Peter Leung finds inspiration, shares passion, at dream job

Peter Leung, Aquatic Services staff member and a
20 year employee of Abilities United.

Abilities United is all about the abilities, not the disabilities. Just ask Peter Leung, who lives with cerebral palsy, holds a BA in kinesiology and has had a successful 21-year career as a staff member at Abilities United.  After two decades, Peter still loves working here. “I’m so excited to be here,” he says. “It’s a great place.”

Peter is a recreational swim and fitness instructor as well as an American College of Sports Mediicine (ACSM)  hydrotherapist at Abilities United Aquatic Services. In the 93-degree water of the Betty Wright Swim Center, he’s seen some amazing achievements including individuals who, through hard work and aquatic therapy, regain their mobility despite having been told they’d never walk again.

One of his favorite stories is a young girl with autism, who was terrified of getting in the water. “It took six months to get her from playing on the steps in the shallow part of the pool, to go with me into three feet of water. After a lot of hard work she’s completed the entire swim school curriculum and can now swim with the rest of her family. That’s what Abilities United is all about – including everyone.  She doesn’t have to just watch from the deck while the rest of her family enjoys the pool.”

“It’s phenomenal,” Peter says. “I came here thinking I was going to inspire people, but they are the ones who inspire me.”

In 2009, his dream job just about came to an end due to medical issues. “Because of my cerebral palsy, my biomechanics changed and I was having trouble walking. I went to a doctor, and he referred me to aquatic therapy…here at Abilities United!” Therapy in the pool has helped improve Peter’s ability to walk and has been very helpful to reduce his pain so he can continue to work at this job he loves.

Peter is proud of his success as an employee at Abilities United, and is similarly proud of the increased level of employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the community. “It’s not charity; you need to do the job,” he says. “The individuals who get jobs with help from the Abilities United Employment Services are committed to their jobs and very capable to do their work. Some of them get up at 5:30 in the morning to take two or three buses to get to work on time.”

“All my life I knew that I wanted to work with people who have disabilities,” says Peter. “For me, Abilities United is a dream come true. I’ve found an organization that has the same passion as I do.”

Based on an interview with Peter Leung in 2012. Written by Bob Thomas. Edited by Peter Leung and Wendy Kuehnl.

Nick Golick: a lifetime of learning, creating, giving back

Nick Golick, his father David, and their family have been part
of the Abilities United family since Nick was six months old.

Nick Golick is a happy, artistic and inspiring young man. Born with Down syndrome, Nick started coming to Abilities United in 1982, when he was just six months old, and so began a lifelong relationship with the organization.

“Abilities United has always had great programs that benefit Nick,” says his father, David. “First was aquatics in the pool, and then the early intervention program helped him develop balance and motor skills. Next came Special Olympics, then learning how to become more self-sufficient through the Independent Living Skills program, and finally Nick got a job as an adult. Abilities United has always been there to help him flourish.”

Getting a job was the ultimate success for Nick. Abilities United helped Nick land a job as a Courtesy Clerk at Safeway, where he bags groceries, collects grocery carts in the parking lot, and helps around the store. He’s been there six years, and meets weekly with his Abilities United job coach to discuss how to continually improve his work.

His attitude about his job sets a great example for all of us. “I like to go to work, and I’m passionate about my job,” says Nick, “When we go on vacation, I’m always asking when I get to go back to work.”

“He’s very, very proud of his job,” adds David, “and I’m a very proud father.”

Nick likes to express himself through painting and has done so since he was a child. With the help of Abilities United, he has sold many of his works. “When I sell my paintings, I give half the money to Abilities United,” Nick says. “It makes me feel really proud.”

The Golicks have now been involved with Abilities United for some 29 years. “The spirit of the organization has always stayed the same,” says David. “They are good people with big hearts. Those of us who live in the area should know about Abilities United, and appreciate that we have such a great organization in our community.”

And we appreciate that Nick contributes to our community through dedication to his work, his beautiful artwork, and his positive attitude!

Based on an interview with Nick and David Golick in 2012. Written by Bob Thomas. Edited by the Golick Family and Wendy Kuehnl.

Mike Connor: a long special relationship with Abilties United

Mike Connor, a good and generous friend of Abilities United for 40 years.

In 1974, Stanford football player Mike Connor was looking for a new residence, and he landed a room in a Palo Alto home. The owner was Betty Wright, who was one of the core group that helped establish what is now Abilities United.

“Within a few hours she had me signed up as a volunteer,” Mike laughs, and that afternoon began a relationship with Abilities United that has now endured for nearly 40 years.

Mike’s story shows a passion for the cause that runs so deep with many who have become involved with Abilities United. “I had been a lifeguard, so Betty got me in the pool with the children with developmental disabilities. Working with those kids was one of the great joys of my life,” he says. “I even worked as a janitor; I’d come over here at 11 at night to clean up.”

Mike savors the good memories of his early days at Abilities United. “There was one child who was severely challenged with cerebral palsy, and I used to carry him in and out of the pool. We became very close. And I remember one of the kids who was training for Special Olympics; he was up on the deck like a coach encouraging the others. That was such a wonderful thing to see; I’ll never forget that.” Mike pauses. “In the pool many of these kids could get a level of mobility and independence that they couldn’t get on land. It was always a thrill to witness that.”

Later Mike would serve for some seven years as President of the Board of Directors at Abilities United. “I don’t know who was serving who,” Mike says. “Yes, I was helping out, but it was awfully good for me too.”

Mike looks back at how things have changed in the past decades for those with disabilities. “When I was young you didn’t see people with disabilities in the workforce. Now Abilities United helps place clients in jobs at places like Safeway, or the movie theater, or somewhere else. Abilities United learned years ago to focus on the abilities, not the disabilities.”

For the 50th anniversary of Abilities United, Mike says “There’s a huge congratulations owed to everyone who’s worked here and who has supported the cause: staff, volunteers, donors, and others. It’s a very special group.”

Yes, and Mike himself is one of those very special people.

Based on an interview with Mike Connor in 2012. Written by Bob Thomas. Edited by Mike Connor and Wendy Kuehnl.

Eriks Ramans: an inspiring role model for all

Eriks and Andy Ramans at the San Andreas Regional Center "Service Above Self" Award dinner where Eriks was honoroed.

A happy man with a big heart and a wicked sense of humor, Eriks Ramans epitomizes how people with disabilities can live a full and productive life. His charming personality, his engaging humor, his commitment to the community, and his enthusiasm for everything he does makes him a natural and recognized role model and advocate for people with disabilities.  Eriks simply loves life, he loves his life; and that is a positive example to the entire world.  

Eriks has been a client of Abilities United for as long as he can remember. Born with Down syndrome in 1971, Eriks started with what is now Abilities United when he was six months old.  He began in the early intervention program, where he learned to walk, talk, and feed him self. Over his lifetime, he has participated in a broad range of programs at Abilities United.

In recent years Eriks has been in the Independent Living Skills program, which has enabled him to get his own apartment. Eriks has also participated in the Abilities United Employment Services program, and he’s worked well over ten years at great companies like Marriot and Safeway. He takes great pride in being a hard worker, and continues to improve his job skills through ongoing training at Abilities United and through volunteer activities in the community.

Eriks’ father Andy is thrilled with his son’s progress. “When Eriks was young, we wanted to set a direction so that he could be on his own someday,” says Andy. “With the great help of Abilities United, it’s happened - he’s now been in his own apartment for over ten years.”

“The people at Abilities United are wonderful,” says Andy. “Their passion and dedication are amazing.”

“Abilities United is family to me,” says Eriks, while flashing his usual big smile. At Abilities United, Eriks is family to us too, and we’re proud to have such a fine, inspirational man as one of ours.

Based on an interview with Eriks and Andy Ramans in 2012. Written by Bob Thomas. Edited by Eriks and Andy Ramans and Wendy Kuehnl.

Abilities United launches pilot aquatics program “Skills for the Future: Using the Pool as a Classroom”

The Abilities United Betty Wright Swim Center plunges into 2013 with a pilot training program to expand teaching skills for swim instructors and create life-saving learning opportunities for children with disabilities.

The four-day course, “Skills for the Future: Using the Pool as a Classroom”, runs January 7-10 and will be taught by experts in adapted aquatics, special education, swimming instruction, with input from community support group participants.  Renowned practitioners in the field, including Dori Maxon PT, PCS, MEd of SNAP (Special Needs Aquatic Program) will deliver lectures and in-water training.

Children with disabilities are estimated to be eight times more likely to drown than their peers. This is a staggering statistic considering that drownings are already the leading cause of injury death for children ages 1 to 4, three children die every day as a result of drowning – according to the Center for Disease Control – and that youth with disabilities are generally kept under closer supervision. The Betty Wright Swim Center is determined to change that statistic and is spearheading drowning prevention education for all, with special attention toward kids who are most at risk.

“This course has immense benefit for our community”–says Danielle Griffith-Jones, AVAC Swim School Director–“by participating in it, we can make our community safer while also increasing access to swimming for a more diverse audience. It is a unique opportunity to open doors to a wider population and bring swim education and water safety to all”.

This pilot course is the second in a series of training programs the Betty Wright Swim Center has launched last year to advance education in warm-water therapy, exercise, and swim instruction for aquatics educators, as well as to inform the general public about the many options available, and the benefits of, aquatic therapy.

The Abilities United Betty Wright Swim Center has a strategic goal of becoming a national aquatic health and wellness therapy leader by 2014.

“Our role as a local nonprofit aiming to become a model for aquatic programs nationwide” – states Rho Henry Olaisen, Aquatics Director and Social Enterprise Director at Abilities United – “begins with standardizing the industry and providing tomorrow’s practitioners with the skills to perform their work safely and effectively. We train instructors within their scope of practice and integrate the necessary scientific, hands-on, and communication techniques to make aquatic recreational therapy available to all. The outcome is lifelong health improvements for everyone, regardless of age, socioeconomic status, physical and developmental abilities, or background. This pilot program demonstrates our commitment to the values of water safety education for all and community engagement.”

 

Attendees in the course have been chosen selectively from a pool of top candidates among local swim instructors. Upon completion of the pilot program, they will be able to apply the acquired skills in their classes and help their organizations grow adapted aquatics programs, thus creating more opportunities for children with disabilities to learn how to swim and gain an improved, healthier outlook  on life.

The course, valued at $350 per student, is being offered free of charge to the attendees who passed the application process. Registration is now closed.

 

Submitted by Wendy Kuehnl, Abilities United Marketing Director