Coming Attractions 2015

As the year comes to a close, I thought I’d share some issues currently on my mind surrounding the funding and delivery of services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities locally, across Colorado, and across the country. I’m not going to go into details here, but expect to see posts on the subjects below in the coming year.

See you in 2015!

• Conflict Free Case Management: a solution in search of a problem (we might even see another appearance of my two favorite animated characters discussing the implications of CFCM). 
• Collective Intelligence: How can social media help? 
• Colorado coming up short with answers to trending funding shortfalls. 
• And let’s hope we discuss the beauty of early intervention services, and not question whether Colorado is up to the challenge. 

What issues or concerns do you see for the coming year? Feel free to post in the comments, and I will talk to you in January.

Technology Tuesday

Imagine! doesn’t only embrace technologies that offer opportunities for greater self-reliance among the individuals we serve. We also explore the use of technologies that can make us more effective as an organization, and that will save us time and money.

One example of how we have explored technology to improve our efficiency as an organization is through our use of FleetCommander. FleetCommander is a web-based fleet and motor pool software tool. Imagine! has a large fleet of vehicles, and this software has greatly improved our ability to manage that fleet.

FleetCommander helps Imagine! maintain electronic preventive and repair maintenance records in one spot, which can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection; allows Imagine! to tailor maintenance data and reports to show repair trending among like vehicles, or age of vehicle, or mileage or other desired criterion; and Imagine! can use mileage as a guide to set repair schedules at the appropriate time. This permits required work to be performed at the optimum time so warranty requirements are met. It also extends the life of the vehicle components by tracking when maintenance and repairs should occur.

Through FleetCommander, Imagine! can monitor accident records in one accessible location that permits simple, accurate updating. This allows easy data extraction for use by company personnel or claims. FleetCommander integrates with US Bank Voyager system so monthly fuel records are easily downloaded. Miles per gallon can be computed instantly for any vehicle or combination of vehicles to measure against factory specs. This allows for research of significant mpg differences to be explored and corrective actions to be taken as needed.

FleetCommander system data is capable of monitoring variances of parts and/or labor costs so that the most economical resources are used, and system data can be organized so that trends of parts replacements can be tracked – such as tires, brakes, shocks/struts, etc. Reports can be created that are supportive of efforts for fleet obsolescence and upgrading plans.

Finally, the FleetCommander system allows for vehicles to be grouped/assigned to departments or individuals so that cost allocation is simple and accurate.

Built In Team Building

Like many organizations, both for profit and not for profit, from time to time Imagine! has engaged in team building activities. You know, the kind of activities facilitated by an outsider where you fill out quizzes to determine what your personality is and how that personality drives how you interact with others, or where you climb trees and travel across ropes to other trees, or where you try to figure out complex brain teasers as a group. While I may occasionally fall on the skeptical side when it comes to these activities, I acknowledge that they can and do bring value (as well as bring teams together) if done properly and with the right group of people.

That being said, I happen to believe the best team building activities are ones that develop organically in organizations through facing everyday issues and challenges, not ones that are artificially created outside of the realm of the organization’s real work and tasks.

I recently observed a naturally forming team building exercise here at Imagine!. In an ongoing effort to continuously improve and standardize our business, Imagine! recently made changes to its online payroll and human resources processing systems, migrating and consolidating current systems to a new platform. In our field we can never stop our day to day activities, so of course these demanding changes took place in the midst of everything else we do in our efforts to provide individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities opportunities to increase their self-reliance and contribute to their communities.

It was hard work, but what was so pleasing for me to see was how employees came together to ensure that the transition was as smooth as possible. Hands reached out across departments to verify that all the important issues were addressed before going live, supervisors tested the system and asked pointed questions so they understood the new system well enough to explain it to their employees, and multiple training sessions were offered (and were well attended). To me, this offered a kind of “built in team building” opportunity, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. What could have resulted in a litany of complaints, a myriad of systems issues, and an unhappy and unproductive workforce, instead brought us together in ways that reinforced the strength of this organization – our ability to come together to create innovative solutions to complex problems. While we are likely to hit a few bumps over the next couple of weeks, Imagine! is in a much better place. Together we have addressed a pressing need, and together we will share the benefit.

In the coming months, we are going to have many more opportunities for these built in team building opportunities. We are planning to redesign some of our workspaces, we are considering options for a new database to track all of our consumer information, we are experimenting with a new employee social network, and we continue our effort to enroll 299 individuals into the Supported Living Services waiver thanks to new resources from the state.

None of the challenges listed above will be easy. They will be disruptive, and we will have to make tough decisions and will need the strength to stand by those decisions. The trick is to address our system changes as team building; align our goals, build working relationships, clarify working roles, deliver solutions, and reflect on achievements.

Our recent (and not so recent) history is indicative; we will persevere and come out a stronger team at the end. I think that is a pretty cool thing, and a much better option than getting pulled along kicking and screaming.

Then again, what do I know?

Good News Friday!

Last week, Imagine! “wrapped” up its annual Holiday Gift Giving program, and once again, we were overwhelmed by the generosity of our community. Because of the many donations we received, 622 individuals served by Imagine! (515 children and 107 adults) received gifts that made their Holiday just a little bit brighter. In all, this year’s Gift Drive resulted in 925 gifts (and an additional $976 in cash donations allowing for the purchase of more gifts).

I’d like to offer some shout outs to some local business and organizations who participated in this incredibly successful event.

The Boulder Group at Robert W. Baird & Co donated 192 gifts for adults and children as well as a $250 donation that was used toward the purchase of additional gifts

The Center for Spiritual Living Boulder Valley donated gifts for 30 children 

A group of grad students from the University of Colorado, Boulder donated $467 that they raised within the Chemical Engineering Department 

The Imagine! Board of Directors donated gifts for 20 children and adults

Lockheed Martin donated and delivered gifts and food to 10 families

Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church in Broomfield donated gifts for 210 children

Re/Max Alliance in Longmont donated 35 gifts for adults 

Seagate Technology donated gifts for 10 children 

Tebo Properties donated 194 gifts for children 
 
I’d also like to thank the many individuals (especially Imagine! employees) who donated gifts and helped deliver them.

Finally, please allow me to offer my very special thanks to Imagine!’s Volunteer Coordinator Elizabeth Hill for heading up this huge project. It isn't always easy, but the joy it brings is remarkable. Great work, Elizabeth!

Below are a few pictures from some of the events that brought in donations.

Gifts from The Boulder Group at Robert W. Baird & CO

Gifts from Re/Max Alliance

Gifts from Tebo Properties

Technology Tuesday

This week’s Technology Tuesday comes to you from Suzanne Phillips, Communication Teacher at Imagine!’s Longmont CORE/Labor Source (CLS) hub. Today, Suzanne talks about AbleNet’s Sounding Board app, and how she and others are using it to open doors to new communication opportunities. 

Now that Longmont’s new iPads are up and running, it’s been great to see how staff and teachers are using them to improve client’s daily lives at CORE/Labor Source. Longmont’s first iPad specific class has begun, clients check them out during lunch to play educational games, and many have learned to access the iBooks library. Everyone enjoys using the iPads, but some staff members have really gone above and beyond to use these devices to their full potential. Alexa Weitzeil is one such staff member. She is our primary Sensory teacher, and she works with many adults who are non-verbal and have trouble communicating wants, needs, and preferences. When the iPads arrived, she was immediately interested in the communication-based adaptive technology apps. She quickly learned to use AbleNet’s Sounding Board app, which essentially turns an iPad into a customizable communication device. Using Sounding Board, you can create communication boards of up to nine messages per screen, use symbols (or your own photos) for visual content, and record messages that will play when a picture or symbol is pressed. Alexa has already had great success with this app! Here’s a bit of her success shared in her own words (names changed to protect privacy):

Hey everyone! 

I just wanted to share some exciting news about our friend “Jane.” 

I have been working with her the past few days on using the Sounding Board app on the iPads to help her communicate, and she has responded extremely well! I created a single-button board on the app so that when she touches the screen, it says, "I would like some attention please." For the past two days, Jane has independently touched the screen multiple times to get staff attention instead of hitting herself. YAY! After getting staff attention, Jane would use the yes/no buttons on a different board to tell staff if she needed to use the restroom or not. 

While there is still some work to do, Jane has done a wonderful job using the app instead of hitting herself to get staff attention thus far. Other staff members are using the app as well when working with Jane to help her continue to improve her communication. I love seeing the progress she's making! Thanks for reading and sharing in the excitement! 

I love to see teachers like Alexa promoting this kind of self-reliance, and creating such successful teachable moments! I know that this is just the beginning, and we will continue to work as a team to build on this success. I look forward to sharing more stories with you soon – stay tuned!

Good News Friday!

Tuesday, December 9 was Colorado Gives Day, and the Imagine! Foundation raised $23,745 from 130 donors during that day of giving! 

This year’s total was a 36% increase over last year’s total.

Across the state, the campaign raised more than $26 million this year for 1,677 nonprofits through a record 107,862 donations.

In response to a thank you email to one of our Colorado Gives Day donors, we received this note:

I had been aware of Imagine! for years but didn't fully realize the scope of its services until this year. My grandson is receiving assistance from both an OT and a Speech Therapist through Imagine!. You cannot even imagine what a positive difference these people have made in the lives of my grandson, his parents, and other family members. Thank you so much for all that you do. 

To all who donated to Imagine! or supported the many other participating organizations that make our community stronger and healthier, please accept my sincere thanks.

P.S. If you weren’t able to donate on Colorado Gives Day, as you consider your year-end philanthropic decisions, impact the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by making a tax-deductible donation to Imagine! today.

Out & About With . . . Flatirons Church

Imagine!’s Out & About department was created in 1997 in response to the requests of community members with disabilities and family members who care for those with disabilities to have more options for community-based recreation services.

That “community-based” element is key - rather than scheduling activities in a segregated setting, you will find Out & About participants (both adults and children) utilizing recreation centers, bowling alleys, movie theaters, museums, and even amusement parks.

Of course, Out & About wouldn’t be able to provide those services without the support of the many, many community organizations that collaborate with Out & About to ensure that participants are able to receive positive instruction, within a therapeutic framework, to encourage growth, learning, community participation, socialization, health, safety, and the achievement of individual goals.

So over the next few months, I’d like to use this blog to thank some of those community partners that make all the difference when it comes to successful outcomes for Out & About participants.

Today, I’d like to acknowledge Flatirons Community Church in Lafayette for its support of Out & About. All this fall, Out & About’s Catalog program used a room in Flatirons Church (for free!) for their “Healthy Living” course – which included self-defense lessons.

Thank you, Flatirons Community Church, for your continued support of your community and all of its members.

Lessons Learned From The USA Ski Jumping Story Project

Lately I have been following the 2014 edition of the USA Ski Jumping Story Project, which shares stories from ski jumpers (and fans) from across the nation as part of a fundraising campaign. Last year’s version of this project was one of the inspirations for Imagine!’s “50 Years, 50 Stories,” shared right on this very blog in celebration of our 50th Anniversary in 2013.

I recently came across a post in this series that I felt had some relevant thoughts to our work at Imagine!. The post was from Walter Malmquist, a two-time member of the US Olympic Ski team. In the post, Malmquist recollected a story about an assignment he received while still in high school from a ski coach named Jim Page. The assignment was for Walter to write out his goals for his ski career. For Walter, this was a transformational assignment, as it forced him to publicly commit to certain aspirations that had up until then remained unspoken, and therefore existed without any sort of plan as to how to make those aspirations a reality.

As Walter put it, the challenge:

“. . . broke the ice which in turn made me think about myself and my aspirations completely differently than I had... my fantasies became my goals... my goals became consequences of my willingness and ability to confront/commit to address actionable items... my commitment to address actionable items became my day-to-day tasks... my day-to-day tasks became actions to record and monitor... my records became data to evaluate progress toward my goals... my progress toward my goals became my motivation to set new/better goals... my new goals became consequences of my willingness/ability to commit to address actionable items . . .” 

In my opinion, that short paragraph offers a roadmap for Imagine! employees, and the people we serve, to achieve success.

 Let’s start with employees. It is fairly clear that we attract a certain sort of employee at our organization – bright, compassionate, and committed to making a difference in the lives of others. That last part, however, can be tricky without a plan in place. Too often employees come in with the best of intentions but without a concept of what success looks like and no idea of how to get to desired outcomes. Sadly, it isn’t enough just to want to help. You need to know what that help looks like, you need to record and monitor your day to day tasks and evaluate the data constantly, and create new and better goals as time goes on.

The same holds true for those we serve. I have often said that our job at Imagine! isn’t to serve as caretakers. Instead, we are facilitators working to connect the individuals we serve with the tools and resources they need to become contributing members of their communities. As facilitators, our job isn’t to “do for,” instead; our job is to set the stage for success. This means that the ultimate success or failure for any of the individuals we serve is dependent on that particular individual. We can help lay out the path, but only they can travel it. Without actionable, measurable goals in place, success can only ever remain an aspiration, not a reality.

Then again, what do I know?

Technology Tuesday

A group of University of Colorado Engineering students in a 2014 Fall Semester class taught by Associate Professor Melinda Piket-May spent the semester working on projects to design simple adaptive technologies that aid increased independence for some of the individuals Imagine! serves. Below are some videos of the students demonstrating their projects. The videos are short and well worth your time – this is some amazing stuff.

Resonating Head Band 

This device can act as a cost effective hearing aid (even works underwater!) or just as a fun way to listen to music.

  Can’t see video? Click here.

Ultimate Music Experience

This project allows an individual served by Imagine! who has a hearing disability to “hear” music through vibrations in water.

  Can’t see video? Click here. 

Smart Shower

Created to allow an individual served by Imagine! to shower independently through verbal prompts on an mp3.

  Can’t see the video? Click here.

Wheelchair Arm Support

Built for Gerald, who lives in Imagine!’s Santa Fe Group Home in Broomfield.

Can’t see the video? Click here. 

Good News Friday!

Last week, a group of volunteers from the University of Colorado at Boulder stopped by Imagine!’s Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome. The volunteers brought all kinds of Holiday cheer with arts and crafts and a round or three of Christmas bingo. They even brought small gifts for each of the residents, which, if you didn’t know, can cause a pizza party to spontaneously erupt. All reports were that the pizza was delicious!

Out & About With . . . Grace Studios

Imagine!’s Out & About department was created in 1997 in response to the requests of community members with disabilities and family members who care for those with disabilities to have more options for community-based recreation services.

That “community-based” element is key - rather than scheduling activities in a segregated setting, you will find Out & About participants (both adults and children) utilizing recreation centers, bowling alleys, movie theaters, museums, and even amusement parks.

Of course, Out & About wouldn’t be able to provide those services without the support of the many, many community organizations that collaborate with Out & About to ensure that participants are able to receive positive instruction, within a therapeutic framework, to encourage growth, learning, community participation, socialization, health, safety, and the achievement of individual goals.

So over the next few months, I’d like to use this blog to thank some of those community partners that make all the difference when it comes to successful outcomes for Out & About participants.

Today, I’d like to acknowledge Grace Studios in Broomfield for its support of Out & About. Out & About has used Grace Studios for their Movement classes for the last five years, for both adults and children. The space is just the perfect size for the Out & About groups, especially Summer Camp classes. The main activity can be held in Grace Studio’s large studio, while kids who want a break are able to use the small studio. The owners are always very understanding and supportive of the Out & About staff members and participants, even when things don’t always go as planned (such as the occasional broken picture or trophy).

Thank you, Grace Studios, for your continued support of your community and all of its members.

Good Enough For Government Work

I recently came across an article in the Harvard Business Review asking an interesting question: why are government workers harder to motivate than those in other sectors?

Now, I don’t think anyone who knows me or has read this blog regularly would be surprised to hear me cop to occasionally being a bit harsh with my judgments about some of the decisions made by some people in government. Typically this is about decisions involved in determining how our system of funding and serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities operates. However, today I think I need to stand up for my colleagues in the public sector after reading through this article a couple of times. These are people that I know and like on a personal level. However, I found by placing myself in the public sector work environment, my personal opportunity to thrive might take a dent or two. In fact, I probably wouldn’t be writing this blog at the moment (in the event of which wouldn’t kill trees), but you get the point.

Imagine working in an environment where you are portrayed as nameless, faceless bureaucrats; where you have frequent and abrupt changes in leadership with time limited agendas; where achievements are difficult to measure; where the workforce is older, yet more educated; where employees have stronger job protections making it more difficult for managers to address employee performance; where it is difficult to introduce perks and performance incentives; where unlike the private sector, union influence remains; and where your performance includes more public visibility. Decisions are not necessarily performed at the most practical level. It simply isn’t allowed. The article goes on to suggest how to compensate for each of the identified issues described above, and that is a nice thing.

So how do we measure up? I can say my colleagues in the public sector have people with disabilities in the forefront of their thinking when setting policy. I don’t think any state government would be considered nimble; able to adapt and pivot when the future demands. As the pace of our expectations continues to quicken, we all have to wonder if the public sector can maintain stride.

This being said, there is no reason not to continue to set the bar of expectations high. We do not do this for ourselves, rather for the individuals and families we serve. I will continue to single out and praise those individuals and agencies that do make the extra effort to ensure that their actions and edicts result in meaningful outcomes. I will set the bar high and demand that we all aim for going over that bar in all of our actions. What we do is too important not to shoot for that goal every time.

Then again, what do I know?

Technology Tuesday

Today’s Technology Tuesday comes from Imagine!’s Assistive Technology Lab facilitator Stephanie Tilley. Stephanie is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist who has worked for Imagine! for more than 10 years, and is the author of “101 Adapted Games for Kids,” which provides adaptations for children’s activities to create inclusive activities and environments. In the piece below, Stephanie talks about an iPad program called Osmo. 

This week I’d like to highlight a program that we use on the iPad called Osmo. Osmo is an accessory that is added to the iPad which consists of a reflector that snaps over the camera of the iPad and a stand. The Osmo also comes with three activities: Tangrams, Words, and Newton. The tangible pieces to the activities are included in the Osmo and the apps are free from the app store. The incredible thing about this program is that the reflector incorporated the surface in front of the iPad right onto the screen. The Tangrams activity comes with tangible puzzle pieces that participants use to match the picture on the screen.

The program allows the iPad to recognize when the pieces are arranged correctly to match the picture on the screen. There are different levels of difficulty and more puzzles unlock the more that the activity is played.

For the Newton program it’s often helpful to have a few sheets of plain white paper and a pencil, pen, or marker available. Participants draw on the paper to create lines or shapes for the balls that are dropping from the top of the iPad screen to bounce off of. The object is to get the balls to hit targets on the screen. Besides drawing, other objects can be placed on the surface in front of the iPad and their outlines are incorporated into the activity as well. Often during class we use the tangram pieces and participants move them to different spots on the playing surface to make the balls bounce in different directions to hit the targets.

When using the words program, participants have the guess the words associated with the pictures on the screen. Participants then spell the words using tangible letter pieces that are included in the game, on the surface in front of the iPad. This activity can be played individually, with a group, or vs. another person. This activity has been used often during class as it encourages participants to work together to guess and spell the words. During one activity in particular, one participant had challenges with seeing the pieces, but was skilled at spelling, while the other participant had some challenges with spelling, but could easily identify the different letters. These two participants worked for a large portion of the class time working together and working on so many skills at the same time.

While using this program, participants not only work on skills such as spelling and shapes, but they work on social skills, fine motor skills, turn taking, problem solving, and thinking skills. This program has been such a wonderful addition to the Assistive Technology Computer lab Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department! You can find out more about the Osmo and check out a video of the program in use at https://www.playosmo.com/

Today Is Colorado Gives Day!

Today is the Fifth Annual Colorado Gives Day -- a great day to "give where you live." Each nonprofit receiving a donation on this day receives a portion of an Incentive Fund. This year, the Incentive Fund has more than tripled to $1 million! This means that Imagine! will receive a portion of this fund for every donation we receive, and will increase the impact of your generosity. Your gift will have a far-reaching impact on the individuals we serve, and their families.

Click on this link to donate now, as well as ensure that Imagine! receives a share of the $1 million Incentive Fund.

Help us reach $20,000 today -- you'll support people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Boulder and Broomfield counties.

Good News Friday!

Today, I am honored to introduce the 2014 Imagine! Employees of Distinction.

Can’t see the video? Click here.
It is my pleasure to call these individuals my co-workers.

Out & About With . . . The Humane Society of Boulder Valley

Imagine!’s Out & About department was created in 1997 in response to the requests of community members with disabilities and family members who care for those with disabilities to have more options for community-based recreation services.

That “community-based” element is key - rather than scheduling activities in a segregated setting, you will find Out & About participants (both adults and children) utilizing recreation centers, bowling alleys, movie theaters, museums, and even amusement parks.

Of course, Out & About wouldn’t be able to provide those services without the support of the many, many community organizations that collaborate with Out & About to ensure that participants are able to receive positive instruction, within a therapeutic framework, to encourage growth, learning, community participation, socialization, health, safety, and the achievement of individual goals.

So over the next few months, I’d like to use this blog to thank some of those community partners that make all the difference when it comes to successful outcomes for Out & About participants.

Today, I’d like to acknowledge the The Humane Society of Boulder Valley for its support of Out & About. This past spring, The Humane Society of Boulder Valley gave Out & About’s Community Access class a free pet care class and tour. During the tour, the class learned about responsible pet ownership, got to meet a dog (who happened to be deaf and responded to sign language!), and made dog toys. It was a great learning experience for all!

Thank you, Humane Society of Boulder Valley, for your continued support of your community and all of its members.

Technology Tuesday

Today’s Technology Tuesday comes from Chris Baumgart, Imagine!’s Assistive Technology Specialist. Chris provides us the latest edition of a little segment he likes to call “Chris’s Corner.” Thanks, Chris!

Chris’s Corner 

"Down on the corner…Out in the Street…" 

It’s Tuesday once again, and it’s time for another Chris’s Corner. This installment of The Corner comes to you from the Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome in Boulder, where John and Karen are both following in the illustrious footsteps of their roommate Lana. Recently, Lana achieved her goal of becoming self-reliant in the administration of her medications using a new computer-based medication task minder developed by Imagine! staff members called MedMinder.

If you haven’t seen it already, here’s a video of Lana using her computer to prompt her through filling a week’s worth of medications.

  Can’t see the video? Click here.

Inspired by Lana’s success, John and Karen are now using the same tools so that they too will be self-reliant in their own medication administration.

They’ve already shredded through the tests designed to determine how well they know their medications (which medications are taken, when they’re taken, how much is taken, what each medication is designed to do, etc.), and now the next challenge: actually filling a MedMinder box with test medications. Keep up the good work, you two! We’ll be checking back in to see your progress!