Writing on the Wall: Spring 2021

<strong>Writing</strong>
on the
Wall
Spring 2021
Our Best Shot:
Vaccine clinics offer hope. Page 7
3
Serving Others
Trina finds joy and growth in
volunteering through WRAP
5 6
Our Happy Place
Nancy reveals the simple secret to
a happy home and life as a provider
Goals Met with a Smile
Hard work has a big payoff
for Missy

Director’s Corner
John Weatherspoon
As I write this it has been almost one
year since I sent the first email to
our Sponsored Residential Providers
letting them know we were canceling
our upcoming face-to-face regional
provider meetings. It has been a year
since we first implemented changes to
our leave policy for employees adding
days to encourage staff to take time
off instead of coming to work with
symptoms of COVID, well before this
was supported by the Government.
Now with new cases finally declining
and more and more of our staff
and the individuals we serve getting
vaccinated, our leadership team has
begun having conversations about
when we may be able to begin to
gather in groups like that again this
year. We know there are still many
hurdles ahead of us but with over
1600 doses being received within the
agency, we are beginning to see that
being together again may become a
reality this year.
We would not be in this place without
the volunteers, health department
employees, and staff at pharmacies
working every day to get people
vaccinated. We learned early on in
the vaccination process that some
communication had been crossed
in relation to Sponsored Residential
homes and access to the vaccine
through the national vaccination
program.
I want to thank Craig Camidge,
Michele Thomas, and others at
DBHDS for seeing a need and
stepping in to catch the sponsored
homes that would have been missed
in the vaccine roll-out. I also want
to thank the family pharmacies that
stepped up to help make this a reality
for not only Wall Residences but
other Sponsored Residential agencies.
In particular, I want to thank Elkton
Family Pharmacy, The Pharm House,
BREMO Pharmacy, and the Emmet
Street CVS in Charlottesville for
setting up large vaccination sites and
making sure our services and others
were not forgotten. Thank you as well
to staff and providers who helped run
the clinics. Because of this, we can
look at the summer with optimism
that more outings, safe gatherings,
and greater freedom of movement in
and around the community may safely
start to return. Thank you to everyone
helping make this a reality!
Making a New Choice
Randy is a friendly, social guy with
a great sense of humor who loves his
family and his dog, Daisy. Ask him
about the antics Daisy has been up
to lately and you’ll hear all about her
delivering packages for USPS and
driving tractors with hay bales! He enjoys
riding his tractor, visiting local attractions,
helping cook meals at home,
NASCAR racing, and Judge Judy.
Prior to starting Therapeutic Consultation
Randy would sometimes get
upset when things didn’t go the way
he thought they would, such as when
something wasn’t working correctly
or plans were changed. When Randy
became upset, he had a difficult time
expressing how he was feeling and
getting help in a way that was safe
and effective. Visual supports were
implemented to help Randy identify
what to do during these times. He has
made huge strides in asking for help
and is a pro at finding new activities
from his choice board that he can do
instead. He has a great understanding
of things that are triggering for him
and almost every week identifies a
new replacement behavior... although
petting Daisy is the favorite by far!
Now, if you ask Randy how things
are going, he’ll tell you “I am okay”
because he chooses to just “let it go.”
2

The Satisfaction
of Serving Others
WRAP participant Trina discovered
a new passion for volunteering at the
Rescue Mission of Roanoke thanks to
support from her WRAP DSP, Carey
Case. Trina and her WRAP group
were looking for ways to get involved
in the community, meet new people,
and try new no-cost activities so
Carey contacted the Rescue Mission
of Roanoke to see if they welcomed
volunteers who needed extra support.
Plans were made and Trina started
serving meals to people experiencing
homelessness in November.
“Volunteering at the Roanoke Rescue
Mission by serving food to the homeless
has given Trina a huge boost in
her self-confidence, evident by her
friendly, upbeat attitude towards fellow
volunteers and the people whom she
serves. Trina has learned the value
of teamwork and pitches in to help
at every opportunity without being
asked,” Carey noted. “I have offered
other community activities for Trina to
explore and each time she says, ‘I want
to go back to the Rescue Mission. I
love serving food to the homeless.’”
Stacy Boris, Volunteer Coordinator
at the Mission,
said, “Trina has
come in and
jumped right into
our food service
ministry with an
open heart. She’s
flexible and
willing to take
on whatever responsibilities
are
presented for the
day. She is truly
just a light!”
Trina especially
likes joking around with the people
and making new friends. Her familiar
greeting to regular patrons is “I got
you!” as she anticipates their preferences.
She has also developed new
skills, such as learning food safety
practices and to confidently greet new
people in a professional manner.
Trina has appreciated that joining in
the meal after serving has helped her
to practice budgeting her money for
splurging on Starbucks and sushi as
well as saving up for a trip later in
the year. Residential Provider Susan
Trina and Carey volunteer frequently at
the Rescue Mission of Roanoke.
Lewis noted that the social isolation
caused by COVID-19 is hard on an
extroverted social butterfly like Trina
but her WRAP outings have allowed
her to get out more, learn about building
community through service, and
feel more relaxed overall. WRAP is
an integral part of meeting Trina’s
social needs where she can explore
her larger community on her own
terms.
Meet the New ESOP Advisory Committee
Angie Newman
Admissions &
Program
Management
Caitlyn Davis
Wrap &
In Home
Services
Amanda Craig
Administration
Employee
Stock
Ownership
Plan
Kl’Methia
Merriman
Group Home
DSPs
India Eanes
Office
Personnel
Rebecca
Ledingham
TC, Training &
Nursing Teams
3

Self Care
As the pandemic moves into its
second year, it feels like “self
care” is the buzzword of the moment.
However trite the term may
seem, finding ways within and
outside of work to look after your
holistic wellbeing is very important.
Doing so well... or
ignoring it... can and will impact
not only you, but those around
you. Here are a few ideas to try in
various areas of self care.
Workplace/Professional
Join a peer support group
Read professional journals
Attend professional development
Physical
Develop a regular sleep schedule
Take a walk at lunchtime
Take time off work for yourself
Psychological
Keep a journal
Take up a hobby
Turn off your email and phone
Emotional
Nurture supportive friendships
Write three good things about
each day
Spiritual
Attend religious services
(even if online)
Do yoga
Spend time in nature
Relationship
Prioritize your closest loved ones
Attend special events of
friends & family
Thanks to Stephanie Moore for
these self care tips!
A Song in Her Heart
Lora’s face lights up as she sits down
at the keyboard. She plucks out a few
tentative notes to be sure everything
is working correctly, then opens up
the songbook. Soon the room is filled
with music as Lora’s fingers fly across
the keyboard and she gleefully belts
out songs of
praise.
Music is one
of her favorite
ways to
relax in her
new home.
Lora achieved a big goal in November:
she moved out on her own! DSP
Christina Cruz supports her on weekdays
with chores, cashing her weekly
checks, and grocery runs. Lora shares
that Christina is a “good worker” who
helps her with things that need to get
done around her new home. The two
also have fun together. Christina sings
at Lora’s request as Lora plays her
piano. Outside the house, trips to little
free libraries are a favorite. Lora confides
that the medical books are her
favorites as she loves to learn about
how things work.
“
I check my email. Read. Talk to my
friends. Play my piano and sing.
When on her own at home, she enjoys
checking her email and chatting with
friends on the phone...but it is music
that clearly
makes her soul
come alive. If
you are really
lucky, when
visiting her in
her new home,
she’ll show
you to where her keyboard holds a
place of significance and treat you to
a concert. And this concert is one that
is a treat for the eyes and the ears
because at the completion of each
song, she will look up as you applaud
and her beaming smile will fill your
own heart with joy.
As Lora herself says describing her
present happiness, “I’ve come a long
ways!”
4

Put My Home Where My Mouth Was
“This is My Happy Place” reads the
sign next to Nancy Kaplan’s front
door. Spend even a few minutes in
Nancy’s home and the truth of that
statement is quickly clear.
Nancy has been a provider with Wall
Residences for over six years, after
years of experience with supportive
apartment living, group homes, prevocational,
and other work with individuals
with disabilities. She’s a fierce
advocate who gave speeches from
the viewpoint of DSPs during budget
hearings and fought to have the training
centers closed down. When the
effort was successful she says she felt
strongly she needed “to put my home
where my mouth was.”
That good fight has included supporting
the men with healthy changes
and proper medication management,
equipping them for happier lives. It
has meant advocating for employment
in the community and seeking creative
solutions when a position wasn’t
easily found. Both men held jobs pre-
COVID. Brandon’s job will resume
once the church where he provides
the valuable services of sweeping and
cleaning returns to in person gatherings.
Grayson will be seeking new
employment once he is fully vaccinated.
The men use the money they
earn from their jobs for horse riding
lessons and are also active in a bible
study at church. Weekly outings for
take out are another feature of life in
this happy place. As Brandon notes,
“Nancy. Zach. Grayson. Me. We are
happy.” Laughter flows as all agree
that statement is a very accurate
one and share the household motto,
“Don’t break the provider!”
While Nancy adores her role as a
provider, she recommends those
considering it be thoughtful about if it
is the right fit for them. “You have to
share your life. Be honest and weigh
that first. But if this is right for you, I
have worked under a lot of agencies
and Wall is the best. I adore it (being
a provider). I love what I do. I found
a place where my heart can be as
open as I want.” Nancy appreciates
the relationships with Wall’s support
staff, but even more so the relationships
with all with whom she shares
a home, noting that each household
member is different and yet meld
together well. She gets joy from
watching Brandon and Grayson’s
friendship continue to deepen. In
the end though, it comes down to
something very simple. “I love them.
I just love them.”
Below: Grayson, Nancy, Brandon, and
Zach share a happy home.
Cover: Grayson gets his vaccine.
In becoming a provider, she
found not just a job, but a
calling. “I find it fascinating,”
she shares. “I like a good fight.
I like advocacy. I like watching
them grow.” “They” are
Brandon and Grayson, the two
young men Nancy has supported
since 2016 and 2014 respectively.
Grayson and Brandon
call each other “brothers from
another mother” and there is
obvious affection between
the two, Nancy, and Nancy’s
grown son Zach, a full time
backup worker who also lives
in the home.
5

Perseverance Pays Off in Goals Met
Missy is a young woman with a zest
for life! Her love for others (especially
her family) is strong and she
will often giggle while talking about
her young nephew’s antics. Missy
has continuously stood back up again
when life has knocked her down and
kept her eye on her goals along the
way. Despite having vision and hearing
impairments, Missy has worked to
adapt to her world around her.
When starting Therapeutic Consultation
Services, Missy explained she
just “wants to have a job like everyone
else my age.” At the time, Missy
was receiving supportive employment
services but not quite ready to start
on site job coaching. She tackled the
goals she needed to reach and when
the time was right started training
at Food Lion. Meanwhile, Missy
worked toward other goals with Therapeutic
Consultation to prepare for
new types of interactions a job would
bring. The effort she put in did not go
unseen! She expressed she “wanted
others to like being around me” and
“to be proud of myself” frequently
when discussing her goals in life.
The road was tough for her some
days, as old habits are hard to break.
However, if you put a challenge in
front of Missy, she will overcome it
with a smile on her face. Her hard
work at Food Lion prepared her for a
part time job offer at a local daycare
facility, working in the kitchen! Missy
is a blessing to her employer and
works hard to prepare snacks/meals
for the children she serves, as well
as clean the lunch area to ensure it is
safe for all. She interacts with adults
and children at her job and has been
praised for her dedication, smile, hard
work, perseverance, and ability to
relate to both the staff and children.
Missy recently had her annual planning
meeting and identified areas she
would like to work on next. She is
always striving to improve herself
and is the definition of an overcomer!
Missy’s mom has expressed gratitude
for the help Missy received to
improve social and communication
skills, as well as teaching her alternative
behaviors to use.
When she is not working, Missy
enjoys going to day support, shopping
with her mom, getting her nails
done, helping to babysit her nephews,
and having girl time with her sister.
Watch out world, Missy has found her
wings and taken flight!
Know Someone Who Could Benefit from Our Services?
The Wall Residences Admissions team has staff in all parts of the state to respond to your referral needs and
answer questions about the services we offer. We work quickly to find the right match for longterm success
while striving for the quickest placement in services possible. The Admissions Team is here to serve you.
www.wallresidences.com
Alex Jackson
Admissions
Director
(434) 610-7578
Emily Eagle
Central Virginia, Danville,
Charlottesville, Staunton/
Waynesboro/Lexington
(434) 907-5067
Ashea Green
Northern
Region
(202) 760-6411
Brooke Keen
Roanoke, NRV,
SWVA
(540) 250-8482
Lisa Schalasny
Eastern
Region
(804) 380-4309
6

Two Shots at Hope
Over 800 individuals, providers,
DSPs, and staff rolled up their sleeves
in early 2021 for the opportunity to
receive both doses of the Pfizer or
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. This
massive undertaking included clinics
around the state. Six clinics were
held in Madison Heights, two each
were held in Staunton and Floyd, and
clinics were held on a rolling basis
in Richmond. In addition, several
providers hosted clinics for their
area. Creativity and safety were the
hallmarks of the clinics, which took
different forms, including creating
private cubicles within bigger open
rooms at one location and using a
drive through model at another.
Diana Dyer was one provider who
hosted a series of clinics in her home.
Diana said, “I said yes to the clinic
because the individuals we live with
have been talking a lot about wanting
to get the shots and be able to go back
to work less worried about COVID.
I myself was nervous but decided it
was the right thing to do to get the
shots.” Hosting a clinic wasn’t without
frustrations. Diana noted ensuring
the right amount of doses would be
brought was one of the most difficult
parts. There was joy in it too, though.
“Once we knew we had enough shots,
the clinics were really a lot of fun. I
really liked meeting new people. It
was fun talking, serving snacks, helping
with the forms, taking temps, and
determining arms for shots. We got
pretty efficient with the process!” A
huge thank you to Diana and the other
providers who opened their homes for
clinics.
with disabilities. A November 2020
study by the West Health Institute
and Johns Hopkins found people with
intellectual and developmental disabilities
were three times more likely
to die of COVID-19.
Classification of individuals living
in sponsored residential and group
homes, providers, and DSPs as Group
1a was the first step. This opened the
conversation about ensuring those associated
with Wall Residences could
safely access vaccines as soon as
possible, with offices immediately
offered as potential vaccine clinic
sites. Numerous staff worked closely
with state authorities and multiple
pharmacies to make the clinics a
reality. Thank you to all whose hard
work resulted in so many gaining
access to this critical protection.
In total, over 1680 doses of the
vaccine were given over several
months at Wall Residences supported
clinics, in partnership with state officials
and pharmacies. A remarkable
statistic and accomplishment! With
so many people who are part of Wall
Residences now fully vaccinated, we
look to the future with hope!
“
In total, over 1680 doses
of the vaccine were given at
Wall Residences supported
clinics, in partnership
with state officials
and pharmacies.
Triona (top), Branch
(left), and Willie
(above) were among
the over 800 who
received their vaccine.
Leadership at Wall Residences had
been following with great concern the
heavier impact of COVID on people
<strong>Writing</strong> on the Wall, Spring 2021 Editor Angie Covington
Contributing Writers April Bourgois, Patience Holdren, Meredith Kapalka
7

An Artist Emerges
Sebastian has long been a fan of
art but now he has become an artist
himself! In September, he was paired
with DSP Fitz Brown for In Home
services. WRAP Coordinator Joey
Warren noted, “Fitz and Sebastian
are an amazing match and exceptionally
active. Over the past few months
they have gone hiking, kayaking, and
many other outdoor activities, but
the thing that stands out the most is
Sebastian’s artwork.”
make marks on his own while
Fitz drew with him. Sebastian
mastered this skill and is now
making art independently.
He now enjoys sitting to copy
his sister’s artwork for long
periods of time and finishes
each drawing by writing the
character’s name.
Before working with Fitz, he did not
draw, but loved to watch others make
art. Sebastian is non-verbal but would
consistently ask others to draw for
him while he watched by bringing
them paper and pencils.
Sebastian and Fitz started working
on having him hold the pencils and
Sebastian has moved from art appreciation to
the joy of drawing images himself. One of his
drawings is pictured at left.
Digital
Bonus
The first months of 2021 at Wall
Residences have included snow day
fun, exploring new skills, creative
crafts, game time, and more. Many
individuals, providers, DSPs, and
staff also did “not give up their shot!”
We hope you enjoy this digital edition
bonus image gallery.
Have you liked and followed us on
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uplifting images and stories like the
ones in this galley on social media
multiple times each week!
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