Justin's Blog

 Archive for the ‘General’ Category

Here’s wishing you all the very best of the season from everyone here at Therap

Along with a cloud based Christmas story.  Enjoy!

:: Justin ::

Today was a big day for Siraya in many ways…

Firstly she graduated out of the Birth to Three system (we must have missed the cap and gown).  We’ll be sad to see the back of some tremendous people who have worked so hard to get Siraya as far she has come, especially Sue her PT/Case Manager.

The reason that she is graduating is that today she turned three!  Happy Birthday!

Given that she is three now, she had her first day at school.  She is joining Wolcott’s integrated pre-school program which looks like a whole lot of fun.  The school has been great, I think that everyone involved (her teacher, her aide, the nurse, the PT, even the Principal) have visited her at our house.  This week Michele is staying with her and then next week she will start riding the bus!

My how the time flies!

:: Justin ::

Driving back from a presentation in the Bronx, Richard and I had a fascinating conversation about how we could best use our resources and some interesting technologies we are seeing out there to provide even better support and training.

I was going to write a fascinating blog post on the subject.

But then I got stuck in traffic in Danbury again.

So you’ll have to make to do with this:

It’s funnier, and does, in fact, fit!

:: Justin ::

If any of you have been unsuccessfully looking for me this week, I do apologize, but I have been stuck a home sick.

(So sick that this is the first time I have opened my computer!)

It seems like I am on the mend now so I hope to be back in fine fettle next week.  If there is anything you need urgently, please call the office or ask on live help and we’ll make sure we get you what you need.

:: Justin ::

UMASS Band Day 2009: Elton John

An even better video

:: Justin ::

After getting back late from UMass last night, Iona and I were up at the crack of dawn and heading back up I-91 into Massachusetts.  This time it was a for a FIRST Robotics competition.

This is a great time to get new team members involved and we have a nice group of freshmen joining the team who were all able to get a chance to operate the robot.

We’re already excited about the new game coming out in January and heading down to Atlanta in April.

Now, it has to be nap time!

:: Justin ::

ANCOR’s National Advocacy Campaign is conducting a nationwide survey about the proficiency and use of certain technologies by Direct Support Professionals, at work or at home.

The survey is intended for DSPs only to respond to it.

You may click here to access the survey.

Also, the survey has been extended until Sept. 11 from the original close date of Sept. 2.

Please pass this along to your DSPs for their input.

So, on the day that left last week, Diamond moved in, and Iona got back from her Most Excellent Adventure.

When I finally got back on Friday night after a few of my own adventures and some great training with the folks at ResCare in Fort Wayne, Indiana it was time to get settled in and get to know Diamond and the craziness that is having not only two 2 year olds, but 2 very unique 2 year olds at that!

Diamond just wants to be held all day, and given that Iona had very gallantly been filling that role all week, I spent most of the weekend with a wee girl attached to me.

I took a break on Saturday to drive Iona to Drum Major Academy.  We stopped on the way for some of the best wings I have ever had.  It must be a sign of getting old when your daughter starts recommending bars to you!  Weve already had a bunch of excited texts about how much fun she is having there.  Though I suspect she will smell better afterwards, compared with Outward Bound!

At the same time, Calum was returning from Work Camp in West Virginia where he had been painting, hole digging and entertaining the troops with his trumpet and guitar.  I am really pleased about how much fun he had and that he was able contribute so much, but more than anything I am impressed that his leaders managed to survive the week with him!

What with all that, the weekend passed rather quickly and it was time to be back in New York again!  Today was a bunch of questions, answers and designing with the MSCs, Nurses, QA Folks, and Day program people at SullivanArc followed by some really exciting brainstorming with their neighbours at the New Hope Community.  Watch for some very cool stuff comign out of that!

:: Justin ::

Calum and a group of church are spending this week in Martinsburg, West Virginia on a mission camp organized by Group WorkCamps.

The rest of the group went down on Saturday, but Calum was recovering from the summer YMCA swimming championships (a great meet with some new best times!).

So Calum and I left early this morning with a truck load of ladders and tools to meet up with the rest of the crew, drop off the tools, and then I headed back.

A long day’s driving, but remarkably easy.

:: Justin ::