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

Nashville's Best Special Olympics Basketball Player

Markus in between his big game with the Nashville Knights Tuesday.

Markus Boyce has overcome a hurdle he never thought he would - a basketball goal!
He scored 8 points during Tuesday's game with the Special Olympics' Nashville Knights. The team won one out of two games thanks to Markus' efforts. That's why we've crowned him Nashville's Best Special Olympics Basketball Player.
Progress' Director of Programs Meika McClendon and his Program Manager Sarah Floyd both attended Markus' game on Tuesday, which was held at Belmont University. 
Markus great showing during the game is a huge step, because in his first season with the Knights' he never scored a point.
Practicing every Tuesday with his teammates and coach has made the difference. He proves that with perseverance anything is possible. 

Markus amongst his teammates.

He was also honored for his great work ethic at Progress last Friday through our new ACHIEVE program. Markus, like many of the folks we support, always strives do to his best. Congrats on the win, Markus! 

Share this blog post to show your support for Markus & the Knights this basketball season.

Progress' Robert Page to be featured in The Tennessean

Robert being interviewed by Tennessean reporter Dawn Wyatt as his dad Les listens.

Robert Page's Employment Idol success has led right into the summer. He will be featured in The Tennessean's Davidson A.M. on July 4th! Please pick up a copy of Wednesday's paper and check the story out online.

His endearing story of being a dedicated, hardworking teacher's aide at Harris-Hillman for 15 years garnered the attention of reporter Dawn Wyatt. His Employment Idol video, which now has nearly 400 views on YouTube, was a fan favorite, but it also inspired some of the other contestants in the Tennessee Disability MegaConference video contest.

One of the competing videographers Walter Dodd from the Hilltoppers agency in Crossville shared this message on YouTube: "Congrats, guys. Robert won first place. We all were there and Brian (another contestant) and our group voted for Robert as well. He really Deserves it please tell him CONGRATS from everyone at our agency."

We appreciate the support from other agencies and the coverage by The Tennessean.

 Sharing the Progress' Story

Robert could not have become Tennessee's Employment Idol without social media outlets like Facebook and Youtube. Many Progress supporters shared links to the videos, Facebook posts and told their friends about the competition.

Just as that support helped Robert, it would help Progress if all our readers, Facebook fans and others shared the stories posted here at Pressing Forward With Progress and on our Facebook Page. According to a recent research provided by Facebook, 92 percent of people on social media sites shared and read stories that their online friends talked about or shared online.

Invite your friends to like and read our blog posts and like our Facebook page. There are so many great stories, photos and videos that give a glimpse into Progress' story.

Thanks for all the support!

Vote for Robert Page in the TN Employment Idol Video Contest

YouTube Video on What Makes Robert Page a TN Employment Idol.

Robert Page doesn't sing or play the guitar, but he is hoping to win your vote as an "idol" - Tennessee's Employment Idol that is.

The Tennessee Disability MegaConference called for video submissions earlier this month that highlight the employment success of an individual with intellectual disabilities. Online voting began Tuesday, and it ends today. During Thursday morning's MegaConference, a studio audience will also vote on the seven Employment Idol videos.

How to Vote for Robert's Video:

1. Sign into your Gmail, YouTube or Google+ account
2. Open this link in another tab.
3. Watch the video on Robert
4. Click the like button on the video

Robert has been a dedicated employee at Harris-Hillman for 15 years. He began as a volunteer at the school, but soon became a paid employee. When budget cuts threaten his employment, the school principal and Metro School Board fought to keep his position paid.

He loves earning his own money, but, most of all, he loves interacting with the students. He shows the students at Harris-Hillman, who also have disabilities, that there can be a full and prosperous life as an adult with disabilities.

He lives out the Progress mission of "moving forward with abilities."

Please take a few moments to view his video story and vote for Robert!

Check back here to see if Robert nabs the title.

No State Budget Cuts for Progress Inc.; New recipients Can Enroll in 2012-2013

DIDD's Commissioner Jim Henry announced great news for Progress Inc. and all statewide provider agencies that serve adults with intellectual disabilities earlier this month. Gov. Bill Haslam's recommended budget for the 2012-2013 will have NO budget cuts for the waiver program that makes it possible for Progress Inc. to serve more than 100 adults with intellectual disabilities everyday.

The budget also makes room for a growth of more than 100 new recipients in the state Home and Community Based waiver services program.

That announcement means that 105 out of the more than 6,000 people with intellectual disabilities that have been on the waiting list will have the chance to receive support at home, participate in daily activities and perhaps get a job through a provider agency like Progress Inc.

Commissioner Henry also announced a new employment initiative that would push agencies like Progress Inc. to have at least 20 percent employment rate for its clients by this fall. Progress is considered the standard agency to follow since we are already above 20 percent employment due to our employer partnerships that were the focus of a recent NewsChannel 5 story. (Click the link to view that video)

Progress Inc. client Bea working diligently at the Marriott Hotel- Courtesy of NewsChannel5.

Though this is a great announcement, Progress and other agencies still need much support from donors and advocates across the state.

Remember to continue to follow Pressing Forward With Progress for news and updates on the senior citizen and disability community.

Here's a roundup of Commissioner Henry's announcements:

§  DIDD Budget: Governor’s Recommended Fiscal Year 2012-2013 budget for DIDD is $206.5 million and includes the following:

*$4.5 million in recurring funds to continue the Family Support Program

*$6.7 million for projected growth of 105 people in Home and Community Based waiver services

Reductions to the Department’s base budget are $2.6 million. No reductions to waiver services or to provider reimbursements are included.

§ Employment Initiative:  Obtaining employment rates of at least 20% by Fall 2012.

Spotlight on Seniors: Tennessee's Top 3 Scams Against the Elderly



Still photo from Channel 4 news report



WSMV reported Wednesday that a Nashville widow was scammed by a man claiming to be a home repairman. The video of the story shows how the distraught woman, who was not identified, fell into the trap of the scammer. The victim was hard of hearing and lived alone. Metro Police say scams of this sort with the elderly are quite common this time of year.  Living alone is tough for some older residents, so having the help of a trained caregiver can be a way to avoid such incidents. To prevent other elderly residents from experiencing scams, Progress Inc. has compiled a list of the top three scams affecting seniors and some other important information that can help prevent a scam from happening to you.

Telemarketing: Fraudulent telemarketers often prey on trusting seniors by using heartstring pleas, aggressiveness, and undue pressure to get them to purchase high-priced items they do not want or need. In some cases, the telemarketers lure consumers to reveal valuable, private information such as bank account, credit card, and Social Security numbers, which they later use to commit identity theft. Being prepared in advance with caller-ID and registering with state and local Do Not Call registries can help eliminate and/or curtail deceptive callers.

Charitable Solicitations: Many seniors have the financial resources to be generous supporters of charitable organizations. Unscrupulous individuals target seniors for “charitable contributions” both over the phone and door-to-door. Always ask for identification, and tell them to return after you have called the charity to confirm what they have told you. Never provide personal information or a contribution until you are certain about the legitimacy of the solicitor and the organization. Check with the Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming of the Secretary of State’s office where Tennessee charities are required to register.

Investment schemes: Some seniors have a lifetime of savings at their disposal. Scammers may go door-to door with fraudulent or risky investment “opportunities.” Others seniors may be approached by “new” friends and neighbors who claim to have already hit it big in an attractive investment scheme. Families with seniors choosing to stay at home may want to agree to have a trusted family member involved in any significant financial matters. If you have been a victim of one of these schemes, file a complaint with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs.

More Information on Senior Care and Preventing Scams:

For more information about trusted senior caregivers, http://www.progress-inc.org/services.html .For local Do Not Call information call 1-877-TRA-7030 and for national information call

1-800-382-1222.

 Visit http://www.state.tn.us/sos/charity/index.htm to research charities before making a

donation.

 Victims of investment and other scams can file a complaint with the Division of

Consumer Affairs at www.tennessee.gov/consumer or call toll-free in Tennessee 1-800-342-8385.

Source: Tennessee Attorney General's Office and Progress Inc.