West End Home Grants Funds for Progress Inc. Senior Transportation

West End Home Foundation has granted Progress Inc. the monies to purchase two vehicles for Customized Companion Transportation. Pictured: WEHF Board Member Luanne Waltemath, Progress Executive Director Donna Goodaker and Progress Senior Care Manager Eric Metzler.

West End Home Foundation recently awarded Progress Inc. a grant toward the agency’s efforts to provide safe, reliable customized companion transportation to seniors throughout Middle Tennessee.

The West End Foundation’s generous donation to Progress Inc. will fund two passenger vehicles, which will be used to transport seniors to their medical appointments and the pharmacy.

The need for the funding was great considering the growing need for affordable, convenient and customized transportation options for seniors. Progress began the customized companion transportation program last year as a way to extend their services to seniors, which include in-home care and respite services. The service offers individual pick up from the senior’s home to various appointments, and, unlike other transit options, the Progress staff actually waits with the senior at each appointment. The cost of four hours of service is just $75.

“We’ve been able to allow people who don’t have family or family’s not available to have an alternative,” said Progress Director of Senior Services Crystal Martin. “It’s important for us to serve more seniors with this specialized service. We are thankful that West End Home Foundation has helped us do that and believes in our mission.”

Founded in 1891, The West End Home Foundation’s mission is to enhance the health and quality of life of elderly individuals in Middle Tennessee by providing support to non-profit organizations which offer housing, support or care to senior citizens. These agency grants have helped thousands of older citizens throughout Nashville and middle Tennessee.

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About Progress Inc.

Progress Inc., a non-profit organization in Nashville, Tenn., has helped Middle Tennesseans bridge the gap between limited independence and the realization of the best possible life since 1971. For more information about Progress’ developmental disabilities and senior care services, go to www.progress-inc.org or visit Progress Inc.’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Progressinc2011.

Let's Go Out: A Day for Developmental Disability Awareness

It’s Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Let’s all go out on March 29 to raise awareness.
Find out more at www.thearc.org/lets-go-out.

Let’s Go Out on March 29

National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is coming to an end, but there's one last huge day we can all play a role in just by "going out."

Let's Go Out Day on Saturday will help raise awareness about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

What should you do? 

Simply make plans to go out somewhere in public on Saturday, March 29. Plan a day out and about with friends and family ( maybe to the  Southern Women's Show) or just enjoying activities. While enjoying your day out, raise awareness and generate some conversation about people with I/DD. 

As the Arc puts it in its statement on National Let's Go out Day:

This one-day movement will serve to harness our collective power to gain allies, foster understanding, dispel myths and encourage people without disabilities to recognize that we’re not so different after all.

This March 29, let’s all go out and start breaking down those social barriers.. This is your chance to personally help raise awareness about people with I/DD just by being yourself and participating in the things you enjoy alongside others in your community without disabilities. If you are a person with I/DD, make plans to hit the movies, the park, your local shopping center or restaurant for a day out and maybe spark some conversation in the process. Or, if you are a friend or family member of a person with I/DD, make plans to enjoy a fun activity together in public.

Spread the word using the hashtag #DDAware on social media during the month of March. And, follow us online on Facebook and Twitter and be sure to show us what you end up doing on March 29 by sharing your photos using the hashtag #DDAware.

Don't forget to RSVP to our March 29 Facebook event, and please invite your friends on Facebook as well!

Progress Staff Celebrated for 'Employment First' Efforts

We have a great team here at Progress, and we were thrilled when Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Debbie Payne took note of that in her recent OpenLine newsletter.

Susan Hutchison and Paula Daniels were two of the Progress team members commended for attending a recent training on employing people with disabilities.

Debbie gave special kudos to Progress Associate Director of Day Services Susan Hutchison, Supported Employment Coordinator Paula Daniels and Client Funds Administrator Lisa Zekany, who all attended the weeklong Incentives Counseling Initial Training Program at the end of February.

The training will help the three Progress team members guide us into broader approaches to employing people with disabilities.

"We would like to commend Progress Inc. for successfully registering three of their staff members and attending the training session," Payne wrote in OpenLine. "This demonstrates Progress’ dedication to the Employment First initiative and people they support."

We are so proud of Susan, Paula and Lisa for their commitment to improving our already valiant efforts to employ people with disabilities.

Progress is working towards providing more job training, vocational services and other employment support to people with disabilities through the "Ticket to Work" program. 

 Watch the short video below to learn more about this program.)


Please share this good news with your friends by clicking the Facebook, Twitter or Google+ icons on this page.

 

Online Registration is now OPEN for Camp Progress 2014!

Progress' Camp Progress for youths with intellectual disabilities opens June 9. Registration is open now!

Though the cold persists, parents - and especially their sons and daughters - are already thinking about warmer days. So, Progress  is inviting families to register their child online now for Camp Progress.

The secure website portal is held by the experts at Eventbrite, and allows parents to fill out information about medication and dietary needs, review camp deadlines and policies and securely and conveniently pay for registration and camp fees.

We are excited to bring Camp Progress back to even more young people with intellectual disabilities this summer. Art therapy, water play and tennis camp will return this summer. We have also learned that the wonderful folks at the Nashville Ballet will offer lessons and learning opportunities for campers this summer! Thanks to Nashville Ballet, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Metro Parks, Kroger and numerous other partners in helping us create a summer full of  “cans” instead of the “cannots.”

The 6-week camp will be held from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. June 9, 2014-July 18, 2014. To register visit, https://campprogressnashville.eventbrite.com . 

For more information on Camp Progress, call 615-399-3000.

Governor Haslam Announces 1 percent Increase for DIDD Programs

Vanleasha, Mr. Harry and Shonda working on an arts & crafts project at Progress.

Gov. Bill Haslam just announced some great news for Progress Inc. and dozens of provider agencies throughout the state - a 1 percent rate increase that will assist in helping providers throughout the state that struggle to meet the costs of caring for people with intellectual disabilities. 

The governor shared the news during his State of the State address last week. The rate change would apply to the Home and Community Based Waiver, which helps statewide agencies like Progress provide day services, residential services and supported employment to people with intellectual disabilities. He also proclaimed continued support for the Family Support Program during the address, which is a lifeline for families who care for their intellectual disabled loved ones.

"Progress is thrilled and grateful that the Family Support program has been saved by Governor Haslam. This program provides essential support and respite assistance to families who ask for very little," Progress Executive Director Donna Goodaker said. "We are also gratified that in a time when government departments are still having to tighten their belts, DIDD will receive an approximate 1% increase. With the aging of people currently being served and over 7000 people waiting to receive services, any and all available funds will be well used.”
To thank Gov. Haslam for his effort to support and advocate for people with intellectual disabilities, you can write him at: 1st Floor, State Capitol Nashville, TN 37243, call him at (615) 741-2001 or e-mail him bill.haslam@tn.gov.

Celebrate Valentine's with SMART! Scrap Made Art Supplies & Urban Green Lab - Feb. 5

This fun workshop will be hosted by SMART! Scrap Made Art's Kelli Monday. Urban Green Lab and Team Green will also sponsor these two events.

Happy New Year! Celebrate with the Indoor Cycling For Charity Spin-a-thon.

Start the New Year off right with “Indoor Cycle For Charity” spin-a-thon at the North Rutherford YMCA Ronald Reagan Family Center in Smyrna.

Classes will take place between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Wednesday, New Years Day in 45-minute increments at the North Rutherford YMCA Ronald Reagan Family Center, 2001 Motlow College Blvd, Smyrna, TN 37167. 

There is a suggested $10 donation per person. Every participant will receive bottled water, healthy snacks and be eligible for a door prize. Those who contribute $20 or more will receive a t-shirt.

The Indoor Cycle For Charity event will hosted by guest instructors Crystal Martin, whose selected charity will be Progress Inc., which provides care to seniors and people with disabilities, and Jessie Casey Clark, whose selected charity is the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, funding research for Type 1 Diabetes. Each class will feature a unique theme and heart-pumping music.

A reservation is required and can be made by calling the North Rutherford YMCA during regular business hours at (615) 220-9622. Reservations will be taken until Tuesday, Dec. 31. You do not need to be a YMCA member to participate, but non-members should plan to arrive 5 minutes early to sign in as a guest.

Event co-chairs and their selected charities are:

Jessie Casey Clark – JDRF – Classes 7 a.m. & 8 a.m. http://midtennessee.jdrf.org

Crystal Martin – Progress Inc. – Classes 9 a.m. & 10 a.m. http://progress-inc.org

Stories of Progress: Portia Streator's a Ball of Energy & Ambassador for Progress Inc.

Portia Streator has received care giving assistance for several years, and she sees Progress gives her new freedom.

I recently had the great pleasure of spending an afternoon with Portia Streator, a gregarious 28-year-old who loves kittens and all things glitter. Her life living with Cerebral Palsy has been a challenge, but it has also taught her to keep a positive attitude. Having help from caregivers at Progress, who understand her condition and treat her with respect has made the difference.

"I would recommend Progress to anybody," Portia said."They really do care about you as an individual."

 Portia, a Nashville native who now lives in LaVergne, spent her early years enduring dozens of surgeries, physical therapy and, at one point, believed there was very little she could accomplish considering her disability.

"I just kept saying, 'I can't do this. I can't do that,' and finally one day my physical therapist told me 'You need to take can't out of your vocabulary,'" Portia said. "Every since then, I've stopped using that word." 
Portia is now studying to become a paralegal.

Portia also doesn't accept excuses from those around her, but she says employing friends and others as her caregiver over the years has shown her not everyone abides by her motto.

"My mom needed some help caring for me a few years ago, so we employed some people we knew," Portia said. "They would be late. They felt like they could do whatever they wanted." 

Her mom ran into similar problems with home health agencies. Earlier this year, Portia's social worker referred the family to Progress. Though Portia was reluctant, she said the services, level of commitment and genuine concern for her needs and wants have been a refreshing change.

"The first day with my caregiver April we were out at the mall. Progress wants you to get out," she said. "A lot of these companies say the client comes first, but Progress really means it." 

Portia says her caregivers April and Rachel have become her friends, and she tells everyone she meets how happy she is with Progress.

Go to Ruby Tuesday's This Friday, Saturday or Sunday to "GiveBack"

GiveBack Program will donate 20 % of every meal purchased along with this flyer.

• 
  Ruby Tuesdays is inviting you to Clean Your Plate for Progress!
  Print the image above and present it at the locations listed below for lunch or dinner on Dec. 13, 14 or 15, and Ruby Tuesday's donates 20 percent of the proceeds to Progress. 
• 
  NASHBORO SQUARE • 2304 MURFREESBORO PIKE • 615-366-0314
  DONELSON PIKE • 520 DONELSON PIKE • 615-316-0278
• 
  Ruby Tuesday's GiveBack program will help dozens of children with disabilities attend Progress Inc.'s summer camp Camp Progress.
  
  Grab your family and friends and join us at one of the locations.
  

  *Must present this flyer to your server in order to be considered a part of the GiveBack program. Ruby Tuesday's will not accommodate coupon usage or other discounts in conjunction with our GiveBack Program.

Jenny Hatch: Why Progress Strives to Keep Our Folks Living Their "Best Possible Life"

Jenny Hatch had to forge a legal battle to live independently. The Washington Post tells her story. - Washington Post

Jenny Hatch is a shining example of why the work we do at Progress really matters. The 29-year-old woman was not allowed the right to live on her own, but thanks to a recent court order, Jenny will experience the freedom of choice and independence that many of our folks have the opportunity to experience each day. Jenny Hatch's story helps us all to see the impossible is indeed possible.

"It’s not just a reminder of the ample abilities of people with disabilities, but to me, it was challenge to remember who each individual can become," Progress Executive Director Donna Goodaker said of the article about Hatch.

Click the link below to read more of her inspiring story:
Woman with Down syndrome prevails over parents on control

 

Progress Asks: What Makes Your Caregiver Right For YOU?

Progress is starting a new Progress Asks series. Every Tuesday, we'll ask a question that Progress and other fellow senior care experts have answers for.

From our friends at Care In the Home www.careinthehome.com:

To remain active and independent in your own home

It sounds simple, but as our bodies age it can become a very difficult task.  The best approach to finding a good caregiver is to focus on two separate goals:

1) Satisfying the basic needs.
The skills of the caregiver must match the needs of the client at all times.  Suppose a client needs help in the morning with bathing, grooming, toileting, dressing, taking medications, making breakfast and some light cleaning and laundry.  The first priority is to insure that the client receives these physical services in a safe, efficient, professional and dependable manner.  Often referred to as Activities of Daily Living (ADL), this is the physical work that allows a client to remain indepent in their own home.  At Care in the Home, our clinical case manager performs a full needs assessment before services begin and keeps a detailed care plan updated throughout the course of service.  

2) Finding the personality fit.
Once the basic physical needs met, the fine tuning comes in finding a caregiver that "clicks" with the client.  Meeting with the client and family before service begins helps our case manager get a sense of what personality traits in a caregiver would best fit with the personality of the client.  When a client and caregiver click, it is wonderful but it can take some trial and error before that fit is achieved and it may never be as perfect as we would like.  Much depends on timing and what caregivers are available when a client is searching.  Having patience and keeping an eye always on the primary goal of independence in the home is essential in this part of the process. 

In addition, it is important to realize that a search for a caregiver is actually a search for a teamof caregivers because caregivers get sick, need vacation and must live their own complex and challenging lives like anyone else.  Experiencing good service from two, three or more caregivers can develop a trust for the team of caregivers that a company employs.  A client can then feel confident that any replacement sent will be competent and wonderful in their own way.  That might actually be the best kind of perfect. 

Camp Progress - Full-Day Summer Camp for kids with disabilities - in June!

Camp Progress will be a pilot summer camp that offers Middle Tennessee children with intellectual disabilities a  wonderful summer!

Do you know a child with autism or other intellectual disabilities? Camp Progress, which will begin its inaugural summer on June 3, will be a nurturing and educational place for them this summer! 

Progress Inc. will offer the only 6-week full-day camp for children with intellectual disabilities available in Nashville from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. June 3-July 13th at West End Middle, 3529 West End Avenue. 

Metro Nashville Public Schools has been a great partner by welcoming MNPS students who would benefit from the innovative and engaging camp spearheaded by Progress Director of Programs Meika McClendon. 

Camp Progress will be a natural extension of what Progress provides to dozens of adults with intellectual disabilities. We aim to keep those youths not only "healthy, happy and safe," as our mission says, but also enlightened, entertained & engaged!

We hope to have much more to share about some of the exciting plans for this summer. Please share this information with families that may be interested in the camp.

Register here: http://www.innovation.mnps.org/Page107013.aspx.

TN Scholarships for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

Teresa and Meredith Schlandt of Clinton. 20-year-old Meredith is in her second year at the FUTURE program at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, fulfilling her dream to attend college. like her older brother. CREDIT: Teresa Schlandt

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A bill that aims to create college scholarships for Tennessee students with intellectual disabilities is being considered by State Legislature. Among the supporters of the legislation is Tammy Day, who runs the Next Steps program for such young adults at Vanderbilt University.
"This legislation would open the doors to many more young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities to have the opportunity to continue their formal education with their peers," Day said.
Funding for the STEP UP Scholarships would come from the state's Lottery for Education Account. Day says the cost would be recouped as the students gain employment and become taxpayers for years to come.
In all, the STEP UP Scholarships would help nearly 50 students a year with tuition, and they have several options on which school to attend. In addition to Next Steps, there's TigerLIFE at the University of Memphis and the FUTURE program at the University of Tennessee.
Read more about the future of the state's first college scholarship program for adults with intellectual disabilities here: http://bit.ly/133K56L

 

Valentine's Day Fun with Belmont students & Progress

Belmont grad student Cantrell Ellis guides Vanlisha’s hands as she draws a heart inside her greeting card for the arts & crafts project.

Red and pink construction paper sprawled across the day center can only mean one thing - It's the season of love. 

Vanlisha, Shonda and others got a head start on Valentine's Day by making cards for their companions,  friends and loved ones. They had the help of Belmont University grad student Cantrell Ellis. She helped make sure the "hearts" and sweet messages were just right for everyone's special Valentines.

Ellis is one of six students that will spend the next three months at Progress fulfilling Progress’ mission of keeping seniors and adults with disabilities healthy, happy and safe.

The graduate students, who are studying Occupational Therapy, will assist Progress staff in the homes of seniors who receive in-home care and they will also participate in the community activities and employment support teams for adults with intellectual disabilities supported a Progress Inc., a non-profit agency that provides staff support to more than 150 clients.

The volunteer hours will be clocked as fieldwork hours towards the students’ degrees. Belmont selects various human services sites each year for students to get hands-on experience. Progress was one of those fortunate agencies to be chosen by Belmont Academic Fieldwork Coordinator Shelley Hix last fall.

To our wonderful Belmont students, THANK YOU!

Please share this post to highlight this great partnership between Belmont & Progress. To hear more about our updates & stories of Progress, visit our recently updated Progress Inc. website.

Progress Inc. clients Shonda Pevahouse, Vanlisha Harbison and Billy Goodman watch as Belmont graduate student Cantrell Ellis assembles a construction paper Valentine’s Day card.

Free Legal Help for Seniors & Adults with Disabilities

The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services shared some great news with us this week about a free hotline that could help Middle Tennesseans in the senior or disability communities.  The hotline 888-aLEGALz (1-888-253-4259) is a great way to connect with licensed Tennessee lawyers that can offer legal information or referrals for those who can't afford a lawyer. The service will complement the web-based resource www.OnlineTNJustice.org . 

Here's a list of all the related topics the aLegalz hotline can help with:

Family Law Divorce Child Support Child Custody Domestic Violence/Stalking Orders of Protection	Housing Housing Issues Landlord/Tenant Disputes Repair Issues Eviction
Benefits Social Security / SSI Medicaid Welfare / Food Assistance Health Care Access Medicare	Consumer Issues Consumer Fraud Predatory Lending Home Repair Scams Contract Disputes
Employment Issues Employment Problems Discrimination Claims Unemployment Benefits	Education Issues Enrollment Discrimination Suspension

2012 Top 5 Disability & Senior Blog Posts

2012 was a great first year for the Pressing Forward with Progress blog.

We've had more than 2,600 views of our various blog posts!
We posted about our clients, events & awards more than 30 times! And now we're sharing the top 5 most read blog posts of 2012:

SMART Holds First Donation Day

Channel 5 News Covers Story on Progress' Supported Employment 

Robert Page Becomes Employment Idol 2012

Jerry Adams artwork on display at Vanderbilt's Kennedy Center

Spotlight on Seniors: Scams Against the Elderly

We thank you & we welcome feedback. Please let our Progress blogger Stephanie Toone know what you'd like to hear more about in the New Year.

This year, we have the return of two amazing events Festival on the Fairway and the E.N.D. East Nash Dash. We also have the launch of SMART - Scrap Made Art to look forward to.

Here's to many more Stories of Progress in 2013.

Holiday Trash 101: Regift, Recycle & Reclaim

Now, that the holidays are coming to end. You're probably looking for ways to get rid of gifts, holiday cards, wrapping paper and everything else under the sun. Progress has just the solution. Donate your holiday items, materials around the house filling up space or an array of other items to  SMART!  Scrap Made Art. Our repurposed arts & supplies store, which will officially launch in the New Year, is accepting donations now.

Reclaimed holiday cards.

Reclaimed holiday bows.

The reclaimed items, from wire hangers to greeting cards, will be sold in bulk at affordable prices to artists, teachers & craftspeople looking to reduce Nashville's waste and make art from scraps. We already have a large inventory of fabric, buttons, yarn, metal scraps and much much more. We can schedule appointments for drop off, so before or after the New Year, we're here to help!
We'll have a store opening soon, but we are already storing our inventory, so if interested in donating items or learning more, please contact Kelli Monday at k.monday@progress-inc.org. 

Here's an idea of items you could donate to SMART! today:
• Recycle wrapping paper, card stock type gift tags, cards and envelopes along with all the holiday catalogues and promotional mail.
• Boxes, ribbons, bows and other gift decorations
• Save used Christmas cards that can be used as gift tags for next year

New Arts & Crafts Program @ Progress Volunteer Now!

Want to give back in a personal & rewarding way this holiday season?

Volunteer your time to make beautiful pieces of art alongside our Progress clients at Progress . The newly launched arts & crafts program at our Day Center gives our adults with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to express themselves freely and enhance their days. 

The weekly one-hour Arts & Crafts session is a blast for our folks. The crafts class take place every Friday from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

If you'd like to get involved by helping assist our folks with painting, pasting & crafting, please contact Stephanie Toone at s.toone@progress-inc.org.

Progress' SMART! Holds First Donation Day -Oct. 2.

Progress Inc. will soon open an innovative social enterprise called SMART! - Scrape Made Art. On Oct. 2, you can help this new green business by coming by Progress and donating useful, recyclable items.

WHAT IS SMART!?

SMART! will be an art reuse center where artists, school teachers, craftsmen, seamstress and anyone in between can purchase unique, recycled items for any arts and crafts project. Customers will be able to purchase these recyclable items - from Popsicle sticks to plastic water bottle tops - in bulk for their projects at affordable prices. Along with providing a cool new art store for Nashville, SMART! will benefit Progress Inc.'s mission of giving adults with intellectual disabilities meaningful employment opportunities. The clients we support will eventually work at SMART! with the assistance of management staff.

Here are some neat examples of art created from recyclable items found across the web: 

Mini Magnet Craft Courtesy of letsgochipper.wordpress.com

Balls of string created with newspapers Courtesy of news.softpedia.com

How can you help get SMART! going?

SMART! Project Manager Kelli Monday has devised a list of items that will be needed for SMART!'s inventory. 

We welcome anyone and everyone to bring the items (listed below) in bags or boxes to Progress' office, 319 Ezell Pike on Tuesday, Oct. 2. It will be the first of many donation days, where Kelli collects a variety of items that will be used for future works of art. If you have questions or want to know more about SMART!, please contact Kelli Monday k.monday@progress-inc.org. 

DIDD Commissioner Jim Henry visits Progress Inc.

2012 Employment Idol Winner and Progress client Robert Page and DIDD Commissioner Jim Henry.



Henry and Progress Inc. Executive Director Donna Goodaker after his visit at Progress.

DIDD Commissioner Jim Henry made a visit to Progress Inc. this week.
Each of our directors in accounting, quality assurance, day programs and residential programs were able to share some insight with the commissioner about what is working and what has become challenges for our agency.

Commissioner Henry had glowing remarks about Progress' quality programming over the last several years. Since more than 20 percent of our clients are employed, we stand out as one of the top agencies in the state, he said. The commissioner introduced an initiative this year encouraging provider agencies in Tennessee to employ at least 20 percent of their clients.

We appreciate the commissioner taking the time to speak to us, tour the campus and share some updates about the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.