An update from Donna

Here’s a fun picture of Donna and her housemate Jeanne that live at Imagine!’s Santa Fe Home in Broomfield, enjoying a game of Connect Four.

I call winner!

Remebering Aaron Tuneberg

Last Wednesday night, more than 100 people came to Imagine!’s conference center to remember Aaron Matthew Tuneberg. Mark Emery, CEO of Imagine!, spoke about creating meaning out of this tragic loss. Josie Heath, President of the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County, spoke about community coming together, and Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett shared his lessons learned. All of the speakers honored the Tuneberg family for their strength and determination.

Aaron's mother, Gale Boonstra, shared her hope for Aaron’s legacy – that we all become more mindful of the needs, as well as the potential, of adults with disabilities, and that we do whatever we can to help these individuals and their families. She shared a video about Aaron, and we wanted you to see it and invite you to share it with your friends and loved ones.

 

Can’t see the video? Click here. 

To learn more about Aaron, or to donate, visit www.AaronsFund.com. 

Below are some pictures from the event. Thanks to all who attended and all who share Gale’s vision.

Gale and Tim Boonstra

Aaron's family

Colorado State Representatives Dianne Primavera and Mike Foote with Gale

Gale and Imagine! Foundation Past President Walt Pounds

Colorado State Senator Rollie Heath, Community Foundation Serving Boulder County President Josie Heath, and Gale

Gale and Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett

Signage identifying the newly named Aaron Matthew Tuneberg Conference Room

Imagine! CEO Mark Emery

Innovations Super Hero

One of Imagine!’s Innovations department’s recognition programs is to name staff members each month who have gone above and beyond in providing services.  This program was designed to recognize and thank employees and providers in the categories of: Health, Safety, and Wellbeing; Effectiveness and Efficiency; Respect and Dignity; Opportunities; Integrity; and Care (HEROIC). All employees who are given a Heroic Award within a month time period become eligible for being named the “Super Hero of the Month.”

We are very proud to announce that this month’s Innovations “Super Hero of the Month” is Robin Phillips, who is a Site Supervisor at Imagine!’s Garden Place Home.

Robin was nominated by a fellow team member because:

Robin is extremely efficient, provides excellent care to everyone who she works with, and she handles stressful situations with compassion and grace. Robin is prompt to answer questions from her team members and managers, and she shows a genuine care for every person that she interacts with.  Recently, Robin assisted a resident who accepted services from Innovations as they were supported by hospice. She also supported the other residents and team that she leads in their shared process of grieving. Robin has worked closely with many departments to assist with staffing shortages and associated challenges. Robin is a shining example of Innovations’ CORE values and mission.

When you see Robin, please congratulate her for her hard work and dedication.

Participants Wanted For CDDC Local Leadership Development Project

THRIVE Center (aka Denver Metro Community Parent Resource Center) is very excited to announce that they are planning for our 5th year of Leaders Empowering and Developing (LEAD). LEAD is a leadership development program for parents of children with disabilities and adults with developmental disabilities sponsored by the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council (CDCC). This year is the last opportunity for community members to take advantage of this free opportunity! Space is available for 18 - 21 participants, so apply quickly. You have an option to apply online:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C5NM6N7 

For those of you unfamiliar with the LEAD Program, it is eight sessions of monthly trainings starting September 17th consisting of a variety of workshops including the following:

• History of the Disability Movement in the US, 
• Learning about Special Education, 
• Community Resources, 
• Developing a Personal Story and Elevator Speech, 
• Assistive Technology 
• Collaborative Work Groups 
• Special Legislative Session at the Capitol 

Sessions scheduled for: 2015: Sept, 17, Oct 15, Nov 19, Dec 17 2016: Jan 21; Feb 18; April 21; in addition to one Legislative and Public Policy Session on a Friday and Saturday in March, 2016.

Dinner will be provided at 5:30 for participants and the Session will begin at 6:00 pm every evening, ending at 9:00 pm.

Location: Developmental Pathways, 11111 E Mississippi Avenue, Aurora 80012 Participants are also expected to develop a community project as part of the training. Staff will help and support you.

A desire to learn and make a positive impact on one's community is a key component to participation! Please feel free to share this information with any one that you believe can benefit it.

Child Care and Spanish Interpretation is offered with advance notice. For questions and more information, please contact THRIVE at 303-365-2772.

Deadline for applications, childcare requests, and Spanish translation requests: September 1st, 2015.

Join In On A Community Conversation On Inclusion

Let your voice be heard! Help create a more inclusive Jewish community with individuals of all ages with disabilities, mental health challenges, or other special needs. Learn more about the 120+ responses to the Boulder Jewish Inclusion Survey. Then, join discussion groups to determine our top priorities and next steps.

• How can organizations be more accessible and welcoming to all? 
• What will help YOU or your family participate fully in services/programs? 
• What new programs or groups do you want? 
• How can we remove barriers and accommodate all needs? 

Thursday, August 27th, 6:30 – 8:00 pm Boulder JCC – 3800 Kalmia, Boulder Snacks provided. RSVP preferred but not required.*

This is a collaborative effort of the inclusion committees at Congregation Bonai Shalom, Congregation Har HaShem and Nevei Kodesh, the Boulder JCC, and Boulder Jewish Family Service.

*RSVP at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DWMLXB9 or by email. Send questions or comments to BoulderJewishInclusionSurvey@gmail.com or call (303) 442-6605.

Out & About Partners: City of Lafayette’s Peer Empowerment Program

Out & About Partners:
City of Lafayette’s Peer Empowerment Program

During the last week of June, Out & About’s Therapeutic Recreation (TR) team was asked to partner with the City of Lafayette’s Peer Empowerment Program. The program is for middle and high school students who are looking to advance their leadership skills during the summer break from school. It is funded by the Lafayette Public Tax Levy, as part of an effort to increase the number of positive programs available to youths in the community. The program also involves collaboration with the University of Colorado Boulder Public Achievement Program, headed by Elaina Verveer.

Out & About’s Therapeutic Recreation Specialists were excited to partner with the program and led an afternoon of teambuilding and group initiatives. “As is always the case in Therapeutic Recreation, we wanted the afternoon to include games that got everyone involved, but also really wanted the kids to have a chance to practice their problem solving, communication and leadership skills,” said Lisa Bargatze. Lisa and Beth Gessert, along with their interns, Maggie Evans and Kenneth Wing, led several initiatives including Giant, Wizard, Elf (an active version of Paper-Rock-Scissors), and a Tower Building “contest” that really highlighted the students’ creativity and teamwork skills. Beth said, “It was fun to challenge ourselves to plan activities and work with a different population than we typically do at Out & About. We got to stretch our TR muscles!”

Imagine! ASD Program: Request for Registrations

The annual enrollment for the 3-year Autism Spectrum Disorders Program at Imagine! began July 1st. This year the Program still has openings for enrollment to those who meet the eligibility requirements.

The ASD Program is for Boulder County residents between the ages of 3 and *26 who live at home with their parents, who have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and who are NOT eligible for other services through Imagine!. If your child already receives services through the Family Support Services Program (FSSP) at Imagine!, s/he would not be considered for the ASD Program.

*The upper age limit has recently been raised from 22 to 26: older individuals may request an exemption from the criteria of living at home with their parents. 

To register your son or daughter:

• Please visit www.imaginefamilyservices.org to register online for the ASD Program. You will receive an email confirmation; 
• You will then receive by mail an Intake Application packet from Imagine!’s Intake Case Managers. You must complete this application for services at Imagine! in order to remain on the wait list for the ASD Program; 
• Colorado has recently broadened the eligibility criteria for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities services. Some families who register for the ASD Program may learn that their child qualifies for other services at Imagine! rather than for the ASD Program. 
• Please send the following supporting documents to the ASD Program Coordinator at Imagine!: 

1. your child’s most recent medical diagnosis, signed by a psychiatrist, physician or psychologist who specializes in autism spectrum disorders; 
2. your child’s current IEP. 

The ASD Program enrolls 20 children each July from the registration waiting list. Funds for therapeutic services are for 3 years: $5,000 the 1st year, $3,500 the 2nd year & $2,000 the 3rd (final) year. This is a family-directed program in which therapeutic services are ordered from the ASD Program’s web store to match an approved 3 Year Plan. Please visit the website for examples. If you or anyone you know is interested in learning more about this program, you can contact Lucy Williams, ASD Program Coordinator, at 303-926-6444 or lwilliams@imaginecolorado.org.

Visiting the Denver Zoo

Recently, Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome staff members Ian griffin and Max Gatz took the whole house to the Denver Zoo. Numerous jokes were made about the monkeys, and the penguins, bears, and peacocks were listed as the favorites among the residents. Thanks to Site Supervisor Shannon Bundy for sharing the pictures!

Imagine! Excellence in Customer Service Award: August 2015

Melanie Kline:
Recipient of the August 2015
Imagine! Excellence in Customer Service Award

Congratulations are in order for Melanie Kline, who works for Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source (CLS) department, on being selected as the August 2015 recipient of the Imagine! Excellence in Customer Service Award.

Below is some information from Melanie’s nomination, which ably demonstrates why she was selected as this month’s recipient:

Since joining Boulder CLS, Melanie has been an integral component to the growth of the program. She used her teaching background to develop and implement a program that focuses on integrating young adults into the community. Melanie has made a number of community connections in establishing sites for her program. She actively teaches the participants to independently access their community and give back as they volunteer at a local foodbank. Melanie does an amazing job supporting the folks of CLS, making herself a mentor to those around her. She is someone that community members and providers alike enjoy talking to and know they can go to with any sort of issue or suggestion. Melanie does an awesome job communicating program plans, needs, needs of the clients, etc. She is a key asset to CLS and Imagine! and for this reason, she should be recognized with the Customer Service Award.

Great work, Melanie, and congratulations on this well-deserved honor!

Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome: Garage Sale August 15 and 16

Residents at the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome, located at 1806 Iris Avenue in Boulder, are having a garage sale on Saturday, August 15, and Sunday, August 16. The sale is from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm on both days. The residents have been going through their personal belongings to see what they’d like to sell. Some of the items that will be for sale are: movies, books, furniture, clothes, electronics, and home décor. Please try to stop by, and even if you don’t purchase anything, you can pretty much count on being greeted with enthusiasm by the friendly residents (like Rebecca, pictured below).