|
|
From the Desk of Ann Coffey
Greetings!
We are excited to inform you of changes occurring at UCP. We have moved! We began conducting business out of our new office Monday, December 12, 2011. We are located at 305 NE 102nd Avenue, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97220. This location is extremely accessible for public transportation which allows for greater community inclusion. The space has many windows which allow natural light and supports a healthy and welcoming feeling. There is ample space for privacy for our customers receiving personal care and utilizing special medical equipment or mobility devices. UCP Connections, our support services brokerage is located with our administrative office for the first time. These are just a few of the benefits we are experiencing. Expect to receive information in the near future to attend UCP's Open House. If you would like to see the new office during normal business hours please feel free to drop by, check-in at reception, and we'll assist you to have a look around.
In addition to a new office location, there have been several employee changes occurring. Bud Thoune, UCP's Executive Director, retired on December 30, 2011. His dedication, passion, and strength of character have provided a strong moral compass that will continue to guide the agency well into the future. With Bud's retirement I was selected as the new Executive Director. I held the position of Community Services Director for over eight years and will bring that same vision and energy to the Executive Director position.
Michelle Douglas has been selected as the new Community Services Director. She began her new role December 1, 2011. As the Community Services Director she will ensure a customer-driven approach, excellent customer service and quality deliverables. Her commitment to UCP's mission and values, coupled with her dedication to ensure all adults experiencing disabilities live a healthy and fruitful life, will ensure her ability to lead and manage Community Services successfully.
We are excited about these changes and look forward to an exciting 2012. Happy New Year to you all!
|
|
Sincerely,
Ann Coffey
Executive Director
United Cerebral Palsy of Oregon & SW Washington
|
|
Employment Solutions
Grant Celebrates 5 Years!
By Melissa Miller
Employment Solutions is proud to announce the celebration of Grant Nason's 5 year anniversary at Walgreens!  | |
Grant receiving his pin and award for his hard work!
|
Grant secured his job right out of high school and UCP's job coaches have been supporting him ever since! Grant loves his job at Walgreens where he stocks shelves, helps unload crates on shipping day, rotates product and builds displays. Grant is especially grateful for his manager (Mr. S) who recently received an AbilityAware award for his commitment to Grant and Grant's supports. We are so proud of Grant and all of his hard work!  | |
Grant at the AbilityAware Event
|
Employment Solutions now has a Facebook page - "like" us to stay up-to-date on new hires and advocacy articles for individuals with disabilities. Visit the site here.
For more information about Employment Solutions, contact Melissa Miller at mmiller@ucpaorwa.org. |
|
Family Support Services
UCP Family Support Hosts Movie Screening:
Including Samuel
UCP's Family Support will be hosting a screening of the movie Including Samuel on Saturday, February 11th, from 2pm to 4pm at the Reedwood Friends Church (2901 SE Steele, Portland). This 58 minute video is riveting, thought-provoking, and is changing the way people think about disability. Here's what the filmmakers have to say about the movie:
Before his son Samuel was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, photojournalist Dan Habib rarely thought about the inclusion of people with disabilities. Now he thinks about inclusion every day. Shot and produced over four years, Habib's award-winning documentary film, Including Samuel, honestly chronicles the Habib family's efforts to include Samuel in every facet of their lives. The film also features four other families with varied inclusion experiences, plus interviews with dozens of teachers, young people, parents and disability rights experts. Including Samuel is a highly personal, passionately photographed film that captures the cultural and systemic barriers to inclusion.
We are very exited to be hosting a screening of this moving documentary which has been translated into 17 languages and shown all over the world. Schools are using the film as an organizing tool. Youth groups have formed as a result of watching this film. We are inviting all members of the community to come together to watch the film, and have a lively discussion about the topics raised. We hope you will join us if you are able. Interpreters will be provided. Watch a trailer of the movie here.
Click here to view more information about the event and to RSVP, or call 503-777-4166 and ask for Susan or Kerry
|
Adult Services
You Can Dance If You Want To!
by Hans Carter
For the last three months Sam and I have been attending Polaris All Access dance class. Polaris Dance is a local contemporary dance company that provides a wide assortment of classes for people of varying ages and abilities. They also have their own theater company. The All Access program is dedicated to the movement potential of each individual. It is a community for people with physical disabilities to be creative, and to explore and express themselves in a supportive atmosphere free of judgment. When they moved into their current space downtown special attention was given to providing a creative space where anyone can come in to explore and make a deeper connection to their body through movement. The classes are a combination of improvisation, modern dance and pilates.
Sam is very motivated and outgoing, which makes this class a great fit for him. He really enjoys the music, beat and movement during the class as well as being able to see his reflection in the mirror! In the time that Sam and I have been going, I am always impressed with the amount of joy he gets out of the class.
Polaris is located in downtown Portland, on Southwest 16th and Taylor. The All Access class is provided every other Friday and costs $5 per session. It is open to people with a wide range of abilities, including spinal cord injuries and people in wheelchairs. They do require that participants sign a waiver so each person should be able to sign for themselves. They are also offering a class for kids called All Access Kid's and is held on Saturdays from 1-2pm.
For more information and schedules, visit: www.polarisdance.org
|
Employee Spotlight:
Iain Tomlinson
by Kerry Pinney
It was nice to have the chance to get to know a bit more about the man behind the British accent here at UCP! If you have had the pleasure of talking with Iain Tomlinson, the Juniper Team Leader, you
know what I mean. Iain was born in England. He moved to the United States in 1995, starting out in Seattle, spending some time in Arizona and finally settling in Portland. The environment of the Northwest, the music scene, and the culture of Portland played factors in his choice to settle here.
Iain began his career at UCP back in 2004 as a Personal Assistant. He had done some one-on-one work with a college student in Arizona which he enjoyed, so the job as a Personal Assistant with UCP was a nice fit. After a few years he became an Assistant Team Leader before taking on his current role of Juniper Team Leader in 2008. Iain really enjoys the work environment at UCP and the employees whom he works with. He finds great joy in working with the people we support and is very proud of the work that is done here and the staff that we have. The variety of issues that arise on a daily basis keeps his job interesting and exciting. As he puts it, "every day is different!"
Recently he has been enjoying fatherhood for the first time to an eight month old named Charlie. Aside from the joys of parenthood, Iain's other interests include bird watching, camping and traveling. He travels back home to England occasionally and enjoys exploring areas known for birdwatching, like Eastern Oregon. Sauvie Island is a favorite place to go locally. His favorite birds are owls and he even planned a trip last October to Peru just to view some rare and very hard to see owls! I now see why the sign outside his door reads "bird nerd," meant in the best possible way of course!
It is nice to know we have our very own bird, or owl expert to call upon. And it is nice to know more about yet another wonderful member of the UCP Team!
|
|
|
|
United Cerebral Palsy of Oregon & Southwest Washington
305 NE 102nd Ave. Ste. 100 Portland, OR 97220
|
|
|
|
Subscribe!
If you have not already subscribed to receive this newsletter, please do so below. We will be sending out six issues a year.
Join Our Mailing List |
|
Quick Links
Recommended Reading |
|
Events
|
February 9th Gimme A Break
Family Support Group
Topic: Assistive Technology Continued Find Out More February 11th
UCP Hosts Screening of
Including Samuel
|
UCP Connections
UCP Connections,
One Year Later |
"Eventually everything connects - people, ideas, objects." - Charles Eames
Connections opened our doors and began working with our first customers on December 1, 2010 - just one year ago! The past year has been incredibly full and fast-paced. And from the very beginning everything felt right and things snapped right into place. So, here we are one year later, thanks to the vision of UCP, the support of community partners, the dedication of Personal Agents, and the dreams and commitment of the people we support - our customers. I am proud to be a part of the brokerage that UCP Connections is today, complete with all of our challenges, frustrations, and wins.
I wanted to take this opportunity to share our newly developed mission with you: To provide individualized planning and resources to adults with developmental disabilities that promotes independence, personal success, and connection to community. There are many stories of the people we support taking steps towards achieving their goals and creating the life that they envision for themselves. We are fortunate to be instrumental in that journey and look forward to our collective personal and professional growth.
So, kudos to Connections and many thanks to everyone who has played a part in making this venture the fulfilling success it has been and continues to be!
Happy New Year!
Sarah Knight
UCP Brokerage Director
For further information about UCP Connections, contact Sarah Knight at 503-777-4166 x361 or sarahk@ucpconnections.org
|
Community Partner Spotlight
Gateway Medical Pharmacy
 | |
Rich Wheeler along with Charlene.
|
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Rich Wheeler, who along with his wife Kim, own and operate the Gateway Medical Pharmacy. They are the pharmacy that UCP's Supported Living Program uses to fulfill pharmaceutical needs. They are "compounding specialists," which sets them aside from other pharmacies because they can make specialty prescriptions right in their pharmacy. After meeting Rich and Charlene, who is the pharmacy technician in charge of UCP's accounts, I can see why they receive such high praise from those that have interaction with them.
One of the things that UCP staff appreciate is the friendliness of their staff. In particular, Charlene goes above and beyond what is needed in helping to maintain and manage our accounts. Since working with Charlene orders are accurate, ready well ahead of time, and she is extremely organized and knowledgeable, all of which saves a lot of time for our staff! She has come to the rescue with last minute requests and often will deal with the doctors directly. She has told our staff that she is happy to do whatever she can to help to make their jobs easier! As you can imagine, that kind of attitude is very much appreciated!
The relationship they have developed with UCP has a feeling of family. Rich has come to UCP and done presentations for the staff, and Larry, their delivery driver, is always so friendly. He brings calendars at the beginning of each new year and always makes time for a jovial conversation! We truly appreciate the relationship that has developed with them and want to say, "Thank you" for bringing calm to a job that could otherwise be very chaotic!
 | |
Delivery driver, Larry
|
|
Get Fit While Helping UCP!!
the past 3 years is providing a wonderful opportunity to train for a 10k or half marathon and raise money for UCP at the same time! Sign up for their "Foot Traffic University" and a nice portion of that fee will be donated to United Cerebral Palsy. If you sign up in person at one of their locations, just mention that your charity of choice is UCP. If you sign up on-line, you can enter "goUCP" in the spot for the charitable code. Their training program looks like lots of fun! Maybe not the word that normally comes to mind when you think of running, but it does! This is an opportunity to get ready for our own Walk, Roll 'n' Run, held each September, as well. Stay tuned for more to come on that!
Thank you Foot Traffic, for your continued support and contributions to the community!
More info can be found at the above links, or click here
|
|
|
