News: Fall 2010 Spring Magazine
(print version)
Contents:
- Jeffco Commissioner Faye Griffin Visits DDRC Programs
- History of DDRC and Community Centered Boards (CCBs)
- Colette Anderson Nominated for Direct Service Provider of the Year
- Twelve Years of Contribution and Job Satisfaction ~ Jerry Handley, MVP
- DDRC Players Perform Another Hit!
- Dr. Hogling and Former Executive Director Peg Johnstone On List of Most Influential
- Holiday Donations
- 5th Annual Gray Street Chili Cook-off
- Holiday Bazaar
- Howard Murray Retires after Thirty-Three Years
- First Ever Gray Street Indoor Parade
- Staff Honored for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 Years of Service
- Golf Tournament at Arrowhead Golf Club - August 16
Jeffco Commissioner Faye Griffin Visits DDRC Programs
District 1 Commissioner, Faye Griffin visits the Bruno building and enjoys
seeing participants being productive. Skip Jutze, Business Operations Manager,
enthusiastically shares information about the variety of contracts and business
connections that provide quality opportunities for participants. The Bruno work
site is a place where people with developmental disabilities can come to work
every day, learn new skills, explore a variety of job prospects and interact with
friends in a safe and nurturing
environment. Many
individuals move into the
community as job skills are
learned and opportunities
become available in community
businesses. In this
current economic environment,
it is a challenge to
keep people in community
jobs. DDRC job coaches
are exceptional negotiators
helping to maintain the
majority of people working
in the community.
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History of DDRC and Community Centered Boards (CCBs)
Prior to 1964, life for people
with developmental disabilities
and their families was
extremely difficult. There were no
choices, no educational opportunities,
no work possibilities and no quality
living options. There were only institutions,
such as Wheat Ridge Regional
Center, Grand Junction Regional
Center, and Pueblo State Hospital.
The majority of families chose to keep
their child or adult at home without
support. By 1964, there were
approximately 2000 individuals
living in Colorado's institutions.
Fortunately for Colorado citizens, there was a family that had two boys named Larry and Don who had developmental disabilities. These two sons were fortunate to have been born to two incredible people, Joe and Elizabeth Calabrese. They struggled caring for Larry and Don until one day their doctor suggested they place their children in Wheat Ridge Regional Center. The decision to place them in an institution was difficult, but they finally agreed to place one child. The parents were told not to visit for 6 months so the child could adjust. In two or three weeks, they couldn't stay away any longer and went to see their son and decided then and there to take him back home.
Senator Calabrese attempted numerous times to get legislation passed to provide resources in the community for people with developmental disabilities with no success. With the help of friends, he and his wife started their own program and named it after Larry and Don. They named it Laradon Hall. Still with no resources, but a determination to help others, Senator Calebrese's persistence paid off. In 1963, he was able to get help from a Greeley Representative Littler to carry House Bill (HB)121 to set up pilot programs, one in the Boulder area and one in southwestern Colorado. The bill passed both houses and the pilots began. With the success of the two pilots in 1964, HB 1090 passed through the legislature and the Community Centered Board (CCB) system was born.
Doors began to open and 21 private nonprofit corporations were formed in communities throughout the state. They were local, advocates for change, efficient, and personal. Choices began to appear. Families got involved and educational doors were opened through CCBs; safe nurturing work settings were developed; quality living options emerged; resource coordinators helped families access services. Besides the 20 current CCBs, there are now over 160 approved service agencies available for families in Colorado. We have gone from 3 institutions to 170 community options. DDRC alone has 46 different approved service agencies that it contracts with to provide services to families in Jefferson, Clear Creek, Summit and Gilpin counties.
In 1972, individuals began to move out of the institutions. Twenty to forty individuals of the 2000 in institutions came out into the community. In 1982, DDRC was a leader collaborating with the State Department of Education and Wheat Ridge Regional Center to bring school aged children into its school programs. Those who were too fragile to be transported to DDRC's Margaret Walters School or Robert Weiland School were also able to receive educational services. A classroom was set up at the regional center with staff from DDRC's Margaret Walters School.
DDRC has been a leader in providing quality services. DDRC was the first to have a participant on the board of directors; setting the standard for other community boards and sharing its code of ethics; having the best community work placement rate in the country; receiving the Ethics in Business Award; being the first to get an outside audit on its services and consistently getting the highest accreditation level from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF); posting its Audit on its web site; developing and maintaining a sought after career ladder for staff development; and establishing the first human rights committee before it was required. These are just a few accomplishments that make DDRC a truly effective organization that maximizes its resources to serve the most number of people in the best possible way.
DDRC is proud of its 45-year history and continues to look for better ways to serve people with developmental disabilities and their families.
As the keynote speaker at the annual Alliance DD Awareness Day at the Capitol, Ron Marquez, Director of Community Relations, honored a special person: Jean, now 89 years old, started life with a developmental disability and was lovingly cared for by her parents for the first 27 years. Her parents passed away and she entered the State Hospital in Pueblo. After some nursing home placements, she moved to Jefferson County and DDRC began to provide services. Jean has lived a long life and thanks to services from DDRC, Starpoint, and her extended family, her life has been filled with quality activities and people who care. We hope to be invited to a birthday party to celebrate her 90th birthday this year.
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Colette Anderson Nominated for Direct Service Provider of the Year
DDRC's Colette Anderson was
nominated for the Direct Service
Provider of the Year at the
Alliance Awareness
Day at the Capitol.
Following high school, Colette earned her Associates Degree in Communications at Red Rocks Community College, then completed her Medical Assistant Program through the State of Colorado. Colette continued to hone her skills by working in a medical office. Her true direct service career began through Private Home Care. To quote her first employer, "Colette took care of my husband (86) for 6 hours a day. She was kind, patient, gentle and considerate of his needs." Following this experience, Colette worked for Wheat Ridge Regional Center as a direct care service provider for over 8 years.
Collette's first position at DDRC was as a crew supervisor starting in 1993. She has worked in several capacities at DDRC, as a Vocational Instructor Supervisor, for both the Bruno and Gray Street facilitiies for over 17 years. Colette is very professional and caring of the participants she serves. She is creative and very active in the community. Professional growth continues to be an important goal as she has reached the highest career ladder level through DDRC's training program. Congratulations, Colette, for 27 years of dedication to helping others live a quality life.
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Twelve Years of Contribution and Job Satisfaction ~ Jerry Handley, MVP
Jerry, Pizza Hut's Most
Valuable Player (MVP), was really
excited when he heard that he
was going to be photographed
and interviewed for a story just
about him. Jerry started at Pizza
Hut in 1998 as a dishwasher.
Now he helps make hot wings,
cuts up bread sticks and sometimes
does prep work: counts
out the chicken wings and gets
the pizza pans ready.
Jerry is loved by his co-workers and truly enjoys working with Kate, his supervisor, as well as Rosa and Allen. Jerry works diligently, and you can see the satisfaction on his face as he performs his job duties. He received the Most Valuable Player Award from Pizza Hut for his dedication and hard work over the past12 years. Jerry wears his MVP hat proudly. He has added value to his employer, and both he and Pizza Hut have benefitted by his work ethic. Kate, Jerry's supervisor, is thrilled to have Jerry on her team.
"Pizza Hut has been an awesome employer. I could not ask for anything more," stated Susan Craven, Jerry's job coach.
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DDRC Players Perform Another Hit!
"O Holy Knight" by Patrick Rainville
Dorn was the feature at the latest
production of the DDRC Players,
December 9 and 10, 2009. Again this
year there was standing room only at
both performances! It looks like they
will have to find a new venue for next
year's play.
A medieval holiday comedy, it tells the story of a mix of commoners, merchants, and courtiers snowbound in a castle on Christmas Eve. To pass the time, they all agree to perform a Nativity pageant, hoping to raise the spirits of the lady of the manor, whose husband is being held for ransom in a foreign land. Everyone participates in some way, including the ladies-in-waiting and the local shepherds. Slap-stick humor and colorful characters kept the play moving for about 200 attendees over two evenings.
Twenty-two actors had their turn on stage, helped by 16 volunteers who assisted with reading lines, movement on stage, costuming and set placement. The play was directed by Leah Nixon and assistant director Aaron Rendoff. Accolades of "wonderful" and "fantastic" brought huge smiles to the members of the cast.
The next production will be in November, 2010. Rehearsals will begin in August. Anyone in DDRC services is welcome to participate. Please call Barbara Steiner Renaldo at 303-462-6649 for more information. If you see Barbara, thank her for again facilitating another great production.
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Dr. Hogling and Former Executive Director Peg Johnstone On List of Most Influential
Upon the 150th Anniversary (1859-2009) of Jefferson
County, the 640-page book, "Jefferson County Colorado,
A Unique and Eventful History" was recently published
by Views Publishing Company. The editors selected 150
citizens from that time period who were considered to
have made the most outstanding contributions to our
community. The list includes past DDRC Executive
Director, Peg Johnstone and our present Executive
Director, Dr. Art Hogling.
Dr. Hogling has been a leader in providing the citizens of Jefferson County top quality services for over 30 years and has improved the quality of life for thousands of people with developmental disabilities. He was hired by Peg Johnstone, who was a pioneer and leader for DDRC from 1967 to her retirement in 1986.
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Holiday Donations
Arvada resident Mary Ann
Tillman (second from the
right) mobilizes her circle of
friends, opens her house and
contributes over $200 worth
of gifts for people with
disabilities and their families
who are hurting from our
down economy.
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5th Annual Gray Street Chili Cook-off
The Fifth Annual Great Gray Street Chili Cook-Off has come to
completion on this fine day of March 18, 2010 (the day after
St. Patrick's Day). The esteemed judges for this year were Gena Colbert,
Rick Lovato and Tricia Stone.
The participants for 2010 included: Colette Anderson, submitting "Kick It Chili," Diane Turano, submitting "Not Your Ma Ma's Chili," Manuel Quezada, submitting "Sweet Mexican Chili", Roger Rumsey, submitting "Pasole Rip Off", Julie Billeisen, submitting "Not So Sweet Chicken Chili," and Dennis Brungardt, submitting "The Cluck Of The Irish Chili." The Grand Prize Winner, with her Pow Wow Chili, was Renee Pineda!! Congratulations Renee!
According to Gena, Pow Wow was "Very good! Spicy!! I love it!!!" As they say, "A good time was had by all." Until next year...
Thank You, Ron Marquez for recording our event for posterity. Orchestrated by none other than Dennis Brungardt!
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Holiday Bazaar
Anne's crocheted goods do
well at this year's Bazaar.
More and more participants
are becoming entrepreneurs!
The Bazaar is another
successful event put on by
DDRC's Volunteer Services.
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Howard Murray Retires after Thirty-Three Years
Howard Murray, Director of DDRC's
Recreation Program, retired after 33
years of making the lives of thousands
of people with developmental disabilities
better. He will be missed. Friends,
participants in DDRC programs, professionals,
colleagues, and his family attended
a modest reception in his honor.
He received many heartfelt hugs from
participants in the recreation programs.
If you didn't get a chance to come to
his reception, Howard requested that
there be a less formal event open to
anyone who knew him especially people
with developmental disabilities and their
families. That date will be Saturday, April
24th at the Walters Center from 4 p.m.
till 7:00 p.m.
Howard is highly respected by everyone he touched with his hard work, commitment, honesty and caring. People with developmental disabilities and their families, student interns, staff and volunteers he trained will miss Howard's presence in their lives. He is one of those people that you can't replace. He has, however, built great staff support and a solid program to carry on his work into the future.
Howard, we wish you the very best in your retirement. Thank you for all you've done for people with developmental disabilities and their families. DDRC has been enriched by your involvement in its growth over the past 33 years.
In these tough economic times DDRC will not fill the vacant position, but will promote one of his assistants, Terri Hulstrom, as a cost saving measure. Terri has been with DDRC for many years and knows the participants very well. She will step up to the plate and continue the good work that has been in place for years.
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First Ever Gray Street Indoor Parade
The staff and participants in
the Community Participation
Program in Arvada hosted the
first ever indoor parade at the
DDRC Gray Street facility.
There were floats, costumes,
and spectators to cheer the
participants on the parade route.
Everyone had a great time and
they didn't even have to worry
about bad weather.
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Staff Honored for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 Years of Service
Each year we take the time to honor DDRC employees for the exceptional work
and caring they provide for people with developmental disabilities. This past year has been especially difficult with all the State and Federal changes that have occurred. Staff has worked especially hard this year to keep services at an optimal level for participants and their families. Everyone in our DDRC community is an important part of delivering quality care and love to the many individuals who have been a part of the 45 years of our DDRC history.
Adam Nielsen, a participant in DDRC programs, was the keynote speaker. He gave an incredible account of his life before and after his involvement with DDRC staff. He was extremely complementary of DDRC and the work that staff does to help people with developmental disabilities live a good quality life. Adam is now doing well and has just been chosen to be on the DDRC Foundation Board. Congratulations Adam and thank you for your kind words and acknowledgement of those who have helped you succeed.
Staff was honored for 5, 10, 15, 20 25, and 30, years of service. The two individuals pictured separately received special recognition for 30 years of helping others at DDRC. Sue Bosch and Tammy Drumright were honored for over 30 years of commitment to people with developmental disabilities and their families. Thanks to everyone who gives of themselves by helping others succeed.
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Golf Tournament at Arrowhead Golf Club - August 16
It's been a
long winter and
it's time to think
about planning your
summer...
Our 18th Annual Charity Golf Tournament benefitting people with developmental disabilities is taking shape and our presenting sponsor, 1STBANK is on board with us again this year.
This year, we have chosen Arrowhead Golf Course with its incredible scenic views and accommodating facilities. We are looking forward to an even better golf tournament experience this year. So please don't hesitate, put together your foursome, sign up early and let us know of any businesses that may want to be a part of this annual event as a sponsor.
For more information and registration please go to our web site at www.ddrcco. com/golf. We have taken your suggestions to heart in choosing the Arrowhead Golf Club. Take a look at www.arrowheadcolorado.com, click on golf, and then take the course tour. And, see what you'll get when you sign up to play in our tournament. Feel free to share this information with your circle of friends. If you'd like to talk to someone, call Megan Martin at 303-462-6590 or Ron Marquez at 303-462-6623.
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