Deneen

Wagon rides are not typically wheelchair-friendly. So when staff member Judi Savacool caught wind of a wagon ride equipped with a wheelchair lift she jumped on it – literally and metaphorically. Among the many roles Judi plays in her Living Resources group home, she is the unofficial “travel agent” for those who reside there. In all the researching and arranging of adventures she has done for her residents, she has found that although many venues claim to be “handicapped accessible,” they typically do not have adequate supports for adults with disabilities who are dependent on wheelchairs. Public restrooms pose particular barriers [...]

The Brain Injury Acceptance Maturation Group welcomed friends and family to their annual  Capital District Brain Injury Awareness Day at at Tawasentha Park, saying, “We are brain injury survivors. We want to let people know that having a brain injury is not the worst thing that can happen to a family member or friend. We have changed a little, but we are the same people.” After today’s events we hope you realize that.” Their keynote speaker was Dr. Peter Purcell, a gastroenterologist, who has been treating patients for the past 47 years. His daughter Victoria is a TBI survivor and served [...]

“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.” ~John Pierpont “J.P.” Morgan Early on a Monday morning, a car arrived with precious cargo – a student, his parents and all the items he needed to start his first semester at Living Resources’ College Experience at The College of Saint Rose. They were met by an enthusiastic team of staff in red shirts who welcomed, directed and helped carry cherished belongings into the student’s dorm. As this family began the process of unpacking and settling in, the next car pulled in, it’s passengers received [...]

Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly. Transformation. That’s what Living Resources Brain Injury Services are all about. When a person experiences a brain injury, their life is inevitably changed. Their path to establishing a meaningful post-injury “new normal” is similar to that of a caterpillar’s metamorphosis into a butterfly. Our Brain Injury Services program was recently gifted with seven Monarch butterfly caterpillars and a book about their life cycle. A group of participants watched with keen interest as the caterpillars grew, formed their chrysalises, and emerged as butterflies. When the first butterfly emerged, she clung [...]

Brain Injury Services Fine Arts instructor Roxanne Delfavero challenged her group to create a work of art on a cigar box. Pam Lake, whose ancestry includes strong Native American roots responded by creating this magnificent Native American inspired piece. For Pam, the piece is meant to highlight Respect for Women. Dating back to the earliest of times, women played a critical role in the life of Native American society. They were more than just mothers of the tribes’ children. They were builders, warriors, farmers, and craftswomen. Their strength was essential to the survival of the tribes. But Pam said that at [...]

It was a day filled with emotion as participants of the Acquired/ Traumatic Brain Injury program gathered for a picnic in Thatcher’s Park in Altamont. They celebrated the fact that they could once again be in one another’s presence and enjoy nature on one of the few days this month that was free of rain. They delighted in gathering in person to see, hug, and catch up on each other’s stories. The day was not without its glitches. The food order was not ready when staff went to pick it up, but resilience is a hallmark of this group. Dave, a long [...]