those with developmental disabilities intersect.

The tour was arranged by Clayton Lewis from the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities.

Thanks for touring, Professor Consel!