Spotlight Literally on Imagine! Consumer

The spotlight is literally on Imagine! consumer John Halcomb, a member of the Jesters Dinner Theatre and School for the Performing Arts in Longmont. John loves the theater and has been singing, dancing, and acting since he was in his early teens. His most recent performance was with Jesters in Scrooge, where he was cast as one of the sock sellers. Director Scott Moore stated, “John does a great job. He has no fear on stage.” The camaraderie of the Jesters cast members is evident in the supportive, friendly way they interact with John off-stage.

Congratulations go to John for his dedication to acting, for maintaining his job at Applebee’s Restaurant, and for being an active, contributing member of his community. Thanks are in order to the Jesters Dinner Theatre and School for the Performing Arts for supporting John as he pursues a career as an actor.

John Halcomb on the set of Scrooge

Imagine! Consumer Repairs and
Donates Bicycle

Imagine! consumer Jim Engler is a real handyman with tools, and his recent donation of a bicycle he fixed himself is evidence of his skills. One of Jim's neighbors had a bicycle that had been in storage for a few years and she offered it to Jim. He already has a bike, but, as he put it, “I knew there was someone at Imagine! who wanted a bike but couldn't afford it, so I fixed it up. All it needed was the handlebars tightened, a different saddle (seat), a bit of oil, and the tires filled with air. I have all the star wrenches and sockets in my tool kit so it wasn't any problem fixing the bike.”

Jim's kind gesture is certain to make another Imagine! consumer happy, and Imagine! is proud to be affiliated with him.

Overcoming Shyness Was First Step for Active Consumer

When Karen Kleinke began receiving services from Imagine! more than 40 years ago, conversations with her rarely went beyond a polite, shy smile and a softly spoken “hello.” Now, on the second Sunday of each month, Karen and her Imagine! case manager enthusiastically volunteer as greeters at the First Presbyterian Church in Boulder. Recently retired from the workforce, Karen maintains an active lifestyle. She belongs to a self-advocacy group, participates in a cooking class and attends a weekly Bible study with eleven other Imagine! consumers.

Karen Kleinke and her case manager Jane Laughlin greet visitors at First Presbyterian Church in Boulder

Imagine! Consumers Tutor Second Graders
at Lafayette Elementary

This past school year, several Imagine! consumers took part in a service learning project where they studied the life of Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi. The project culminated with the consumers meeting Ms. Ebadi at a conference held in Denver this past May.

As part of the project, participating consumers worked with students in a second grade class at Lafayette Elementary once a week for 20-30 minutes, tutoring the students in their reading skills by listening to them read and assisting them as needed.

During these reading sessions, information on the life of Ms. Ebadi was provided, along with lessons on tolerance, acceptance and kindness. The sessions proved valuable to all. “The second graders weren’t the only ones who learned from our time together,” said Jessica Ratner, an Imagine! consumer who took part in the project. “I learned a lot, too.”

At the end of the school year, the students wrote thank you letters to all the consumers who participated. A letter written to Imagine! consumer Dawn Diffenbaugh by a student named Ava summed up why the project was such a success for all involved. “Dear Dawn,” the letter began. “Thank you for reading with me. You’re the best. I love being your friend.”

New Program Offers Hope
For Calmer Lives

Imagine!’s Family Services department, in cooperation with the Autism Society of Boulder County, is pioneering the first program in Colorado that provides funding to young people with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The program is self-directed, allowing families to target a specific need that the family member with ASD has based on his or her diagnosis and to purchase services that directly address that need. The program is designed to provide short-term, focused intervention services that can significantly reduce the costs of lifelong care for people with ASD.

According to Theresa Wrangham, her daughter Rachel now converses more fluently and in more appropriate ways with her peers because of services purchased through Imagine!’s ASD program. “Rachel is really practicing listening to others and taking turns in conversations. She self-advocated with classmates at school by telling them that they were talking too fast, then explained autism to them.”

Because of a new program created by Family Services, Rachel Wrangham has more tools to use when communicating with her peers

Class Taught By Imagine! Consumers Provides New Perspectives On Communicating

The first day an ad announcing the “Bridges to Boulder” sign language class (offered by Imagine!’s Innovations department) appeared in the newspaper, the class was filled to capacity. The class is taught partly by Imagine! consumers who communicate with sign language. A collaborative effort sponsored by Imagine!, the Boulder Public Library, and the Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, “Bridges to Boulder” links Imagine! consumers with individuals from the larger Boulder community. In an atmosphere of mutual awareness and learning, the program provides new perspectives on communication for everyone who is involved.

Meet Donna Fairchild,
Imagine!'s 2005 Consumer of the year

Donna Fairchild, Imagine!’s 2005 Consumer of the Year, is a wonderfully unique woman. She enjoys having a good time while challenging herself physically and mentally. Her motivation and determination are admirably demonstrated when she overachieves at her physical therapy routine, then laughs and glows with a sense of accomplishment.

For Donna work can be a challenge due to physical limitations. However, through her dedication and fortitude, she worked with Output Services Inc. for 18 years. In addition to serving as a member of the Imagine! Board of Directors, Donna volunteers at the Boulder History Museum and the local Humane Society.

Donna sings in her church choir and has successfully completed a difficult ropes course. She is humble and seems most comfortable discussing the achievements of her friends. When pressed to talk about herself, she admits to being proud to have lost 60 pounds through exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy diet, although she modestly says that what helped her to lose weight was, “Some of us are lucky to have a better metabolism than others.”

Donna counts numerous friends among “The many good people from Imagine! who have done a tremendous job for me as caregivers, finding me a wonderful place to live, and helping me to find a job and volunteer work.” Some of her interests include writing poems and short stories, painting, sit skiing and shooting basketballs.

Donna is kind, generous and encouraging to others. She will often sit with friends to offer encouragement, to listen or to just offer to hold their hand. Donna possesses a great sense of humor and a contagiously positive attitude. Her relationship with her boyfriend Gerald provides additional purpose and joy to her life.

Donna Fairchild, Imagine!'s 2005 Consumer of the year

Longmont School Assists as Imagine! Consumer
Works to Nail Test

When Imagine! Supported Living Counselor Ana Rojas began contacting local cosmetology schools to help enroll Imagine! consumer Crystal Enriquez, Longs Peak Academy in Longmont responded with open arms. The academy's Director, Cece Mason, met with Ana and Crystal to determine what type of supports the academy could provide Crystal in her quest to become certified in Nail Technology. Crystal began attending the academy in the spring of 2005. Imagine! provided funding for the first semester of classes, although that required Crystal to make hard choices regarding the services she received. She gave up some of her recreational activities at Imagine! and learned how to take the bus to the academy. During that first semester, Crystal met every month with her tutor, Cece and Ana to discuss her progress towards earning her state certification.

To receive a state certification for Nail Technology, students must complete 600 hours of classes and pass a difficult test that is one-half written and one-half practical. Classes cover a variety of topics, including chemistry, anatomy, recognizing diseases and having a general understanding of the salon business, including customer relations. "Crystal relates well with the customers, there isn't an issue there. You need that to be successful in this business," says Cece.

In spite of impressive efforts by all involved, at the end of the semester Crystal didn’t pass the state test. At that point Cece contacted the owners of Longs Peak Academy, John and Myrian Nowosad, and they quickly decided that they would pay for Crystal’s next semester of school and keep her enrolled. As Cece stated, “Crystal’s success is our success. Doesn’t everybody need to feel valued and employable?”

When Crystal didn’t pass the state test at the end of her second semester, Cece again contacted the academy’s owners, who offered Crystal another free semester of school.

You can see the determination in Cece’s eyes as she says, “I want to see Crystal come in here and show me her license. When you’ve come this far you have to see it through.”

Longs Peak Academy is helping Imagine! consumer Crystal Enriquez become certified in Nail Technology

Consumer Learns Life Is About Being
Comfortable With Yourself

“I used to be a taker, now I like to give,” says Imagine! consumer Wes Ingle, as he describes one of many changes he has made in his life the past few years. Three years ago, Wes was homeless and admits that, “I drank too much, lied a lot, and complained regularly when I didn’t get my way immediately. It was all about me back then.” Wes smiles as he calmly says, “I was a pain in the neck for a long time.”

In 2003, Wes began receiving services from Imagine!, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing. At his host home he was demanding and not accustomed to sharing household responsibilities and compromising with his housemates. It wasn’t long before Wes was back at the homeless shelter or looking for friends to put him up for the night. His self-confidence and sense of worth were all but gone. Wes says he seriously considered ending his life.

He still had a case manager at Imagine!, who found him a studio apartment. The Case Manager and his Supported Living Counselor, Sam Parks, provided him with as much support as time allowed. While Wes lived in his studio, Sam worked on Wes’s reluctance to keep his apartment clean. It reached the point where Sam would no longer meet him at his apartment because it was too dirty.

Wes says that, “One day something just clicked and I decided to make some changes. I was in such pain from drinking too much that I was convinced that my bed was causing the pain. I stopped drinking alcohol and haven’t had a drink in two years.” With guidance from Sam he began cleaning his residence and eventually moved from his studio to a one-bedroom apartment. Though making progress, Wes continued to live in crisis mode every day. He constantly demanded Sam’s time, and when Sam was unable to respond immediately, Wes became frustrated and angry. Wes nods in agreement and both laugh as Sam recalls, “Wes ‘fired’ me a number of times but I kept seeing him. We worked together on having a good day, then a good week, then a good month, and now Wes has had a great year.”

I learned to wait and have found that often something better will come up.” Wes has found the strength to look for the good in situations. “If you look back at a relationship you think was bad, you might find that the person taught you some things and helped you. You have to be happy with that.

Wes credits Sam with helping him learn that life is about being comfortable with yourself. Wes finds that the more comfortable he is with himself, the more confidence he has and the more successful he is. “I used to get angry when someone couldn’t give me a ride to where I wanted to go. Now I find another way to get there. I’m learning to be more disciplined with my money, and pay my bills on my own. I still ask for help if I need it, and found that when you ask nicely, people come running to you to help.”

Wes writes in a journal every day. He keeps track of what he did, how he felt, and what he learned. He finds comfort in attending church regularly. “I’ve learned how to earn people’s respect, and I like it.” Wes takes a deep breath, and his face lights up as he looks Sam in the eye and speaks with confidence, “And we’re not done yet.”

Imagine! Consumer Wes Ingle (right) and his Supported Living Counselor Sam Parks

Playtime Activities Encourage Development

An important part of Imagine!’s Dayspring department’s philosophy is to provide opportunities for children to become engaged in play in the community, in addition to individual therapies provided in a child’s home. Play has a vital role in development, and much of children’s learning occurs as they touch, manipulate, experiment and talk about things. Just ask John and Kris Rose.

When John and Kris’ son Adam was 5 ½ weeks old, he began receiving physical therapy from Dayspring. Later, the Dayspring team also added speech and language therapy and began encouraging Adam and his parents to take part in community events centered on play. When Adam first began attending the events, he would often become upset and would want to go home. With time and support from the Dayspring team, Adam began to feel comfortable and now enjoys participating in many activities.

Thanks to Dayspring, John and Kris feel that they are better educated about Adam’s development in all areas due to the services they have received. “Dayspring has been a huge support,” said John. “It is obvious that the therapists really care about kids.”

Adam Rose loves playing in his "kitchen."

Imagine! Consumers Contribute
To Community Through
Volunteering, Running Own Business

Imagine! consumers Jeff and Jon Mansfield were among the 350 people from Boulder’s Cornerstone Church who volunteered their skills to help clean, paint and landscape Boulder High School on the weekend of June 10-12. In all, more than 2,000 volunteers from seven local faith congregations participated in an “Extreme School Makeover” of seven public school buildings in Boulder County and Erie.

Jeff and Jon each found jobs that suited their skills. Jeff helped with the washing of windows and pulling the used masking tape off the protected surfaces after the paint had dried. Jon filled his wagon with water bottles and a basket of candy and gum to distribute to other volunteers.

Volunteering for Jeff and Jon is a very special activity since both young men work each weekday at their business in Boulder. Jeff and Jon are not only brothers, but have been business partners in a bulk mailing company called Three J’s Mailing since 1991. Jeff and Jon usually ride RTD buses to work with their dad, Robert R. Davies. Other times they catch a ride in the car with their mom, Janet Davies, whose Faith in Action project shares office space with their business.

Through their work, the brothers have learned a variety of skills such as using a folding machine, an electric stapler and a sealing machine, stuffing envelopes, stamping, applying postage, zip coding, collating and all the other steps that go into preparing mailings for bulk mail. Their job coaches assist them with the level of help that each one needs in their progress towards independent work. Jeff, Jon, and their parents work out of the same office

and mom and dad handle some of the other tasks that need to be done for bulk mailing such as accounting and transportation of the mail to the post office. In all, this is a family business, with everyone participating to get the jobs done.

Jeff Mansfield helps clean windows
at Boulder High School

Imagine!'s 2006 Consumer of the Year

At the sixth annual Imagine! Celebration Dinner and Auction, held January 26, Michael Quang was honored as the 2006 Imagine! Consumer of the Year. When you learn a little about this amazing young man, it is easy to see why.

Michael is a legend in the Colorado medical community. He has been receiving dialysis treatments longer than anyone in the state, and receives three treatments every week. In spite of constant medical appointments, tests, procedures and a plethora of medical setbacks, Michael remains amazingly cheerful.

During one stay in the hospital when it was not known if he would survive, a technician asked him, "How are you doing?” Michael pointed out the window and replied, "Isn't that the most beautiful sky you've ever seen?" The technician said it changed his life.

With the support of Employment Link, an Imagine! service provider, Michael worked as a teacher’s assistant at the CU Family Daycare Center from 1990 until 2006 when his health prevented him from continuing. Michael’s case manager stated that in addition to Michael’s positive attitude, the level of care he receives from his group home provider Carol Powell is crucial to his endurance.

Imagine!'s 2006 Consumer of the Year

View a movie about Michael here

Making Healthy Choices and Transitions

When Carl French began coming to Imagine!'s Out & About department's activities, it was not easy for him to have changes made to his routine. Last year, his only activity with the program was attending their afternoon bowling program. In that class, it became necessary to make the transition of changing locations from the Coal Creek Sports Center to two weeks per month at Centennial Lanes, Longmont, and two weeks per month at the Brunswick Zone, Westminster.

Staff worked with Carl to assist him as he adjusted to this huge change in his routine. Over the next four to six months, Carl was becoming more receptive to the change in locations and was also able to express his appreciation for the specific qualities of each new bowling alley. Both Centennial Lanes and the Brunswick Zone staff are very friendly, supportive, and accommodating to the Out & About bowling group. They provide free shoe rentals and discounted bowling to the participants. Carl likes the videos and music that are on the televisions above the lanes at the Brunswick Zone. The Brunswick Zone also has automated bumpers (that prevent the bowling ball from going in the gutters), so participants on the same lane who have different abilities can choose whether or not to use them. Centennial Lanes is a smaller bowling alley which has allowed the opportunity for their staff to get to know the participants on a very personal level, including knowing the participants by name.

In addition to Carl's improvement regarding his reactions to change and transitions, he has also become independent in making healthy food choices at Out & About events as well as in his personal life. In the past, Carl's first stop at the bowling alley (even before putting his belongings at his seat) was the snack bar to order a large soda, a hamburger and fries, or a large pizza. Staff worked with Carl to educate him that a healthy choice didn't mean giving all that up, but rather making small steps to decrease his sugar and fat intake. Carl chose to begin ordering a small soda instead of a large one. Then he decided he didn't need to drink soda at all and only ordered a snack while drinking water. He made the choice to order a hot dog instead of a hamburger and excluded the fries. Finally, he stopped ordering snacks altogether and now he only drinks water while bowling.

Carl French proudly displays his water bottle while with the Out & About bowling group at the Brunswick Zone in Westminster

Carl has also become more social in his interactions with other participants. He used to keep to himself, rarely speaking to staff, but now he addresses staff and participants by their names and offers high fives and handshakes when he compliments their bowling. He recently gave support and advice to a friend in the bowling class about the pros and cons of living independently, as his friend was moving into his own apartment for the first time.

When asked what he likes best about bowling with the Out & About group, Carl smiled and stated, "I love all these guys." Carl has also begun attending two or three other Out & About events each month, in addition to bowling.

Congratulations are in order for Carl's successful effort to lead a healthy, happy life, and for Out & About's role in helping Carl to be successful.

Jared Polis Foundation's Computer Donation
Put to Good Use

Part of Michael Langer's success serves as a testimony to the benefits of the more than 100 computers donated to Imagine! by the Jared Polis Foundation. Michael uses his computer on a daily basis. He uses it primarily for email and finding information on websites related to his hobbies, which include woodworking and collecting dye cast cars and farm equipment.

Michael enjoys looking for new websites for tool manufacturers and often prints off pages of useful information about tools. He has a variety of wooden display cases and racks that he, his mom, and his Imagine! counselor Michael Benz made. One wall display has approximately 80 pieces of his dye cast collection, and another holds 48 medals and various ribbons Michael won from participating in Special Olympics. Most of the medals are for lifting weights.

Michael is a fairly independent person. He lives by himself and most of the support he receives from Imagine! is through our Innovations department. He spends time with Michael Benz three to five days a week, mostly for working on independent living skills. One recent project of theirs was making a DVD of Michael cooking, which he can watch and listen to via a screen hung from his kitchen cabinets. They have also created a food menu (with refrigerator magnets) that allows Michael to make up a weekly menu of preferred, nutritious foods. The combination of these useful tools helps Michael to be learning to eat and cook more independently.

Michael takes a computer class, a reading class, and a photography class at C.O.R.E. Innovations Day Program. Using information he learned at the photography class, Michael offered valuable suggestions as to what background should be used for the photo of him that is shown with this article. Michael also maintains close contact with some former housemates and Imagine! counselors. One former counselor, Cassy LeRoy, is now with a different area of Imagine! but still maintains contact with Michael. They do this through emails and at a cooking class Cassy volunteers to teach and Michael attends at the Association for Community Living (ACL). Michael is on the ACL's email list, which helps him to be more independent by keeping up with and attending social activities they offer.

Michael also works at Lowe's Home Improvement store in Louisville. He has worked there for almost four years, and receives supported employment services from Employment Link. His job includes providing customer service, helping customers locate items, bringing in carts from the parking lot, and stocking shelves.

Michael's mother, Jane, recently sent a letter to Imagine! sharing, "The positive experiences this computer has added to my son's life. It's very remarkable that someone with limited reading skills can have proficiency on a computer. He spends time on the computer every day and I think with the addition of new skills, that usage will grow and grow. Thank you so much. Please share our appreciation with anyone involved with this computer gift."

Congratulations Michael Langer, and thanks to all the people who help him to continue to learn and be more successful.

Jeff Hodges Stays Busy at Work and Play

Jeff Hodges is an active, industrious man. Through Employment Link, one of Imagine!'s Service Provider Organizations, Jeff has a variety of jobs. Some of his favorite jobs include recycling at various businesses and taking recycled materials to Eco-Cycle at both the Longmont and Boulder sites, cleaning toys for Lafayette's World of Wonder Museum Christmas gift program, helping to maintain the baseball park in Longmont, cleaning buses for the University of Colorado, and helping to deliver meals for Meals On Wheels.

Now while this might sounds like Jeff's life is "all work and no play," he is regularly involved with many recreational activities. Jeff finds the energy and time to walk three times a day, and he's lost 20 pounds in the last year. He is proud to have modified his diet and is eating healthy foods, but says walking has been the main contributor to his weight loss. Jeff was also featured in a story this summer in Longmont's newspaper, the Daily Times-Call, for his success in a tae kwon do martial arts class. Other recreational activities Jeff enjoys are bowling, swimming, floor hockey, and soon he'll begin riding horses.

Congratulations to Jeremy Wilke
for 15 Years with Hunter Douglas

Jeremy Wilke loves his job. According to Ed Weeks, one of his supervisors, Jeremy needs to be prodded to use his vacation time because he enjoys coming to work so much. Charly Vang, another supervisor of Jeremy's, stated that Jeremy is a very hard worker who helps to make the work environment more fun for his coworkers. "It's good to have him here," stated Charly.

Jeremy recently celebrated his 15th anniversary with Hunter Douglas. He is a material handler for the Broomfield company that specializes in producing window shadings and coverings: including shades, blinds, and shutters.

When asked what he likes best about his job, Jeremy replied, "We have good benefits, and it's a great place to hire on people." Jeremy's mom, Cheryl, noted that Jeremy's family is very proud of him. She added that outside of work, Jeremy enjoys music and loves to dance. He's also a talented impersonator, imitating Elvis Presley particularly well.

Jeremy lives by himself with Imagine! providing assistance with his independent living skills. He receives loving guidance and direction from his mom too, just like most of us do. Jeremy does not have a job coach, however, with anything work related being taken care of by Jeremy and his supervisors at Hunter Douglas.

Congratulations are in order to Jeremy for his 15 years of gainful employment. Also, on behalf of all of us associated with Imagine!, thank you to Hunter Douglas for providing Jeremy with an opportunity to be a successful, contributing member of our community.

Marius Suffian Has Never Had a Bad Day at Work

Marius Suffian is serious when he says, "I haven't ever had a bad day at work." Marius has been working at Whole Foods in Boulder for seven years. Some of his tasks include bagging groceries, acting as a customer service representative and loading pallets. "I like to think that part of my job is also to help keep my coworkers happy," Marius continued. "I always do my best to have a positive attitude."

Marius is a busy man and he has experienced his share of success. When he graduated from Fairview High School in 1998, he was chosen to give a graduation speech. He has had jobs at the Gap in Crossroads Mall and at the Lazy Dog Restaurant. Marius likes bowling, skiing, playing basketball and soccer, and when it comes to movies, "I don't miss much," he says. Marius currently lives with his mom and he enjoys the time he spends with his provider and mentor, Carol Hill. His case manager is Steve Conley, who according to Marius, "Makes sure I'm staying out of trouble, and I am!"

Marius has one passion above all: gymnastics. He has been performing gymnastics for more than 20 years. He's proud to have represented Colorado at the 2006 Special Olympics National games, which were held in Ames, Iowa, and he beams when he displays the medals he won: three silver, two bronze, one gold and one ribbon. The gymnastic events Marius performed included: floor, vault, rings, parallel bars, high bars and the pommel horse. Marius trains throughout the year at the North Boulder Recreation Center.

The trip to Iowa for the 2006 Special Olympics National games was memorable in many ways for Marius. He got to fly on a private, chartered flight, and when the plane landed there were cheerleaders lining the sides of the runway welcoming the athletes. It was orchestrated beautifully, with planes from around the country landing one after the other to an encouraging crowd. The city had even sprayed the runway area for mosquitoes for the comfort of the cheerleaders and athletes.

Once on the ground, the athletes took a bus to Iowa State University where they stayed in the dorms for free, and all the food was provided to them the entire eight days they were there. The band Hootie and the Blowfish performed at the opening ceremony, and there were four dances during the week for the athletes.

Marius had a lot of support from his family at the games. His mother, step-father, brother, sister, and brother-in-law were on hand to cheer him on, and from the looks of all the medals Marius won, they had plenty to cheer about.

"Ames was an incredible journey," Marius said. "I made lots of friends with the other athletes and the spectators." When asked how long he thought he could continue performing in gymnastics, Marius didn't hesitate for a second before replying, "Forever, or whenever I get tired of carrying these medals around. That gold medal is going around my neck again!" Well Marius, all of us with Imagine! sure wish you continued success in all that you do. Thanks for sharing your story with us.

Teri Leiker Is a Proud Home Owner

Teri has worked at King Soopers on Table Mesa in Boulder for almost 20 years! She bags groceries and is responsible for bringing in shopping carts from the parking lot. Teri is prompt and dependable, and very well-liked by her coworkers and customers, according to her Imagine! Case Manager, Dana Plemon.

When Teri was asked what she thinks about owning her own home, she replied, "I'm just proud of myself. It feels great!" Well Teri, we're proud of you too and hope you enjoy your new home.

Congratulations to Teri and all those who helped make her dream a reality! Imagine! consumer Teri Leiker recently had a dream come true when she purchased her own home. Teri is a happy, proud owner of a condominium in Boulder. She was able to purchase her home with assistance from Section 8 Housing. Section 8 is a type of federal assistance provided by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) dedicated to sponsoring subsidized housing for low-income families and individuals.

Mary Simonson, Imagine!'s Section 8 Housing representative, is skillful at ensuring that qualified Imagine! consumers receive subsidized housing.

Mary is eager to give credit to Teri and her mom, Margie Whittington, for doing the bulk of the legwork for the home purchase.

Teri has lived on her own since 1995, and receives support for independent living skills through Imagine!'s Community Partnerships department. She also enjoys participating in Therapeutic Recreation activities with Imagine!'s Out & About department.

Imagine!'s 2007 Consumer of the Year

At the age of 45, Gerald Stopa is learning to read. The enthusiastic and ambitious effort which he cheerfully puts into this challenging task provides some insight as to why Gerald has been honored as Imagine!'s 2007 Consumer of the Year. Gerald has improved his ability to express his needs throughout the years, but now that he has the supports in place to assist with his communication, his confidence and independence are blossoming. Gerald uses a Dynavox speech-generating device that has allowed him to progress from communicating with short two or three word statements to full thoughts and ideas.

With the help of his Dynavox, Gerald said, "All my life I have had to rely on people around me to help me accomplish things I needed done. My choices were completely reliant on the timing and the ability and understanding of my staff. Over the past few months I've been able to control my own lights, TV, movies, music, and make calls over the Internet."

Gerald has experienced an explosion of growth since he began residing at Imagine!'s Tech PCA. Jen Chiappa, the Program Coordinator for Tech PCA, has seen a lot of positive changes in Gerald's life in the three years that she has known him. She recalls that he used to have a manual wheelchair that required staff assistance for going anywhere. Now Gerald has a motorized chair that he operates with a head switch. He is able to take walks around his neighborhood without staff assistance and can get around his house on his own. Jen said that she thinks that Gerald was chosen as Imagine!'s Consumer of the Year, "Because he brings a smile to everyone's face that he sees." Jen added, "Gerald is starting to write emails to friends and family without our help. He is speaking for himself and using his own words."

Jeremy Averitt, with C.O.R.E. Innovations, told us, "Gerald deserves to be the Consumer of the Year because of his enthusiasm to try new things. He has been presented with a lot of new options, has taken to them really well, and worked them into his own life. The services we provide with C.O.R.E. and Imagine! seem to achieve Imagine!'s goal within Gerald's life by increasing the quality of his life. He basically can make decisions by himself, and that's been accelerated by the technology and services provided. He knows what he wants and he can get it."

Imagine!'s 2007 Consumer of the Year

Gerald received his award at the Imagine! Celebration Dinner and Auction on January 25, with nearly 370 people in attendance. All of us with Imagine! congratulate Gerald for his desire to continue to learn, succeed, and become more independent, and we thank the dedicated staff who work with Gerald for providing the supports that help him to reach his full potential.

AFT Employees Recognized for Developing
Labor Source Partnership

In its nearly 20 years of being an employment service, Labor Source has had its share of successful partnerships with employers. This February, Labor Source began a partnership with Advanced Forming Technology (AFT), located north of Firestone, Colorado, that is especially newsworthy. AFT is a world leader in metal injection molding. Employees of AFT who initiated the partnership with Labor Source were nominated for the “Best of the Best” divisional suggestion of the quarter for developing a creative way to cost effectively outsource non-standard work. This suggestion supports AFT's future growth while at the same time allowing them to be a good community neighbor.

Mim Duffy, the Human Resources Manager for AFT, said that the work is challenging and value added. Mim stated, "The consumers add a lot of value to our company . The work they do helps add to our bottom line. The crew helps us to get sales out the door and to meet our corporate commitments."

The crew consists of three Labor Source consumers, Nick Baker, Roy Melick, and Leah Walter. They work three days a week and they enjoy their jobs. They are actively involved with other employees throughout the day. Mim is pleased that the crew members get the opportunity to interact with everyone on the floor while staying focused on their work. The crew brought food donations for the Weld County Corporate Food Challenge, and participated in a recent company potluck. The partnership has been so successful that AFT’s leadership team is supporting the hiring of another Labor Source crew.

Linda Rogers, an Employment Specialist with Labor Source, is thrilled with the partnership between Labor Source and AFT. She stated, “AFT has been super with support to ensure the successful employment of our consumers. They make us feel welcome and included in all aspects of the workplace. I wish we had more business partners like AFT. It is a real pleasure to see the enthusiastic work attitude of the consumers who work at AFT. They frequently comment on how much they love their jobs. One day an AFT engineer came to the crew and commented to Leah that she seems to have a passion for her work. Now Leah enjoys telling other people that she has a passion for work.”

Roy Melick is also proud of the work he does. According to Roy, “The job is really fun and it’s a good job. We're busy and there are a lot of friendly people there. I make more money at this job than I've made in my life, and I like to spend some of that money on arts and crafts supplies to make things to sell, and that becomes even more money!"

All of us associated with Imagine! want to commend the employees of AFT for coming up with this great suggestion, and we also want to congratulate the consumers and Labor Source staff for working hard to make this a win-win situation.

Consumer speaks with compassion for others
about Prader-Willi syndrome.

“What I truly admire about Roy are his many virtues,” said Marsha Robichaux, an Employment Specialist for Labor Source who supervises Roy at work.  “ Roy has a commitment to excellence and he is trustworthy to get a job done in the way you request him to do it.  Roy also is dedicated to working within the parameters of his diagnosis of Prader-Willi syndrome.  I have a high regard for Roy’s determination to recognize this disability and inform the public about the syndrome, and to not allow the syndrome to define who he is.  It is inspiring to see him hold his constant hunger in check (Prader-Willi syndrome is frequently associated with an extreme and insatiable appetite).  Roy never gives up, and he is very reliable.” 

Roy is proud that he is making people aware of Prader-Willi syndrome.  He has been on live television in Grand Junction as part of a community education project for Prader-Willi syndrome, and he also speaks locally to groups who have an interest in learning more about the syndrome.  Roy is a true gentleman who speaks with compassion for others, and he is a terrific representative for people with disabilities. 

Roy jumps at pretty much any opportunity to work and he enjoys earning money.  He uses some of his hard earned money to buy materials for making arts and crafts such as potholders and Christmas ornaments that he sells.  He is skilled at pricing and selling his crafts, and people who purchase his work admire his attention to detail and creativity.  For pleasure, Roy buys computer games, and about once a year he treats himself to a pay-per-view wrestling event.  Roy also has an extensive collection of music, and he enjoys bowling.

Roy requested that it be mentioned in this story how happy he is with his living situation with Imagine! host home provider Greg Johnson.  Greg has been, and continues to be, a big part of Roy’s life, and Roy said that Greg has assisted him to become more independent.

In 2006, Roy paid for part of his registration fee to attend the Peace Jam Conference in Denver, where he and other Imagine! consumers made a presentation to a number of Nobel Peace Prize winners.   As part of the commitment to the Peace Jam event, Roy and some Labor Source consumers volunteered as reading tutors to students at Lafayette Elementary School.  

This past October, Roy volunteered to help at a Best Buddies event in Loveland on a Sunday afternoon.  Best Buddies is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships.  Imagine! partners with the University of Colorado chapter of Best Buddies, and they wanted one of Imagine!’s consumers to help promote Best Buddies at the Miss Colorado and Miss Teen Colorado Pageants.  Roy helped by working at an information booth, and he also got to escort 15 finalists onto the center of the stage during the pageant. 

Congratulations, Roy, on being recognized for being so responsible and willing to help out. 

Consumer Desires to Increase Staff Tenure

“I applied to be on Imagine!’s Board of Directors to help things to be more consistent.  I’d like to see a decrease in staff turnover.  One of the Board’s goals is to help find ways to improve services, and I want to be a part of that.  A challenge for the Board is to balance looking out for the best interest of the client, while also considering what is best for our entire community,” says Joe Hansen.  

As a person who receives services from Imagine!, Joe hopes to bring an insight to the Board of Directors that will strengthen the Board’s ability to serve our consumers and their families, while also being responsible to our community.  “I have a lot to say, and my mom is excited about me being elected to the Board,” Joe added. 

Joe has worked at the Safeway in Louisville for eight years.  His job is primarily bagging groceries, but he is more than willing to help out with anything that needs to be done, including bringing in shopping carts or recycling boxes.  Joe said that earning money is the best part of his job, but he also likes helping the customers. 

Some of Joe’s preferred activities outside of work include Star Wars (not just watching the movies but also collecting memorabilia), Harry Potter, and the Lord of the Rings series.  He also enjoys keeping up with current events.  Another one of Joe’s favorite activities is traveling to Glenwood Springs with his mom. 

Please welcome Joe to Imagine!’s Board of Directors, and congratulate him on being recognized for his successes. 

Money Is Nice But People
Make it Worth Working

At the beginning of the year, Dawn Dieffenbaugh expressed a desire to replace her job on a Labor Source work crew at Eco Cycle with an independent job.  Well, she got her wish, but has had to put a tremendous amount of effort into having a new job.  

Two months ago, Dawn was hired to work four days a week in the mail room at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  However, to get to her job on time, Dawn needed to wake up at 5:00 AM, walk a mile to the bus stop, and learn how to independently ride a bus to work from Longmont to Boulder, with a transfer in Boulder.  “Dawn is navigating the bus system responsibly and independently and really stepped up to interview, get the position, and keep it,” said Pamela Christensen, Dawn’s Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.

Dawn still works at Imagine!’s Business Office on Tuesdays, so now she is working five days a week.  While the job a NOAA demonstrates her ability to achieve, she is still a valued employee at Imagine!.  Dawn’s supervisor for the past seven years at Imagine!, Lynn Henry, said, “Dawn is a great asset to the Imagine! Business Office, and has grown as an employee since she began working at Imagine!.  We all enjoy Tuesdays, when Dawn is with us, just a bit more than other days of the week.”

Dawn’s mom, Valerie Straight, is thrilled with Dawn’s success and the effect that Pamela has had on Dawn.  “Dawn has grown so much as a self confident young woman and her self esteem and follow through with responsibility has been overwhelming.  It never would have been possible without Pam’s involvement, guidance, pursuit of this position, and her ability to see Dawn’s potential,” said Valerie.  

Dawn is deservedly proud or her success, and when asked what she likes best about work, she didn’t hesitate one second.  She beamed as she replied, “The people.  That’s what I like best.  Money is nice but it’s the people who really make it worth working.”

Colorado's Direct Support
Professional of the Year 2009

In addition to being an Assistant Recreation Instructor with Imagine!’s Out & About department, Kyle Sanchez is an outstanding young man who was born with a developmental disability.  Kyle used to be a participant in Out & About where he now works at as an employee.

On March 24, 2009,  the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) honored Kyle as its 2009 Colorado Direct Support Professional (DSP) of the Year. “ANCOR evaluated 260 nominations of highly-qualified DSPs in selecting the national and state winners,” said ANCOR CEO Renee Pietrangelo.

“Kyle is deserving of the recognition for all of his hard work and his consistency.  He has tried so hard to be an excellent employee and to set a good example and consistently makes a point of paying attention to the details that matter. Also, he is always so cheerful and polite,” said Colette Marie, Out & About’s Director.

Heather Hine, Kyle’s supervisor, adds, “Kyle expressed his dream of being an Assistant Recreation Instructor in his job interview and clearly explained his desire to help others who he had previously been a camper along side.  Kyle’s desire to assist others continues to be evident as he arrives promptly for shifts, makes enquires about participants and activity goals, and consistently smiles.  Kyle recognizes the importance of consistent instruction and the opportunity to be a role model for other teens.  Kyle is able to reflect on his days as a participant in Out & About and use that knowledge to further his relations with the current participants.   Our staff is able to use Kyle as a resource who has insight into what is like to participate in the program as a young man faced with challenges and nearing the conclusion of high school.”

Over the past few years Kyle and his family have experienced great loss.  His step-father and brother both passed away, his mother was diagnosed with progressive MS, and his younger brother was also diagnosed with a disability.  While maturing into a young man, Kyle has overcome many of these challenges while helping at home.  It is important to Kyle that he contributes financially to his family, and gaining paid employment has helped him to achieve this goal. 

Kyle shares his story below.

“My name is Kyle Sanchez and I have been an Assistant Recreation Instructor for the past year with Out & About.  My job is with the After School Program during the school year and at Summer Camp in the summer. 

Working allows me to help out my family financially, and I am proud and happy about being able to do that.  It is a job I’ve wanted to have for a long time, and I am excited about my job every day.  My mom enjoys telling people that I like my job so much that I talk about it all the time, even on the weekends. 

Having been a participant with Out & About’s programs when I was young, I know the value of the recreational activities we do.  We don’t just play around, we help the participants learn skills that will help them to be successful later on in life.  We also help them to make friends, to share, to communicate better, and become more independent. 

One of the reasons I am so happy to have my job is that some of the participants I work with and help out are friends I have known since I was in kindergarten.  I think I am able to be very patient with the participants in our program because sometimes it takes me a little time to process things too.  Sometimes you have to wait a while for a person to process what you’ve said, or changing the words slightly can sometimes help too.  Being a member of Out & About’s staff really isn’t so different from being a participant in the program.  Both the staff and the participants should be treating other people with respect, getting along with them, and helping people when they need it.  

I like having the chance to give something back to the program that helped me, and I hope I can work with Out & About for a long time.”

"If Things Need to Be Done,
You Get Them Done"

“My family is more important to me than anything,” David Dean says with pride.  David loves to tell stories about his mom and dad, his brothers Doug and Don, and his sister Debbie.  His mom and brother Doug have both passed away, but David clearly keeps them close in his heart.  His dad is struggling with the onset of Alzheimer’s, but David keeps in close touch with him and visits him in Longmont regularly.  David’s positive attitude in spite of these tough situations is uplifting.  Having nieces and nephews helps, as the spirit of youth adds hope and joy to his family.

As a child, David spent his summers in Kansas at his grandpa’s farm.  His grandpa would invite all his grandchildren to help out by working at the farm.  When he was 15, David was old enough and big enough to work on the hay detail.  “I had a blast lifting hay,” David recalls.  He credits his parents for helping him to have a good work ethic.  “They taught me at an early age that if things need to be done, you get them done, it’s as simple as that.”

One of David’s favorite activities is playing softball.  His position is catcher, and has been for 37 years.  This all started when David was 13, and he can recall the story like it was yesterday.  His brother Doug was on a PONY League team, and Doug’s coach, Mr. Greenwood, inquired, “Who’s that big kid I saw you playing catch with?”  Doug introduced David to the coach, and David tried out for the team.  Although he didn’t make the team, he wasn’t discouraged.  “Hey, I tried,” he says with enthusiasm.  Whenever the team needed a catcher for practice, David was there to help out. Catching is still his position, and as David puts it, “If I get run over, I get run over, but I want that runner to think twice about who’s standing between him and home plate and to stay put at third base!”      

Although “officially retired,” David still works three days a week at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, (formerly the U.S. Department of Commerce).  His job is to recycle.  “You name it, I recycle it,” David says with satisfaction.  For recreation, he plays softball on two teams, works out lifting weights at the East Boulder Recreation Center twice a week, bowls once a week, plays basketball regularly (and doesn’t mind one bit that they call him “grandpa” on the basketball court, he seems to take it as a challenge), participates in Special Olympics, and gets around Boulder by bus and his bicycle.  David and his longtime friend and housemate of twenty years, Jack Wainwright, have season tickets to Bronco games, and they attend CU games too.  In the past year they purchased the condominium they currently live in.  

What makes David’s active lifestyle even more interesting is that a few years ago he was hit by a Jeep and almost lost his life.  His rehabilitation was painful and difficult.  David’s passion for sports gave him the fortitude to work hard at his rehabilitation, and if you observe him playing sports, you can’t help but marvel at how well he moves. 

David is a role model for our community, and truth be told, he does not require much support from Imagine!.  “I like to take care of myself, but if I need something, I ask.  I’m doing real good, though.  I’ve got a good life.” 

Role Model for the Human Race

Alonzo Clemons is a role model for the entire human race.  He is kind, dedicated, hard working, a loyal friend, has an excellent sense of humor, and is gentle.  It is fortunate for the rest of us that Alonzo is so gentle, as he has dozens of medals and ribbons that he won in Power Lifting competitions in the Special Olympics.  He has dead lifted 350 pounds in competition, and he also enjoys bench pressing, squatting, and jogging, “To gain strength for the body,” as he puts it. 

Alonzo has worked for more than 10 years at Tundra Specialties, putting together sink drains, and has also worked at the Boulder YMCA for more than 15 years doing ground maintenance and recycling.  And oh yes, Alonzo is also a phenomenal, professional sculptor. 

As a toddler, Alonzo received a head injury in an accident.  Although the injury resulted in Alonzo having a developmental disability, the injury also resulted in what Alonzo states as “God gave a gift.”  The gift Alonzo is referring to is what is identified as Savant Syndrome, a term applied to individuals who have a developmental disability and a genius level skill in a specific area.  Alonzo’s savant skill is sculpting.  He is recognized as one of the most prodigious savants in the world, and has been featured on programs including 60 Minutes, Geraldo Rivera, and the Discovery Channel’s World of Wonder.  Sculpting is his passion.  “I am always thinking of the sculpture I am working on,” says Alonzo. 

It is uncertain exactly when he began sculpting, but he says it seems like he has always done it.  When he was a child and lived at the state institution in Grand Junction, he recalls how it wasn’t always easy to find the materials for sculpting.  Some staff used to withhold his clay and use it as a reinforcer until Alonzo completed classes that were designed to help him to learn how to tie his shoes, count, spell, and other life skills.  Alonzo, on the other hand, wanted to sculpt, and those other activities were not interesting to him and interfered with his sculpting.   

When he did not have access to his clay, Alonzo became creative and discovered that when a broken window was fixed (which was a fairly common occurrence at the institution), he could remove some of the putty from the window and use that to sculpt.  He also discovered that when the tree trimmers came and cut branches off the tree, they covered the cut in the tree with tar to protect the tree from bugs, and the tar was an excellent material to use for sculpting.  There were also times when Alonzo completed his classes and had his own clay to use.  “I fought the law and the law won,” Alonzo said with a laugh.

About eight years ago, Alonzo, with the help of Nancy Mason, his friend and longtime assistant through Imagine!, went back to Grand Junction to visit the institution.

Although much had changed in the twenty years since Alonzo left in 1980, Nancy recalls that as soon as Alonzo passed the administration area, he was recognized and word spread like wildfire that Alonzo was visiting.  People who had retired for years showed up at the drop of a hat, and Alonzo spent the day talking to current and former employees.  He asked about some of his old friends, people with developmental disabilities who he had lost contact with, and when all was said and done, the visit seemed to put to rest many of the concerns Alonzo had from the years he lived at the institution. 

Alonzo has truly blossomed into a professional sculpture, with his favorite and most successful pieces being large animals, especially horses, bulls, and dolphins.  The highlight of his life has been creating and selling three life size frolicking Arabian horses to a city west of Chicago.  At a presentation in September at the Boulder Library, in about 30 minutes, Alonzo took a ball of clay about the size of a cantaloupe and created a perfect sculpture of a bull, and then in the same amount of time created a horse. 

It is not enough for Alonzo to just entertain himself by making his art, he wants his work to be out there, seen, and bought.  He would like to have his own studio too, as he presently works out of his condominium.  What could really help Alonzo are patrons for his art and a sponsor.   

To view Alonzo’s website, click here.  

William Nitzel
Donates His Hair to Locks of Love

Imagine! consumer William Nitzel grew out his hair for about 18 months for the purpose of having it cut and donating it to Locks of Love. Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under the age of 21 who experience long-term medical hair loss.

William learned about Locks of Love when a friend of his had cancer. When asked if he misses his hair, William replied, “Yes and no. Yes, because it kept my neck warm, and no because it bugged me at night when I was sleeping. Also, when the wind blew it would get in my face.” William added, “It was a gratifying experience, knowing that someone who is going through hard times is going to receive the hair. I'm going to wait until next summer, and then I plan on growing it out again.”

William Nitzel grew out his hair
for 18 months with the purpose of
donating it to Locks of Love.  He will miss his long hair that kept his neck warm, but finds it gratifying to know that someone who is going through hard times is going to receive the hair.

C.O.R.E./Labor Source Art Class Is Part of
the International Dream Rocket Project

Professor Marsh said that, “The Dream Rocket will symbolize not just the dreams of individuals, but also the power of global collaboration.  The Saturn V Moon Rocket is the ideal example of achieving a dream that was considered impossible.  Whether your dream is curing cancer, going to Mars, or ending world hunger, the Saturn V is an inspiring visual reminder that any dream can come true. 

The Dream Rocket quilt panel created by Imagine! consumers (including its story and information), was selected by the international Dream Rocket Project team to be in a show at the Great Explorations Children's Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. This show began May 1, 2010, and runs through August 1, 2010. Great Explorations Children’s Museum, located next to historic Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg, is one of Florida’s top museums and one of America’s top museums for children. “ The quilts are hung right by our main stage, so they are always enjoyed by visitors as they watch the demos about chemistry and all sorts of different things,” Hannah Dahm, Art Liaison for Great Explorations Children's Museum told us. “I hope your clients are proud that their work of art is now hanging in a museum!”

If you want to read more about The Dream Rocket Project, visit http://www.thedreamrocket.com.