Technology Tuesday

On November 1st, The Coleman Institute of Technology, in collaboration with Microsoft, will be hosting a day long technology event. At the event, people with cognitive disabilities and Microsoft product developers will test out new products and engage in rich discussions around accessibility of products and services. They are looking for a limited number of technology users with diagnosed cognitive disabilities (Alzheimier’s, stroke, dementia, intellectual and developmental disabilities, severe and persistent mental health concerns and traumatic brain injury) to participate.

They are still looking for participants, so if interested, email Shea Tanis at Shea.Tanis@cu.edu or call 303-860-6141.

Good News Friday!

Late last month, I wrote on this blog about how Imagine! was going to be participating in Way To Go Tober, a fun way to encourage Imagine! employees to try new, smarter ways to commute.

The results to date have far exceeded my expectations (which were high to begin with).

As of Thursday, October 25, 138 Imagine! employees have:

Logged 1,235 smart commute trips totaling 12,836 miles.

Burned 53,217 calories.

Reduced 3.7 tons of CO2.

And saved $4,345.

These impressive stats didn't just catch my eye. Last week, a TV crew from CBS News Channel 4 in Denver came up to Lafayette to find out the secret to our success.

You can check out the story by clicking here.

We’ve had a lot of fun with this competition, and some Imagine! employees even helped encourage their coworkers’ participation by agreeing to appear in some (admittedly goofy) videos.

Can’t see video? Click here.

Can’t see video? Click here.

Can’t see video? Click here.

Although the month isn’t quite over, it is obvious that Imagine! employees have fully embraced this opportunity to give back to the community where we work. I am proud of them, and glad to have been part of this effort to save money, reduce stress, and help clear the air.

Technology Tuesday

I’d like to use today’s Tech Tuesday post to thank Albertsons Companies Foundation for their recent donation to help purchase iPads for Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source (CLS) department.

In just a few short years, iPads have moved from merely fun items for CLS to have to absolute necessities. The amount of life-long learning that can and does take place using the iPads at CLS is astounding, and we are so grateful to Albertson’s for the gift.

Pictured below, students at Imagine!'s CORE/Labor Source hub in Longmont take advantage of an iPad class to practice their art skills and play task oriented games.

Good News Friday!

The following story originally appeared on our Imagine! Voices blog. I found it so inspiring I'd thought I'd share it here. - Mark

“We were half way through the course when we realized that we were on the wrong course. We decided there was no point in turning around and continued on.”

Becky Toliver, who accepts services from Imagine!, trained for the one mile course at the 25^th annual Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure in Denver. She partnered with Kelli, a friend from church and former Jazzercise instructor, to prepare for the mile long walk.

“At first we were like ‘oh wow,’ because we didn’t realize where we were.” Becky walked with Kelli and her husband, Roy, during this big event. “It sure felt like more than a mile, but we looked forever and saw all these people still walking,” said Roy. “We asked someone and they told us we were on the 5k route.”

“Once we realized where we were, we said to ourselves ‘let’s do it, let’s finish the 5k,’” said Becky. “It wasn’t funny at the time, but once we finished, it was a great accomplishment.”

Becky works for Real Capital Solutions in Louisville, CO, and walked in their name. “I had so much support from family, friends, and co-workers.” Near the end of the walk, Kelli walked ahead of Becky and Roy to let the cheerleaders and Becky’s friends know that she was on her way. Everyone, including the president of Real Capital Solutions, cheered “Becky! Becky!” or "Turbo Toliver" as she crossed the finish line and walked 2.2 miles more than she trained for.

Becky felt this was an important walk so that she could honor the loved ones in her life who have battled or are battling cancer. The race was longer than she expected and still turned out to be a great day! She and Kelli continue to meet on the weekends to walk and stay fit. 

Becky (right) walks with her friend and trainer
at Race For The Cure in Denver. 

Becky and her husband, Roy.

                 

Out & About 20 Stories Update – 10/19/17

Imagine!’s Out & About department is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year! 

To honor this milestone, we are collecting and sharing stories and memories from our employees, from the families and individuals we serve, and from the many businesses that support our work. In fact, we’re collecting and sharing 20 stories from each of those three categories!

Here’s a nice recollection from Out & About participant Brittany, who shares how the activities she takes part in have taught her new ways to be healthy and active.

I’ll be sharing other stories and memories on this blog throughout the year.  

You can also click here to see all the stories we have so far.

Technology Tuesday

Touring Imagine!’s SmartHome in Longmont last week: visitors from Ukraine. They were part of the Longmont Rotary Open World delegation, here to study Civics Education. As part of that education, they took a tour of our SmartHome to see first-hand how technology is opening doors to self-reliance among the population of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Good News Friday!

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Since 1984, Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source (CLS) department has assisted individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Boulder and Broomfield counties in finding gainful employment through supported employment services. Supported employment offers people who have a disability the opportunity to develop vital job skills and become active participants in their communities, while working toward their goals through group and independent employment opportunities.

The benefits extend far beyond helping the individuals we serve, however. Businesses using our services are able to reduce recruitment and training expenses as they benefit from a diversified employee pool. Partnering with CLS is a "win-win" situation that is beneficial all around.

CLS currently partners with businesses across Boulder and Broomfield counties to provide supported employment solutions for hundreds of individuals. Check out the video below, created last year, celebrating just some of those business partners. We are grateful for their support and commitment to community inclusion.

 

Out & About 20 Stories Update - 10/11/17

Imagine!’s Out & About department is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year! 

To honor this milestone, we are collecting and sharing stories and memories from our employees, from the families and individuals we serve, and from the many businesses that support our work. In fact, we’re collecting and sharing 20 stories from each of those three categories!

Here’s one example of a great story: Lee shares how Out & About activities are often the way she is able to have exciting experiences for the very first time.

I’ll be sharing other stories and memories on this blog throughout the year.  

You can also click here to see all the stories we have so far.

Technology Tuesday

Congratulations to Imagine!’s own Brodie Schulze, who has been selected to be a presenter at the 2017 Coleman Institute Conference on Cognitive Disability & Technology.

Brodie’s presentation is titled: “Collaborative Care: How a Partnership Between the University of Colorado and Imagine! has Created New Opportunities for Independence for People with Disabilities.”

Imagine! and CU have collaborated to design adaptive technologies to aid increased independence for individuals served by Imagine!. Students work with Imagine! to design assistive technologies that open doors to client’s increased self-reliance. The potential exists for projects to scale and be made available to more individuals in living more independent lives.

For the presentation, Brodie will team up with CU Professor Melinda Piket-May, and the two will share their experiences, what they’ve learned during the collaboration, highlight some specific projects, and discuss what the future might hold.

As a fun preview of the presentation, check out the video below, highlight some of the projects that have resulted from this collaboration.

  
Can’t see the video? Click here.

Good luck, Brodie! We know you’ll make Imagine! proud.

Good News Friday!

Imagine!’s Emergency Fund provides limited financial assistance to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) meet urgent or extraordinary needs not covered by Medicaid or other funding sources.

Today I’d like to thank two communities for their help in ensuring that those funds are available to their citizens when needed.

The City of Lafayette, Colorado provided a $2,000 grant to Imagine!’s Emergency Fund to support Lafayette citizens in need through the city's One Lafayette Community Fundraiser. The City finances this community fundraiser to help local nonprofit organizations provide essential services.

And the Broomfield Community Foundation provided a generous $1,500 grant to Imagine! to go toward Imagine!’s Case Management Emergency Fund for individuals living in Broomfield.

Imagine! is stronger when our community takes an active role in facilitating our work, and we are extremely grateful to both the City of Lafayette and the Broomfield Community Foundation for their support.

Out & About 20 Stories Update - 10/03/17

Imagine!’s Out & About department is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year! 

To honor this milestone, we are collecting and sharing stories and memories from our employees, from the families and individuals we serve, and from the many businesses that support our work. In fact, we’re collecting and sharing 20 stories from each of those three categories!

 

Here’s a story from longtime (and recently retired) Out & About employee Jerry Gooding where he talks about what it really means to connect with somebody.

I’ll be sharing other stories and memories on this blog throughout the year.  

You can also click here to see all the stories we have so far.