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Support Inc. Staff Honored

We want to recognize and congratulate Support Inc. Residential Coordinator, Richard Shaw, and Host Home Providers, Diana and Kenny Wijaya, for their amazing work. They were recently honored by Kirk of Bonnie Brae UCC.

From: Vicki Wright and Ann Karlberg, Guardian designees for Kirk of Bonnie Brae UCC.

For the past 38 years, the Kirk of Bonnie Brae UCC has served as the legal guardian for Dean McEahern who receives Support Inc. services. The mission of the church was initiated by a passionate member of our congregation, Carol Rickus, who was called to be God’s servant to the developmentally disabled. Through her activism, Carol inspired the Kirk to become the legal guardian for Dean, who at the time, was only 19 years old, without a family to advocate for him and dependent on the system for his every need.

Ann- Fortunately, Dean began receiving services through Support, Inc., an agency that provides comprehensive community-based services including residential care, a day program and clinical services. His residential program coordinator, Richard Shaw, has worked with Dean for 18 years. Richard’s consistent and dedicated oversight of Dean’s services has provided Dean with the stability he has needed to really thrive. In addition to the excellent residential care Dean receives, his life is enriched through the experiences and opportunities available to him through Support, Inc.’s fine day program. Richard has been instrumental in making sure Dean has received all the resources needed to ensure the best quality of life. We are so grateful to Richard for his devoted service.

Vicki- To tell you a little bit about Diana and Kenny, some of the most compassionate Host Home Providers/caregivers we have come across in all our many years in social work. They are Indonesian by birth and came to the US in the early 2000s when Indonesia was ridding itself of Christians and other non-Muslims. As refugees, they were dependent upon Indonesian friends who came before them. They came to Florida, Virginia, then Denver, where they were told economic conditions were better. Their network in Denver suggested that Diana apply to be a host home provider, as she was new to the community and pregnant at the time. So here they are, 20 years down the road, with 3 disabled adults living in their home, and Dean has been with them for 15 years. They puree his food, feed him, thicken his water so he can drink, help him drink, even had adjustments made to their shower so they can keep him clean more easily. And I think this is Kenny’s favorite part—they take him on vacation and to local events such as Red Rocks.

The Kirk is proud of its guardianship ministry, but we couldn’t do it without the partnership of Support, Inc. and the devoted service of Richard Shaw and Diana and Kenny Wijaya. Their committed efforts have been crucial to Dean’s well-being and very much a part of this ministry. On May 21st, all three were honored for their work with a certificate of appreciation from the congregation. Congratulations Richard, Diana and Kenny!!

 

Recent News

Congratulations Roy!

We want to highlight and congratulate Roy on his recent accomplishment! Roy made the decision to leave a day program that he had been with for many years to pursue more job/volunteer involvement opportunities and community engagement. After starting his new day program, he quickly got nominated and received the Rookie Award for his hard work and dedication with his job development groups. Keep up the great work, Roy! Roy participates in Support Inc. host home program and his Host Home Provider, Kathy, has been instrumental in his success.

 

Recent News

Tina’s Arts and Crafts Table

We want to highlight and congratulate Tina who has been receiving Support Inc. Host Home services for many years. Tina has participated in Laradon`s art and craft fair for the last two years. Customers come to this art fair and purchase art pieces and the funds go straight to the creator. This year Tina had her own table with lots of paintings and specifically stuffed animals she crocheted clothes on. In her bio she said “I like to complete artwork so that I can look at them and share my happiness with other people”. This year was a big hit for Tina as she made $100 dollars which she plans to save so she can play casino games at Blackhawk! Check out some pictures below from the event.

 

Rachael

Rachael Performs in a Spring Concert!

We want to celebrate Rachael’s latest achievement! Rachael recently performed in the Spring Concert with A Positive Note. A Positive Note or APN is a music making program designed for individuals with disabilities in Colorado Springs. At the concert, Rachael sang Colors of the Wind from the Disney movie Pocahontas. She also plays the piano both at APN and at home. Rachael has limited movement in one side of her body which includes one of her hands, but she doesn’t let that stop her from rocking out on the keyboard! Rachael has been playing the piano since she was a toddler, and she has been going to APN rehearsals every Saturday for 17 years. She says, playing the piano makes her feel really happy, very full of energy, and she never wants to stop. Rachael is a great example of moving past perceived boundaries of capability. Congratulations, Rachael! Thanks for being a role model to all of us.

 

 

Eric

Eric Works at Ball Arena!

We want to congratulate and highlight Eric’s work at Ball Arena! Eric has been receiving services from Support Inc. for 2 years and has enjoyed his time working with our agency. We want to take some time to spotlight Eric’s incredible employment accomplishment. Eric started working at Ball Arena in November 2022, and has excelled in his time working there. Eric oversees certain sections of the arena and assists people, so they are in the appropriate place, don’t go into sections they’re not supposed to, and don’t take alcohol past certain points in the stadium. Eric’s favorite part of the job is being able to socialize with people and interact with his local community. He also enjoys utilizing Access-A-Ride to independently get to and from his job. Eric also gets a front row seat to Nuggets and Avalanche games, plus concerts and shows! Although his job can be stressful at times, he loves the fun atmosphere that always exists within Ball Arena. The passion and dedication he has for his job is unmatched and an inspiration to us all. In his free time, Eric likes to watch movies, read, go for walks, go out to eat with his friends, and engage in photography. We look forward to watching Eric continue to grow and excel inside and outside his job at Ball Arena.

 

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Ryan Celebrates a Year Living Independently

Ryan Berg switched residential agencies to work with Support Inc., seeking to live an independent lifestyle in an apartment setting. Ryan has been with Support Inc. for a little over a year and has been such a great addition to the Support Inc. Family. Throughout the year Ryan has been thriving living on his own, utilizes all his services, communicates well with his team members and gets himself out into the community by choosing to participate in events that sparks his interests. Some of those events include participating as an athlete with Colorado`s Special Olympics, volunteering as a traffic monitor for his Church on Sundays or hanging out with friends and his brother. Ryan has been working with Argus Event Security for
over 5 years and is seeking a permanent position with them in the future. Ryan is a great role model to all our individuals that seek to live independently and live life to the fullest. The attached picture is from the 2023 opening game for the Rockies, which he attended with his brother! They are also planning a trip together this Summer. Congratulations to Ryan for his past, current and future successes!

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Celebrating Success

Please join us in celebrating success! Family Caregiver, Renne Klaus, was recently awarded a STAR award by her Residential Coordinator, Stephanie. Renee also had wonderful things to say about Support Inc. Please find their testimonials below.
Stephanie- “I would like to nominate Renee for a STAR award for her dedication and flexibility caring for her son, IK. Within my first month at Support, Renee has been incredible with communication and asking for help. She’s always advocating for IK and trying to figure out what supports and resources he needs to set him up for success. Through this process, she has made great relationships, and IK is surrounded by a caring, person-centered thinking team. Renee has been an imperative part of the team in helping IK grow. Thank you, Renee, for everything that you do!”
Renee- “Thank you all for your kind words. The amount of support and caring throughout this journey is immeasurable beyond words. Our family is truly blessed. We know within our hearts that through Support Inc, IK is always in the best of hands.”
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Jesse’s Successful Placement

At Support, Inc. we give a lot of thought to the matches we make, to ensure the health and safety and fulfillment of the people we serve. When Jesse came to us for services, we knew he was looking for a long-term placement, one that’s stable and feels like home. The Intake Team had an idea for the perfect match, and the rest is history! Today, we share a success story that we’re proud to reflect upon. From introductions to placement, Jesse’s story remains a favorite.

Herry and Val (Support, Inc. Host Home Providers) started getting to know Jesse in October of 2019. The Intake Team and providers wanted to respect Jesse and his family’s desire of taking the process slow. We began with short meetings initially and gradually increased the time to overnight visits. Val relayed they practiced several weekend visits before Jesse agreed to move-in. “It was a slow process at first, but we enjoyed getting to know Jesse without the rush or pressure of needing to move right away”, Val relayed. The slow pace was welcomed by all parties involved, to ensure Jesse would be happy in his new home. By the time Jesse moved in with Herry and Val, it was late March 2020, and the pandemic had just begun.

Jesse, Val and Herry were still getting to know each other during quite a tumultuous time. But despite the circumstances, Jesse and Val report that things ran smoothly. Jesse’s mother, Nancy, agrees that the match happened just in time for the couple to shelter in place with Jesse and another individual in the home.

For the last year and a half, Jesse has eased into his new home without a hitch, and we couldn’t be more proud of him for taking this step. When asked about their favorite memories over the last year, Jesse relays he enjoyed the Christmas lights. Val discussed how Christmas in Color, located in Morrison, was such a nice reprieve from the pandemic. Jesse reports that the Christmas lights were really special. “The lights allowed us to step away from COVID”, Val relayed. Christmas was quiet for their family last year, and so the lights were something safe to look forward to from the comfort of their vehicle.

Jesse has also taken the time to work with a writing coach, to hone in on his writing skills. His first assignment was a letter to Herry/Val. In this, Jesse describes his positive experiences since moving in with the providers. The timing couldn’t be better, as this letter was delivered around the time of their one-year anniversary living together.

In the letter, Jesse relayed

Based on our first meeting, the way you treated me and answered my questions, I felt like all these things could work out well. After we had met and talked awhile, for the first time I felt real hope that there could be people I would enjoy living with.

More recently, Herry, Val and her family (who also happen to be providers) took Jesse on a hike in Dillon. Sapphire Point offers beautiful views, but the steep climb was difficult, at times, to manage. Jesse uses a specialized wheelchair and even though it’s manual, the rocky and gravely trail made for a fun and challenging experience for the providers. But Val relays she didn’t mind at all.  “The trail was only one mile long, and it was worth it to see Jesse’s reaction at the top. We took it nice and easy and made sure he was safe and having fun”.

When asked, “What are your favorite things about Jesse?”, Val relays how much she’s enjoyed learning more about him. “His reactions, the way he talks. His sense of humor. How he inserts himself into conversations. Sometimes when I’m having a hard day at work, he listens and feels like a brother to me. He’s lived an incredible life and it’s very been nice having another member of the family. His parents are amazing, and we all get along so well.

Now that things are slowly beginning to re-open, Herry and Val are planning a trip soon-to either Vegas or San Diego or both. Jesse looks forward to future plans with his providers and we look forward to hearing of their adventures!

To conclude, Jesse has found a wonderful, long-term placement with Herry and Val. Both parties agree that the match feels like family, and Jesse reports feeling happy in his new home. We thank Herry and Val for not only welcoming Jesse into their home, but truly integrating Jesse into their family and plans, such as weekend hikes and traveling across the country.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a provider, let’s chat! Please email our Intake department at placements@supportinc.com