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Our Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance team serves the Defense Supply Center Richmond and Fort Gregg-Adams— and they never have a slow day. From mowing to leaf blowing, and from planting flowers to shoveling snow, the crew of 22 full-time employees is busy year-round.
Deborah Foster loves managing this team, which includes 17 employees with disabilities. “I appreciate everything our employees do, and I am so proud of how much they achieve,” says Deb.
Our DSPs work hard to meet each participant’s goals. Daily activities focus on life skills, like reading, cooking, cleaning, shopping and more.
“We are here for the individuals and getting to know them,” says Gloria Womack, DSP. And Gloria has known some of our participants longer than anyone—they met her decades ago as a special education teacher at Maymont Elementary!
![Hear From Our Dedicated DSPs: Celebrating National DSP Recognition Week [VIDEO]](https://soar365.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SOAR365-DSP-Recognition-Week-Saunders-Staff.png)
September 8-14 is Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week! DSPs are the heart of SOAR365’s Youth Services, Adult Day Support and Respite programs because they’re responsible for the care of our program participants. Learn more about this rewarding career.
Curious kids love to explore the world around them, and the observations they make help them grow and learn. By the age of three, children are learning shapes, colors, and patterns. They also begin to notice differences in the way people around them look, talk, and move. Here are some helpful strategies for talking to children about disabilities.
Jack’s diagnosis is rare. So rare, that only ten cases of Warsaw Breakage Syndrome have been reported worldwide!
Luckily, Jack’s SOAR365 physical therapist is pretty rare, too. Sam Cipolla specializes in helping medically complex kids. “Jack is actually the one who made me realize that’s what I enjoyed,” says Sam.
This summer, Jacklyn Cheely arrived at PARK365 with a group of EAB colleagues. They were planning to tackle a one-day beautification project – a great fit for Jacklyn’s green thumb. But what she didn’t know is that she would be returning again … and again … and again! Jacklyn fell in love with the park environment that day. She’s happily volunteered as a gardening assistant for Adult Day Support and Youth Services ever since.
Smiling faces. Enthusiastic cheering. And post-game hugs! Adult Day Support participants and staff had a great time watching the VCU Volleyball team play at the Siegel Center in September. “It was especially thrilling to see the players and coaching staff interact with our participants after the game,” says Vandal Truong, Director of Adult Day Support and Youth Services.
When your work and bills are piling up. When you’re worried about the safety of those in your care. When you have more chores to finish and errands to run than there is time in the day.
That’s when the SOAR365 Respite program is there for you, just like it has been for the family of Hakeem and Raheem, brothers with intellectual disabilities, over the last two years.
Samuel communicates differently. If you ask a question, he might answer by reciting memorized scenes from movies. Instead of having a conversation, he and his mom, Cynthia, take turns singing Do Re Mi. Both Samuel and his brother, Harper, have autism. Harper doesn’t communicate verbally, but he’s good at making himself understood.
Back-to-school season has many of us spending time looking for the right lunch box and backpack, or the right sneakers for the classroom and the playground. If your child has a developmental disability, this time of year may require special attention. Here are some tips to make this transition easier.
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