Abilities United

Cafe Zoe a huge, profitable success for artists!

2012-02-16T16:46:00.000-08:00

Please join everyone at Abilities United in congratulating the artists (all participants in Abilities United Independent Living Skills program) who sold their original works of art to community members and patrons of Cafe Zoe in Menlo Park. They are obviously very talented...their combined sales of eight pieces earned them a total of $1,200!

Michael sold three pieces at Cafe Zoe which brings him to eight pieces sold in the last 5 months! Michael has earned approximately $2,000 for his art!

Judy sold three pieces for a total of 5 pieces in the last 3 months...over $500 earned from her art.

Joseph's "Stanford Hoover Tower" sold at Cafe Zoe. Over the past 5 years Joseph has sold 5 original works of art to local art lovers.

Xenia's "Slipper" sold as well as another at the Abilities United Authors Luncheon auction.

In addition to congratulating these talented individuals, if you ever happen to be the Cafe Zoe area (1929 Menalto Avenue in Menlo Park) please stop in and thank the staff and owner Kathleen Daly for their wonderful support of the artists. Here is what Kathleen had to say about the exhibit, "The show has been a favorite. And the buzz has definitely created some new faces. I would like to make sure we plan to have this as an annual event." They have already scheduled the second annual Abilities United art exhibit for the month of January 2013!

Art by dozens of artists from Abilities United is also on display at several other local locations this month. The list can be found online http://www.abilitiesunited.org/events and http://www.facebook.com/AbilitiesUnited.org?ref=ts and below:

Woodside Public Library
3140 Woodside Road
Woodside, CA 94062
(650) 851-0147

Family Chiropractic Center
949 Sherwood Avenue
Los Altos, CA 94022
650-949-3636

San Carlos Library
610 Elm St
San Carlos, CA 94070
(650) 591-0341

Silicon Valley Community Foundation
2440 West El Camino Real, Suite 300
Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 450-5400

Peets Coffee & Tea

2600 Broadway Avenue

Redwood City, CA
(650)362-1000

Milestones Preschool art exhibit
Palo Alto Children's Library
1276 Harriet Street
Palo Alto, CA
(650) 329-2134

We welcome the opportunity to display these delightful and beautiful works of art throughout the community so if you have any possible exhibit locations please contactwendy@AbilitiesUnited.org or 650-618-3319

Submitted by Wendy Kuehnl, Director of Marketing, Abilities United

Mountain View resident, Design Loft owner, Hellen Hsieh receives the President’s Volunteer Service award for her design volunteer service with Abiliti

2012-01-11T10:29:00.000-08:00

Abilities United is proud to present Hellen Hsieh of Mountain View, who is a two year volunteer with Abilities United (which serves Santa Clara and San Mateo residents with disabilities), the President’s Volunteer Service Call to Action http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/tg/pvsainfo/dspAboutAwards.cfm for her over 200 hours of volunteer work as the art curator for Abilities United http://www.AbilitiesUnited.org

Hellen came to Abilities United in January 2010. She found the “art curator” position on VolunteerMatch. As the proprietor of Design Loft in Mountain View, she wanted to share her design and artist skills to benefit people with disabilities.

The work Hellen does promotes the artist talents of all the artists at Abilities United from all the service areas and programs. Her interior design background and skills make each piece of art shine. Using primarily donated frames and mat boards, Hellen painstaking chooses the frame style, and mat color and cuts the mat to best compliment the artwork. Because the pieces are so beautifully and professionally presented, the art sells more quickly and for a higher price than could be commanded without the frames. Since Hellen has volunteered at Abilities United and has helped increase the number of art exhibits in the community, art appreciators throughout the Bay Area have purchased over 50 original works from the artists. Because Hellen volunteers her time and utilizes donated materials, 100% of the sale can go the artist.

The President’s Volunteer Service award is a very unique and prestigious award as it takes many hours of consistent and continual volunteer work for one individual to donate over 200 hours of community service. Although President Obama won't be present, Hellen Hsieh will receive an official letter, certificate and pin from President Obama and the White House. Staff and participants will be present to congratulate Hellen.

Abilities United held a casual award ceremony to present the awards to Hellen on Monday, January 9, 2012. Hellen was thrilled and totally surprised to learn that the bell ringing ceremony was for her. After receiving her award, gifts and a few rounds of applause and accolades, Hellen got back to work installing 40 original works of art by artists of Abilities United at Zoe's Cafe in Menlo Park 1929 MenAlto Avenue http://www.cafezoemenlopark.com/

Ms. Hsieh explains her passion for promoting the art created by people with developmental disabilities; “I want other people to see the beautiful artwork individuals with disabilities are capable of creating; to help people see their talent and ability rather than their disability. This is an opportunity to give these artists a public space to display their work since they normally don't get to exhibit in galleries.” In 2010, she featured over 30 original works of art by artists from Abilities United at the Design Loft public grand opening. Hellen has also volunteered her interior design skills to renovate the Adult Day Activities staff office, which is a fun and cheering red, black and white theme complimenting the Abilities United brand.

On behalf of everyone involved with Abilities United, many many thanks to Hellen for her great spirit, commitment, and contribution to people with developmental disabilities!

Submitted by Wendy Kuehnl

Young woman excels at decorating birdhouses...sells dozens

2011-12-29T13:56:00.000-08:00

Marisol is an artistically talented 26-year-old woman with Down Syndrome and a former student of the Abilities United After School Socialization program. Today, Marisol is an Adult Education student in San Jose where she does volunteer work for organizations such as Meals on Wheels.

Marisol enjoys a lot of things in life but she especially enjoys painting an decorating birdhouses. She and her mother work together to create the designs and select recycled materials as decorating media. Marisol picks her colors, and painstakingly pastes and glues the materials to the birdhouses to create the intricate and complex designs. Each birdhouse is a unique work of art. No two are alike in shape, design or style. When each one is complete, Marisol sits back with a look of satisfaction and pride. She is particularly proud when she sells a birdhouse, as she was just this week when she received $375 for four of her birdhouses. She has used her earnings to pay for a computer, clothes, and recreational activities. She has also donated to Abilities United and saves some of her earnings.

Marisol is also a regular participant and medal winner in Special Olympics track and field, softball, baseball, bowling, floor hockey and basketball. She also enjoys going to dances. She loves Michael Jackson and dances every morning while she waits for her bus and when coloring and painting. She dreams that one day she will be called to be a part of a concert for Michael Jackson. Marisol collects Michael Jackson memorabilia.

Marisol has sold dozens of her creatively decorated wood birdhouses to individuals throughout the Bay Area who appreciate and value her talent. Birdhouses sell for between $50 and $300 dollars depending on the complexity of design. One of her fans, a resident of Woodside and an owner of at least a half dozen of Marisol's creations, so admires her work that she sponsored an auction of the birdhouse and matched the price of each birdhouse sold with a donation to Abilities United!

Artist’s talent is valued; five art pieces purchased by local art appreciators

2011-12-20T16:52:00.000-08:00

When Michael first dropped in to Abilities United to show us his 30+ original painting, all of us were, to say the least, extremely impressed... actually blown away. His use of color is incredible. Vibrant colors in combinations that make his artwork pop with emotion and energy. His paintings of nature and animals are whimsical, creative and expressive yet powerful and realistic. He is inspired by and promotes the unity of life, the unity of humans and animals, the unity of the world and universe. He is also a lover of anime so many of his pieces are super human characters. He says he has painted 114 original works of art! And now we are privileged to showcase Michael’s talents throughout the Peninsula and South Bay.

Art appreciators and art lovers are also impressed by Michael’s talents. So much so in the last couple months Michael has sold 5 pieces of art. His "Giraffe in Africa" sold for $140 to Lisa Mancini, the Director of Aging and Adult Services for San Mateo County. “The Transformers” sold for $150 to the Abilities United auditor! His “Flight of the Dragons”, featured in the Abilities United 2012 calendar/annual report, sold for $275 to a woman who is giving it to her grandchild. “Frankenstein meets the Wolfman” sold for $200. And “Paradise Ranch” sold for $500 to a woman on the East Coast who is giving it as a Christmas gift! We were delighted to celebrate Michael’s success with a bell-ringing moment at Abilities United, which included giving him over $1,000 in checks for these various works of art!

Michael’s art has been exhibited at the San Mateo County Council on Disabilities art show and auction in October & November as well as the Abilities United Expo art showcase in November. Two of his pieces were featured at the Abilities United Authors Luncheon and each piece sold. In January and February, numerous pieces will be on display at Zoe’s Café in Menlo Park. We hope to find an anime oriented location to showcase his many anime pieces.

At the San Mateo County Council on Disabilities exhibit, Michael spoke to potential buyer/bidders about his artwork. He took the opportunity to speak to the crowd and explained a bit about himself and his artwork. He expressed appreciation for the services he receives at the ARC (in Daly City) and Abilities United. He drove it all home with a final sentence: "I'm the happiest man alive."

Thanks to you, the Abilities United Authors Luncheon 20th Anniversary was a huge success...raised $200K

2011-11-30T09:14:00.000-08:00

On November 5, the 20th Anniversary Authors Luncheon was attended by a sell-out crowd of 650 book lovers who gathered at the Crowne Plaza Cabana Hotel to be entertained by authors Calvin Trillin, Maxine Hong Kingston, Erik Larsen and local children's book author, Jennifer Holm. Thanks to the enthusiastic leadership of Carolyn Brennan and Gina Rayfield, the help of 65 volunteers, and the generosity of event sponsors and attendees, the luncheon was a record success!

ABC7 news anchor, Carolyn Johnson, joined us this year as our very enthusiastic emcee. Abilities United Executive Director, Lynda Steele, highlighted 20 years of accomplishments of the Authors Luncheon which included over $2 million raised for services for people with developmental and physical disabilities, 92 world renowned authors who have donated their time and talent, over a thousand community volunteers, and countless community businesses contributing to this popular event!

This year, the audience was moved by Andy Ramans' story about his son's 40-year history with Abilities United - from infancy to independence. Laura Arrilllaga-Andreessen, whose mother Fran Arrillaga was the first honorary chair of the Authors Luncheon, spoke passionately about her mother's example of philanthropy and gifted her new book, Giving 2.0, to all of the guests.

Our community partner, Books Inc. provided their expertise and assistance to recruit the authors and manage the Book Salon which featured the 2011 authors as well as books from past Authors Luncheon speakers.

Finally, the event was topped off with the Abilities United Art Auction, which featured original works of art from a dozen artists from Abilities United, 16 pieces of art sold for a total of over $1,600 going directly to the artists!

Can you image a better way to spend a Saturday? Gathering with hundreds of fellow literary aficionados while you support the mission of Abilities United! Please join us at the 2012 Abilities United Authors Luncheon! For more information about the luncheon or how to be a 2012 sponsor, contact Michele@AbilitiesUnited.org 650-618-3330.

Watch your email and mailbox for the date announcement for the 2012 Authors Luncheon. It sells out each year and you won't want to miss it!

Thanks to you, the Abilities United Aquathon was a huge success...raised $150K!

2011-11-30T09:05:00.000-08:00

The Abilities United Aquathon is truly a special time for the community to come together and celebrate all abilities, from the littlest of infants to our respected seniors. Everyone is a champion for the day! Year after year, donors, participants, staff, volunteers and community members dedicate thousands of hours of work and fundraising to make the Abilities United Aquathon incredibly successful and fun! The 2011 Aquathon just set the bar higher…netting $150,000!

400 community people gathered at the California Sports Center in Sunnyvale to swim and raise money for services at Abilities United. Swimmers, representing all ages and swim levels, swam on 40 teams and were entertained by and swam with everyone’s favorite mascot, “Sharkie”, from the San Jose Sharks. You could hear the music and cheering from a block away. In addition to having fun, participants left feeling really good about their contribution to the success of the event. We owe a huge thank you to our top $10,000 sponsors, NVIDIA and Oracle, for their long-time support of this event; new corporate sponsor Lockheed Martin and returning sponsor Intuit for their $5,000 sponsorships; and Webcor their $2,500 sponsorship. Don’t be left out next year - be sure to mark your calendars for the 2012 Aquathon, Sunday September 9, at 2:00 pm.

We rely on the efforts of all of our fundraisers, some who have been with this event for 25 years. Our top 10 individual fundraisers were: Charlotte Rayfield, Marc Weeks, Michael Rayfield, Michael Skarpelos, Philip Decker, Keely Costedoat, Jesse Smithnosky, Michael Seiders, Dan Logan, and Robin Flecha.

Mike Seiders, a lifelong participant at Abilities United, moved the audience to cheers and tears as he completed the event’s first laps as the 2011 Honorary Swimmer. Each year, John Rothmann of KGO Newstalk 810 and Olympic swimmer Susan Roy make the event extra special by presenting medals to and posing for photos with the children.

In addition, the success of this event depends on volunteers. We send a special thank you to:

Bern King- Photography; Chris Ream-Emcee; Vickie Yamaoka-Food Coordinator; Douglas Tao-Video Tao & Audio Services; Raymond Chin-Video; Homestead Interact Club volunteers; One Brick volunteers; and all the Abilities United staff and Board members.

Over 30 Abilities United participants swam and raised over $12,000. Bill Hall, who is in our Adult Services program, goes above and beyond each year and won a special award for raising $1,600! We welcome new participants and corporate sponsors for 2012. To learn more about the Aquathon, view our video at www.abilitiesunited.org/aquathon and contact jo@abilitiesunited.org or at 650-618-3331.

Inclusive Early Childhood Education: Essential for All Children

2011-09-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

Inclusive education is an academic and social asset to all children, with and without disabilities. Research shows that the instruction methods that are typical of inclusive education, such as peer tutoring, cooperative learning groups, and differentiated instruction, are beneficial to all learners and help to enhance learning. So why wait until your child is in elementary or high school to reap these benefits? As with nearly anything in life, the earlier your child is introduced to new and exciting things, the more readily they will incorporate what they learn into their lives and benefit from it. Enrolling your child in a well run inclusive preschool will put your child in an early learning environment that is stimulating, not just for children with delays and disabilities, but for every child.

Educators and parents frequently hear about the benefits of inclusion for children with disabilities, but we hear much less about what children with typical development might gain. The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) recognizes the following commonly identified benefits for each group of learners.

Benefits of Inclusion for Students With Disabilities

- Friendships

- Increased social initiations, relationships and networks

- Peer role models for academic, social and behavior skills

- Increased achievement of academic and IEP goals

- Greater access to general curriculum

- Enhanced skill acquisition and generalization

- Increased inclusion in future environments

- Greater opportunities for interactions

- Higher motivation and expectation to learn

- Increased school staff collaboration

- Increased parent participation

- Families are more integrated into community 

Benefits of Inclusion for Students Without Disabilities

- Meaningful friendships

- Increased appreciation and acceptance of individual differences

- Increased understanding and acceptance of diversity

- Respect for all people

- Preparation for adult life in an inclusive society

- Master activities by practicing and teaching others

- Greater academic outcomes

- All students needs are better met

- More resources for everyone

Currently there is no research that shows any negative effects from inclusion when it is done appropriately with the necessary supports and services for students. To the contrary, studies show there is no reduction in the amount of time allocated to instruction or classroom activities, individual attention to each student, or test scores and grades. (York, Vandercook, MacDonald, Heise-Neff, and Caughey, 1992)

Since “inclusion” is a bit of a buzzword these days how can you tell if a preschool is really inclusive and provides good instruction to all of it’s students? Research from the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin suggests parents look for:

- Students are sitting together: no particular students are isolated or alone with an adult.

Even if a child has an aide, the child should spend most of their time interacting with other students. The aid is there to facilitate the child’s inclusion, not take the place of peers.

- Each student has a role to play in his or her group activities. Roles should be assigned based on the child’s particular skill set.

- All students are frequently asked for responses and encouraged to participate in class discussions.

- Children who don’t speak should participate using the communication techniques and tools they can use such as nods, picture devices, sign language, etc.

- Attitudes and communication about ALL students focuses on individual strengths and abilities, not deficits.

- Each teacher works with all the students. Families can speak to any teacher, not just the teacher with the special education background, for a progress update or an answer.

- School leaders (directors, principles, etc) support and demonstrate a commitment to inclusion.

- Special education assistants/paraprofessionals are part of the overall teaching team, not just working with one student with a developmental concern.

- Teachers and administrative staff work as a team.

- Students do more work than the teachers through group activities, discussion, interaction, hands-on experimentation and exploration.

- Students are seated so they can work together, rather than so that all desks that face the teacher.

- All students work on the same curriculum, but at a variety of levels of complexity.

- There are a variety of ways to participate in activities: verbally, written, by using assistive technology; yes/no/I don’t know; choice of two or three options.

- Students have multiple ways to demonstrate what they know: posters, skits, written essays and papers; art work, etc.

- Every student has opportunities to share his/her gifts, abilities and passions in ways that are appropriate and comfortable for that individual.

- Evaluations are offered in a variety of ways such as multiple-choice exams, verbal quizzes or projects.

- Therapies and special instruction are integrated into regular activities throughout the school day rather than as separate functions outside the classroom activities.

- All students are encouraged to and participate in extra-curricular and social events at school.

- Each student has some time to talk about themselves and what they like.

- Students feel they are part of a community and belong at their school.

- Classmates are involved in helping other students and in cooperative learning.

Clearly inclusion is a valuable asset, but there are a number of other features, which parents should considering when choosing a preschool for their child.

- Family involvement. Young children are greatly influenced by their homes and their parents and caregivers. Parent involvement usually translates into the child retaining more of what they are learning in school and the ability for them to translate their newfound knowledge into their every day life. Parents who regularly communicate with the teachers have regular opportunities to discuss their children’s development. When parents understand how their children grow and develop, they are better able to provide the best start for their children.

- Educated staff. Knowledgeable staff are dedicated and engaged staff. Teachers credentialed in regular and special education, and with backgrounds in child development, music and movement, motor, speech and language specialist etc., will have the knowledge to create an exceptional preschool experience for your child. These diverse educational backgrounds bring a unique perspective to the classroom which h helps the teachers recognize the individual needs of each child and respond to these needs through the curriculum.

- Small classes allow each student to receive the individual attention needed. Teachers also have more time to plan the quality and relevant curriculum and activities. Small classes also give each child more opportunity to form a bonding relationship with the teachers and other students.

- Values individual differences. Children have different personalities, needs, abilities, and likes, dislikes. Preschools that respect and embrace the uniqueness of each child encourage self-confidence, respect, acceptance, open-mindedness, curiosity and a host of other qualities that are essential in this increasingly global world.

We are fortunate to live in a time when inclusive education is available to children with and without special needs. Take this opportunity to make sure your preschooler receives the best academic and real life education available to them. Consider the lifelong benefits all children derive when educated side-by-side children with a broad range of abilities in an inclusive classroom.

Co-authored by Janel Astor, M.A. Ed. and Wendy Kuehnl

Palo Alto Medical Foundation educator earns President's Award Becky Beacom to be honored Sept. 13 for 30 years of volunteer servic

2011-09-19T17:26:00.000-07:00

All of us at Abilities United were delighted to present 30-year volunteer, Becky Beacom, with the President's Volunteer Call to Service Lifetime award. Read the comments of congratulations from the community to Becky on the Palo Alto Online post of the following article. You deserve this award and many more Becky! Thanks for being so involved in the local community including Abilities United!

by Sue Dremann

Palo Alto Weekly Staff

Becky Beacom, a health educator with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, will receive the President's Volunteer Service Call to Action Lifetime Award on Sept. 13 in Palo Alto. The award is given to individuals who have given more than 4,000 hours to volunteering.

Beacom will receive an official letter from President Obama, a certificate and pin. She is a 30-year volunteer with Abilities United, a Palo Alto nonprofit organization that serves Santa Clara and San Mateo residents with disabilities. She volunteers as the instructor of the pre-natal fitness class at the Betty Wright Swim Center. Beacom oversees the medical foundation's prenatal education and numerous community-outreach programs. She is founder and leader of the SHARE Committee, a collaboration of home, school, and community groups to ensure a sense of well-being for the youth of Palo Alto.

Beacom lives with her husband in Palo Alto and is the mother of two. She began volunteering at Abilities United in 1981 when she was looking for a pool for expectant mothers to exercise in throughout the year. She has taught the weekly pre-natal fitness class since finding the warm-water pool at Betty Wright.

"I look forward to my Saturday mornings and am so grateful for the relationships that I've enjoyed over these years," she said.

Most students take her health education and movement class from the end of the first trimester until a week or two before their due date. The class also provides a social outlet for pregnant women. Sometimes the outcome is unanticipated, she said.

"Right after one of the mothers gave birth, her husband was diagnosed with cancer and she had to return to work. Her entire group stepped in and helped her out with her newborn baby," she said.

Beacom said the prenatal class has real long-term value.

"Women today are facing greater demands. They are stepping into careers and motherhood, often simultaneously. Women should develop healthy fitness habits during their pregnancy so that they will continue these changes into the new life they are creating."

The award ceremony will take place at Abilities United, 3864 Middlefield Road, on Tuesday (Sept. 13) at 1 p.m. The President's Volunteer Service Award is issued by Points of Light Institute and the Corporation for National and Community Service on behalf of the President of the United States to recognize the best in American spirit and to encourage all Americans to improve their communities through volunteer service and civic participation.

posted by Wendy Kuehnl, Marketing Director, Abilities United

Abilities United Aquathon raises $132,000 and counting!

2011-09-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

A big “Thank You” to all the swimmers, volunteers, and cheerleaders for participating in this year’s Abilities United Aquathon and for making it such a success! We hope you enjoyed the event. We especially want to recognize the team captains for pulling all the swimmers together, and the following wonderful volunteers:

Vickie Yamaoka for organizing the food table – which is a huge job!
Bern King, the official photographer of the event.
Chris Ream--isn’t he a wonderful emcee!
Jon Rothmann, KGO Newstalk 810, award host.
Susan Roy, former Olympic swimmer, award presenter.
Doug Tao, Video Tao, for providing our audio service.

One Brick volunteers

Homestead Interact Club volunteers

Sharkie for always entertaining the crowd and creating great photo ops!

We are still in fundraising mode as we have a number of large trophies in the office waiting for homes for the year.

We’ve extended the fundraising date until 5 pm Friday, Sept. 30. Now is the time to encourage your donors to apply for matching gifts through their companies. It can double your donation amount! If you send us copies of the forms, we will add the match to your totals as a pledge.

Help us get to $200,000 by September 30^th!

Our congratulations to the following teams for their placement in the speed category:

Adult Teams
1^st Place: Webcoracle 135 laps
2^nd Place: Sue Nommi’s Speedos 132 laps
3^rd Place Cisco Bommarito Barracudas 128 laps

Family/Community/Kids Teams
1^st Place: BWSC Rehab 90 laps
2^nd Place: Jack’s Divers 79 laps
3^rdPlace: BWSC Rec 74 laps

Special thanks to the Abilities United Aquathon sponsors:

Nvidia

Oracle

Lockheed Martin

Intuit
Webcor Builders
CFOs2go
MarketRiders
Milk Pail Market
Montreux Equity Partners
Mulcahy Family Dentistry
SRI

As well as inkind donors:

Captain Kirk's San Francisco Sailing

Costco · Esther's German Bakery - Los Altos
Hobee’s Restaurant · House of Bagels
Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels · La Baguette
Odwalla · Peet’s Coffee and Tea - Palo Alto
SJ Sharks · Verisign

Finally, special thanks to Sunnyvale Sun photographer, William Gerth for spreading the word about Abilities United and the Aquathon. Read the article and see the photo in the September 16 Sunnyvale Sun

Several team captains have already begun to strategize for next year, so we expect some very close competitions in 2012!

Thanks again for your support and for contributing so much energy and fun to the Aquathon!

Linda & Jo

Abilities United Receives New Vans

2011-09-08T12:05:00.000-07:00

Volunteers in the News Palo Alto Patch September 8, 2011

Abilities United Receives New Vans

Local non-profit showcases donated vans Wednesday afternoon with balloons and ribbon cutting ceremony.

By Alejandro Lopez de Haro, reporter Palo Alto Patch

Local disabled residents have a new way to get around town.

Abilities United, a local non-profit that champions people with developmental and physical disabilities, is rolling out three new Ford vans after a successful fundraising campaign.

These vans will be of great help to the organization’s transportation needs for several of their activities, said Wendy Kuehnl, marketing director at Abilities United.

“These vans are essential because it gives participants a safe transportation mechanism to get to their various volunteer positions,” said Kuehnl.

One program that will see particular improvement is “Community Connections,” an Abilities United Adult Day Activities Program that allows volunteers with developmental and physical disabilities to participate as helpers at more then 30 local non-profits.

The vans are wheelchair accessible and can fit nine passengers. “These vans are essential because some participants are in wheelchairs and need special transportation,” said Kuenhl.

The Community Connects program is very important for Abilities United, said Kuenhl, because participants earn a lot of useful skills, and because the non-profits are able to witness first-hand the effectiveness of these volunteers.

“It allows participants an opportunity to develop social interactive skills and gives them a sense of accomplishment,” said Kuehnl.

The participants are often good at their jobs, and it is through these positive results that Abilities United wishes to change attitudes and misconceptions.

“The program shows to the general community that these individuals have a lot of abilities and do bring lot of value to the community,” said Kuehnl.

The organization had been operating the transportation element of their programs with a set of older vans. They had aged quite a bit and were in need of replacements.

“We have three other vehicles that are over ten years old and falling apart,” said Lynda Steele, Executive Director of Abilities United. “We had to replace them.”

The vans cost more then $150,000 and were sponsored by the Hedco Foundation, the Bothin Foundation, the Mercury News Wishbook Fund and other anonymous donors. A member of the Ford family was also instrumental in the procurement of the vans.

The quality of the Abilities United programs was stated as one of the mains reasons why sponsors decided to get involved.

“Abilities United found us and told us of their need,” said Roger Schwab, of Hedco Foundation. “It looked like a very good program and we decided it to contribute.”

The specific nature of the request and the help that it would provide was another factor that got some sponsors on board.

“It was so specific and worthy,” said Sue McAllister, coordinator of the San Jose Mercury News Wishbook Fund. “Without having this reliable transportation… you could see why it would be very tough for them.”

More then twenty of the participants from this program attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. All showed a lot of excitement and gratitude for the vans that would now take them to their diverse jobs. Some told Patch about the benefits that these vans would bring.

“It’s going to make thing easier for everybody,” said Mike Self, an active member of the Community Connects program. “They are nice and pretty cool.”

Other participants expressed approval for the wide variety of colors that were chosen for the vans.

“They are pretty colorful,” said Armando Santillano. “I like the purple one and the red one.”

Reposted with permission from Palo Alto Patch Story and photos are on

http://paloalto.patch.com/articles/abilities-united-receives-new-vans-for-disabled-residents#photo-7660121

Motorized wheelchair helps San Mateo man maintain his independence

2011-09-06T09:46:00.000-07:00

Ray Bogdan, a gentleman of 50+ years living with Cerebral Palsy, requires the use of a motorized transport to maintain his independence. Previously, he has been able to use an electric scooter to suit his transportation needs, and a manual wheelchair for moving around his home. However, in the time that he has worked with Abilities United ILS, his scooter has been in and out of the shop frequently, and is clearly no longer able to suit his needs. So, Wheelchairs of San Mateo initiated a request for Ray to receive a new, electric wheelchair, so that he may maintain his independence and continue to enjoy his outdoor excursions without the constant and necessary presence of support services.

One of Ray's ILS goals is to improve his ability to utilize and work with his support services, he and I made a series of phone calls, gathering and delivering information necessary to expedite this process. Eventually it came to a point where the Health Plan of San Mateo was uncertain if Ray qualified for this new wheelchair, as they had recently covered the purchase of his manual wheelchair.

It became necessary for ILS to advocate formally and directly for Ray, expressing his needs in a detailed and comprehensive letter that would illustrate the multitude of reasons Ray absolutely required this motorized wheelchair, and how a manual wheelchair would not suffice. An important focus of this letter was the progressively debilitating nature of his condition, and the increasing need he has for assisted mobility, out in the community and also in his own home.

The request was authorized! The doctors reviewing the case realized that the progressive debilitation of Ray's condition indeed warranted a more accessible mobility device. On Friday, August 12, Ray's new wheelchair (he calls it the Bently) arrived at his home in San Mateo. I saw him the following Wednesday, and he was showing off all the cool new tricks it could do, and had a smile clear across his face. I can't recall a time I've seen him happier, the chair is a dramatic improvement on his old scooter and is going to be essential in Ray's continued involvement in his Downtown San Mateo community.

Submitted by Drew Thorne
ILS Instructor

Abilities United Aquathon– Swimmers’ Goal is to raise $200,000 to Champion the Abilities in Disabilities

2011-08-24T11:51:00.000-07:00

Now in it’s second year in Sunnyvale, the Annual Abilities United Aquathon www.AbilitiesUnited.org/aquathon is likely to be another record fundraising day on Saturday, September 10, 2011 at the California Sports Center, Sunnyvale Swim Complex, Fremont High School, 1283 Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road in Sunnyvale. The event is scheduled from 8:30 am – 1 pm. This fun-filled event raises money for Abilities United services for individuals with developmental and physical disabilities.

Abilities United’s new Corporate and Foundation Giving Officer, Jo Bailard, is managing the 33^rd annual Aquathon which raises as much as $200,000 for the Palo Alto agency’s services for people with developmental disabilities. This year’s fundraising goal is $200,000. Collaborating with Ms. Bailard on this year’s event, which will be attended by over 400 swimmers and volunteers from throughout the Peninsula and South Bay, are Linda Chin and volunteer Vicki Yamaoka, of Los Altos. Joining Abilities United this year to present the event awards is KGO AM 810 Newstalk Radio personality, John Rothmann and former Olympic swimmer, Susan Roy. San Jose Sharks mascot, Sharkie will make his annual “splash”, delighting children and adults alike.

The hundreds of swimmers include employees from corporations throughout Silicon Valley, participants and staff at Abilities United programs, and local community residents. Long-time Abilities United supporter and Los Altos resident, Ann Hepenstal is the captain of the Intel Employees' Team has been involved with the Aquathon for nearly 20 years: “Organizing an Aquathon team has brought me a lot of personal satisfaction. Through very little effort, I make a huge difference. I bring together employees from across our company for a morning of fun and fellowship. By doing so, I help Abilities United provide their programs enabling people with developmental disabilities lead the lives they choose.”

The Abilities United Aquathon epitomizes the vision of Abilities United, a world where all people; of all abilities; live, work, and play side-by-side with mutual respect for each individual’s unique contributions. Abilities United strives to be a model of how society can be barrier free to enable the full participation of people with disabilities and their families. The Aquathon is a community and team-building event where people of all walks of life, all ages and all abilities, swim side-by-side to raise money to help fund the training, education, and support that Abilities United provides to people with developmental and physical disabilities so they can lead the lives they choose.

One of the star Aquathon fundraisers is recent Sunnyvale resident Bill Hall, a retiree, who receives Independent Living Skills training from Abilities United. Bill began fundraising in 2006 when he went door-to-door in his community and generated nearly $1,000 in donations. Each year he has increased his fundraising dollars and this year, his personal fundraising goal is $1,200. How does Bill motivate people to donate? “I take the flyers to companies and ask if they would like to give to the disabled. I don’t actually ask for money, I leave it up to them. If they want to give $1 or $5, it doesn’t matter, whatever they want to give is good. “ Bill is very humble about his prowess as a fundraiser but his efforts warrant recognition. He has received the “Client Fundraising Award” for two consecutive years. Bill’s success may be closely related to his realistic expectations, “Raising money is a lot of work but everything you do, you have to put your heart into it and do the best you can. Each year is different, you just have to keep trying. Every time I do it I learn more and more. I’ve learned to go with the flow, and be thankful for what I get.” He further stated, “I feel good about raising money for the disabled. It’s for a good cause and I know it’s being well used.”

Among the 2,500 Bay Area residents who benefit from the fund raised at the Aquathon is Palo Alto resident Mike Seiders. As this year’s honorary swimmer, Mike will kick-off the event with the inaugural swim. Mike has a lifetime of big aspirations and an "I can figure it out" attitude. His personal goals have enabled him to progress through the Abilities United Early Intervention program , graduating from the Palo Alto school system and Foothill Community College. As an adult, Mike has held various jobs through the Abilities United Employment Services program where he receives job placement and employment coaching. Today, Mike is an integral member of the Abilities United janitorial team and keeps the facilities clean and neat…all with a smile and positive work attitude.

Mike also learned to swim at the Abilities United Betty Wright Swim Center. Once a year Mike and his family organize a “Big Mike” team and swim in the Abilities United Aquathon. This is their way of saying “thank you for being there for us” and, of course, is a great opportunity for Mike to show off his swimming skills. Michael’s mother, an Abilities United board member, states: “Abilities United provides vital support to my son. I cannot adequately express the importance of Abilities United to Mike’s long-term maturity, mental and physical health, and community socialization. Life has not always been easy, but Mike’s positive attitude and the support of this community make it seem so".

Mike is the first one to say that he couldn't achieve all his goals on his own. He values the help he has received from his parents, his teachers, his coaches, the community at large and Abilities United. As Mike says: "I've been with Abilities United a long time - since I rocked the crib. Now I'm out there, living on my own. Abilities United has helped me be who I am".

Mike, along with his friends and family, are one of 50 teams scheduled to swim in the friendly, competitive, continuous swim relay to raise funds for Abilities United, a Palo Alto not-for-profit agency that champions people with developmental and physical disabilities.

Teams, made up of 6 to 8 people from all over the Bay Area, swim for 30-minute to raise funds. Corporate matches are added to team totals.

Sponsors of the Abilities United Aquathon including NVIDIA, Oracle, Lockheed Martin, MarketRiders, Webcor Builders, Intuit, Milk Pail Market of Mountain View, Montreux Equity Partners, Mulcahy Family Dentistry and SRI of Menlo Park. Media sponsors include KGO AM810 and the Palo Alto Weekly/Palo Alto Online.

If you would like to form a team, swim on a team, or make a donation visit www.AbilitiesUnited.org/aquathon or contact 650-618-3331 or jo@AbilitiesUnited.org

Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Ted Kennedy: A Commemoration

2011-08-12T12:10:00.000-07:00

To commemorate the second anniversary of the passing of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, we are posting this story written by Lynda Steele, ED of Abilities United and published in Parenting on the Peninsula, November 2009.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver is, for those of us who work with people with special needs, the ultimate role model. She is an example of what can be accomplished by one person with a passion for a cause. She was a woman, who for decades relentlessly pursued her vision of a just world for people with developmental disabilities. Her tenacity, commitment, and influence to forge a revolution to expand the rights and independence of people with developmental disabilities, inspires all of us to follow in her footsteps in whatever small or grand way we can.

Today, it is impossible to imagine what the lives of people with developmental disabilities would look like without the impact of Eunice. Would most of these individuals still be in institutions, provided inadequate medical care, or worse yet, abused at the hands of their so called caregivers? Granted, these injustices may still exist today but fortunately, only in pockets. The majority of individuals now lead lives that offer stimulation, challenge, education, employment, and independent living. The nationwide network of early intervention, after school and day activity programs, education, employment services, independent living, recreation, respite, and therapeutic services, give each U.S. resident with developmental disabilities or delays new opportunities to live their life as they chose. They are no longer a “victim” of society’s institutions or ignorance. Today, individuals with developmental disabilities are contributors to their community. They work at local companies as tax paying citizens. They “give back” to society as volunteers at local nonprofits. They collaborate with their classmates and teachers. They inspire others through athletics, arts, and leadership. They use their own talents and skills to live independently and make their own impact on the world. We still have progress to make to reach the ultimate goal of equal opportunities for people with disabilities but the drive of people like Eunice Kennedy Shriver and her younger brother, Ted, have gotten us very far along the journey. And though multitudes of dedicated parents, professional, volunteers, donors, caregivers and other community members have made this possible, at the helm was Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

Eunice taught all of us that we couldn’t go it alone, that this revolution, like all revolutions, is a community effort. She recruited many to help her forge her vision, even her own children and family members, as is so evident on the Eunice Kennedy Shriver website, where her son Timothy Shriver wrote: “… To this day, the mission of Special Olympics is rooted in the values of hope, love and opportunity. To create an opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities where they can compete, experience success and showcase their talents to the world. … I challenge each of you to further my mother's work and vision -- reach out to a person with intellectual disabilities who every day is looking for hope, love and opportunity. When we open our eyes to that which is around us it is so simple to do. Smile, reach out and say hello to those with intellectual disabilities in your schools and your communities. Get involved and volunteer with your local Special Olympics. I guarantee your life will be enriched and you will get back more than you give.”

Although Shriver is best known for establishing the Special Olympics in 1968, she spent decades changing the daily lives of people with developmental disabilities in countless important ways. As the executive vice president of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation in the 1950s, she established two major objectives for the foundation: to prevent intellectual disabilities by identifying its causes, and to improve the means by which society deals with citizens who have intellectual disabilities. Under her leadership, in 1961, the Foundation established The President's Committee on Mental Retardation. The next year, the Foundation developed the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development. In 1967 they created a network of university-affiliated facilities and mental retardation research centers at major U.S. medical schools. Centers for the study of medical ethics at Harvard and Georgetown Universities were created in 1971. The "Community of Caring" concept for the reduction of intellectual disabilities among babies of teenagers was launched in 1981 followed by sixteen "Community of Caring" Model Centers in 1982, and the "Community of Caring" programs in 1200 public and private schools from 1990-2006. Shriver founded the “Community of Caring” to create a school community to teach values across the curriculum in a safe and healthy learning environment in which all children, including students with disabilities, could succeed and prosper academically and ethically.

There is no doubt that Eunice Kennedy Shriver has changed the fabric of life for people with developmental disabilities as well as the lives of their families, friends, neighbors and coworkers. She will be missed but we all vow to carry on her mission and strive to attain her vision. Who could imagine the expanse of the meaning of her words when she convened the first Special Olympics on that sweltering July 20 at Chicago’s Soldier Field, “You are the stars and the world is watching you. By your presence you send a message to every village, every city, every nation. A message of hope. A message of victory.”

On August 25, we lost another great friend to people with special needs. But like his sister Eunice, Ted Kennedy’s spirit and the impact he has had on the lives of people with disabilities will forever be felt in our society. According to Disability Scoop, Kennedy was a chief sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the 1990 legislation that ensures people with disabilities equal access to public places and employment. The ADA culminated years of civil rights work to ensure the rights of people with disabilities to employment, appropriate housing and care, voting, air travel and protection from crimes. Kennedy was a co-sponsor of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, which later became the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). He was also instrumental in establishing government definitions for terms like “developmental disability” and changing the terminology from “handicapped” to “disability.” Andrew Imparato, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities spoke for all of us, “His legacy will be felt for generations to come, as millions of Americans with disabilities and our families recommit ourselves to his vision of equality and full citizenship for all people.”

Rest in peace Eunice and Teddy. You will long be remembered and cherished by the millions of individuals from all walks of life you have touched.

Lynda Steele, Executive Director of Abilities United in Palo Alto, has dedicated her 30 year career to improving and changing the lives of people with disabilities by developing and managing high

quality community services as an alternative to institutional care.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Ted Kennedy: Special Friends to those with Special Needs was written by Lynda Steele, Executive Director, Abilities United and published in the November 2009 issue of Parenting on the Peninsula

Project WaterWell final push to reach $425,000 goal!

2011-08-03T12:55:00.000-07:00

Aquatic Services client Ron Cote and his wife and Abilities United board member Geri Hadley, and Linda Chin the Development Director of Abilities United were recently interviewed on On the Move, recorded by a local Mountain View TV station (KMVT). The video is available at on Youtube

Ron tells his inspirational story about his spinal cord injury and the progress he has made using the warm water therapy of the Betty Wright Swim Center located at Abilities United. Donna Yeager, host of the program, having learned to swim at the BWSC and a current client, also attests to the benefits this unique indoor warm water, wheelchair accessible pool provides to the community and those who can benefit from warm water exercise.

Ron, Geri and Linda also talk about Project WaterWell, our infrastructure and capital improvement campaign for the aging Betty Wright Swim Center. A recent $25,000 anonymous challenge gift was just matched by the Sheri Sabrato Sonsini's Foundation – Sheri used to volunteer/teach at the Betty Wright Swim Center. And longtime Abilities United friends, Julia and David Carver Colella also donated $15,000 to be matched by another $25,000 anonymous challenge grant! So as of August 3, we are proud to announce that we have $382,458 cash in hand towards our $425,000 goal.

We still have to raise the other $10,000 to meet the $25,000 challenge grant so we invite you to help in any way you can to help us reach our goal by the end of August. If you (or any of your friends, family or your company), could help us in this final stage, we would be ever so grateful.

Your Project WaterWell donations make possible the first phase of work in August when a new roof, thermal solar panels and new boiler will be installed. The next phase will be the installation of the HVAC system, new doors to replace the 40+ year old doors that are literally falling off their tracks, and training for new hydro/aqua therapists. You can donate on the Abilities United website.

Thank you so much for your support to help us reach the Project WaterWell campaign goal. And stay tuned to learn more about the improvements being made to make the Betty Wright Swim Center more comfortable and accessible to all community members who use it.

Written by Wendy Kuehnl

Abilities United Marketing Director

iPad usage & app created by Abilities United therapist is designed for children for inferential thinking, communication & motor skills

2011-07-26T11:52:00.000-07:00

Abilities United (formerly C.A.R, Community Association for Rehabilitation) now utilizes iPad apps in their therapeutic and educational services for children at risk of or diagnosed with a developmental disability. As the Coordinator of the Abilities United Therapy Clinic, Dawn Ferrer, MS, SLP, utilizes many iPad applications in her therapy sessions and has downloaded over 770 applications to research how each can be used with the special needs population. But more than just the apps themselves, Dawn finds the real therapeutic properties and power of the iPad apps is in the application of applying learning techniques by the parents and professionals so the child utilizes the app for maximum educational and therapeutic benefit.

In reviewing the apps, Dawn found that most were too complicated for her clients and they lacked that important opportunity for joint interaction with a communicative partner such as a parent, peer, or therapist. So she and her Morning2Moon Productions business partner L. Luna DeCurtis, M.A., CCC-SLP , set out to design a simple application to engage children in the thinking process and encourage active participation in learning.

Their recently released app “That’s Silly”, according to Ferrer, can be set up to address the child’s individual learning level and development. The app helps children attain flexible thinking, increase vocabulary, recognize absurdities, focus on salient features, make inferences, build imagination skills, expand and spark communication, and comprehend the whole/part of a picture. “That’s Silly” also enables the student to practice motor skills (tapping/swiping) and encourages interaction between the child, teacher, parents, therapist, etc. Therapists and families have equal access to “That’s Silly” on iTunes and at 99 cents it is completely accessible to everyone.

Dawn states, “Unlike a computer, which is intrusive and makes it harder to interact with the child, I maintain control of the iPad. I can put it up to my face so the child will interact with the iPad and me at the same time. I can put it behind me when I need the child to interact directly with me. An iPad is affordable and portable, especially compared to the other PC based software or augmentative alternative communication (AAC) devices for the special needs population.” Ferrer shares, “If the child has a question, I can instantly go to the Image Finder app and bring up the appropriate images. I can then compare one to another. For instance, if you say ‘I’m not a parrot, I’m a ferret’ but the child doesn’t know what a ferret is, I can bring up pictures of ferrets to show them. We can compare and contrast the various pictures. Having so much information literally at my fingertips makes therapy so efficient and effective because I don’t have to get up, leave the child, and return with visual aids for the child. I can maintain contact and interaction with the child during the entire therapy session.”

The children naturally interact with the “That’s Silly” application because they can use all their senses; touch, sight, oral, auditory, and in a sense, smell. It is so simple that even babies can use it. Even if they have not yet developed the ability to point, the application teaches following directions, making choices and visual scanning and tracking. Other toys are static, and the child has to manipulate the toy or the parent has to do the work. With “That’s Silly”, the child just taps the image and instantly experiences a simple cause and effect.

The application engages all senses through pictures and sounds, and allows the child to manipulate the image using touch. For instance, a child is looking at an image of a Tiger with colored polka dots. When the student touches the tiger, the polka dots wiggle and change to tiger stripes, which triggers the tiger to roar. However, for those children who find sound distracting, the mute button can turn off the accompanying music.

The “Beginning” level gets the child to start to see the whole and the individual parts by cueing the child to look at the image and follow a conversation.

“Intermediate” level allows the child to develop further by learning to make choices and expanding motor skills. The number of choices increases to three.

“Advanced” stage includes pointing and dragging functions with four choices, two on the left and two on the right. The set up allows the child to see the whole picture, tap it, and drag it.

The progress of each student is automatically tracked so the therapist can tell from the data whether or not the child is reaching their established goals. The tracking is done behind the scenes so the child does not know about it. This allows for a judgment free environment, which is conducive to the developmental analysis of the progress.

To give further awareness about the advances and uses of iPad Applications in therapy, Dawn and Luna will spoke at the IDA (Infant Development Association) in Los Gatos on Saturday July 16.

The presentation “Maximizing iPad Technology: It’s About the Technique, Not the Tool” is an interactive presentation on how to utilize the iPad and its related apps as an effective educational tool using the tried-and-true techniques of speech-language pathologists and early intervention specialists. The techniques are for young children at all developmental levels.

This presentation will also be available to the public in September 2011 at Abilities United.

Some of the uses for the application include: consulting families in Early Intervention on how to use the iPad Technology to benefit their children. Ferrer says: “Even therapists who do not want to use the new iPad need to educate themselves on the iPad and apps because parents and children will eventually ask how to use it.”

Videos showing how Ferrer uses the iPad to enhance the child’s therapy are available on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/user/MorganHillMama

exemplary employee, team leader, role model

2011-07-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

With a smile on his face and energy in each move, William Vela diligently stacks the Safeway salad bags in perfect rows. When a shopper stops at the vegetables, he directs his attention to her and asks if she needs help.

These are just some of the job skills William possesses that landed him his Safeway job in 2004 after just one interview. His prior job at Blockbuster, his strong work ethic, and the application and interview skills he learned through Abilities United Employment Services ensured he was hired as a courtesy clerk.

With additional help from Abilities United Employment Services, William quickly adjusted to his new Safeway job. His job coach helped him learn to bag groceries, process go-backs, serve the customer, and maintain the floor. “My coaches helped me a lot and were very important to me to learn my job. So well, that I no longer need job coaching,” states William.
He proved to be a patient and friendly employee, providing excellent customer service to the shoppers.

Safeway store manager Michelle Sukovaty gushes with praise for William, “His biggest asset is his positive attitude and personality. He exemplifies customer service and Safeway hangs our hat on customer service.” When the store needed cashiers and produce workers, Sukovaty suggested that he take the cashier test. “He was next in line for a promotion and he was ready.” Though nervous about his possible promotion, William accepted her suggestion, took, and passed the test. Sukovaty recalled how hard he worked for the promotion, “The test is not easy, it takes a lot of memorization. He put in a lot of effort.”

In addition to his promotion to cashier, William also took on new responsibilities in the produce and dairy departments where he stocks supplies and provides customer service. He glows with pride when he remembers the steps to his promotion in 2006. “My manager saw my potential. She is very happy with my work and me. She never has to tell me to do my work; she knows I’m doing it. I never call in sick, I’m always on time.” He also understands his role on the Safeway team, “They are good guys, and they help me a lot. We’re a team, we’re fast. My team members think I do a great job.” His manager, Sukovaty, confirms William’s value to Safeway, “He helps me a lot and helps me get the employees on board to do what they are supposed to do. It’s fabulous for me, I’ll tell you that. He’s a leader in the department. He’s an excellent employee and a role model for others.”

William is an excellent example of how Employment Services helps individuals become independent, tax paying citizens. With a little help to find a job and guidance to learn the necessary job skills, individuals like William become valuable members of an employer’s team. “Abilities United helped me a lot on my job. It’s a good service. I am proud of my work, my family is proud of me. They appreciate that I help pay the mortgage, insurance, and bills.”
Although William loves his Safeway job, he has big plans for his future. He will continue his education at Canada College and has a dream to become a fireman.

For information about Abilities United Employment Services contact 650-494-0550 or employmentservices@abilitiesunited.org

Written by Wendy Kuehnl, Marketing Director

paralyzed patients walk again in warm water

2011-06-24T16:23:00.000-07:00

After nine grueling years of therapy, dashed hopes and incremental progress, Amber Mickel was able to use a walker -- a bit. But she couldn’t run and play with other kids, her grandmother, Sally Mickel, recalled. Amber was a robust infant until she was 3 months old. Then everything changed. Pneumococcal meningitis nearly took her life and left her deaf, suffering from cerebral palsy, and developmentally disabled.

Then in 2005, practically in the blink of an eye, everything changed again, thanks to Palo Alto’s Betty Wright Swim Center, the therapeutic aquatics center for people with disabilities at Middlefield and E. Charleston roads. Amber’s father put the little girl into her swimsuit and lowered her into the water. Sally turned her back on the pool for only a second. Then she heard Amber’s father yell,“Mom! She’s walking!”

Sally’s voice broke with emotion, recounting the story earlier this week. “She was running through the water -- all the way across the pool,” she said. Now 14, Amber can walk on land and can even run a bit. “It’s absolutely amazing. For years, we had to pack up all the gear -- the wheel chair and the walker -- we couldn’t just go ‘anyplace,’” Sally Mickel said. Amber’s Lourdes-like miracle has been repeated many times at Betty Wright, although perhaps not as spontaneously, clients said.

Persons with paralysis, heart, neurological and arthritic conditions, developmental disabilities or injuries from accidents go into the pool often unable to stand or walk. In the 93-degree water, working with dedicated hydrotherapists, they learn to stand, walk and swim. An evolution often takes place. Some clients learn to walk on land, without having to be buoyed by the water.
But the center, opened in 1969, is aging. A boiler that keeps the pool at its healing-level temperature is near to failing and the building’s ventilation system needs revamping, staff says. Solar panels will help cut energy costs in half -- crucial in these lean-budget times -- and the money saved will help fund scholarships for people who can’t afford the therapy fees. Funding will also help train additional hydrotherapists, said Renate Henry Olaisen, director of social enterprise for Abilities United, which runs the swim center.

Hydrotherapy client Ron Coté became paralyzed from the waist down in January 2005 due to a spinal condition that was initially undiagnosed. Surgery did not restore his mobility; he remained in intense pain from spasms that come with paralysis, he said. Hydrotherapy in the warm pool has brought relief from pain to Coté, a retired corporate attorney for Adobe Systems.
“The whole system locks up. It follows down from the torso to the toes. You feel like you’re going to break,” he said of the pain. The soothing water is crucial to people with spinal-cord injuries; because often they cannot regulate body temperature. Coté once developed hypothermia within 15 minutes of entering an 80-degree pool, he said.

Working with three of Betty Wright Center’s hydrotherapists -- Vladimir Choubabko, Morgan Pozzi and Kim Motzny -- he learned to touch his feet to the bottom of the pool and to use his muscles in limited ways: to contract, extend, work and relax. Coté has had a total of 10 surgeries. Each operation means months of recuperation and setbacks. Each time Coté has sought the water to regain his strength and transcend his pain. “It allows you to cope with things that would otherwise be so terrible and drain you,” he said. Coté now walks using a walker and he uses a cycling machine. In 2011, he hopes to walk without the walker, he said.
The future offers great promise, he said. “I’ll be happy if I can walk without holding onto things. We could travel again.”

Another client, Molly Hale, 61, faced a dire prognosis following a rollover car accident on U.S. Interstate 280 in 1995, in which she suffered a broken neck. Doctors said she would be permanently paralyzed below her shoulders. She is now walking and swimming. She initially shunned traditional therapies -- and some drugs could cause liver damage, she said. But Hale, a competitive swimmer in her youth, found hydrotherapy a natural fit.

In 2001 Hale could finally get her legs beneath her body and bear weight in the water and, later, on land. “It completely rocked my world -- just to be able to stand up in one spot and pull up my own pants was huge,” she said. Her arms now take long, powerful strokes through the water. And she can walk on land again, using people for balance, she said. “The water allows me to unfold and get my body completely open. There is a strong sense of welcome. The water says, ‘Ah -- you’re home.’ That’s what it feels like to me. I’m totally free,” she said.

Reprinted with permission from the Palo Alto Weekly. The full story, with photos, is available on http://www.PaloAltoOnline.com/news/show_story.php?id=19524

For information about Abilities United Aquatic Services contact 650-494-1480 or aquatics@AbilitiesUnited.org

Children thrive in individualized therapies

2011-06-13T17:01:00.000-07:00

Four-year-old Daimé, spots speech therapist Dawn Ferrer across the hall and squeals with delight as she runs into her arms. Dawn bends down to Daimé‘s and asks her about her morning. As they chat back and forth, they head off to the therapy room hand in hand.

The room is sunny and bright, full of colorful toys and special equipment designed to engage the child in the oral and physical exercises used to encourage speech and language.

Dawn lifts Daimé gently into a swing “box” that hangs from the ceiling and sits on the floor facing the young girl. An Ipad sits to the right of Dawn within arms reach. She gives Daimé a dog puppet and asks her what the dog says. Daimé moves her hand to move the dog’s mouth and says “bow-wow”. Dawn then clicks the Ipad screen to an image of a dog. She asks Daimé what the image is and the girl quickly says “dog”. They continue their exercises using a combination of the swing, puppets, and the Ipad as Dawn helps Daimé pronounce each word and rewards her with high fives and high praise.

Daime’s mother, Armanda, appears ecstatic as she watches her daughter. “Her progress is incredible, and it’s only been one month! What I love about Abilities United is they understand my child. No one judges her. She gets really good service here. Even though we can get therapy services for free, what we get here is better because of the sensory integration. I absolutely think the $120 per hour is worth every penny.”

The Therapy Clinic was the brain child of the Abilities United staff when they repeatedly heard from parents of children graduating from the Early Intervention program that their 3 year old children still needed individual physical, occupational and speech therapy. Since each parent and child had established relationships with the Early Intervention therapists, it made sense and was beneficial to the child to continue those relationships.

The Therapy Clinic is a private pay service and does not require a referral from a pediatrician or regional center. The clinic now serves 55 children from infancy to school age. For the children and parents from Early Intervention and Milestones Preschool, the clinic is a familiar and convenient option. For the children who are new to Abilities United, the Therapy Clinic offers a “one-stop-shop” of the various therapy modalities and provides immediate therapy with no wait list. For all clients, the fact that all the therapists are under one roof means that they collaborate and consult with each other so each treatment plan is cohesive and potential developmental delays can be immediately addressed. The skills the child learns in one therapy can be generalized to other therapy sessions. Dawn Ferrer explains; “If a therapist is concerned about the progress of their client or wonders how to more effectively work with their client, they can consult with other therapists about their approach and the results of that approach. They can advise each other on how to maximize their therapy time with the child. They share tips on how to communicate with the child to help them make more progress. ”

Armanda adds, “I feel the therapists are kind and helpful. They teach me how to work with her. They teach me about what is going on with her and what the problems are. They explain what they are doing and give me tips on what I can do with her at home.”

In addition to physical, occupational, and speech therapies; the Therapy Clinic also provides small group sessions including the "Jump Start Language" for children 18 months to 2.5 years old, speech articulation for 4 – 9 year olds, and social skills for children 4 years and older.

Dawn further states; “Our therapists have a great reputation in the community and parents want to continue their child’s therapy with their current therapists. But our goal is to get them (the child) to a place where they don’t need us.”

For more information on the Therapy Clinic contact 650-618-3353 or dawn@AbilitiesUnited.org

Abilities United Community Connections: A new partnership!

2011-06-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

Abilities United Community Connections: A new partnership!: "Hello Everyone and welcome to the Community Connections blog! This has been an exciting and productive month. Last week we started our work..."

Keep Your Child Safe in the Water

2011-05-27T15:18:00.000-07:00

Summer is a time when families stream to pools, parks, beaches and lakes to cool down and enjoy the water. Playing in the water is a fun and happy experience, but drowning or near-drowning can occur in moments. Last year in California, drowning accidents were the cause of death for more than 360 people; 77 of these victims were younger than 13 years of age. Drowning is the leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 5 and 24 and the second cause of death for children under 5 years. And sadly, most drownings happen in home swimming pools. The frightening reality is that within seconds a child may slip into the water, swallow large amounts of water, and slip into unconsciousness. A child may lose permanent brain function within 2-4 minutes if s/he remains under the water. Often life ceases within four minutes or a drowning victim is left with permanent brain damage.

But swimming and water activities are a wonderful form of recreation and exercise for children, and should be encouraged. So, to to ensure the safety of your children, practice key preventative tactics around water, whether it is a bathtub, hot tub, swimming pool, pond, lake, or ocean:

· Stay within arms reach of your child if your child is not able to swim

· Have your child take swim lessons to become a competent swimmer

· Teach your child to respect water; never turn your back on the waves

· Teach your child to obey and read the rules at the pool, water park, beach, etc

· Get out of the water when tired or when the water gets too rough

· Swim in sight of the lifeguard and in designated swim areas

· Go down the slide feet first and face up

· Wear protective footwear if the ground is rough, rocky or slippery

DO NOT

· Never let your children swim alone

· Don't swim out too far or too deep

· Don't swim in the dark

· Do not allow them to run, push or jump on each other

· Don't dive in areas that aren't designated for diving

· Don't swim or play in dark or murky water because you can't see the bottom and obstructed debris or plant material may endanger your child

· Do not swim or boat in a storm. Water and electricity are a dangerous combination

· Do not swim close to rocks or piers. If the water becomes rough you can be thrown against them.

· Don't chew gum or eat while swimming. You could choke.

· Get out of the water if you feel a cramp. Wait until your muscles relax before returning to water.

PARENTS!

· Learn how to swim yourself

· Become certified in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)

· Keep your eyes on your children at all times

· Keep a phone near you in case you need to dial 911

Remember:

§ Do not depend on lifeguards to be watch your child every moment because they have many people to watch over

§ An adult who can swim must always remain on the pool deck or shore watching the child regardless of how strong a swimmer a child is

§ Inflatable devices and other types of flotation devices do not guarantee safety

§ Children should not play in deep water unless they have demonstrated that they have the endurance to tread water, stay afloat, and swim for an extended period

§ When swimming at the beach, check with the lifeguards to determine the water conditions

It is always smart to go to a pool, lake or beach where lifeguards are on duty. Lifeguards greatly improve safety; they receive training in accident prevention, CPR and AED utilization, and basic first aid. However, do not give them full responsibility for your child's life, they have dozens of people to keep their eye on and if they are occupied by another emergency your child is further at risk.

While water wings and other inflatable devices can allow for a wonderful experience for a non-swimmer, they absolutely will not keep a child from drowning. Inflatable devices often lose air due to small holes and prolonged water and sun exposure. A child's face can easily go below the surface if the device is not properly inflated. Remember, these are not life-saving devices.

Even life jackets provide no guarantees. A child may lose his/her balance or get knocked over easily when wearing a bulky life jacket. Startled and submerged, a child may gulp in water.

You can prevent water accidents when you follow these safety guidelines. To help you keep your children safe in and around water, Abilities United Aquatic Services, located at 3864 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto 650-494-1480, aquatics@AbilitiesUnited.org offers

· CPR

· AED

· nanny safety-course

· children's swim lessons

· adult swim lessons (both group (1:8) and individual sessions to match your schedule)

· two-hour community water safety course (July 16, 6:00-8:00pm; August 27, 6:00-8:00pm)

Jump in the water with your child this summer! You'll have a safe and happy time if you are ready for action should you need to take it.

Author:

Renate Henry Olaisen, Director of Abilities United Aquatic Services, is certified with the American Red Cross and lectures frequently on water safety to small groups, schools and workplaces. In addition, Renate teaches aquatic certification courses at Abilities United.

Reprinted with permission from Parenting on the Peninsula

The impact of volunteers at Abilities United goes beyond time and talent to donations

2011-05-19T14:10:00.000-07:00

Nonprofit leaders and staff understand the importance of the work and contributions of their volunteers. The volunteers share their time and talent, but they also are ambassadors of Abilities United, and donors to the organization.

There are so many service, administration, fundraising, and business functions that would never get done without the dedication of our wonderful volunteers. in 2009/2010 Abilities United was privileged to receive nearly 9,000 hours of volunteer services valued at $250,000! And 2011 is looking just as good.

But recently we were reminded of how much more volunteers give to Abilities United. We were blown away to receive a $500,000 gift from the charitable remaining trust of a family whose daughter volunteered at Abilities United as a teenager! And just the other day we received $25,000 from another family whose son had volunteered with Abilities United back in the 1970's! What amazing proof that the impact of our volunteers goes WAY beyond the number of hours they give and the talents that they share.

So on behalf of Abilities United and every nonprofit, we give each and every volunteer a larger than life thanks for the many contributions you make to our community and the world!

Our first Silicon Valley Open Studio exhibit was a success!

2011-05-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

Abilities United had the honor of being the first non-profit chosen to exhibit original works of art in the 25th annual Silicon Valley Open Studio (SVOS). We had our exhibit on Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15. Dozens of new and old Abilities United friends browsed the wide variety of original works of art (acrylics, watercolors, pencils) created by artists who participate in Abilities United services for people with developmental disabilities.

Many thanks to the art lovers who purchased 4 original works of art as well as printed art notecards. The proceeds go directly to the artists and the art program. I can image how beautiful these pieces will look in the homes and offices of the buyers.

Huge thanks to Hellen Hsieh of Design Loft in Mountain View, and her friend Bruce, for their time and talent to organize the exhibit of about 100 pieces of art. They were also fantastic and enthusiastic hosts of the two day event.

Additional thanks to George Bosworth of SVOS for inviting Abilities United artists to participate. George also got Abilities United some much needed publicity when he coordinated our co-appearance on KBAY radio.

More thanks to Patch (Palo Alto, Mountain View and Los Altos) for including Abilities United in their story "Come on in, the Door's Open" http://paloalto.patch.com/articles/come-on-in-the-doors-open.

Finally, many thanks to Allegro Framing of Portola Valley and Woodside, and Great American Framing of Palo Alto for donating frames and mats that enhance the quality of the art.

We had a wonderful time and look forward to doing more art exhibits as a part of SVOS and other community exhibits.

If you are interested in hosting an art exhibit, buying art or learning more about our art program please contact wendy@AbilitiesUnited.org or 650-618-3319

Remember, art is a universal language that brings together people from all walks of life.

2009-04-27T13:53:00.000-07:00

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