|
Greetings!
Welcome to the Holiday Season! LifeSPAN networks are enjoying
cookie baking, choirs and singing, holiday movies, and time with
family and friends. Hope you are too!
|
Featured Network: Anna's Network |
|
 |
|
"No disability precludes relationships"
I heard this quote from a LifeSPAN forum I once attended. It
has been the foundation of my commitment to LifeSPAN and my
belief in helping establish a network for my daughter, Anna.
It is hard to believe that a year has passed since our first
network meeting, but it has and we celebrated its
anniversary on October 14th. The first year seemed to go
slow. We had a bit of a minor setback in losing our
facilitator early on. But LifeSPAN was right there for us
and found a wonderful replacement in Leslee Currie. And now
looking back, I begin to see the sprouts from the seed of
the network/relationship that has been planted.
Anna communicates in subtle ways: a sweet smile for yes, a
scrunch of her nose for no, lifting her head with
acknowledgement, a slight raise of her hand to say hello, a
peripheral gaze. It is not always easy to determine what she
is communicating and people sometimes have a difficult time
connecting with her. Life before the network was comfortable
for Anna, but a bit isolated. Through the meetings members
have gotten to know Anna better. She now has a community of
friends that also contribute to her life, have taken an
interest in it and have concern for her well-being. I have
noticed members having a special bond with Anna that they
didn't have before.
Sixteen wonderful people have come together for four
meetings so far, one every three months. We brainstorm ways
to enhance Anna's life, celebrate, and because of Anna's
love of music have now started singing together at the
meetings. Members have established great ways to correspond:
a wonderful newsletter that is emailed to everyone, a
beautiful profile of Anna on myspace where members can read
about Anna's interests and a calendar to see what she is up
to amongst other things, and a phone reminder to help remind
busy members about the next meeting. Relationships have even
blossomed and deepened amongst members too. With this
establishment of communication, information, and community,
members are more easily able to be a part of Anna's life.
Ideas are forming about finding musicals and activities that
Anna will enjoy, understanding Anna's life and ways members
can be a friend.
There will probably be set-backs along the way but I have
faith that Anna's network will continue to grow thru the
years because of the foundation that has been laid, the
relationships that have been nurtured. We are indeed
grateful. We should all be lucky enough to have our own
network that gathers regularly to celebrate our lives with
relationship.
written by Julie, Anna's Mom, 11/2007
Read the story and view more
pictures... |
|
Marilyn's Story |
|
|
 A
Pacific Northwest native, I grew up in Auburn, graduated
from WSU, UW PhD and am a professor emerita of Biochemistry
from the West Virginia University School of Medicine in
Morgantown. Returning to Seattle upon retirement I am
delighted to be "home".
I was curious about LifeSPAN because I wanted to learn
whether some of the LifeSPAN principles might be helpful to
other people needing living assistance. After attending some
public events, including a showing of "The Tie That Binds,"
I attended the organizational meeting for David's network. I
discovered that among David's numerous interests I share his
interest in food and music and that I could easily include
him in some of my usual activities, so I volunteered to join
David's network. I am happy to report that I have met many
interesting people, shared some great food and listened to
some excellent music.
Read Marilyn's Story
|
|
Thanks for Your Support in 2007! |
|
|
|
2007 has been a year of tremendous growth for LifeSPAN. As
we close 2007 we now have over a dozen personal networks of
support surrounding individuals whose disabilities might
have led to isolation. These networks are focused on a
common cause which is to create a good life for these
individuals with disabilities and their families as they
move forward with their own personal dreams for the New Year
and beyond. It is an honor for us to work with these
networks and to watch them grow.
Safety and security through relationships is an ideal that
is central to the LifeSPAN mission. As we mature as an
organization it becomes increasingly clear to us that we are
first and foremost a community.
The LifeSPAN community has many supporters. We are grateful
to our network facilitators who help to create our networks
and keep them connected, to the network members who have
found space in there lives to enjoy the music of different
drummers, to our facilitator coordinator, Michele, who has
brought a high level of passion and professionalism to her
role and who will be missed as she steps aside at year's
end.
We are thrilled to have received generous financial support
this year from several foundations and numerous individuals
for which we are profoundly grateful. These contributions
have supported our growth and have allowed us to establish
our first endowed network - one which is transforming the
life of the person at its center.
We end this year with a deep sense of appreciation for the
joy that community brings to all of us and we wish you all a
good life in the year and years to come. |
|
Introduction to LifeSPAN - January 13 |
|
|
 For
over three years, Mom (Kathy Sellars) and I have been
holding these monthly "Introduction to LifeSPAN" gatherings
at Jackson Place Cohousing in Seattle. We've met so many
interesting families -- many of whom have begun taking steps
to join LifeSPAN as lifetime members after attending one of
these free informational sessions.
If you've been thinking about LifeSPAN, but are not sure if
it's for you or if now's the time, we invite you to stop by
our next introductory session. We listen, we talk, we share.
We find that each time we tell the LifeSPAN story and share
the experiences of our family and others we become more
convinced of the value of this work.
Hope to see you! (And be sure to RSVP if you're coming so we
can meet you at the door.)
Best, Michele Anciaux Aoki, Kathy's daughter and Dina's
facilitator
Our next session is scheduled for Sunday January 13, 2008
from 3-4 pm at Jackson Place Cohousing 800 Hiawatha
Place S. Seattle, WA 98144, one block east of Rainier Ave,
at Dearborn.
To help us with planning, please RSVP to Kathy (206)
522-3099 or email (kathy@lifespan-wa.org) if you're planning
to come.
Print driving directions
(PDF). |
|
Join LifeSPAN and Receive "A Good Life" |
|
|
|
Your $60 Associate Membership in LifeSPAN entitles you
to a free copy of the excellent planning book, A
Good Life for You and Your Relative with a Disability
by PLAN co-founder, Al Etmanski, or a copy of the
"Ties That Bind" DVD, which includes the KCTS program
"Beyond The Ties That Bind" featuring LifeSPAN
families, facilitators, and board members.
Why Join?
When you join LifeSPAN as an Associate Member,
you validate the work we are doing to pave a path of
hope for individuals with disabilities who may outlive
their families, yet deserve to be surrounded by caring
people who will help them experience "a good life."
LifeSPAN is a pioneer -- the only organization that
serves this mission in the United States. Your support,
and especially your membership, make a difference to
LifeSPAN.
Send in your membership
form today...
|
|
|
|
7 Steps Workshops in 2008 |
| |
LifeSPAN is planning two new series of 7 Steps Workshops in
Seattle and on the Eastside this winter.
If you're interested, contact Linda Davidson. Email linda@lifespan-wa.org
or phone (206) 632-8193.
Find out more...
|
Join our mailing list!
[ ][Join] |
