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Karen Belickis and Charles Hunter at YAI’s Woodside Residence are experiencing positive changes in the quality of their lives thanks to technology and resourceful staff members at the home.
Through Coursera, an educational platform offering free online courses from universities, Karen has learned “to turn a bad day into a good day,” said Quantavia Hilbert, Assistant Behavioral Intervention Specialist at the home. Charles, who has a Traumatic Brain Injury, is taking a course that is helping him with his memory by watching movies.
Abby Baker-Lynch, the home’s Behavioral Intervention Specialist, is constantly looking for ways to make things happen for the people she supports. “Abby's thought process of Person-Centered Planning led her to a simple conversation of wants and needs and she discovered that Karen and Charles desired to attend a college class, similar to some of the younger staff still in college,” said Sam Chan, Woodside Supervisor. “Abby and Quantavia together create some of the most unique and individualized outcomes for the people we support here.”
Technology is changing the lives of so many people YAI supports. That’s why this #GivingTuesday you can help YAI get connected with a donation. We are raising funds to provide wi-fi access in our residences, for the people YAI supports and for day programs to purchase tablets for some who could truly benefit from them.
A Life Changer
Karen, 59, was going through a difficult time last year. She was struggling with her emotions and was feeling left out at the home, Quantavia recalled. When the staff suggested she use her iPad for something more constructive than games, Karen was open and before long was taking a 6-week positive psychology class along with Quantavia on the iPad.
“On a daily basis, she would set up a quiz through the class that helped her identify her negative emotions,” Quantavia said. “She would remind me to do my homework.”
Together they would go on outings and identify things that made them feel happy. Today Karen has a poster she made hanging In her bedroom. The poster lets Karen identify things for which she is grateful, what makes her amazing and what makes her happy.
‘Doing Something Good for Myself’
“Sometimes we don’t understand why and what’s really happening when a person is upset,” Quantavia said. “Now Karen has a strategy for coping that works best for her. She really learned it.”
Karen frequently jokes that she is now a “psychologist.” The impact has been incredible. “I’m excited to be doing something good for myself,” she said.
A Love of Learning
Charles, 39, suffered TBI in a car accident two weeks before graduating from the Bronx High School of Sciences. A gifted basketball player and student, he had been offered several sports and academic scholarships, according to Sam.
A neuropsychologist would work with Charles playing brain and memory games on his tablet to tap into his mind and encourage him to use these skills or risk losing his cognitive abilities. With staff support, Charles began using an iPad. Despite a visual impairment, he enjoys reading on the iPad, which can enlarge the type. Quantavia found music, poetry, books being ready by celebrities and the audio from Star Wars , one of Charles’ favorite movies on audible.com.
Working on His Memory
Last month, Charles began taking a course on developing his memory by watching movie scenes. He watches two 30-minutes scenes from popular movies and then is asked questions about the similarities and differences in the films. It challenges Charles to separate the information from his short-term memory, Quantavia said.
“It’s helping him build healthy patterns for memory retention,” she added.
Sense of Purpose
Other people living at the residence are curious about the Coursera programs. “Given the opportunity to look into education as a leisure activity, gives them another sense of purpose and fulfillment,” Quantavia said.
Through YAI’s investment in technology, we are helping the people we support gain self-esteem and develop more social skills. Join us this #GivingTuesday to get YAI connected.