September 2005

Volume 1, Issue 1

30th Anniversary

Group Homes of Forsyth, Inc. … a private non-profit corporation established in 1974 in Forsyth County is dedicated to helping adults with developmental disabilities reach their full potential and their families realize their goals.

Group Homes of Forsyth, Inc. currently operates seven group homes, a community supports program, and a community classroom

Bridging the Gap in Service Needs…

As persons with developmental disabilities grow older and/or experience a degenerative condition due to characteristics of their diagnosed disability, an advanced care crisis emerges. The individuals are placed in nursing homes that are not experienced in attending to their special needs. Our Board of Directors has made the decision to establish a seed campaign to begin the process of developing a retirement community To Provide Advance Care that will address the needs of this special population. We extend an invitation for you to become our partner in this endeavor. It is the cornerstone of our belief that people with developmental disabilities must be allowed to fulfill their destinies in their own way, at their own pace, and according to their own personalities.

On August 23, 2005, the celebration kicked off at the host home of Sarah and Harlan Daubert. Bill Steele, past Board President offered all a gracious welcome and James Pritchett, VP of Development for Community Housing Partners, was the guest speaker . Charlene Warren, Executive Director honored Zach Bacon IV with a Community Spirit Award. Mayor Allen Joines welcomed all guest and paid tribute to the service that Group Homes of Forsyth, Inc. provides. The evening was enjoyed by all and the food catered by Five Loaves was outstanding. We want to thank our 161 guest for celebrating and aiding in the collection of over $24,000 to help establish the seed campaign.

Most importantly we want to thank all sponsors: (See page 4)

Martha Logemann & Spouse, Board President, Charlene Warren, Executive Director, Johann Louchez, BB&T

Page 2

Open Vision

Volume 1, Issue 1

A B C, 1 2 3 – It’s Class Time

Marguerite Abdallah is the Group Homes of Forsyth’s Supported Living classroom instructor along with her assistant, Jane Ferguson. The classroom is significantly supported by Trinity United Methodist Church on Country Club Road in which they operate, and in cooperation with Forsyth Technical Community College’s Compensatory Education Program. Students have opportunities to work on functional academic skills, community exploration and inclusion. Anyone in the community may attend the classroom full or part time for free.

The classroom has just received not only the 2004 Operation Lamb Dick Gooley Spirit Award but also $1200 from the Knights of Columbus’ Tootsie Roll drive. The money was spent on new equipment including a new LCD projector and screen, and a dry erase board. GHF provided the printer and Dell computer. The church also provides free wireless internet access – what a great learning tool.

Marguerite has recently used this tool combination to enable the class to communicate with a visiting man from Lima, Peru. They use the internet to access a link in which you type English and it converts to Spanish. This is projected on the screen, and then the class reads in Spanish to Esteban (who is unable to read). He visits the class twice a week while visiting his brother, Carlos.

On Tuesdays, each student takes turns to plan and prepare lunch for the class based on their nutrition lessons. I was amazed to learn they average only $20 per week to feed 14 students

and instructors. They use the church’s kitchen.

Each month and every holiday a volunteer comes and teaches the class a craft/art project. They also have volunteers come weekly and play educational trivia games.

Field trips are always great fun and have included: WKZL radio station, a High Point exhibition for the Dead Sea scrolls, WS newspaper, Old Salem, Discovery Place, and last year as advocates for people with developmental disabilities to Raleigh to meet the legislators.

The GHF classroom project was developed to provide training to learn independent living skills; it began in early 1998.

Jane Ferguson & Marguerite Abdallah

(Classroom Instructors)

Wish List

**ART SUPPLIES

**DELL A-920 INK CARTRIDGES

**EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE

**JOURNAL SUBSCRIPTION

***CARD STOCK

**PAPER CUTTER

**CLOTH COMPUTER COVERS

Page 3

Open Vision

Volume 1, Issue 1

Life Adventures at Brandywine Road ****

A Visit to Brandywine House

The moment I walked into Group Homes of Forsyth’s Brandywine House, I could see that it was a home. Cora Murray, the newest employee at Brandywine, was cooking dinner: green beans and noodles with mushroom gravy sauce. Menus are preplanned by the supervisor a week in advance from a book of selected menus for resident’s specific needs or diets. Danny enjoys living here because he gets a chance to do his favorite activities. He has his own garden in his room in which he grows corn, carrots, cabbage, beans, beets, and flower. Periodically, he carries his garden outside for direct sunlight. He also told me he enjoys his daily household responsibilities: which today included moping the kitchen floor and as always keeping room clean. Danny also attends church and goes to class. He also is involved with Special Olympics -equestrian venue. He’s taking riding lessons on a large white horse on Tuesday nights at the Lazy Bee Farm. His best friend is Michael and they enjoy talking with one another.

Michael’s interview started with James Brown”. He not only loves singing but also playing basketball and watching his favorite team (Duke Blue Devils) winning in the ACC and March Madness Basketball Tournament. Michael works at the Macaroni Grill and enjoys the fringe benefit of eating their food (spaghetti is his favorite). He used to eat a lot of ice cream sandwiches and honey buns, but now he has learned he’s a diabetic and must control his eating. He tries to eat sugar free foods but still enjoys the buffet at KFC.