Director’s Letter for December 2011
Building Community through Outreach
On behalf of the Staff and Board of The Ability Center, I wish you Happy Holidays! May your time with family and friends remind you of the warmth brought about by caring and sharing.
The accompanying articles demonstrate the Center’s commitment to engage all segments of the disability community. By pushing out to under-served populations, we find new individuals with needs that are unique to their culture and environment. We are thrilled that through these connections, our Holidays Party for the Kids had many first timers sitting on Santa’s lap.
We would like to thank all of our volunteers and donors who make it all happen. We are truly grateful for your support.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the Center now, please visit our home page and click on the PayPal link in the upper right corner.
Peace,
Tim Harrington
Executive Director
Ability Center and Adelante Latino Resource Center Partnership: Helping Perla Chase Her Dreams
by Dan Wilkins
Perla and her Grandmother, Margarita
Three year old Perla Esmeralda Pacheco Padilla is a bright, beautiful little girl with eyes and a smile that will melt your heart. A sensitive young lady, she is an avid animal lover, enjoys being surrounded by kids of all ages, lives with Cerebral Palsy, is currently non-verbal and uses a wheelchair to get around. She lives with her Grandparents and extended family in south Toledo.
Amanda Gomez Neal is one of ACT’s Community Outreach Coordinators. She works out of the outreach office at Adelante Latino Resource Center on Broadway in South Toledo, as part of a collaborative effort between the two agencies intended to reach the underserved Hispanic citizens.
Perla’s situation was one of the first Amanda undertook upon moving into Adelante. Judy Rabbani, from Adelante, introduced her to the Padilla family and she immediately began defining and working toward goals.
The family spoke Spanish only and needed assistance connecting with Lucas County Board of Development Disabilities and other agencies. Amanda facilitated all of this. The family wanted to have Perla participate in an Early Childhood Program at Crossgates Elementary School. Amanda felt Perla could benefit from a summer camp experience before starting school. Working with Prescribed Pediatric Center, she helped secure a spot in the Anne Grady Day Program. This included arranging financial support and transportation.
Transportation was an issue. Living near the end of a one-block street, with only an alley access at their end, the Toledo Public School (TPS) bus route did not go past the family home. It fell to her grandmother to push her granddaughter in her chair, every morning, in whatever type of weather, the 166 steps to the corner of Broadway and collect her there each afternoon. Again, Amanda stepped in, working with TPS Transportation to find a solution. At first, the answer was to use TLC Transportation, a door-to-door private taxi service, to take Perla to school. At over $100 a day, this was an expensive obligation for TPS to honor. And it didn’t sit well with Amanda either.
Amanda with Perla and family
“All I wanted from the beginning was for Perla to ride the yellow bus, like every other child.” Amanda remembers. “We were up against a time line and, as it was, she began school a little late. It was a temporary fix.”
As the collaboration between Ability Center, TPS and Lucas County Board of DD unfolded, TPS found a way to get the bus down her street to pick her up and drop her off at the door. This was a big success, and with inclement weather coming on, one that has made Perla and the Padilla family very happy.
Amanda has also helped the family qualify for and receive through ACT a portable ramping system for their home.
“Perla is on the road to educational success,” Amanda closes, with a smile, “and the road will be filled with exciting experiences and different goals to accomplish. But she will succeed because she has the willingness and desire, and, of course, her unconditional family support.”
And Amanda will be there too; ready to help with whatever comes next.
Being There: The Benefit of Proximity
By Dan Wilkins
J Lyons with Mr. Armstrong
“One more game of Basketball, that’s what I’m shooting for, just one more game of Basketball.” That’s Donald Armstrong, and you can pretty much find him every Tuesday and Thursday in the weight room at Wayman Palmer YMCA, working toward that game. And on Saturdays you’ll find him walking the track at the YMCA/JCC at UT Medical Center.
Seven years ago, while living in Atlanta, Mr. Armstrong had a stroke. Early on, just after the stroke, he spent most of his time angry at the direction his life had taken. After a time, the former Toledoan moved home to be closer to family. Though home, his circumstances still had him down.
“I was just lying around, feeling sorry.” Donald remembers, “I was so weak from inactivity, I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t do much of anything. And I was having seizures.”
Mr. Armstrong in the weight room
This was his existence until a friend coaxed him back into life, encouraging him to take charge, to take his life back. His friend suggested he join the YMCA/JCC and create a workout regimen. He joined the Wayman Palmer Y and hasn’t looked back. The decision got him off the couch, out of the house, making new friends, and most importantly, walking again.
And this is where The Ability Center, and the benefit of proximity, enters the picture. This year, The Ability Center, in collaboration with the YMCA/JCC, established an office at the Wayman Palmer branch. The Ability Center hired Ms. J Lyons to help provide services to people with disabilities living near the branch who might have difficulty getting to the Center’s Sylvania office.
It was the YMCA staff who initially referred Mr. Armstrong to Ms. Lyons. Knowing he was having difficulty with his old adaptive equipment, they felt that he could benefit from Ability Center support. After an evaluation, staff found his equipment outdated and ill-fitting. J helped him get what he needed to walk more independently. She also referred Armstrong to The Ability Center’s Housing Resource Center (HRC). The HRC built Mr. Armstrong a new porch complete with a set of special low-rise steps that allow him to safely and independently come and go from his home.
Donald Armstrong is thankful. “As I’ve gotten stronger, my seizures are gone! J has helped me a lot. She has been very supportive of my dream. It’s nice to know she’s here ready to help.”
Good luck, Mr. Armstrong. We look forward to seeing you on the court.
Santa Comes to The Ability Center
by Dan Wilkins
Tim Harrington plays with young visitor
Santa Day: it’s the most magical day of our year. When Santa visits the center, he brings with him a joyful energy that fills the building. This year, 65 children and their families enjoyed a visit with the jolly old elf and his Assistance Dog, Juno, along with all the trappings: cookies and juice, music by the Sylvania Senior Choir from the Sylvania Senior Center and the Blue Kazoo’s John Pickle, fun and juggling with Jimity the Clown, presents, of course, and a number of activities like face painting, tattoos and decorating picture frames.
Juno gets a Christmas kiss
This event, sponsored and hosted by the Auxiliary to The Ability Center, is a true collaboration between the Auxiliary and the Center’s Community Connections staff.
According to Sarah Krueger, the Center’s Community Connections Manager:
A great deal of time and effort goes into coordinating this event. To see so many smiles on the faces of both kids and parents makes everything worth it to all of us. There are no less than ten staff involved and a large number of the Auxiliary.
Sylvania Senior Choir
Tim Harrington, ACT’s Executive Director, reiterates Sarah’s comments:
Our holiday party for the kids is a long-standing tradition, the result of our dedicated auxiliary. Countless hours go into decorating, shopping, scheduling entertainment and providing treats. The payoff is witnessing the smiles on kid’s faces when Santa arrives.
The Auxiliary provides the cookies and juice, the 20-foot decorated Christmas tree, choir, musician and clown, and the large number of age-appropriate. They sure know how to do it right. When asked, Santa said he had so much fun he wants to come again next year. High praise!
Happy Holidays, Santa! Safe travels and we’ll see you next year.
The Ability Center’s 2012 Strategic Plan is Available for Viewing
Strategic Plan 2012
The Ability Center’s Strategic Plan 2012 highlights agency-wide and departmental goals that will move us forward as the Center steps into the next phase of its history.
It is a celebration and reflection of the Center’s endeavor to build partnerships that support the dream of inclusive communities that work for everyone. If you have questions regarding The Ability Center’s future, please contact Kim Arnett, Director of Community Operations.
You can access the plan online. If you would like a hard copy of the Strategic Plan 2012, please contact Lisa Justice, Executive Assistant. You can also reach Kim or Lisa at (419) 885-5733 or (877) 885-5733.
