50 Years, 50 Stories - Stephanie Tilley

This week’s contributor to “50 Years, 50 Stories,” Stephanie Tilley, is a true renaissance woman. In addition to being a ten-year veteran of Imagine!, she is a published author and a talented softball player (she does the Imagine! softball team proud). She has also recently undertaken a new task as part of her duties at Imagine! – a feature on our Imagine! SmartHomes blog called “Stephanie’s High Five” where she shares five apps for tablets and mobile devices that may benefit individuals with a variety of intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Thanks for sharing your story, Stephanie!

Combating The Barriers

By Stephanie Tilley

Stephanie Tilley gives herself a high five.

I came to Colorado in January of 2003. I needed to complete an internship in Therapeutic Recreation to complete my bachelor’s degree at the University of Georgia. I wanted to intern at a place that did community-based Therapeutic Recreation instead of clinical based. There are very few places in the United States that do what Imagine! does. I should know -- I looked! So I packed my car and drove 24 hours from Georgia to Colorado to work at Out & About. I worked with the kids on some days and the adults on others and also got to work some of the weekend activities. I had all intentions of completing my internship and heading back home to Georgia, but , once I was here, I almost immediately fell in love with Colorado and Out & About.

Working with the participants and staff was so rewarding, and every day was an adventure! We were supporting participants in accessing and contributing to their communities in a way that I had not seen or heard of anywhere else. Participants were thriving in the community, learning new skills, and trying things that they and their families had doubted that they would ever be able to do. We were always encouraged to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to challenges that we encountered along the way. I always said that my job was twofold…teaching and supporting the participants in the community and teaching and supporting the community in the process.

During my internship I was privileged to get to shadow some of the Occupational Therapists in Dayspring for a day and also visit one of the work sites with a Labor Source crew. I learned about the different departments at Imagine!, and I was amazed at how the different departments worked together and each added a different aspect of support to the participants and their families. After my internship was done, I didn’t want to leave. Colette Marie, Coordinator of Out & About, offered me a job, and after a short time back home to fulfill a previous summer commitment, I started work on September 1st, 2003. Because of support from Colette and Out & About, I was able to complete my internship, sit for the national exam, and gain my certification, becoming a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist.

During my time at Out & About I learned how to write individual plans, how to plan outings in the community, and how to adapt. Not only did I learn how to adapt the activities, but I learned to adapt myself. I learned how to become more patient, more flexible, and more understanding. I had to throw most of my assumptions out the window. I learned not only about the physical barriers that our participants encountered, but also about the social and emotional unseen barriers that they encounter as well. Imagine! as a whole combats the barriers put on our participants every day, and for that I am proud to be a part of such a wonderful organization.

I have been blessed to work at Imagine! for 10 years! I have learned even more about the different departments at Imagine! and have met so many wonderful people, especially on the Imagine! softball team. I was inspired to write a book called “101 Adapted Games for Kids,” which provides adaptations for children’s activities to create inclusive activities and environments. I worked eight and one-half years at Out & About, and this last year and a half have been with CORE/Labor Source. My work at CORE/Labor Source with adaptive technology and the IT department at Imagine! continues to solidify my faith and joy in how Imagine! departments work together to adapt environments and support our participants to thrive. I hope there are many more years to come, as I am truly thankful to work at Imagine!.

Are you interested in sharing your story for “50 Years, 50 Stories?” If so, contact Caroline Siegfried at caroline@imaginecolorado.org or 303-926-6405. We’d love to hear from you!