Guess Who's Touring The SmartHomes?

Scheduled to tour the Charles Family SmartHome in Longmont today: Jonathan Singer, Colorado State Representative from House District 11. Hope you enjoy the tour, Representative Singer!

Donna Tie-Dyes

A fun activity the residents of the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome have been taking part in recently is tie-dying shirts. It is a great way for the residents to express their personality and creativity. In this photo, Donna is making sure her shirt is rolled up carefully before starting the dying process.

Gerald Writes More About His Birthday Party

This post was sent via email from SmartHome resident Gerald, who wrote the post at his CORE/Labor Source Creative Writing Class.

I had a great birthday! All of my roommates were there as well as my house staff and of some of my staff from CORE. We had mashed potatoes and spaghetti, cake and ice cream. I got a fire truck and police car that light up and make noise. Everyone wore silly homemade party hats. We all had a fun time only 342 days until my next birthday!

Spread The Word To End The Word!

Today, March 6th, 2013, is National Spread the Word to End the Word Awareness Day. The day was created to bring about the end of the use of the R-word. The R-word hurts because it is exclusive. It's offensive. It's derogatory. For more information on National Spread the Word to End the Word Awareness Day, click here.

Guess Who’s Touring The SmartHomes?

Imagine!’s SmartHomes continue to be a “must-tour” for people across the country, and even the world, interested in learning first-hand how technology is being used to improve services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

A few recent SmartHome tourists include Martha Pofit, a health care consultant from New York-based Living Resources, which provides a wide range of services to individuals challenged by a variety of developmental disabilities, Steve Phua, President of Wonderland Homes, who is interested in collaborating with Imagine! on the construction needs of the people we serve, and twelve volunteers from AmeriCorps.

Folks scheduled to tour the SmartHome in the next few weeks include Jonathan Singer, Colorado State Representative from House District 11, Shusei Iioka, from the Residential Sales and Planning Department of the Japanese Urban Renaissance Agency, and Denise Bloomquist from Texas-based Project Janus, a not-for-profit corporation whose purpose is to support the most appropriate level of preventative care, treatment and crisis intervention services for constituents affected by a dual diagnosis of an intellectual or developmental disability and co-occurring mental illness (IDD/MI).

Are you interested in taking a tour? Click here to schedule a tour online.

Guess Who’s Touring The SmartHomes?

We had some special visitors to Imaigne!’s Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder today.

I think they forgot to sign up for their tour online, though.

March Is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Twenty-five years ago, spurred by advocates across the nation, then-President Ronald Reagan declared March to be Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month urging “all Americans to join me in according to our fellow citizens with such disabilities both encouragement and the opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential.”

In observance of DD Awareness Month, Imagine!’s SmartHomes team encourages everyone to celebrate the strengths and achievements of Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). After decades of progress, today people with I/DD are living and working in the community, pursuing higher education, growing their faith, making their voices heard, and even taking a lead in using technology to find more independence.