Congratulations George!

The SmartHome team would like to congratulate a longtime supporter of our ambitious project who is being honored at the upcoming Boulder Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner.

George Karakehian will be receiving the Virginia Patterson Business Person of the Year Award. George is the former president of the Imagine! Foundation board of directors and is a real “go-getter.” His habit of getting things done quickly and efficiently led to great strides for the Foundation.

Along with his wife Kristin, George has been active with the Foundation since its inception. He organized special fundraisers, hosted events at his home, and assisted in the planning and preparation for several community outreach luncheons as well as the annual Imagine! Celebration and Dinner.

In his role as president of the Foundation board, George led the charge in the creation of Imagine!’s first SmartHome. He worked to secure land for the new home as well as to find new funding sources and in-kind donors for the project.

Even though he is no longer board president, George is still active in the Foundation and in supporting the SmartHomes project. He is even serving as the emcee at tonight’s Foundation Celebration Dinner and Auction, proceeds from which will support both SmartHomes.

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

Why Build A SmartHome – Part IV

Periodically throughout this blog, we have shared some of the many reasons Imagine! has undertaking the monumental task of building two SmartHomes, the first homes in the nation to use technology to improve the quality and efficiency of service delivery for individuals with developmental, cognitive, and related disabilities.

One of the reasons we have given is that we are facing a crisis in the developmental disabilities system right here in Colorado. Too many people need services, and not enough resources are available to meet the need.

So by creating a new, more efficient model of service delivery, we hope to be able to continue to provide services for some of our State’s most vulnerable citizens.
Here’s a perfect example of why. Last fall, the State announced that, due to budget cuts, it would be closing the Grand Junction Regional Center, which cares for 145 patients, primarily ones with developmental disabilities who do not require constant nursing care. Some 32 residents, though, are severely developmentally disabled and have physical disabilities as well as complex medical needs. Those individuals will continue to need services, and the local Community Centered Board (CCB) in Grand Junction, Mesa Developmental Services, have done a heroic job of stepping up to fill the void created by the closure of the Regional Center.

But we can’t expect CCBs to continue to make up for shortfalls in resources. And we don’t realistically expect that State and Federal governments will be in a position to drastically increase funding for services anytime soon.

That it why it is imperative that we look at new models of service delivery now, before the crisis in our State, and indeed the nation, gets worse.

Hence, Imagine!’s SmartHome project.

Why do we bring this up now? Because, although the selection process is not yet complete, it is likely that one of the residents of our new Longmont SmartHome, scheduled to be completed in a short month or two, will be a former resident of the Wheat Ridge Regional Center. While that facility was spared in the most recent round of cuts, the closing of the Grand Junction Regional Center indicates that none of the regional centers in the state are safe, and the time is now to explore alternative service options for residents in those facilities as well.

Once all of the residents for our Longmont home are selected, we’ll let you know who they are and how important they are to our community.

Interested in earlier “Why Build a SmartHome” posts? Check them out below.

Part I

Part II

Part III

Going Global

Imagine!’s SmartHomes project was recently awarded $25,000 by the Charles Evans Hughes Memorial Foundation to start an international campaign with a goal of provision of cost-effective services for individuals with developmental and related disabilities in the developing world.

The project is moving ahead rapidly. On Wednesday, Imagine! and our SmartGrid partners spoke with a member of the Jordanian Renewable Energy Society to explore how to apply some of the SmartHome supports not only to individuals with developmental disabilities, but also individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). The technologies could have a powerful impact on the care and treatment of soldiers who suffer head injuries during wartime.

This is in the early stages, but could be very promising! We’ll keep you posted as we move forward!

SmartHome Technology in Action: Rebecca, Mandy, and Rae

Like so many of us, many people with developmental disabilities struggle with weight issues and being motivated to exercise and follow workout routines. Rebecca, Mandy and Rae are using a Nintendo Wii to provide interactive feedback that keeps them exercising and also increases their body awareness, social interaction, and teamwork skills.

SmartHome Technology in Action: Chris

Chris has been able to ride the bus independently in the past, but it required one-on-one staff assistance for training. Because of budget constraints, it is difficult to continue to offer this training. But by using GPS navigational systems and handheld computers, Chris is now able to navigate independently throughout the community, including to his job in Lafayette.

SmartHome Technology in Action: John and Lana

In John and Lana’s previous living environments there were no mechanisms in place to foster their cooking independence, and they were able to prepare only basic meals. Now, using touch screen prompting systems, John and Lana are limited only by their desire to learn!

SmartHome Technology in Action: Donna

Donna has learned to use a computer and now tells about her SmartHome experiences through her own blog! Writing this blog has increased Donna’s self confidence and eagerness to explore new opportunities. Recently, Donna expressed a desire to write her own book!