LIVE
2501 W. 26th St., Sioux Falls, SD 57105-2498
A Quarterly Publication for Families & Guardians of Those Supported by LifeScape • October 2015
Direct Support Professionals honored as cornerstone of LifeScape
Upcoming Events In This Issue: DSP Week Summer School Activities Anne’s Message Education Flu Vaccinations Meet our Staff: Vicki Isler
October 21, 2015 • Disability Rights Conference Sioux Falls Convention Center Learn about protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. Sponsored by the Dept. Of Justice, Avera, & LifeScape. Get more info at LifeScapeSD.org. December 10, 2015 • Temple Grandin & Friends Sioux Falls Convention Center Join Temple Grandin, Eustacia Cutler, and Beth Aune, OTR/L at this Autism Conference. Visit fhautism.com for more info.
December 20, 2015 • Holiday Jam Orpheum Theatre, Sioux Falls Tickets on sale beginning October 1. Purchase through LifeScapeSD.org or by calling (605) 444-9800. January 29, 2016 • You Look Marvelous Edith Mortensen Theatre, Augustana Presented by LifeScape Center for the Arts & Dakota Players. Auditions in December, check LifeScapeSD.org for details.
See more events and Free Parent Trainings at LifeScapeSD.org/events
Sibshops set for October 17 in Sioux Falls
The next “Sibshops” will be Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Here4YOUth, Director of Education, 1721 W. 51st Street, Sioux Falls. Lunch will be Children’s Residential, & provided. Behavior Services Sibshops is a free program designed specifically for siblings, ages 6-12, of Amy Hoekstra children who have a brother or sister with Manager of Service Coordination-Adult special needs or disabilities. Sibshops is Services a time to meet other siblings who have a brother or sister with special needs, build friendships, have fun, do recreational activities, and share feelings with others who
really know what it is like to have a sibling with a disability. Pre-registration is required to attend Sibshops. To register, call 1-800-640-4553 or 605-361-3171. For more information on Sibshops, visit www.sdparent.org (Family Life, Siblings). Mark your calendar for future Sibshops on December 5, February 27, and April 23. Sibshops is a joint project of South Dakota Parent Connection, Here4YOUth, the Center for Disabilities, and LifeScape.
Please consider making a financial gift to support the work of LifeScape. Just click “Make a Donation” at www.LifeScapeSD.org, or to donate to a specific project or discuss legacy giving, contact the LifeScape Foundation at (605) 444-9800.
“Thank you’ isn’t enough for all the years of love and support you have given our daughter—memories have been made!” “We know how rewarding and sometimes challenging your work can be. We deeply appreciate all you do.” Many messages such as these were sent by families to LifeScape to express appreciation during Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week, September 13-19. With 600 staff members in direct support roles (not counting Education Aides and Certified Nursing Assistants), DSPs are 57% of LifeScape’s staff, and the cornerstone of our workforce. All DSPs were given a LifeScape t-shirt and nametag lanyard. Quotes and photos of DSPs were posted on Facebook as part of a campaign called #ILoveMyLifeScapeJob. Three LifeScape DSPs were also featured on the state Department of Human Services website. Direct Support Professionals were also recognized statewide with a proclamation from Governor Dennis
Daugaard. “South Dakota’s community supports and services rely on the state’s workforce of DSPs,” said Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Gloria Pearson. “This statewide observation is one way to honor these dedicated and compassionate professionals, who work hard to help keep people with intellectual and developmental disabilities connected to their families, friends and communities.” LifeScape is one of 19 Community Support Providers in South Dakota for adults with developmental disabilities. They, along with the South Dakota Developmental Center in Redfield, depend on DSP’s to provide support and care with dignity to those who are most vulnerable. We thank the men and women who provide these vital services for LifeScape and elsewhere in South Dakota.
LifeScape Summer School Activities Written by Students in the Fisher-Coon Classroom
Our classroom surveyed students in several other classrooms at the end of the summer school session. We used our communication devices, voice output switches, and our verbal skills to ask students and teachers about the fun and interesting things they did during summer school at LifeScape. We asked three questions each. The first question asked, “What special topics did you learn about in summer school?” The LifeScape students we surveyed learned about animals, money, and areas of science, such as biology and energy resources. In areas of economics and consumer activities, they went shopping and studied government and U.S. history. In language arts one group of students studied classical literature.
The second question we asked was, “Where did your class go on fieldtrips this summer?” The classrooms went on a wide variety of fun places. They went to the Great Plains Zoo, Pioneer Spray Park, Omaha Zoo, Falls Park, and a family farm. Other community trips were to the Sioux Empire Fair, the Outdoor Campus, the Washington Pavilion, and the Wells-Fargo CineDome. Some classes also went fishing and shopping. The final question in our survey was, “What was your favorite activity during summer school?” The most popular activities were going to the zoo, family farm, fair, Spray Park, and the movies. We think that the students at LifeScape did a great deal of studying but had some fun too!!
A Message from Anne Dear LifeScape Families and Guardians,
We have a Strategic Plan – And an Updated Mission and Vision! I’m so excited to share that LifeScape’s Board of Directors has approved our very first strategic plan. This is a three-year plan with the first year primarily focusing on further establishing the roots of the organization. During year two, we will continue to build on our organization’s core strengths. In year three, we can start to look at branching out. The new strategic plan also comes with an updated mission and vision. I’m excited about these new snappy and memorable statements. We have new posters around the facilities and frequently reference them for staff and the people receiving supports to help them remember. I’m hoping that you are able to remember them easily too!
Mission: We empower children and adults with disabilities to lead fulfilling lives. Vision: All people are valued and respected.
The strategic plan has eight strategic initiatives in the following areas: individualized supports, staffing, staff reward and recognition, staff training, processes, facilities, planning for growth, and organizational culture. Each of these are very important to us, but we know that our top initiatives right now are those directly tied to workforce, especially for the direct support professional (DSP) positions. LifeScape employs over 600 DSPs, which is over half of our workforce. As you likely know, unemployment in South Dakota, specifically in the Sioux Falls area, remains extremely low. Our state, our city, and all types of businesses are very focused on improving the workforce – and LifeScape considers itself a partner in these efforts. Our Board of Directors, leadership team, and employees are committed to finding innovative and creative ways to attract new employees as well as retain current employees who are the pillars of LifeScape’s services. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. You can reach me at 606-444-9515 or anne.mcfarland@LifeScapeSD.org.
Anne Rieck McFarland, LifeScape CEO
Education program grows as benefits of early intervention are recognized The average age of students is getting younger at the LifeScape Specialty School, and that’s a good thing, says Assistant Principal Robert Beringer. “School districts are understanding that it’s more beneficial for students to come to our school at age three, four, and five, rather than waiting until they are adolescents who have spent years struggling in school. By then, their story has been written.” Robert says it often takes only a year or two to teach young children the learning skills they need to return to their home schools. “It takes longer to teach an older child, because you have catch-up to do, and you have to help them unlearn things that haven’t served them. Plus, the struggle everyone has had along the way can be heartbreaking.” “We keep looking for ways to innovate while adapting to the constant changes in regulations and standards,” says Robert. A new tool LifeScape teachers are using this year is a software program called PlanbookEdu, an online lesson planner that incorporates the state’s Common Core Content Standards. This
allows them to be more efficient in lesson planning so they can spend more time doing instruction. The Class of 2015 was the largest ever, and the school has a waiting list. It has 13 classrooms, with ten certified special education teachers and three who are finishing degrees to become fully certified. Besides teachers and aides, the school staff includes school psychologists, a music therapist, an adapted physical education teacher, a computer/technology teacher, speech, occupational, and physical therapists, behavior therapists/analysts, a social worker, dietitian, and nurses. The school has 101 students, 38 of whom are day students. Their ages range from three to 21. “There are many changes coming in education that indicate the LifeScape Specialty School will continue to grow,” says Robert. “The best part of that is more kids and their families will get the help they need to thrive.”
Flu season is here.... Fall has arrived – leaves are changing color, the temperature is cooler and people are sleeping with their windows open. Unfortunately, fall is also the start of the flu season. The health and wellbeing of the persons supported and our staff are central to our mission at LifeScape. We will continue to follow our mandatory influenza vaccination policy across LifeScape Children’s Services, Rehab Centers and Rehab Medical Supply in the Rapid City and Sioux Falls locations as well as adult locations that support individuals with complex medical conditions. Staff and volunteers at other LifeScape locations are strongly encouraged to receive annual influenza vaccines in order to keep the people we support as healthy as possible and keep a healthy workforce. While there are many different flu viruses, the
flu vaccine protects against the viruses that research suggests will circulate the most this season. The vaccine can never guarantee immunity. We all need to do our best, however, to ensure that the most vulnerable of those we serve are not exposed to potentially deadly viruses that could be prevented. You can help prevent the flu by doing the following: • Get vaccinated - Vaccination is especially important for health care workers and those who live with or care for people with certain medical conditions • Wash your hands often with soap and water • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze • If you get sick, limit contact with others as much as possible
MEET OUR STAFF Dr. Vicki Isler Director of Education, Children’s Residential, & Behavior Services
Vicki Isler’s first job, providing direct support for adults with disabilities in New Jersey, convinced her she was in the right field. She worked for 13 years at The Eden Family of Services in Florida, which provides lifespan supports for children and adults with autism. She became the director of their early intervention, education, behavior, employment, and residential programs. She also earned a doctorate in education and doctoral-level certification in Applied Behavior analysis--BCBA-D. In 2007, she started at LifeScape as a behavior analyst. She soon became Clinical Director, then Superintendent/Principal of the Specialty School and Director of Behavior Services. When LifeScape affiliated in April 2014, she added the duties of Director of Alternative Adult Day Services and Volunteer Services. “I learned so much about how to make a successful transition for our young people into adult services,” she says. Now she is taking that experience to a new role as Director of Children’s Residential, while remaining as Director of Education and Director of Behavior Services. “My hope is to streamline our processes, create more effective communication systems, and ultimately make an even more positive experience for our children and young adults and their families.” Vicki is state certified as a Pre-K to 12 Principal and Career Superintendent, and is an adjunct professor for SDSU, teaching psychology and behavior. She is now serving on the Department of Human Services’ Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Workgroup, which is tasked with studying certification and licensure of behavior therapists and making recommendations. Vicki has three daughters: Jennifer, a nurse educator in New Jersey with grandson John Thomas, 6 months; Michelle, a graphic designer in Connecticut; and Rebecca, a respiratory therapist in Sioux Falls with Zachary (8) and Julia (5).
Amy Hoekstra Manager of Service Coordination-Adult Services Amy Hoekstra holds one of the more challenging jobs at LifeScape these days, and is meeting it with her usual calm dedication. As Manager of Service Coordination in Adult Services, Amy is overseeing the transition to “conflict-free case management,” which the federal government has mandated be in place by June 1, 2016. (This does not affect case management for children.) Amy hires, trains, and supervises the Service Coordinators, who now provide case management for the adults supported by LifeScape. It’s an important and complex job, which they’re now performing with the knowledge that their roles will change at the end of the transition period. Some of their current duties will remain; others may be handled by families or case managers from other organizations. For Amy, it means providing support and guidance for staff members, as well as those we support and their families. Her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and 24 years at LifeScape serve her well in this role. “I’ve always believed in our mission,” says Amy. “I like knowing I can make a difference, and that’s through the work I do with the Service Coordinators. We need to remember why we’re here, and who this is about—the people we support.” Amy also supervises Laura May, Wellness Advocate, and quality-checks all funding-related paperwork that goes to the Division of Developmental Disabilities. She serves on several committees, and enjoys the rights training she does on a quarterly basis for adults that LifeScape supports. “I also really appreciate the family-friendly culture of LifeScape,” says Amy. Amy and her husband Jeff have four children, Lexi-21, Sam-17, Nick 15, and Tim, 12.