What Kind of World Are You Imagining? |
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At Envision, we pride ourselves on being ahead of the curve. We enjoy challenging ourselves to reimagine and reinvent ways to help our members reach their highest potential. The proof is in our innovative programs, and National Developmental Disability Awareness Month (NDDAM) is the perfect time to celebrate the success of our efforts.
Fittingly, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) chose “Worlds Imagined” as the 2022 NDDAM theme. The spirit of this theme has been a guiding star for our amazing Day Programs team for several years. Under the leadership of Susan Gardner, our Vice President of Day and Employment Services, the team consistently creates new opportunities for our members to experience society at large and actively engage with the people in it.
Susan calls our programs “the gold standard” of progress. I agree. Through our robust Adventures Unlimited, Expeditions, and Neighbors programs, Envision members explore the Chicago area and beyond—and they take a deep dive into their own neighborhoods.
In our Adventures program, Envision members travel as a group from one of our day centers after-hours. Outings include activities as diverse as bowling, skiing, rock climbing, and golf. They also visit Chicago’s world-class museums, theaters, art galleries, and other cultural venues. Even the sky is within reach. One adventure included a birthday ride in a private airplane for a member who is fascinated by aviation. But that wasn’t all. He was allowed to co-pilot!
Envision Expeditions promote choice and independence. Instead of a center-based group outing, a few members will research and select an activity, then meet at the venue at the appointed time. Like we all do, they arrange their own transportation and experience a day or evening out.
Our Neighbors Program brings tremendous rewards to members and their families. With the support of staff, they learn more about their own neighborhood—how to navigate their local stores, fast-food eateries, or greet their neighbors. An Envision staff member facilitates an introduction to store or restaurant personnel so that they can greet the member by name whenever they come in. Members enjoy being recognized in public; it’s a boost to their self-esteem and self-confidence.
I invite you to join us this month to make individuals with developmental disabilities more visible to the world, just as NACDD did by showcasing the work of Washington, DC artist Calvin "Sonny" Clark to depict their 2022 theme, "Worlds Imagined." How will you showcase DD this month? Whenever you do, please use the hashtags #DDawareness2022, #DDAM2022, or #WorldsImagined so others can easily find it.
Have a great day!
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Envision's robust Adventures and Expeditions programs reflect our commitment to helping our members live their best lives. Here are the places they have explored during the past month. |
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National Developmental Disability Awareness Month is the perfect time to showcase one of our most effective and beloved staff members, Annette Davis, a training counselor who works as a personal aide. Currently, she's working in our Neighbors Program, an initiative designed to give our members the tools and inspiration to be more independent, and the confidence to explore their communities and meet the people who live and work there.
Annette has been on our community day center staff for almost 12 years. For the past few years, she has assisted Tamekia L. (seen above, on the right), an Envision member with intellectual and developmental disabilities, seizure disorder, and autism.
Those who work with Annette say she has a gift for helping members overcome challenges. One of her recent challenges was convincing Tamekia to wear a mask—an absolute necessity if she was going to safely go on outings or attend her day program. Frustrated, Sylvia Perez, Tamekia's mother, asked Envision for help. Within two weeks, Annette accomplished their goal. Tamekia was wearing a mask without resistance and has continued to do so.
"It was unreal!" exclaimed Ms. Perez. "But it showed what can happen when an individual feels safe and when an organization invests in the wellbeing of that individual and listens when someone says they need help."
Annette, who has an associate's degree in social work, says she has always enjoyed helping people. During her 30-year professional career, she has worked with all ages—from three-year-olds to seniors.
Her partnership with 44-year-old Tamekia has been particularly rewarding. "We are able to work together in a way that best meets her preferences," Annette explained. "She has grown tremendously over the last couple of years, despite the restrictions of Covid and the limitations. We have had the opportunity to spend so much individualized time together, exploring her interests and supporting her where she is most comfortable."
"Annette is performing high-quality, impactful work with Tamekia in implementing our Neighbors Program," said Susan Gardner, Vice President of Day and Employment Services. "Tamekia has had several individual aides over the years, and they took care of her. But Annette has supported Tamekia in doing things herself, becoming more independent, and functioning in the community."
While shopping with Tamekia recently, a store clerk asked Ms. Perez, "Where's her mother today?" Ms. Perez explained that she was Tamekia's mother. That's when she realized something else: Annette has such a close and caring relationship with Tamekia that strangers believe she is Tamekia's mom. For that, she is grateful.
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CME Group's Tim Smith Joins the Envision Board |
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Tim Smith's support for Envision members and his involvement in our Buddy Biking program is well documented. He was named our 2020 Donor of the Year and 2021 Volunteer of the Year. He even created our "InMotion for Envision" alternative when the pandemic canceled our Bike the Drive fundraiser. And Tim does it all, despite his demanding professional life as the Managing Director and Chief Corporate Counsel of the CME Group. Now, he has honored us by joining the Envision Board of Directors. Welcome and thanks for all you do!
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We have other new arrivals to announce! One dozen new team members have joined us during the past few weeks. Among them, Registered Behavioral Therapist Denetria Smith, who returns after a nearly six-year absence. Welcome home, Denetria! We're so glad you're back!
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Late February Arrivals
Moneki Hall, RBT/SSH
Quencheta Hightower, RBT/SSH
Murrell James, RBT/SSH
Nanjala Shaw McCain, RBT/SSH
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Early March Arrivals
Diamonte Green, Fletcher CILA
Patrice Johnson, Walter Johnson Cila
Janeen McKinnie, Kildare CILA
Lenicka Owens, Leland/ Mental Health
Adrienne Stanley, Clark CILA
Veronica Sturkey, Altgeld CILA
Namazzi Zamu, Clark CILA
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We still have several available positions, which means that you still have a chance to earn some extra cash. When Envision hires reliable, capable, caring individuals that you referred, you are rewarded. What's the sound you'll hear?
Cha-CHING!
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Your Crypto Donation Can Be Doubled Today |
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We’re excited to tell you that starting today, all cryptocurrency donations made to Envision Unlimited can be doubled, thanks to our participation in #CaringWithCrypto, a $20M crypto fundraising initiative run by The Giving Block and Shift4.
While you might not hold any crypto personally, you probably know someone who does! About 16% of Americans say they’ve traded or owned Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.
Your generous crypto donations will help Envision Unlimited provide housing options so that seniors with disabilities will not be forced into restrictive settings such as nursing homes when they become less mobile.
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This exciting matching donation opportunity won’t last long. After $10M has been raised and matched for all charities accepting crypto on The Giving Block, this initiative will end.
So please, consider donating today or forwarding this to a friend or family member who owns some cryptocurrency. Every bit counts—twice!
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Community Living Services Poised to Make History
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Envision has wanted to build an accessible group home for our older members for many years. Not only has this never been done, but the cost for a specialized home such as this exceeds $1 million.
It remained a dream until a series of events aligned to bring it closer to reality. First, a Naples, Florida resident donated a lovely residential lot on the Southwest Side. Andreas Mueller's gift then inspired architect Susan Turner to draw plans for the home. She also recruited local construction industry companies and professional services firms to donate materials and services, which would significantly reduce the construction costs. She created what we call our "Dream Team." Together, we're making history.
An Unprecedented Construction Project
We have not found another instance here in Chicago or elsewhere of companies volunteering to plan, help build and furnish an accessible home. To date, our Dream Team has generously donated nearly a half-million dollars in construction materials, professional services, construction labor, plumbing and lighting fixtures, cabinetry, roofing, windows, furnishings, and more. One company even donated the bricks, and a labor union is providing bricklayers!
Meanwhile, Envision supporters have donated or pledged nearly $300,000 to the project. Our fundraising goal is $500,000.
Donna Ennis, Vice President of Community Living, Home-Based and In-Home Respite Services, says that this innovative project is just the beginning of Envision's march toward the future of IDD residential services. "Envision Unlimited's commitment to supporting members in achieving their dreams and living their best lives is amazing. There is a synergy and momentum to reinvent our community living programs, and it leads me to believe that the best is yet to come."
Groundbreaking is scheduled for April 11.
The first residents should move in by the end of 2022.
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Interested in contributing to this historic construction project?
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Corporate Partner REI Co-op Delights Community Day Services |
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True to its belief that "a life outdoors is a life well-lived," annual corporate partner REI Co-op generously fulfilled Community Day Services' wish list for recreational equipment to support this year's planned outdoor activities.
Last week, members at Westtown Center opened boxes brimming with REI products, much to everyone's delight. Inside were six two-person tents, six sleeping bags, six folding chairs, many pairs of heavy-duty gloves, and socks. REI also donated dozens of towels to distribute for our Bike the Drive fundraiser this summer.
REI's bountiful donation made our members' imaginations run wild, and it inspired the creation of this really cool thank-you card.
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program Nears Launch |
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Envision's core belief is that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities should have an opportunity to fulfill their highest potential in a diverse society where everyone is treated fairly and feels a sense of belonging. For more than 70 years, we have embodied this belief.
While Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month sharpens our focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for our members, we also want to uplift those values for our staff so they can reach their highest potential. To demonstrate its commitment to these principles, Envision has devoted resources, including creating an executive team-level position, to embed DEI into our daily consciousness and practices.
"The spirit of DEI is literally our mission here at Envision and it has always been part of our culture," Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Betty Jackson asserted. "While our focus is generally on advocating for our members, we think it's important to do the same for our employees. We also want them to know, for example, the difference between equality, equity, and inclusion—and how these factors impact their lives in and out of the workplace."
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Agency-wide training sessions are planned so that staff members can discover and maximize the resources available to them. And to ensure that any DEI-related concerns are easily addressed, Ms. Jackson has formed a committee that represents every department.
- Admin: Bianca Barr and Kenzie Hunt
- CDS: Marcos Herrera
- CLS: Jacqueline Steward
- HR: Lauren Smith and Lisa McIntosh
- MH: Anita Lewis
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Members Get Lucky with Blue Cross Blue Shield |
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Members from Rose Center, Westtown, and Kruger were big winners this week when volunteers from corporate partner Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois spent their lunch hour playing Bingo. Game time with BCBS volunteers is always a hit. |
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Members Turn Up the Volume |
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As the latest edition of Unlimited Voices landed, we learned that the enterprising journalists at the Westtown Center plan to expand their audience by adding a podcast to their media offerings!
Details have not yet been released. But as soon as we have them, we will share them. In the meantime, the members' free online publication is always accessible on the home page of the Envision website and through our monthly newsletters. Simply click the "cover page" to the left!
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Happy Birthday, Unlimited Voices!
To honor the first anniversary of Unlimited Voices and to honor Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (#DDAM), members are publishing their next issue a week early. They will resume the bi-weekly publishing schedule with this week's newsletter.
If you have missed any issues this past year, no problem. Check out the online archive.
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Our mental health department is noticing an uptick in counseling for anxiety and depression. Mental Health Services Director Michele McDonough offers some simple tips to minimize the impact of these conditions.
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Stay fit, rain or shine, by tuning in every day to our online fitness programs.
There's a new schedule of program offerings each week. You can have the schedule sent to your inbox here.
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Why Are We So #EnvisionProud? |
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