MAY IS STROKE AWARENESS MONTH!

The League for People with Disabilities is committed to offering individuals the opportunity to gain independence, to increase self-sufficiency, and to improve the quality of life.

My League Story, Adult Medical Day: Juliet D.

Juliet is someone who has often found herself to be in the right place at the right time. She was born in Jamaica and learned a great deal about cooking and family values from her grandmother. When her family moved to the United States and settled in Maryland, she was able to receive an education and go on to work with Rising Sun Travel Agency, helping others reach and explore their international destinations. Juliet had her daughter and was living well, staying active and enjoying small pastimes like sewing.

A few years back, Juliet was sitting in the waiting room at her doctor's office for a routine appointment to treat her chronic migraines when she suffered a stroke. Luckily, she was close to the care team that was able to recognize her stroke symptoms and act quickly to save her life. Juliet's road to rehabilitation was filled with plenty of physical therapy and support from her daughter, sister, and twin brother.

It was at her daughter's suggestion that Juliet check out The League's fully accessible Wellness Center to help her regain some of her strength and dexterity. Once she was in the building, she started talking to some of the staff members and participants only to discover that The League was the perfect place for her to be all along.

To aid her in her speech therapy, Juliet participated in The League's SCALE Aphasia Program and enjoyed the intimate sessions at the Orchard Treen Lane facility. Once she felt more confident in her communication skills, Juliet transferred to The League's Adult Medical Day Program so that she could participate in a wider variety of electives. She attends the program every Monday through Thursday and could not be more proud of her level of engagement and sense of autonomy.

“Encourage yourself to take that step, because you may find yourself at a place like The League."

At The League, Juliet enjoys learning new skills in the fiber arts classes with Mrs. Liz and sharing delicious lunches with her friends. Spending time in the fresh air of the patio courtyard and garden space bring her peace, helping her prioritize her physical and mental needs. For Juliet, being surrounded by friendly people who genuinely care and take an interest in her has been crucial to her recovery. Having a stroke was life-changing, but she knows that she is in the right place at the right time with the right people.

Learn About The League's Adult Medical Day Program

Browse The League's Spring Pop-Up Shop Catalog

We invite you to shop for a purpose so that you can demonstrate your support of

The League and serve as a brand ambassador in the community!

The Pop-Up Shop is open between now and June 4th!

Orders will be fulfilled after that date and distributed on a personal basis.

Get Your League Gear Here

Complete Our Volunteer Engagement Survey!

YOU LOVE THE LEAGUE!

YOU HAVE ENTHUSIASM, VAST NETWORKS, AND GREAT IDEAS!

SHARE YOUR INPUT IN OUR

ENGAGEMENT SURVEY BELOW AND

LET'S MAKE AN IMPACT TOGETHER!

The League is exploring offering new opportunities for people like you to get involved with our organization and support our mission. Please complete our survey below so that we can offer opportunities that our community is interested in.

Thank you in advance for your time, talents, and treasures!

Share Your Input

Employer of Choice: Birthday Carnival & Benefits!

On Friday, May 2nd, The League celebrated its 98th birthday with participants and employees! The Employee Culture Committee hosted a Birthday Carnival with games, prizes, pizza, lemonade, and donuts from Deddle's Mini Donuts!

To help us keep the celebratory spirit alive, you are invited to make a birthday donation in honor of our 98-year legacy of independence, self-sufficiency , and joy!

Send a Birthday Gift

On Wednesday, May 7th, several financial and physical wellness vendors gathered at LeagueFest, The League's Annual Benefits Fair to share tips and opportunities with staff members.

League employees were treated with a stylish new t-shirt, pretzels, and cinnamon buns!

Explore Career Opportunities with The League

Volunteers Made the Garden Refresh a Success!

As part of an Earth Day Garden Refresh initiative, the volunteers from SOS Technology Group, P. Flanigan & Sons, Inc., and Mutual of America Financial Group helped prepare the onsite garden space for plenty of photosynthesis! Volunteers worked with participants in the Adult Medical Day Program to build and hang bird feeders, paint rocks for the Memorial Garden, and create floral-inspired artwork. They then got to work on refurbishing and staining the raised horticulture beds for this season's planting.

The League's outdoor garden space is a therapeutic space for participants and staff alike who spend time reading on the Nature Sacred benches, practicing yoga, tending to the raised garden beds, eating lunch at the picnic tables, or chatting with friends and colleagues while enjoying the fresh air. We are so thankful to the individuals and companies who choose to make a difference with us by bringing joy (and a green thumb) to The League's community!

Our individual volunteers, corporate partnerships, and networks of connections with volunteers make The League's mission possible. If you, your school, company, or organization is interested in making a difference with The League, please contact Kait Wieler, Manager, Community Engagement, at kwieler@leagueforpeople.org.

Get Involved with Us

In Remembrance of Shirley Snyder

Pictured: The Founding Families of SCALE gathered at The League's 2021 SCALE Alumni Reception in the garden.

The League and its SCALE Aphasia Program community are deeply saddened by the loss of Shirley I. Snyder. Shirley lived a beautiful life of faith, love, family, and compassion, which prompted her dedicated advocacy and consistent volunteerism with individuals living with aphasia.

Founded in July of 2008, SCALE was named in honor of the contributions of the Snyder Family of Baltimore and remains the Baltimore Metropolitan Area’s only dedicated aphasia community treatment center.

Starting from its grand opening at Belvedere Square, Shirley volunteered at SCALE every week as a skilled one-to-one conversation partner. She was always calm, supportive, and creative in helping stroke survivors communicate their messages. She and SCALE member Barry Jurist had a special connection and would meet on a weekly basis to talk about current events and the happenings in the Jewish community. Shirley's patience and optimism aided countless individuals in their journey to improve their quality of life and re-engage with their community.

Thoughts and prayers are extended to the Snyder Family during this difficult time.

A Concluding Note from Our President & CEO

Dear Friends of The League,

April brought with it many opportunities for growth and celebration. The Garden Refresh project centered around Earth Day has the outdoor space looking lush, inviting, and green! League participants and staff members have already begun to harvest some of the plentiful herbs, like mint and basil. Thank you again to our corporate volunteer partners SOS Technology Group, Flanigan, and Mutual of America for getting your hands dirty with us and making the garden accessible for our avid horticulturalists! I love to see everyone at Cold Spring Lane enjoying the peaceful, aromatic outdoor oasis on these sunny Spring days.

I also love being able to celebrate all of the hard work of our employees, participants, and volunteers! The League has officially entered its 98th year of serving individuals with disabilities! As we approach our centennial milestone, I am humbled, grateful, and amazed by the dedication of our community. It is through the compassion of generous supporters like you that we are able to provide opportunities for independence, self-sufficiency, and joy to people of all abilities as they achieve their goals.

Finally, I want to thank everyone who helped us celebrate CLUB1111's 10-year Anniversary! From its inception in 2015, CLUB1111 has always centered on the joy and connection that every person deserves, especially individuals with disabilities. Month after month, with the support of dedicated volunteers and generous corporate sponsors, we have prioritized safety, inclusion, and fun for thousands of guests and their caregivers from all over the DMV region.

I hope that you continue to stay involved with us as we empower our participants, their loved ones, and our community to live meaningful lives! Take care, and be well!

Sincerely,