Success: Recent Events

Success: Recent Events
Lehigh Valley Community Day
Saturday, September 10, 2011
If you could not make it to the Lehigh Valley Community
Day, hosted by Access Services, on Saturday, September
10th at the Bethlehem Township Community Center, you
missed a magnificent day enjoyed by many. After days and days of
rain, weather worries plagued the planners, but to everyone’s relief the
sun came out—providing all in attendance the opportunity to make
great memories.
Children carried around balloons in the shapes of swords,
alien heads, flowers and more, created by Jolly Holly the
clown. Children young and old also created crafts, played
the ring toss and hid in the giant blow up maze, among
other things. FeFe, the Iron Pig’s mascot, lit the faces of
many as she high-fived, hugged, and entertained the
crowd. Thanks to the Lehigh Valley Zoo for their live
animal presentation and to the Bethlehem Township
Police for the lessons and demonstration from the K-9 unit.
Children and adults enjoyed live music by Blue Sugar Band,
Sleight of Hand, and Bent Nail as well as appearances by
WLEV and CAT Country radio stations. The American
Legion honored those who lost their
lives during 9/11 with a gun salute after
a moment of silence. Proceeds from the
dunk tank benefited the Police Officer
Lasso #1229 Memorial Fund, who lost his
life in the line of duty in August.
This day of fun and discovery for the whole
family also offered children an opportunity to
enter the local fire safety house to experience
what it would be like and what to do in the
event of a fire. The crowds enjoyed lots of
good food from Heaven on a Bun, Polish
Water Ice, and delicious homemade baked
goods. Local crafters from the Lehigh Valley
displayed and sold their jewelry, bags,
artwork, home goods, and more.
Sponsors included Brown-Daub Kia,
Value Place Allentown, Catalyst 360,
Hamilton Business Center, Lehigh
Valley Zoo, Molly’s Irish Grill &
Sports Pub, Newhard Pharmacy,
and Sands Casino Resort
Bethlehem. Proceeds will
benefit children and adults
with special needs across the
Lehigh Valley.
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Additional Sponsors
Bethlehem Township
Community Center
Brown-Daub Kia
WCTO 96 FM CAT Country
Metz Amusements and
Concessions
Value Place Bethlehem
WLEV 100.7 FM
Beacon 443 Diner
Ben Yorgey Foundation
Bethlehem Pediatric
Therapy Services
Bethlehem Volunteer Firemans
Home Association
Corporate Cleaning Specialist, LLC
Cutie the Clown
G&L Sign Factory
Heaven On A Bun
Inova Technologies
Joe Yannuzzi
Jolly Holly,
Balloon Twister & Clown
Law Offices of Thomas D. Aristide
Lehigh Valley Insulation, Inc.
LoiKits Industrial Services
Prudential Benjamin
Rentschler Chevrolet
W.H.E. Watercolors
Silver Sponsors
Brown-Daub Kia
Hamilton Business Center
Bronze Sponsors
Lehigh Valley Zoo
Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub
Newhard Pharmacy
Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem
500 Office Center Drive, Suite 100
Fort Washington, PA 19034-3234
Gold Sponsors
November/December 2011
OUR MISSION:
To empower and serve people in
need of specialized supports by
providing innovative services that
improve their ability to live fulfilling
lives in the community.
Main Office
500 Office Center Drive, Suite 100
Fort Washington, PA 19034-3234
215.540.2150 (phone)
800.793.2150 (toll-free)
215.540.2165 (fax)
Schuylkill/Carbon/Berks
340 South Liberty Street
Orwigsburg, PA 17961-2127
570.366.1154 (phone)
800.200.7701 (toll-free)
570.366.7711 (fax)
Mental Health Wellness Center
570.366.5096 (phone)
Lehigh Valley
1510 Valley Center Parkway, Suite 130
Bethlehem, PA 18017-2267
610.866.6667 (phone)
877.896.6667 (toll-free)
610.866.2341 (fax)
Inside this issue...
■ Success: Recent Events News
Few Battles are Won Alone
Sitting in the audience, the words “others have known few
battles are won alone,” struck me. Glen Campbell was singing his
Academy Award nominated song, “True Grit,” at the University of
Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Glen was
diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in June 2011 and was winding
down his prolific career with a farewell tour. As I sat there enjoying
the show, I noticed the monitors which streamed the words to
songs that he had sung for over 40 years. As he performed,
I wondered what other supports might be in place to assist him through his set. I also
wondered how these supports would change as this devastating disease progressed.
In a similar way, Access Services provides needed supports to help people with a variety
of disabilities reach their full potential and live fulfilling lives. Personalized assessments and
services tailored to an individual’s specific needs are critical to providing successful support.
This work has not always been easy. We have faced many challenges and have learned a
great deal over the years. Without your ongoing support this work could not have been
done. Thank you all for being a part of our success.
Glen’s music brought back many memories, and I felt blessed to be able to attend his final
tour and celebrate his life and music. I was equally thankful for all of the other fans that
were there to support him as well. It was because of their continued support that he had
an audience to play to and ultimately provided me the opportunity to see him again. It is
true “few battles are won alone.”
I was so excited when he began to sing “Wichita Lineman.” It was always my favorite!
Sincerely,
■ Your Will, The Plan of a Lifetime
■ Best Places to Work Award
■ Bucks County LIFE’s New Office
■ Flooding in Pine Grove
■ Telling Our Stories
Through Video
■ A Man and His Bike
Rob Reid
President & CEO
Access Services Named One of the
“Best Places to Work” in Philadelphia
We are proud to announce that Access Services has been named
one of 2011’s Best Places to Work by the Philadelphia Business
Journal. Access Services earned this award for creating a positive
work environment and providing an employment package that
helps to attract and retain some of the area’s top employees.
Employees at each of the nominated companies were asked to
complete an online, anonymous questionnaire to provide feedback
about their employer. The questionnaire examined team effectiveness,
trust in coworkers, alignment with company goals, trust in leadership,
and people practices, in addition to respect, recognition, and benefits.
“It is such an honor to be recognized as one of the Best Places to
Work,” stated Rob Reid, Access Services’ President and CEO.
“I believe our continued success is due to our employees’ dedication
to our mission. I am proud of the work our employees do every
day to empower and serve those people in need of support in the
community. There is a sense of family here. We care for those we
serve and for each other.”
Access Services will be acknowledged in a print supplement of the
Philadelphia Business Journal on Friday, October 14 and will be
included in the 2012 Book of Lists issued in December.
Bucks County LIFE Has
Opened Its New Office
in Ivyland!
Bucks County LIFE provides unique support to parents of
children with special needs through mentorship, referrals,
training, specialized case management, and additional resources.
Our new Ivyland location offers social-skills classes and sibling support
groups for residents of Bucks County. Additionally, we also offer
monthly classes that focus specifically on issues faced by parents
of children with special needs. The new office is specially designed
for family support and training, and includes meeting rooms
and mobile work areas.
The new office is located at 882 Jacksonville Road,
Suite 203, Ivyland, PA 18974.
Bucks County LIFE can be reached,
toll free at 1.888.442.1590 or at
www.lifeinbucks.org.
If you have any questions or would
like to take a tour of the offices
please contact Lori Bowman at
[email protected] or
215.540.2150, Ext. 241.
Stay tuned for information about
our open house at the Ivyland
office on December 1st from 3 - 7 p.m.
Youth Outdoor Expedition
By Whitney Smith
This year, the Youth Outdoor Expedition
added an ecological education component
to their curriculum using the capabilities of
the iPad2. The opportunity to use the iPad2
was made possible by a grant from Pfizer
that is aimed at advancing science and math
education in the community. The equipment
was placed in a shock proof case and
covered with a dry bag that allowed the user
to manipulate the applications in any
conditions. It was used at night, on the trail,
on the water and in the rain. Applications
most frequently used included Audubon Guides – A Field Guide to
Birds, Mammals, Wildflowers, and Trees, as well as apps for survival
skills, knot tying and a star map. Campers kept a record of what animals
they heard or saw and entered information about the encounters into
their life-list directly on the iPad2. They saw loons, bald eagles, beavers,
kingfishers, herons, mice, skunks, a black snake, and heard great
horned owls and coyotes. By the third week of camp, the kids became
very proficient with the iPad2 and learned a lot about the environment
around them—the mountains of the Poconos, the Delaware River, and
the Adirondacks were all opening up in a brand new way.
This new component was a success since these trips are
predominantly composed of at-risk kids who usually don’t perform
very well academically, but can learn new things without even
realizing it. We will definitely continue to use this tool in the future
and are constantly looking for more eco-friendly, animal, insect, and
camping applications for future trips. www.yoetrips.com
Flooding in Pine Grove
Robin & James
By Cathy Yutko, In-Home Supports Supervisor, Schuylkill/Carbon Region
Access Services is fortunate to
have a concerned, supportive
staff who care deeply about
the people they serve and their
families. Many staff members go
above and beyond the scope of
their job duties to help clients
and their families in times of
crisis. One such person is Robin
Post, an In-Home Supports staff
for the Schuylkill/Carbon region.
Robin came to the aid of her client, James (Jim) Ginder, and his
parents, Dave and Joyce Ginder, during the devastating flooding from
Tropical Storm Lee that hit Eastern Pennsylvania in early September.
This was less than a week after Hurricane Irene had hit the area with
high winds and torrential rainfall. Some areas experienced the worst
flooding since Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Pine Grove, where the
Ginders have lived for 45 years, was hit especially hard. A flash flood
from the normally placid Swatara Creek flooded many streets and
homes in Pine Grove. Dave, Joyce, and Jim had to evacuate their
home during the early morning hours of Thursday, September 8.
Dave and Joyce had worried about the heavy rain all day on
Wednesday. The water from the creek, which is two blocks from
their house, was rising rapidly and starting to flood the streets.
They heard a knock on their door at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday notifying
them to evacuate. The water was flooding their street and their
basement was rapidly filling up. Joyce quickly gathered some
important belongings, along with Jim’s medications and some
clothes. The National Guard drove them to a fire company on the
other side of town in an army truck, where they waited with other
town residents. Jim, who has autism, handled the whole situation
very well. Later in the day, the water receded and they were able to
return home; however, they still had a massive amount of work ahead
of them to clean up the water damage in their basement. Dave and
Joyce are in their 70’s and knew the cleanup was more than they
could handle.
Robin was very concerned about the Ginders and their ability to
restore their home after the flood. When she was unable to contact
them, she quickly tracked down another client’s relative who is
involved in emergancy management in Pine Grove to find out any
information on the location of the family and was relieved to hear
that the Ginders were safe at the fire company. The next day, Robin
accompanied the Ginders back to their home to begin the daunting
clean-up. She spent many hours over several days helping the Ginders
clear and restore their basement and other damaged areas on the
property. Robin also cared for Jim while Dave and Joyce cleaned.
The Ginders said that Robin was a great help to them and they
don’t know what they would have done without her.
Dave, James and Joyce Ginder
Your Will, The Plan of a Lifetime
A will is a document you prepare during your lifetime so that your family is cared for when you are gone. Even if someone knows exactly how
you want your assets distributed, they would be powerless to fulfill your desires without proper documentation. Your will can also provide for
the charities that are carrying out valuable work in your community and around the world. If you do not have a will, have not reviewed your will
in many years, have a spouse that has passed away, or you want to include Access Services in their mission to help those in need, ask for your
free copy of “What You Need to Know About Wills.”
Email Rob Reid at [email protected] or call 215.540.2150 today for this helpful, “no obligation” guide.
This man is a part of the Access Services Autism Support Program.
As a participant, he expressed that achieving this goal was the most
valuable thing he has learned. This example demonstrates how
much an individual can achieve with appropriate supports that
foster independence and improved quality of life.
If you are in need of autism support, or if you are interested in learning
more about how you can serve individuals with autism as support staff
or a host family, please contact Kerri Hoogenhuis at 215.540.2150,
Ext. 308, or via email at [email protected].
Other Updates from the Autism Support Program:
A Man and His Bike
■ The Autism Support Program kicked off in January 2011. It is part
of the new Adult Autism Waiver in PA, which is a program
designed to help adults with autism become more independent
and involved in their communities. The Autism Support Program
can also be paid for privately.
By Kerri Hoogenhuis
■ To apply for the waiver visit, autisminpa.org, or call the Bureau of
Autism Services’ toll free number at 1.866.539.7689.
It has two wheels, a seat, handlebars, pedals, axles, gears, and
sometimes a basket. We call it a bicycle—a simple, human-powered
vehicle. However, the ability to ride a bicycle can serve a greater
purpose beyond its primary function as a means of transportation.
Riding a bicycle can empower an individual to explore their
community and provide access to places and things that once
seemed out of reach.
■ Access Services provides community inclusion, day habilitation,
respite, temporary crisis, Lifesharing, and family training through
the Adult Autism Waiver. Services are offered in the following
counties: Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh,
Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Pike, and Schuylkill.
For one man, simply learning to ride a bike was not the issue. It was
not knowing how to use a bike lock to protect it from theft that
proved to be the greatest hurdle. Without this knowledge, he always
had the inescapable fear of coming back to find his bike missing,
which prevented him from using it to travel around his community.
However, since gaining the skills and confidence to use a bike lock,
he has been able to overcome his fear. His bicycle has become a
way to travel to new places without having to rely on others for
transportation. For this man, his bicycle has become more than
just a vehicle; it is a passport to freedom, independence and
involvement in the community.
■ Access Services had representatives attend and gather resources at
the Autism Speaks Walk in Philadelphia on September 24, 2011.
■ A team from Access Services participated in the Autism Cares
Foundation’s Race for Resources at Tyler State Park on
November 12, 2011.
■ We are working to build our knowledge around useful technology
for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. We will be attending
a few upcoming trainings about implementing use of the iPad to
enhance learning. In addition, we will be attending an expo for
assistive technology.
Stay Tuned for More Access Services Videos
Last year through a grant provided by North Penn Community Health
Foundation, we purchased equipment and trained some of our staff
in video production to help produce new and original content. In
addition to learning a lot about the medium, they produced three
wonderful videos.
With so many great stories to tell, we are now providing a second
round of training in visual storytelling, videography, editing, sound
and lighting to a new group of Access Services amateur
videographers. This project will focus on developing a 3-5 minute
video that tells an important story related to the LIFE program and
we’re all looking forward to seeing it.
Once completed, this video will be viewable on the Access Services’
website under Access TV, along with all of our other videos.
Additionally, many of our videos are available on our Facebook page.
Our video consultant, Vince Caperelli, is the founder of Cotton Field
Communications, LLC, a video production and documentary
filmmaking company that creatively supports organizations by
educating and raising awareness on specific issues, such as those
pertaining to restorative justice, healthcare, technology, the
environment, education, the arts and agriculture.
www.cottonfieldonline.com