October 2021 Issue
Letter from the CEO
Hello Fellow MACers,

In this edition of MACer Matters, we’d like to highlight the MAC Navigation System, or the “MAC Nav.” As we have shared in the past, the MAC Nav system will be the heartbeat of The MAC. It will allow our MACers to communicate and collaborate for the benefit of “Joey” while also allowing MAC Members to interact with their assigned MAC Navigator and view their appointments, MAC Care Plan, and resources, all in one place. The MAC Nav system is being designed to improve the experience of MAC Members when receiving services and reduce barriers to access and communication. It will also exchange data with other important collaborations locally. Should you have any questions or feedback on the MAC Nav system, please reach out to us. We want to ensure we are building a system that meets your needs.

Ad Astra,
Meet the Team
Dedalus is The MAC's software partner working on building the MAC Navigation System. Consider Dedalus as an extension of The MAC team. Dedalus' mission is to change the healthcare experience status quo and improve the consumer experience by empowering our organization with timely and actionable insights at the point of care that ensure informed decisions and interventions. With their innovative framework of comprehensive and process-oriented solutions, they enable the digital transformation of healthcare and our ability to focus on the needs of our community.
What is Dedalus currently doing? They are conducting Phase 1, which is quickly approaching completion in early October. This has been an intensive discovery and design effort to build the new "MAC Nav System." This platform, once live, will enable intake, appointments, communication between MACers, referrals, resources, and care plan management, the delivery of clinical and social services from over 30 organizations, and help The MAC become a data-driven outcomes-based institution. We are delighted to be partnering with Dedalus, and they are "Proud to be a MACer!"
Damon Auer, Chief Executive & General Manager and a husband and father of two. Living in the suburbs of Chicago, Damon is the visionary with a unique directional compass on where the future of care is headed.
Jack Buxbaum, Advisory Services Lead who also dotes on his four grandchildren any chance he gets. Also based in the suburbs of Chicago, Jack brings decades of healthcare information systems and community engagement expertise and experience to bring strategic initiatives such as this to fruition.
Peter van der Grinten, Client Relationship Executive who loves to dote on his two grandchildren and is based in Greater Metro Atlanta. He brings his background as a thought leader for decades in healthcare information systems to this initiative – managing Dedalus’ relationship with The MAC and the partnerships leveraged to develop and support the MAC Navigation System.
Jimmie Poeng, Solution Architecture Lead and father of two. Jimmie is based in the Greater Philadelphia area and brings a wealth of experience across the healthcare continuum, including acute care, ACOs, MCOs, and the design and management of information systems required to automate these diverse entities.
Meet The MAC Navigation Supervisor!
The MAC is thrilled to announce that our team is growing. Let's welcome Crystal Calvillo to The MAC family. Crystal has been a part of the San Antonio non-profit community for the past 8 years. She has supported program implementation to improve the quality of life for families with children and youth with special health care needs. In her role at The MAC, she is responsible for the leadership of The MAC Navigation Department, developing and maintaining long-term collaboration with Navigators, MAC Members, and MACers.

Crystal shared, "I'm super excited to be joining The MAC at Morgan's Wonderland. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work alongside some amazing community members who share the same goal as mine, to improve the lives of individuals with special health care needs. I look forward to the new challenges I may face and the growth opportunities they will bring. Being an older sibling of a special needs individual, I know how much The MAC is needed in the community, and being part of the journey is a blessing."

Crystal is located at Morgan's Wonderland Camp and can be reached at crystal.calvilllo@morganswonderland.com.
MACer Spotlight
The Our Lady of the Lake University Worden School of Social Service (WSSS), the first school of social work in Texas, was established more than 75 years ago and has since set the standard for social work education by providing innovative curriculum in different modalities, including online, on-campus and hybrid, and by its commitment to honoring, celebrating and respecting diversity and its Hispanic heritage. Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), WSSS offers degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels.
In 2018, the Worden School of Social Services (WSSS) accepted the invitation by The MAC to be a part of The MAC Navigation Committee charged with developing the strategies for client outreach, engagement, and navigation. The WSSS is honored to be a part of this holistic effort to serve special needs individuals and families in our community. Starting in the Fall of 2022, the WSSS Social Work Baccalaureate and Master's Field Education Program will begin placing practicum students at The MAC to support The MAC's navigation efforts. The breadth of coordinated services offered will provide the students with a myriad of robust learning opportunities while affording the clients and families of The MAC consistent navigation support. The WSSS looks forward to this continued partnership to serve all members of our community.
Left to right - Jacob Sanchez, MSW - Field Education Director, Dr. Karina Gil, MSW - Director of Worden School Social Service, Tiffany Garcia, MSW - Master of Social Work Director; All proudly displaying their MAC shirts!
MAC Updates
Construction at The MAC continues with fast progress. The decking of the floors is finished, and the concrete for the floors has been poured. Interior framing of the core and shell of the building will begin in the next few days!

Stay tuned as we continue to share our construction photos with you as we make progress.
Tell Me Something Good!
The women of Impact San Antonio have once again opened their hearts and come together during another extraordinary year to award significant grants that will help deserving nonprofits transform lives in our community.

A huge congratulations to our fellow MACer, TEAMabilty on being one of the ten 2021 finalists in the focus area of Health and Wellness for Expanding Services: Moving to The MAC. Should TEAMability win, the grant will be used to fund dismantling, moving, and reinstalling the current track system to The MAC, a second track system in the therapy gym, and two training module motors.

Grant Award Night will take place on Monday, October 25, at the Witte Museum.

GOOD LUCK TEAMability!
Did You Know?
#DYK - San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind & Vision Impaired (SALBVI), a proud MACer, offers competitive, customized pricing on thousands of products and multiple product lines. One-stop shopping saves you money and time.

  • Over 65,000 office items are available with discounted, customized pricing through your online account.
  • FREE next business day delivery – locally and nationally
  • Customize your account to fit your business needs
  • Custom sourcing – One-stop-shop sourcing; Office supplies, copy paper, furniture, janitorial, safety, first aid, PPE, breakroom & more.
  • Community Give-Back - Every purchase makes a difference, your empowered and purposeful purchasing creates funds that help the community where you live and work.

Vision impaired individuals of all ages benefit from SALBVI programs every day. Many services are offered at no cost, thanks to your support.

Contact SALBVI to start your savings and service! customerservice@salighthouse.org or call (210)-531-1549
#DYK - ABLEAmerica is a tax-advantaged savings plan for individuals with disabilities. ABLEAmerica has been designed to help meet the needs of families and reach their financial goals.

For more information, contact Edward Sanchez.
October Calendar
October 14, 2021
Therapy Home Committee Meeting
1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Morgan's Wonderland Camp

October 20, 2021
MACer Meeting
1:00 p.m. - 3 p.m. at Morgan's Wonderland Event Center

October 20, 2021
Medical Home Committee Meeting
4 p.m. - 5 p.m. - Virtual/East Campus Boardroom 

October 20, 2021
Autism Committee Meeting
3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. at Morgan's Wonderland Event Center

October 25, 2021
Legal Home Committee Meeting
1 p.m. - 3 p.m. at Morgan's Wonderland Camp

October 26, 2021
Client & Caregiver Committee
1 p.m. - 3 p.m. at Morgan's Wonderland Camp

October 27, 2021
MAC Navigation Committee Meeting
1 p.m. - 3 p.m. at Morgan's Wonderland Event Center
October 8th and 22nd
Memory Matters
Meet Up
Virtual Meetings
Morgan's Wonderland Sports - Open Play
On Open Play days, you can use facilities for a $5 fee.
No membership will be required to participate.
Word of the Month
Build your MAC terminology with new words and definitions every month. MAC Navigation Committee has created all terminology through collaboration, deliberation, and consensus.

Special Need
/ˈspeSHəl nēd/

For purposes of The MAC, individuals with a “special need” are defined as individuals of all ages with long-term impairment of cognitive, sensory, motor, and/or communication functions, either congenital or acquired, that are not readily rehabilitated.

A special need may result in associated social, behavioral, or mental health complexities, requiring specialized intervention by a professional.
MAC Fact
The MAC Nav System will have a MAC Member portal available through an APP or through web. This will allow the MAC Member to check in, receive notifications, view MAC Care Plan and their upcoming appointments, and communicate with their Navigator.
MI2 Corner
Over the past 10 years, Morgan’s Wonderland has offered an inclusive, fun environment where everyone is celebrated. How fortunate we are to continue to grow and build a community like none other with the help of our amazing guests, friends, fans, and supporters! We want to recognize and celebrate this community of supporters, including YOU. Thus, it is with great excitement that we re-introduce our revamped donor-based venture – Morgan’s Advocates. It enlists elite advocates within the community who want to help us achieve our ultimate goal: improving the quality of life for individuals of all ages and all abilities through initiatives that produce Ultra-Accessible™, fully-inclusive experiences.

We invite you to be a part of something spectacular along with other incredible individuals eager to make a difference in the community. You will discover what it takes to be an Advocate, the benefits of being an Advocate, and our commitment to you. 
MACnificent Minute
Submit Your Content!
We would love for all the MACers to submit content for the monthly newsletter. Tell us about updates, events for the calendar, a Tell Me Something Good, or a one-minute video for the MACnificent Minute. Please submit all content by the 20th of the month.