Writing on the Wall: Winter 2023

<strong>Writing</strong>
on the
Wall
Winter 2023
Game Night:
Friends gather for twice weekly fun. Page 3
4
Lighting Up Lives
Provider Steve Frazier makes a positive
impact on his community and at home
5 6
Holiday Happiness
Individuals and Providers enjoy festive
activities over the winter holidays
Sparking Joy
Regional gatherings in the fall and early
winter provide a chance to connect

President’s Corner
John Weatherspoon
2022 saw the beginnings of a return
to normalcy within our communities.
Thanks to the generous and necessary
increase in rates from the General
Assembly, we were able to pass on
those increases to staff and contracted
providers leading to more hiring.
Every Direct Support Professional,
the people who make a difference every
day, means more individuals who
have access to their communities.
Over this past year we have provided
integrated residential services to 696
individuals, Community Coaching
and Engagement to 200 people,
In-Home Services to 46, Therapeutic
Consultation to 96, and served 43
children through our ABA and Counseling
program, Wall Therapeutic
Solutions. This does not include the
countless hours our nurses have
provided to individuals connected
with our services across the state,
the informal counseling provided
by staff, or days advocating for
services by our program managers
and coordinators.
I recently had the opportunity to join
members of the Board of Directors
from the Virginia Network of Private
Providers advocating for Developmental
Disability Waiver & Behavioral
Health Services. Thank you to all
the members of the General Assembly
who support our services! I especially
want to thank the members and staff
who took time to meet from Senator
Hanger, Senator Newman, Delegate
Sickles, Delegate Clark, Delegate
Hope, and Delegate Rasoul’s offices.
The services of Wall Residences,
and other agencies like us, make a
critical difference in the lives of
many across the state. Continued
advocacy for rates due to inflation,
cost of living, and minimum wage
increases is absolutely necessary this
year. It’s important we all use our
voices whenever possible to speak up
for the importance of waiver services
and I’m grateful for this opportunity
to use mine. Local constituents make
a difference all year long by visiting
representatives when they are at their
home offices. The visits we make this
time of year can pull all of those
encounters together and provide our
law makers a reference for the day-today
work happening all year. Thank
you to all who advocate for these
important programs!
We see 2023 as a year of possibilities.
We are excited to continue to offer
quality driven services through our
exceptional staff and to add services
this year that facilitate increased
connection to the community and
opportunities to engage in and develop
relationships, decrease isolation, and
promote wellness.
We look forward to sharing more in
each of our issues this year about how
these programs are unfolding!
Individuals in Action: Kevin exercised his right to vote. Provider Rebecca Quesenberry and Debbie enjoy the park. Zac and Parent
Provider Karen take in the fall color at Peaks of Otter. James and Provider Annette Rhodes at a Habitat for Humanity fundraiser.
2

Game Night Creates Community
In the home of Provider Torie Witcher,
more is always merrier. This is especially
true every Tuesday and Thursday
at 4pm, when Jordan and Matthew
(who live with Torie’s friend, Provider
Tina Jackson) arrive to join Armando,
Chad, and Laurie, who live with Torie,
for an evening of good food, games
and activities, and most importantly,
laughter and fellowship.
One December evening, the activity
was decorating gingerbread. Chad
and Armando chose gingerbread
figures while the other three opted
for gingerbread houses. A tray of
colorful sugar toppings and plenty
of icing spurred creativity. Gorgeous
creations soon resulted, though some
lasted mere moments before being
popped into their maker’s mouth!
Later, some individuals expressed
that they were ready for some
time to themselves, while others
engaged in several rousing, highly
competitive rounds of card games.
Uno is a group favorite, with
Matthew being a self-described
“Uno connoisseur and collector.”
While card games are a frequent
feature, the activities the group
does together vary, and are often a
surprise that keeps all five active and
engaged. Scavenger hunts, hot cocoa
night, karaoke, indoor s’mores, and
more have been past activities. However,
what they do isn’t the important
thing. As Jordan succinctly shares, the
best part is “the company.”
For Torie, hosting these evenings is
about creating opportunities and community.
“It gives them a way to fellowship,
to keep communication with
each other... a chance to skill build
and socialize. It keeps them going and
keeps them happy. Everyone picks up
everyone else’s spirits. That’s important
to me.” The close friendships
among everyone present are clear. As
with many things in the group home
lifestyle, what appears simple on the
surface - a game night - really holds a
deeper truth of friendship, caring, and
community.
~Angie Covington
Cover: Front row: Laurie, Chad, Provider Torie
Witcher. Middle Row: Back-Up Worker Frances
Tanner, Provider Tina Jackson, Armando. Back
Row: Jordan, Matthew, Back-Up Worker Jameaa
Bailey. Above/Left: the group enjoys gingerbread
decorating and games together.
3

Lighting Up Lives for Over a Decade
Provider Steve Frazier has spent
over four months for each of the last
twelve years creating and installing
a light show set to music. It started
when he saw a show set to “Wizards
of Winter” and despite no background
knowledge, decided he wanted to
create his own. “The first year my
son helped me. It was two computers,
30,000 lights. I had no idea how to
do it! I was googling.” What he knew
from the start was he wanted his show
to be elegant and for every light to
have a purpose.
After his son left for college, his
daughter began helping. He reflects
back on the early years, “I had
a dream. I wanted to go to 13
computers and 100,000
lights.” They went to
Gatlinburg for training. Steve laughs,
“My daughter learned lots. I learned
nothing.” Together, they pulled off his
dream and to his shock, he was invited
to speak at a national light show
convention the next year.
Steve has always loved Christmas
so the show was a natural fit. “People
know the joy I have. I’ve been
so blessed with the thanks people
have sent.” Most meaningful of all
to Steve, who also is passionate
about missionary trips abroad and his
church’s food pantry, is the chance it
gave him to minister. “God worked
through me to connect people to
resources and help.” While it will be
hard to let the show go, he was no
longer comfortable on the
roof and doing some of
the physical installation
needed. He decided the
2022 season would be
his last and on Christmas
night, announced
he had chosen a volunteer
firefighter from
South Boston as the
show’s buyer. The new
owner plans to use it as
a fundraiser for the fire
department.
While Steve’s time lighting up lives in
his community with Christmas lights
has come to an end, he and his wife
Vickie continue brightening the lives
of the four individuals they support.
He loves their work as Providers, noting
while there have been hard times,
particularly when an individual passes
away, he finds great joy in going
places with the people they support
and watching them grow over the
years. “After 18 years, I learn from
the individuals I support every single
day. Its helped me to grow up and
mature more than anything else in my
life. I enjoy running my group home.
I’m not sure I’ll ever stop doing what
we are doing right now. Yes, it’s a
business, but I don’t treat this like
a business. This is a chance to give
experiences to the individuals and my
staff,” Steve says.
After a 20 year career with UPS, he’s
also grateful for how he never had
to miss his child’s events once he
became a Provider, while simultaneously
finding the work itself rewarding.
“Our lives really changed. We
absolutely love doing what we do.
It’s something that’s been a true, true
blessing for us.”
~Angie Covington
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.
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) 541-8563
Lisa Schalasny
Eastern
Region
(804) 380-4309

Holiday Happiness
Individuals and Providers celebrated the winter holidays with cookie
baking, themed jammies, rides on the Polar Express, parties, twinkling
lights, trips, and lots of time with the people they love most.
5

Regional
Gatherings
Spark Joy
Fall regional gatherings brought
individuals, providers, and staff
together for good food and fun.
The Winchester/Harrisonburg
region kicked things off with a
fall festival including seasonal
games. The Richmond region
hosted a Halloween party at a
local park, including a photo
booth and lots of great costume
sightings.
As the holidays approached,
the Northern Virginia region
came together for a holiday party
featuring a Price is Right
guessing game and delicious hot
chocolate bar. The Culpeper/
Fredericksburg’s holiday party
featured lunch, a coloring
contest, and door prizes.
While every region celebrated in
their own way, the common
element was the joy of being
together again for a time filled
with good conversation, fun
activities, and tasty food.
We look forward with hope for
more chances to connect in
person in 2023!
www.wallresidences.com
6

WRAP Gives Back
Participants and Direct Support Professionals with WRAP (Wall
Residences Activity Program) stay busy all year long and volunteering
is often part of how they spend their time. However, at the holidays
they put a special emphasis on giving back through time spent on
volunteering in the community. Here are just a few of the places and
ways they made a difference this holiday season.
• Salvation Army
• Meals on Wheels
• Volunteering at local Community Centers
• Plenty in Floyd and Other Local Food Banks
• Parkview Community Mission
• Clothing Connections
• Volunteering with Local Churches
• Making Christmas Cards to take to
residents of Nursing Homes
• The Roanoke Rescue Mission
• Making cards to show kids how to
track Santa on Christmas Eve with
NORAD
WRAP is truly making an impact this
holiday season and throughout the year.
Left: Alex volunteers at Parkview
Community Mission
Above: Matthew and Stacey with DSP
Nadia Ware volunteer as bell ringers for
the Salvation Army.
Digital Bonus: Our Musical Greeting