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Community News
August 2023
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Volunteer Extraordinaire
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Robin Raymond, Direct Support Professional
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Glen is very generous; he loves to do for others in the community. One of the highlights of Glen’s summer was helping with the Feeding Tiny Tummies Poker Run fundraiser at the American Legion in Keene. Glen handed out the first card and tee shirt to the participants. They choose a playing card out of a deck of cards that also had a map telling them where the next stop was. Players collect a card at each stop until they had enough cards for a full hand and returned to the American Legion to see who had the highest hand. The person with the best hand won a cash prize. Everyone enjoyed lunch and fellowship.
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Books on Books on Books
Lisa Turner, Associate Director
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Lori could list many things she enjoys doing in her free time, but one of her favorite activities is reading. You can always catch her reading a good book either on the farmer’s porch or in her bedroom where she can concentrate. She has a giant book collection that she is very proud of and likes to show it off when people come to visit. She has the whole Nancy Drew collection and has read every single one. Lori just started reading The Little House on the Prairie series and says she is enjoying it so far. She will read just about anything she can get her hands on and is always looking for a new series to start. If anyone has any book suggestions, let her know!
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Adventures
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Holli Brown, Program Manager
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Kathleen is getting out and enjoying this beautiful Maine summer. She loves going for adventures in the community. She lives very close to Old Orchard Beach and enjoys going to the ocean, watching the seagulls, and getting ice cream. Kathy has also traveled to New Hampshire to have lunch and see the mountains. Some days are trips to Dunkin Donuts for coffee and munchkins, while other days are up to Sebago Lake. Short trips or long trips, Kathy is happiest when on an adventure, enjoying the sights and listening to her favorite music playing on the radio.
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What to bring to the BBQ
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Sarah King, Director of Residential Services
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This year Markus was invited to the annual Residential Resources summer BBQ along with all of his friends and acquaintances. The annual BBQ is a potluck, and as the big day approached, I asked Markus to think about what dish he would like to bring. The BBQ arrived, I walked around and visited with everyone, I saw the usual BBQ foods: burgers, salads, chips. But then I noticed people walking around with slices of pepperoni pizza! I had to get to the bottom of who had brought pizza to the BBQ. Sure enough, it was Markus and his staff. They had stopped to get enough pizza to share with everyone. I thought it was such a nice idea, though something I hadn’t seen before. Pizza is Markus' favorite food and if he was going to bring something he liked to share, it had to be Domino's pizza! A great time was had by all, and I adopted a whole new outlook on what summer BBQ food could be!
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John visits Pennsylvania
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Maggie Kelleher, Home Care Provider
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John and I went to Hershey, Pennsylvania. We went to Amish Country to visit one of the Amish communities. We enjoyed an Amish meal! John loved Hershey Park. He enjoyed going on a few rides and playing skee ball! John watched an animal show. He bought lots of souvenirs!
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Grotonwood Camp
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Lisa Turner, Associate Director
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Peggy spent three weeks at Grotonwood Camp this summer. She has been going to various camp for 12 years and looks forward to going every summer. This year, she decided to try out Grotonwood Camp in Massachusetts. Grotonwood Camp has so much to offer, and Peggy had a blast! She got to go swimming, tubing, and enjoyed a ride on a pontoon boat. They hosted a talent show and karaoke. The spa day was incredible! The campers had their nails done followed by relaxing in a massage chair. On Friday night, they all got together and sat around a campfire. There was also a farewell dance on the last night they spent there. Peggy made a lot of new friends and got to experience so much. She is already planning on going back next year because she had so much fun!
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Discovering the World of Braille: A Journey of Literacy
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Karlie Munson, Support Broker
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Through a conversation with Ms. Susan Gordon, light will be shed on the fascinating world of braille and its impact on individuals with visual impairments. I had the privilege of speaking with Sue, who shared her personal journey of discovering and embracing braille as a means of literacy.
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Sue, who is totally blind, emphasized that fully sighted, visually impaired, and blind individuals can learn braille, depending on their determination to do so. While many opt for audiobooks, Sue found her passion for braille at a young age.
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At the tender age of three, Sue began her braille journey with the help of a dedicated braille instructor who visited her school. Initially, Sue found it time-consuming and preferred having someone read to her and answer homework questions. However, her interest in braille grew around the age of ten, and since then, she hasn't stopped reading. Braille has become one of her favorite pastimes, with a book always on her lap whenever she gets the chance.
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During her elementary school years, Sue was the only student in her school who read braille. She would visit classrooms with her braille machine, allowing other kids to type their names and take the braille printouts home to show their families.
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Today, technology plays a significant role in her life. Sue uses a talking watch, turns on the voiceover method on her phone, and relies on Siri for various tasks. The iPhone has become an invaluable tool, along with Amazon Alexa for assistance, when needed.
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When asked about the experience of reading in braille, Sue highlighted that it is a tactile process. Braille books are much larger than print books, with book is often the size of a three-ring binder. Reading still follows the top-to-bottom, left-to-right pattern, with the fingers instead of the eyes. Sue mentioned that, at times, her fingers can go numb from reading for extended periods.
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Finding braille books can be challenging and expensive. Sue shared that purchasing braille books can cost over $800. She has also borrowed books from the library, returning them once finished. However, Sue recently discovered the Braille on Demand program offered by the New York State Talking Book and Braille Library in Albany. Through this program, she can request books directly from the library and keep them free of charge. Some books she has received include Hunger Games, Danielle Steele books, and the Cutler series.
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Hopefully, Sue’s journey has shed light on the world of braille and its significance in promoting literacy for individuals with visual impairments. Let's continue to support and advocate for accessible reading materials, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to explore the joy of literature.
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Send us your questions, comments, or suggestions. We'd love to hear from you!
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TRUST - RESPECT - QUALITY - TRUTH / HONESTY - CREATIVITY - EMPOWERMENT - DIVERSITY
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