HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

On Angel's Wings would like to thank our December employees for all their hard work and dedication and wish everyone a very Happy Birthday!

12-1 LaTavius Neal

12-1 April Whitten

12-8 Janet White

12-9 Martha Helton

12-10 Julie Leonard

12-12 Patsy Caruso

12-14 Laura Hall

12-18 Dawn Cernak

12-27 Geoffrey Shotton

12-28 Heather Holley

12-31 Issac Torres

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR NOVEMBER EMPLOYEES!

11-1 Stacy Richeson

11-3 Delphina Fiore

11-5 Lorraine Scholtes

11-6 Sierra Acree

11-7 Susan Vadovich

11-10 Fred Hulse

11-12 Edgar Alarcon

11-16 Joyce Johnson

11-17 Earl Pulliam

11-18 Beverly Hagenson

11-20 Kay Vaughn

11-28 Kristy Paddison

11-29 Paula Mueller

Halloween at On Angel's Wings, Inc.

What a great time everybody had on Halloween. The staff dressed up as well our individuals. There was dancing, trick or treating, games, and a whole lot more. No one went away empty handed and everyone had a ton of fun!

Happy Halloween!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

From all of us at On Angel's Wing's Inc. we want to wish the following employees a very blessed birthday!!

10-2 Maria Fisher

10-5 Anna Marie Lichty

10-8 Annie Chester

10-9 Gloria Wetz

10-13 Angie Mendoza

10-14 Amie Jackson

10-15 Katie Lettieri

10-15 Beverly Eichorn

10-18 Heidirun Matsushita

10-19 Asheley Arnold

10-20 Kimberly Kilgore

10-22 Linda Prevallet

10-22 Patricia Boyd

10-25 Sherry Gannon

10-28 Laurilee Nelson

10-29 Cody Schott

10-29 Rosemarie Casey

10-29 Julie Bergo

10-30 Son Ill Straker

10-31 Thalia Chandler

10-31 Castillanna Scott

10-31 Renee Peck


HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVERYBODY!!

VACATION PART 2

Vacation Part 2 -- Ventura Beach, California, Six Flags.

In July we took a second 3 day vacation. This time it was to a place that we had never visited before, Ventura Beach and Six Flags in California.

I really was looking forward to seeing the Pacific ocean. The drive was nice and calm, no real traffic to speak of until, we got onto the bypass that took us around Los Angeles. Oh my goodness!!!! We thought we were back in Chicago. Bumper to bumper traffic. This was a Sunday, what is traffic like during the weekday. In spite of the slow down we still got to the hotel before our rooms were ready. The wait gave us time to roam the hotel and to see where everything was at. Dani and I went upstairs to the banquet area and since nothing was going on, she and I were able to walk around and get in some quiet time.

When our room was ready we settled in and got dressed for dinner at Joe's Crab Shack. The restaurants large windows faced the ocean and a beautiful sunset. This place was hopping, a little noisy but overall a fun experience. Afterwards, we headed over to the pier to check out the shops and see the boats. As a child my parents use to take us down to Montrose Harbor on Lake Michigan. We always enjoyed checking out all the boats while we took a evening walk on the pier with the family. This evening walk on the Pier brought back fond memories. It was a beautiful and comfortable evening and the walk was a great way to unwind before heading back to our hotel room.

The next day we set out to Six Flags. We drove through wine orchards and farm land. These beautiful orchards lined each side of the road. We drove for about a half an hour before coming to a stop light and a right turn that took us into Six Flags. What a difference. As we entered the park we could see people, lots of people walking from the parking lot to the entrance. The trams were filled, also with people going into the park. The whole feeling was different than it was at Disneyland. I wasn't sure how this was going to work out.

At the entrance ticket booth people from Germany were arguing about their tickets. All bags were searched, this is protocol now a days for any park. There were alot, and I do mean alot of teens. I had forgotten how we all enjoyed the roller coasters when we were young and how every year we all looked forward to going to the park with our classroom. I must say that there where certainly lots of rollercoasters at this particular Six Flags. It seemed that everyplace you walked, a rollercoaster would be passing you overhead. Every now and then, Dani would stop and look at the people racing pass her on these rides. I had to wonder what she was thinking.

All the food in the park was HIGH $$$$$. But kids don't eat they ride the roller coasters all day. I would say all food inside the park was at least double and sometimes more than double of what you would pay outside the park. But, we had to eat, so what are you gonna do.

Dani did enjoy standing on the bridge and getting splashed with water, each time the log flume ride came through. Since it was a hot and very humid day, this was extremely refreshing. We did enjoy a few rides, the kids rides were for small kids and of course the other rides were too fast for us. Even the water rides had a drop that would be too much for the three of us.

All in all we had an enjoyable time at Six Flags in California.

Our last day in Ventura Beach turned out to be interesting. We drove down to a small town about 15 minutes away to visit some people we knew. There we went to the beach. The water was cold so we walked and waded in the water for a short time.. We stayed and visited the day, then headed back to our hotel and to the beach there. I guess this was a little to much sensory for Dani. She was getting up set with the seaweed that would wrap around her ankles everytime a wave came in. Then on the way back to the hotel the sand was too hot for her feet so she decided not to walk but to lock her knees instead. When we tried to get her to walk, she fell to her knees. My husband and I together could not lift and carry her to the boardwalk. If it weren't for the kindness of a man and his teenage son, we probably would of still be there dealing with her. We were so grateful that someone came over to inquire if we needed help. They helped us carry her to the boardwalk were she got up and walked over to the car. I guess the feeling and the heat of the sand was just too much for her. I guess we never stop learning.

The next day we headed home and once inside the house Dani giggling ran into her room to relax. Yes, she is a very good traveler but she is always happy to return home where she is the most comfortable.

That concludes our vacations for the summer of 2009. Soon we will start planning for next year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

It's September & we are wishing all our awesome employees a very blessed birthday!

9-1 Martha Hobby

9-1 Bekca Hallberg

9-11 Lois Oyler

9-12 Claudia Martinez

9-12 Gerald Moehlman

9-14 Anita Anderson

9-14 Chris Nunez

9-15 Joy Davis

9-16 Nancy Dallman

9-18 Linda Cimaglia

9-21 Marlou Lamblack

9-24 Warren Schroyer

9-27 Ellen Gary

9-28 Truc Hoang

9-28 Rebecca Dayley

9-30 Kerri Gaffield-Polich

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVERYBODY!!

We Moved!

Our main office (Ste. 105) has moved this week! We are now located in Ste. 101 (OAW's DTA ) of the same address. Please see us there next time you stop by!

AUGUST BIRTHDAYS!!

From all of us at On Angel's Wings, Inc. we want to wish the following individuals a very blessed birthday.

8-6 Beverly Johnson

8-11 Marva Whitehurst

8-12 Starla Kirkland

8-16 Deena Foster

8-17 Rob Winterberger

8-19 Janet Bruce

8-20 Eilene Pulliam

8-21 T.J. Patterson

8-21 B.J. Duncan

8-23 Jim Gibson

8-26 Lorene Eisenhauer

8-31 Kimberly Meikle

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVERYBODY!!

CONFIRMATION!

GREAT NEWS!!!!

In July, Dawn Cernak received confirmation from Barbara Brent that the budget had been approved. To her knowledge, there should be no further cuts for this fiscal year. The fiscal year runs from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010.

Disney Vacation 2009

Hello,

Its been a while since my last blog. I really do have good reasons for not keeping up, but who wants to hear about the borning stuff. It's summer and being from the Midwest summer always meant "SUMMER VACATIONS", in the past years we haven't done one long vacation but we have been taking a few short ones.


The first one for this summer was in June, we drove over to Disneyland. We met my nephew, his wife, and two little girls there and had a blast. We always stay at one of the Disneyland Hotels because its easier. We drive over, park the car, and let it rest while we walk from the hotel to the park and back. We first did this when we met my same nephew in California a couple of years ago, Jim was having medical problems and the doctors didn't want him driving. It made sense to park and leave the car and we have been doing this ever since. It's really not that much more expensive, if it's even more money at all. The conveince is worth it to us.

I do think when it comes to amusement parks, Disney is the best for our kids. They just seem to accomodate everyone with special needs so much better than other parks do. But, hey that's just my opinion.

This time we took Jake with us. Jake is a neighborhood kid that has been coming around our house since we moved here over ten years ago. Dani and Jake have become real close over the years and she enjoys having him around. He is like a son to us. Jakes mother introuduces us as Jakes second family. Whenever he comes by the house to visit, Dani runs to the door to greet him. So as you can expect Dani was happy to have him travel with us to Disneyland.



June was a cooler time to visit Disney. The days were nice and comfortable and the nights were cool enough to require light jackets or sweatshirts. This was a 3/4 days trip with 2 days park hopper tickets. I do think all the lights, music, and movement within the park is alot for Dani to handle. She does have Sensory Issues and can get overloaded. To make it easier we always get a wheel chair. When she gets tired of walking or gets to overwhelmed we can put her in the wheel chair and give her a break. Dani seems to enjoy most of the rides even though this year she actually got scared on the Pirates of the Carribean. We have taken her on this ride in past years but this time she got scared on the dips. When she screamed it surpirsed us all. In fact she screamed twice during the ride. I had to hold her and calm her down. This was certainly a first. In the past the rides never really phased her. There's is always a first time. I guess. All in all we had a wonderful vacation.

Hi, my name is Lori! I am a mother of a 31 year old who has special needs. Her name is Dani.

First, let me tell you how I came to live in Arizona and a little bit about myself. I moved to Arizona eleven years ago with my husband, Jim, and Dani from the Midwest. We are from "The Windy City" capitol of the world. If you don't know what state I'm talking about it's Chicago. If you have never been to Chicago you are in for a treat. The Windy City does live up to its name, especially in the winter, when the cold snow falls so hard you cannot see where you are going. The winds blow so strong it turns umbrellas inside out, and the hats on peoples head end up in streets, under cars, buses and in puddles. Yes, the Windy City is just that.

We moved to Arizona to be closer to a school that specialized in Sensory Integration. Arizona had more personal options to choose from than what we found in Illinois. These options proved to be extremely beneficial to Dani, who has Autism, is non -verbal and a Diabetic. Her sensory needs vary from tactile, to proprioceptive, to spacial, to visual and then some. Focusing on these needs helped her to break through many barriers that was holding her back from learning. Plus, we found that when the sensory issues were addressed the behaviors decreased.

We have been fortunate to meet some wonderful people here in Arizona and have made some very good friends. Dani is a sweet, beautiful, fun, and loving young lady who we have devoted our lives to. She can be a challenge but what child is not. She is very unique and keeps both my husband and I very busy.

One of the wonderful relationships we have come upon is the one we have formed with On Angels Wings. This organization has a wonderful staff that can't do enough to help out the families. When they say they are concerned with the well being of people with special needs, let me assure you they mean it. On Angels Wings offers many services. We have been utilizing Attendant Care , Habitation, and Respite. Some of what On Angels Wings does is attend ISP meetings, reviews with the support coordinators, they will touch base with the support coordinators if needed, they discuss and write up goals for the clients, they meet with the clients and parents every three months to make sure all is well and are always willing to help out if needed. The folks at On Angels Wings are always just a phone call away. Making life easier for the Parents/guardians is a priority to these people . They do everything possible to relieve the stress that we all have experienced from time to time. On Angels Wings is the ONLY organization that I have run across that has the old fashion values of People First. This thinking is a thing of the past and it is such a relief to know that someone still thinks of helping clients and their families because its the right thing to do.

Everyone that seeks services from On Angels Wings is not only happier but stays with On Angels Wings because life is better and easier with them. I don't ever plan on leaving because we are so very pleased with the excellent service they provide we know we won't find this at any other agency.

Thank you for visiting this blog and I do hope you enjoyed this article and hopefully you will come back to catch up at a later date.


Lori

Provider Info.

Just a reminder: On Angel's Wings is hiring non-family HCBS providers. If you are in need of an additional provider or a new provider please call 623-451-4147.