Bobby's Story

This blog post is from Imagine! CEO Mark Emery's blog post on June 20, 2014.






The video below was produced by the Colorado Department of Human Services and features the story of Bobby. Bobby lived at the Wheat Ridge Regional Center for nearly 50 years. A little less than a year ago, he moved to Imagine!'s 19th St. Group home, designed to meet the needs of people with significant physical disabilities.






It was the first time Bobby lived outside of the Regional Center since he was six years old, and he is now enjoying many activities with his new neighbors and friends. He is particularly proud of his personalized room decorations and enjoys spontaneous activities like spending time with horses at a nearby stable. Besides dedicated caregivers, Bobby now has a room of his own, a park nearby, and a view of the Flatirons from his front door.

Miah's Favorite Things: Spring, Blue Topaz, & Burgers

This blog post came to us from Miah, who wrote the following during Imagine!'s Out & About department's Creative Expressions Class. The way Miah describes eating hamburgers and French fries seems like it would make an excellent advertisement for a hamburger restaurant!

My favorite season of the year is spring because it makes me feel carefree, and the lightness in the air. I hope you enjoyed my favorite season of the year. 

My favorite birthstone is the blue topaz because it describes my personality, and it describes December perfectly. 

When I watch a movie, I like to create a new food craving, and to have fun with the popcorn and to enjoy the movie. 

My favorite food is burgers and French fries, because I like the tastefulness of the juice of the burgers, the crispiness of the burgers, and the French fries is slipping through my fingers. Also, the taste of the cheese is melting through my hands, and also, the hot, smoking burgers is my favorite thing in the world. 

Gabe's And Micah's Fable, "The Stubborn Cow"

This blog post came to us in an email from Erkia Schroeder, who is a Communications Teacher for Imagine!'s CORE/Labor Source (CLS) department.  This fable, "The Stubborn Cow," was written collaboratively by two clients, Gabe and Micah, pictured below, as the class was working on fables in a Creative Writing class.  Both Gabe and Micah have given their permission for us to print their story. If you would like to share a comment about their fable, you can email Erika at eschroeder@imaginecolorado.org and she can pass along your comment to Gabe and Micah.

The Stubborn Cow

Written by Gabe and Micah

Once upon a time there was Duck that lived in a house with a beautiful garden. The Duck was planting some flowers and the Cow came and he said the Duck had beautiful flowers. The Duck had something to do so he asked the Cow to watch his garden. Some animals were there walking by such as a sheep, chicken, and horse. The cow was hungry, and was afraid to ask for help of the other animals so he ate all the flowers. 

The Cow needed some help cleaning his stall and then his friends asked him if he needed some help. The Cow was too stubborn and too afraid to ask for help and said “No thank you.” He then became frustrated and had a nervous breakdown trying to do it all by himself. The sheep, chicken, and the horse saw that he needed help but they were mad at him and they didn’t want to see him or hang out with him. 

The Duck came back home from a long trip and he was furious at the Cow.  “How could you eat my garden when you could have asked for help?” 

The Cow was shocked and started saying “I was hungry.” The Duck was glad that he told the truth but he was still mad at him. The Duck didn’t want to see the Cow and told him “I need a break from you for a while and I want you to think of what you did and ask for help next time.” 

The Cow was so upset and angry he just sulked and cried like there was no tomorrow. He thought of what he did and realized he should have asked for help and maybe tomorrow he won’t do that again. 

Never be afraid to ask for it and asking for it you will get some help. 

Gabe working on a story in his CORE/Labor Source (CLS) class.

Micah working on a story in his CORE/Labor Source (CLS) class.

Rebecca Has Big Travel Plans

This blog post came to us during a visit to the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome last week. Rebecca wanted to share some upcoming adventures she has planned.

I'm going to California next week, Oakland, to see my sister-in-law. 

Then on June 28th I'm going to a barbecue with John (one of Rebecca's housemates).

In November I'm going to Las Vegas with my family. 

Rebecca working out at the gym.

John's Update: NBA finals, Estes Park, Disney World. . .

This post came to us during a visit with John last night at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder.

Saturday I'm going to Estes Park with Joan Handley's group, 'Just for the Fun of It.' I'll do some shopping and just enjoy myself. 

Tonight I'm watching the NBA finals. The Spurs (San Antonio) are playing Miami (Heat). I'm hoping the Spurs win since Miami won it last year. 

I'm hoping to go to Disney World in Orlando, Florida later this year. I was there a long time ago and liked it. They have the Animal Kingdom, the Epcot Center, entertaining Disney characters, and lots of rides. 

I'm saving money for the trip from my job at Celestial Seasonings. It's a tea factory. We work with boxes and bottling. Some of what I do there is with the pallets. I put six boxes on a pallet, then cover it with a big, flat piece of cardboard, then put more boxes on it. 

John watching last night's NBA finals.  John is hoping the Spurs win, and last night they did.

Things Bill Likes

This blog post came to us from Bill, who wrote the following during Out & About's Creative Expressions Class.

Things I like: 

Fresh popcorn 
Kettle corn 
Memphis 
Elvis 
Chicken 
I love Diet Coke 
Thanksgiving Day 
Firemen 
Going to the movies 

Bill, with Meagan, coloring Easter eggs at an Out & About event earlier this year.