A Message From Our CEO, Doug Hoyt: |
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Happy Holidays!
Presents are one of those things that many look forward to this time of year. Would you rather give a gift or get a gift? Or maybe both? We are in the process of “Wrapping Up 2022”, our 75th year of providing services and support to people with disabilities. As I reflect on the year and what we do at Wendell Foster, my answer to that question is both.
This year we talked about helping people achieve their Yes! Moments, those milestones in their life that they may look at as gifts. They may also be gifts to their families. As I have had more opportunities to witness these achievements, it is clear that these Yes! Moments are gifts to us also. Regardless of their job at Wendell Foster, our employees have huge hearts and a caring spirit that not only defines how they deliver the services but allows them to share in the joy of reaching those milestones. I am so proud of who we are and what we do, and I am confident that Wendell and Edith would be, also.
Thank you to all of the donors and volunteers that have helped make 2022 a success. Without your support and generosity, we would not have been able to help so many achieve their Yes! Moments.
Donors, families, volunteers, board members and employees… on behalf of those we serve and support, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of Wendell Foster!
Merry Christmas!
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Game On! 🎮
Adaptive Gaming Center at Wendell Foster 🕹️
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By Gabby Bradley, Community Engagement Specialist, and Teresa Clark, Director of Occupational Therapy |
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Occupational Therapy helps improve a person’s everyday activities (such as getting dressed, cooking, and writing), but it can also help them do the things they love! Wendell Foster care recipients Haley and Tessa have experienced firsthand how Occupational Therapy has allowed them to continue a hobby they love: playing video games.
Haley and Tessa each have a love for playing video games, and both demonstrated different levels of need that required adaptive gaming. Adaptive gaming uses switches and buttons that allow anyone to play video games, regardless of ability or disability. Before using adaptive gaming, Haley and Tessa were unable to play video games on their own. They had to have someone play with them, and the experience was usually tiring. Wendell Foster’s Occupational Therapy team knew there had to be a better way for Haley and Tessa to participate in an activity they loved without feeling additional strain and fatigue.
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This all changed when Occupational Therapists Teresa Clark (left) and Crystal Tallent (right) attended the ATIA Conference earlier this year. The ATIA Conference is held annually to showcase the most up-to-date technology available for people with disabilities across all ages. This was a great opportunity for Teresa and Crystal to network and learn more about current products and research in the field of Occupational Therapy. With Haley and Tessa in mind, they set out to learn more about adaptive gaming at the conference. After meeting with several adaptive gaming vendors, they used the next several months after the conference to research the best adaptive gaming options, not only for outpatients like Haley and Tessa, but for Wendell Foster residents with an interest in gaming as well.
Teresa and Crystal ran into an obstacle when trying to find a joystick that Tessa could access. Tessa’s limited hand mobility due to spinal muscle atrophy made it difficult for her to use the joysticks on the mainstream market. However, Teresa and Crystal’s contacts through the conference led them to a light-touch joystick specially engineered for those with spinal muscle atrophy. The joystick, called Cirque Glidepoints, is compatible with the X-Box adaptive remote. Upon further research, Teresa and Crystal also discovered that the adaptive controller used for the X-Box can also be used with other gaming consoles, allowing even more care recipients to benefit from the adaptive gaming technology provided by Wendell Foster.
Using the research and adaptive gaming technology discovered at the conference, our Occupational Therapy department has set up an adaptive gaming center in the Green Therapy Building for both outpatients and residents to take advantage of. Teresa and Crystal credit Wendell Foster for supporting their efforts in creating a gaming center for those we serve. “None of this would have been possible without the support of Wendell Foster, allowing us as providers to attend the ATIA Conference and to support the purchasing of equipment,” said Teresa.
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Haley (left) and Tessa (right), demonstrate adaptive gaming technology for Wendell Foster Special Needs Expo attendees. |
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Adaptive gaming has allowed Haley and Tessa to enjoy playing video games in a new and exciting way. For the first time in Tessa’s life, she is able to game without the need for assistance from others. Haley is now able to game with more ease and less fatigue, which has led to more enjoyment and an increased skill level in her gaming. “I like how uncomplicated it is. It makes it so simple,” she said of the light-touch switch she uses for gaming. “I can finally beat my brother in a game!”
At Wendell Foster, we are blessed to have therapists who are focused on continuing education to better the lives of those we serve. Whether it be through teaching someone how to write their name, or helping them beat their highest score in a video game, our therapists improve lives every day!
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Wendell Foster's 12 Days of Christmas 🎅 |
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We have had SO much fun celebrating the Holidays around Wendell Foster... with lots of yummy treats, festive outfits, elf hunting, and gingerbread house-making! 🎄 Santa and Mrs. Claus made a brief appearance during their busy season! 🎅🤶
Thank you to all our employees for making the holidays so special. We hope all of our Difference Makers have a Happy Holiday! ❤️
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Christmas Lights at Panther Creek 🎄 |
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Wendell Foster Aktion Club members Matthew and Sam had a great time volunteering at Christmas at Panther Creek!
Wendell Foster was blessed to receive a portion of the proceeds from Christmas at Panther Creek!
Thank you to the Daviess County Fiscal Court for partnering with us this holiday season!
Your support allows us to continue our mission of empowering people with disabilities!
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Holiday Bourbon Raffle!🥃
Drumroll for our WINNERS...
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Grand Prize Winner: Donna Iannitello - Ticket #431
Second Place Winner: Linda Harrison - Ticket #576
Third Place Winner: Christopher Riccio - Ticket #1017
Thank you to all those that took a chance!
By participating in our Bourbon Raffle and all of our fundraising events, you join many others in supporting our mission to empower people with disabilities to realize their dreams and potential.
Winners were announced yesterday, December 21st, at 12:00 pm CST via Facebook Live.
If you missed the live Raffle Drawing, check out the recap HERE.
Kentucky Charitable Gaming License: ORG0001656
For questions, please contact Kara Howard, Vice President of Development and Community Engagement, at (270) 852-1458 or at [email protected].
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Thank you River City Pickle Ball! |
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Wendell Foster was blessed to be presented with a $10,000 check from the River City Pickleball Club! RCPC graciously chose Wendell Foster to receive the proceeds from their first-ever River City Open Tournament in November.
We are so grateful for RCPC's generosity, which allows us to continue our mission of empowering people with disabilities. Thank you for being Difference Makers, and congratulations on a successful tournament!
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Support us while you Holiday Shop! 🎁 |
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Doing any last-minute holiday shopping?
When you chose Wendell Foster as your Amazon Smile charity, Amazon donates 0.5% of your eligible purchases to Wendell Foster at no cost to you!
Click here to get started!
If you have finished holiday shopping but still want to be a Difference Maker, shop our Amazon Wish List to donate the items we need the most.
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Thank You to Our 75th Year Partners!
Celebrating 75 Years of Service in our Community
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For 75 years, our focus has been to provide children and adults with disabilities with the tools, education, therapies, and support to reach their dreams and potential.
As a leader in serving those with disabilities, we provide cutting-edge support to over 2,000 people in 37 counties across Western Kentucky and Southern Indiana.
Our Vision is to be the premier provider of rehabilitative, community-based, and residential services.
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Copyright © 2022 Wendell Foster, All rights reserved. |
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