SERVING ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL ...

SERVING ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Voice THE

SEPT-OCT 2017

Kids and us!

Making jewelry!

Kids and Us group picture

Card games!

So many changes going on here at Open Door (as usual!!), and we are so excited about many new programs and groups and fun things going on!

One of these fun programs, that teaches skills with children, is the Kids and Us group, organized and started due to an interest from many consumers to work with kids/children. This is not a new concept here either. A while ago, many ideas formed and we had a group of consumers who were interested in working with children in a daycare setting. From that interest, classes on child care formed and were taught. As things changed, it was not viable to continue at that time. Now, however, we are doing a different version of this idea.

It has been a great way to have Open Door clients get the opportunity to work with kids, while at the same time help the children better understand people with disabilities. Plus, the group comes together and has a ton of fun. Staff involved in making this happen are MaryKay, Jess and Valerie F.

The pilot started on July 14th with a handful of kids who are connected on some level to employees/friends/coworkers of Open Door. What a great start to this project! "The pilot Kids and Us group went very well. The children had fun and were glad they came. Our consumers enjoyed themselves and continued the day after to comment about how much fun was had. A lot of questions from them about how soon the next one will be (`Is it every Thursday?')," said MaryKay (one of the staff running the group). "For the pilot, we had four consumers who participated: Gina G., Evelyn S., Brooke S. and Pat S. A picture is worth a thousand words, so I believe those speak for themselves. The kids did a storytelling card game and a bead/jewelry craft. Seems all was a big hit, and popsicles at the end...what could be better?

Volume 3 Number 5

OPEN DOOR

REHABILITATION CENTER

The Voice is the bi-monthly newsletter of Open Door Rehabilitation Center, a not-forprofit organization serving adults with developmental disabilities.

Headquarters are located at 405 South Wells Street Sandwich, Illinois 60548 Phone: (815) 786-8468 Fax: (815) 786-6241 Web: |

The Voice and our friends and supporters welcome your questions, contributions, and interesting news.

Contributors:

Rita Potter Laurie Wisdom Terra Stetz Tami Carper

Becky Clemons Gene Stephens Daniel Wehrli

Founders of ODRC William & Virginia Squier, Sr. David & Juanita Graf

President Emeritus Robert J. Coleman, D.C.

Executive Director David Baker

Board of Directors Volunteer Leadership

President Lane Kapela

Vice President Eric Danielson

Secretary Denise Mestemaker

Treasurer Dick Banning

Jim Dockendorf Bryan Harbin Richard Randall Joe Klinger Becky Lueken Claudette McCaslin Phyllis Niles Michael O' Flynn Chris Carpenter Tom Hohmann, Jr.

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As the second gathering came around, they had 8 kids (3 returning and 5 new!) on August 10th. This time, our consumers were Minnie E., Mike P., Ann Y., Lori B. and Rachel N. MaryKay said, "We played a rousing game of `balloon tennis' followed by a window-cling craft where a handprint of a child cut out with the handprint of their adult partner formed a heart. Positive comments from parents, one of whom stayed, along with her 8-day-old infant (!!)."

What a great start to what will hopefully be a wonderful new partnership! Such an amazing gift to be able to bring together

GinaliGtt.lehopladritnigcipoannetos f our

young generations, new friends, our consumers and

staff for a time of fun and learning. The kids are able to learn about

disabilities and how truly unique the consumers are, and how ABLE they

are! Education for the younger kids is so key to helping develop change

in the world of Intellectual and Physical Disabilities for the future; and so

exciting that the consumers we serve can share their gifts and interest

in helping children, all in one fell swoop! Here's hoping this grows and

develops for many years to come!

Kids and Us balloon game--Minnie More balloons!

Totally Gnarly!

Like, Oh My Gawd...this party is so tubular!

Turn up the tunes, dude, and pass me the neon pink! Let's get into the groove, boy! This was the scene for the ladies at the Rose group home while they were treated to a special afternoon with a young volunteer. Mercedes Bark donated her time and talents and organized an '80s-themed nail party complete with neoncolored nail polish, music from the iconic era, and home-baked treats. It was a great afternoon spent making a new friend. We greatly appreciate such an effort from the members of our community, especially such a young one. It is heartwarming to know that such great compassion and character exist. Thank you, Mercedes, and just so you know...we think you are TOTALLY GNARLY!

Denise and Mercedes

Minnie and Mercedes

Minnie picking nail polish

Paula and Mercedes

Denise M., Minnie E., Lynn S., Paula H. and Mercedes

3

PROJECT LINUS:

Providing security through blankets

If you ask Linus from the comic Peanuts, he would say you can find comfort and happiness in a warm blanket. On July 12, Case Manager MaryKay Longwell caught wind of the charity organization called Project Linus, and she was inspired to participate. This organization comprises 350 chapters across the United States that make and donate blankets to children who are seriously ill, to give them a sense of security and warmth during their time in the hospital. Project Linus has donated over 6 million blankets nationwide!

Open Door is working with the North Central Illinois chapter, serving the Lasalle, Grundy, Bureau, Putnam, and Livingston county area. The North Central chapter is one of 13 in Illinois. The origins of Project Linus stem from Belton, Missouri, which is where the national headquarters are situated. One of the largest chapters is here in Central Illinois, where they donate an average of 350 blankets per month.

Smiling Nancy finished 1st blanket!

In the first week of Open Door's part of the project, they finished 10 blankets! After one month, they finished 44 blankets! The only thing slowing them down is the purchasing of more fabric, the first batch of which was donated by a staff member at Open Door. Open Door helped with the last few purchases of fabric, but they would most certainly benefit from donations of money to purchase more fabric.

The clients at Open Door have been buzzing about the project, especially all the hard work they have been able to give to help out. Beth M. from the Oak house says, "I love working on all the blankets and I even taught my mom how to do it!" There have been clients helping out in their free time during work hours, too--now that's dedication!

The first donations were already sent out to the Youth Service Bureau in Lasalle County, which serves foster children. They were the first organization that accepted our offer through Project Linus. None of the chapters have yet collaborated with or donated to Valley West or Kishwaukee Hospital here in our neck of the woods, but we have submitted letters of inquiry and hope to hear positive news to allow us to make some child's hospital stay that much more comfortable with a nice warm security blanket.

If you would like to donate your time, fabric or money, please contact MaryKay Longwell at MaryKayLongwell@ or call us at 815-786-8468.

Kelly knotting things up.

Josh and Rachel donning grins while working in harmony.

Josh B. focused on the Minnie and Sammie team efforts to get things tied up. Pat S. for Project Linus. task at hand.

44 blankets in one month, worked on weekends only.

4

Brandon P. with Inuyasha ? it is hard to tell them apart!

ApodsaimnghwaidthfuYnoda.

Who the heck wouldn't jump at the chance to attend Comic Con in Chicago?

It is a huge convention where people can meet, dress up as their favorite characters, shop, and see some of their favorite celebrities! Brandon P. is a newer resident of Open Door, and one of his hobbies, besides learning to play the guitar, is to design and create costumes, so he was all over this one! When Brandon found out that ODRC was heading to Comic Con, he kicked his design skills into high gear and, over the course of many months, revealed his Inuyasha costume. FYI, Inuyasha is a half-demon dog who assists Kagome, a time-traveling Tokyo girl, in recovering a shattered magical jewel that has pieces all over Japan.

Everyone had a great time at the convention. Rachel N. went for the wrestling aspect of the convention, and she was not disappointed. "The shopping was crazy! They had so much there that it was hard to decide what to buy!"

Adam F. said, "It was AWESOME! The people were dressed in different costumes. I saw Yoda, Captain America, Chewbacca and Catwoman from the old Batman. I also saw Captain Hook and Belle. I just can't compare it, and the shopping was the best."

Brandon said, "It was pretty fun and I was pretty popular when I was there. Everyone wanted my pictures. I'm making a new outfit for next year, Sans from Undertale."

The ODRC Convention Trio: Adam F., Brandon P.

and Rachel N.

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ACdaapmt. hJaancgkiSnpgawrirtohw. 5

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