USI Occupational Therapy Students
As a requirement to complete their Occupational Therapy Degree, O/T Students at the University of Southern Indiana must develop and provide an activity and exercise program for a special needs and/or a rehab facility that could potentially benefit from the services administered. Partnering with Jacob’s Village for the third year in a row, Barb Williams, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, at USI, direct these students in this program during the second semester of each school year. This project for students in the O/T Program is called a Synthesis Course; it is a hands-on, interactive, type of a reality classroom for them. Since their introductory visit with the Jacob’s Village bunch of Wanda, Donna Kay, Debbie, Mike, Michael, and Scott, on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, the three USI O/T students; Julie Smith, Ali Kilpatrick, and Amanda Embry received input from all the residents on what type of activity they would like. The entire group bounced around many ideas and even the students suggested a few of their own. The therapeutic services agreed upon for this third year of interaction was a different kind of activity. Always trying to think outside of the normal, typical box, and because of a fitness/exercise activity was their reason for being, dancing was the main topic.
Therefore, dancing, Yoga, Tai Chi, and related exercises in form would be the desired outcome for their upcoming visits. Because of conflicting schedules and prior commitments of everyone included, the USI O/T students met with the Jacob’s Village residents when it was accommodating. It came down to a couple Saturdays at 2:30pm and a few Thursdays at 4:30pm for a change. Although Thursdays still had its challenges at that time; Debbie and Michael’s return home from work always depends on METS’ schedule and some days are better than others. It all worked out; with a smile on their face and a feel-good activity with music to listen and move to, the USI O/T students provided at least an hour of fun exercise. The students entertained, exercised, and worked everybody’s range of motion in their time slot and a good time was always had by all. Usually a little Yoga, another time following an instructional video-tape demonstrating Tai Chi, which the residents were no stranger to; and having feel-good music to move to. For the girls last session, they brought a large basket of healthy fruit items and a specially recorded cassette with funny dance songs for everyone to enjoy. They wanted to make their ‘Swan Song’ into a memorable ‘Dance Party’. The music on the tape consisted of self-explanatory songs such as, ‘The Loco-motion’, ‘The Twist’, ‘Twist and Shout’, ‘The Hokey Pokey’, ‘The Chicken Dance’ and ‘The Macarena’ just to name a few. That was a fun way to end their project and the cassette was given to the residents to remember the times. All of the USI O/T students that have come out to Jacob’s Village for their class assignment have been a pleasure to work with. The residents send a Big Heart Thank You and hope they have achieved what they came for.
2008 Disability Awareness Programs
Since its conception and founding in 1987, the State of Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities has designated March as Disability Awareness Month. The Governor’s Council implements yearly educational campaigns that are directed towards the general public with a catchy slogan that is easy to relate to. The main topic’s message of Disability Awareness is delivered through advocates who take it upon themselves to bring attention to and spread the word about disabilities. Jacob’s Village, an assisted living facility for disabled adults in rural Vanderburgh County, and its residents are public relation advocates for Disability Awareness and they spread the good news to surrounding Schools, Churches, Community Social Groups & Clubs, and the tri-state area. Opening up for residential living in October 2004; Jacob’s Village has had representatives visit these many places to provide information on Disabilities and the mission of Jacob’s Village, which is: “To support adults with functional disabilities in their pursuit of developing life skills, interests and maximum independence.” Jacob’s Village is “dedicated to enriching lives of adult handicapped individuals with developmental deficiencies by providing them residential care and social services.” and offer Disability Awareness Programs. These types of outlets are where the message’s focus, of how anyone and everyone can help create a better society by taking life one step at a time, keeping a positive attitude, working with people that have disabilities, by understanding and eliminating the obstacles they face. Jacob’s Village has initiated and created good opportunities with Schools, Churches, and Clubs while traveling around presenting Disability Awareness Programs; especially, when teachers make it a part of their students learning curriculum of activities and make it into a give and take relationship. Many teachers have created field trips for their students to visit Jacob’s Village and made it into an enhanced, reality classroom. An array of activities has been included; such as, holiday themed arts & crafts, to fellowship camaraderie. Tuesday, March 18, the 5th Grade Class from Good Shepherd Catholic School decorated bulletin boards, played games, made Easter Crosses, gave each resident an Easter Basket full of eggs & candy, and performed dance routine rehearsal for their up-coming Spring Musical. Thursday, May 01, the 7th Grade Class from the Holy Spirit Catholic School brought a picnic lunch and wanted to share it with the residents; but not before working up an appetite from pulling weeds out of flower beds, picking up trash, and assorted grounds and landscaping work. Wednesday, May 07, the 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade classes from Glenwood Middle School updated bulletin boards, painted flower pots, played games, brought along scrap-booking material, snapped a few photos, and together with the residents, designed a keep-sake album for each. Friday, June 06, 5th and 6th Grade students from St. Phillip’s Catholic School, led by Deacon Joe Stofleth, worked in flower beds, pulled more weeds, planted seeds, and tended to the Jacob’s Village vegetable garden. Wednesday, October 29, Mary Kay Elpers and her 8th Grade Class from St. Joseph’s Catholic School threw a Halloween Party for the residents. The students played games, played a little music, sang songs, had painted pumpkins, had candy for all, brought along a sack lunch for a picnic, and walked the Nature Trail. These are some of the schools that take advantage of the relationship that is formed; although, Community Clubs and Civic Groups do as well by having meetings out on the Jacob’s Village grounds. So therefore; Jacob’s Village is always eager to get out and speak to any and everybody that is interested. The Program Director, Karin Macke, and resident, Scott Huck, visit class rooms in Schools and/or the entire student body in their Gymnasium and briefly define disabilities, describe Jacob’s Village, open the discussion up for questions, and handout bookmarkers that have tips for proper etiquette, appropriate language, and how to interact with Disabled Individuals to every student. In the 2008 School year, Scott had been in contact with Ron Pittman, Principle at St. Wendel, and Ms. Elpers, 8th Grade Teacher, at St. Joe’s. A date was set on Thursday, April 10, to give a program to the 16 students in Cathy Dyson’s 4th Grade Class at St. Wendel. The conversation with Mr. Pittman led to an invitation proposal for all residents to see St. Wendel’s theatrical production of ‘Alice in Wonderland’, Thursday, March 13. Scott’s contact with Ms. Elpers also led to an invitation for all the residents to see the St. Joe’s theatrical production of ‘The Wizard of Oz’, Thursday, April 24. The Disability Awareness Program for St. Joe’s was originally set for the middle of April but as the weather had its way, heavy rains came, Big Creek got even bigger, and Schools were canceled due to high-water. To make up missed days; St. Joe had their students attend a couple of Saturday mornings to assure the make-up days would not interfere with their pre-set date for their Summer vacation. So…with Jacob’s Village always ready to accommodate, the date for the program was changed and made for Saturday morning, May 03, at 10:00am. Since the Home Coordinating Staff at Jacob’s Village works 24/7 through the weekend Men’s Home Coordinator Joe would see that Scott would make the date. Normally, whoever is on for the weekend, goes grocery shopping Saturday morning before Mike has to report in for work allowing him to help with the goodies. But on this day, Joe would just have to purchase groceries in the afternoon, following Mike’s pick up from work. It all worked out; the high-water receded, teachers weren’t too demanding, and the 185 students had a special, get-out-of-class speaker to listen to in their gymnasium. Every class and/or entire student body from each School has been very well behaved, disciplined, and notably attentive.
