“To improve the living and working conditions and opportunities for persons with severe disabilities.”
EEO/AA/M/F/D/V

The Director’s Corner
By Phil L. Taylor, Executive Director
 

I have just been reminded there is very little in life that we truly have control over.  From one day to the next things change and we have to respond or react to them.  And, no matter how much planning we do something always goes wrong or differently and again, we have to change.  I guess we really have to learn how to be flexible and adaptable.   Of course, in the area of ethics, morals, and religious beliefs I would hope that we are not that flexible.  These characteristics really help determine how we live our lives and deal with what comes our way.

But, what I’m thinking about is something we can decide on every single day, in particular, when you come to work.  It can be measured in varying degrees from one side of the scale to the other.  Often I think we can see it distinctly when it is either positive or negative.  It can be seen in varying degrees of intensity and may change abruptly during the day.  When it is abrupt, especially negative, your peers around you will be able to tell pretty clearly.

What I am really talking about is your ATTITUDE when you come to work and during work.  You can make a conscious choice to make it positive or maybe an unconscious one to let it run its self out like normal-good or bad.  I believe a positive attitude can be contagious for the rest of the staff and your consumers and can really help them have a much better day.  Some negative attitudes-frowns, sneers, drowsiness, emotionlessness, negative greetings, etc.-certainly have the opposite affect on people.  It can actually contribute to you not doing as good at your job as you could.

A positive attitude can be the greatest change agent available to you in making a deliberate decision to make the best of the day-the best of your life, the best of your marriage, the best of your circumstances, etc.  You never know how far a positive attitude can carry you, especially thru the toughest of times.  There are many testimonials around how a positive change in attitude has made the life and death difference in a serious illness or accident.

Let me encourage you (and me) to really have a positive attitude at work.  Supervisors, team leaders, case managers, and direct services staff should make it their goal to do anything possible that will help themselves and everyone in their midst to develop and maintain a positive attitude.  It could be reinforced with things like contests, slogans, special notes of encouragement and modeling, for sure.  It doesn’t mean a person has to go around with a big smile on their face all the time.  People can tell when you are happy and positive by just looking at you.  They can tell when you are glad to see them or just looking thru them.  I know our consumers can tell the difference, because they are very often quite perceptive people.  Let’s make everybody’s day!  Let’s make it a better one for everybody with a positive attitude.  It can truly change your life.

As always I want to thank everyone, who works with our consumers for the good work you do.  Keep up the good work.  It helps us fulfill our mission to improve the living and working conditions/opportunities for people with severe disabilities.
 

INCENTIVE AWARD WINNERS

The incentive award winners for May and June were chosen from a drawing at the July staff meetings.  The safety and attendance winners were: DeJean Brown, Christy Wyatt, Paul Hedge, Saprina Aldridge, Carolyn Roberts, Paul Gunter, Pat Brown, Phil Taylor, Stan Arnold, Sarah Humphrey, Darren May, Vicky Goodwin, Kim Head, Alex White, Ramona Martin, Mary Mooney, Bryan Simons, Charles McKinley, and Billy Ivy.  The quarterly winners for safety and attendance were: Saprina Aldridge, Paul Hedge, DeJean Brown, Stephanie Gotay, Patty Brewer, Chris Paslay, Rita Puryear, Carrie Armstrong, Jean Williams, Phil Taylor, Mary Mooney, DeeDee Holland, Penny Pickrell, Sarah Humphrey, Darren May, John Gibson, and Bonnie Coleman.   And the grand prize attendance winner for May and June is Sarah Humphrey.  She will receive four hours off with pay.  Thank you all for your efforts!!
 WELCOME TO ABILITIES UNLIMITED
April Ashley   ACS Implementor
Harriet Beaugard  Int. Supports Worker
Veronica Bogan  Blytheville Van Driver
Betty Vickers   ACS Implementor
Joshua Fortenberry  TWC Implementor
Martha Harris   ACS Implementor
Judy Martin   ACS Implementor
Amanda McCall  ACS Implementor
Melanie McGhee  Int. Supports Worker
Harriet Ponder   ACS Implementor
Celeste Tanner   ACS Implementor
Travis Woodruff  ACS Implementor
Bobby Williams  ACS Implementor
       JULY SERVICE AWARD

Jackie Cassidy celebrated her fifteen year anniversary with Abilities Unlimited in July.  She will receive a plaque and pin at the next Board meeting.  Thank you, Jackie, for all your hard work and dedication.
 
 
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude for all the support and prayers given by so many during my husband’s illness.  The prayers, cards, money, gifts, phone calls, food, and home visits were so appreciated by the children and me.  We will forever be grateful to our “family” and friends from Abilities Unlimited.  Thank you for caring and being there when we needed you the most.
Cheryl Heskett

 
 AUGUST
       BIRTHDAYS
 
 

 
Jessica Pfitzner    3rd
Naomi Savage    5th
Phil Taylor     6th
Verlinder Williams    6th
Pat Brown     7th
Jeannie Hyde     10th
Darla Barker     11th
Ashley Dodd     11th
Duawayne Veteto    13th
Sherry Davis     16th
Spencer Ponder    20th
Darrell Marks     22nd
Rosa Pillow     22nd
Bobby Cater     23rd
Shannon Agee    25th
Susan Easley     26th
Katherine Garmen    26th
Kathy Maxwell    26th
Stacey Simmons    27th
UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN

During the month of August we are having our United Way Campaign where we encourage every single person who works for our organization to make a payroll deduction to be given to the United Way.  The United Way funding we get provides match money for some of our service contracts.  Many of these require as much as 10% to 25% money from the community in order to get the money to provide the services.  These services include: Adult Development, Work Activity Center, Rehabilitation’s Extended Services, some Waiver services, transportation, and Supervised Living.  These services allow us to employ and help a lot of people.  Your contribution plays an important part of this.  So, it is very important that we all do our part and help raise money to fund our program and  many other worthwhile programs in our community.  Cards will be distributed soon or you can stop by DeeDee’s office to get one.