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

DIRECTOR’S CORNER
By: Phil L. Taylor

Part of this article was inspired, even though I probably shouldn’t confess it, by two different Church services I attended last Sunday.  They both seemed to have some points that made me think of our work.  I felt it significantly enough that I jotted them down, so as not to forget.  I hope you can see their benefit to us all.

During the morning service one of the points drawn from the Bible verses was that you should enjoy your work.   Our Pastor’s point was that, except for a few exceptions where a person is misaligned in a specific occupation, your perspective is what gives meaning to your work.  So, if you are to enjoy your work, then in most cases it is your perspective that really enables you to do that.  If that is true, then it stands to reason that if you don’t enjoy your work you need to change your perspective.  I do see a few of our staff who really appear to be unhappy at work on a regular basis.  It may or may not be the job.  But, I know if we change our perspective to a positive one, then we will enjoy our work.  Before, I have tried to convey that all of us decide each and every day what our attitude will be at work.  We always have the choice of changing our attitude.  I truly believe people will feel better about a lot of things, if they will change their perspective of how they view their jobs and/or change their attitude about work to a positive one.

During the evening service I jotted down a note about the verse that talked about those who sow sparingly will reap sparingly and those who sow bountifully will reap bountifully.  Here I know the verse was talking about other things, but again I was drawn to think about what we actually do at work.  I often see people who really put a lot into their work and get a lot of fulfillment from that.  Others I see appear to put in the minimum and hardly ever stretch themselves.  They do just enough to get by.  I can’t help but think by linking this verse with the above points that people who have or develop a good perspective about their work will also put more into their work.  It follows in my mind that those types of people will also receive benefits of self-fulfillment, heightened self-esteem and a happier disposition.  No matter what the position, these people are the ones I really call successful.  Our work is so important in that it benefits people with disabilities and is helping meet their needs.  Everybody plays an essential part in that effort.  Our services to them hinges on each of us providing quality work.

As a brief informational item I wanted to give an update on a new activity. We are presently conducting a multidimensional business study to determine the feasibility and general direction of developing an Auto Recycling Program.  I’m using the capacity building management training model (a program I developed last year and began training 22 staff in early this year) to study various aspects of the business - legal, marketing, PR, safety, vocational, management, and the integrated business aspects.  Eight of us have been working on it and moving it forward to the point we are set to begin a PR campaign this week.  How sophisticated we get with this program will depend on our general response to this PR campaign.  Over the years we have received many vehicles, boats, RVs and a semi which we have either used or sold.  This program is different in that we will add training for our consumers in the area of detailing the vehicle for sale.  This makes this a very appropriate mission-driven project which can be expanded outside this area as it begins to grow.

Thanks for all of your efforts on behalf of our consumers.  Keep up the good work.  I hope you each have a happy, holiday season.
 
 
 

December Birthdays

Christenia Jackson 1st
Maurice Oliver 1st
Kim Head  2nd
Matthew Richardson 4th
Laura Slayton  7th
Brian Crayton  8th
Sean Greene  8th
James Pigram  13th
Andrew Cline  17th
Cheryl Heskett 17th
Michelle Pitts  17th
Judith Taylor  17th
Mary Williams 18th
Joan Gilmore  25th
Jacklon Steele 27th
Candice Kane  31st
 
 

Welcome to Abilities Unlimited

Savannah Waldman  ACS Implementor
Keith Cook   Flex
Nicholas Allen  ACS Implementor
Rebecca Steele   ACS Implementor
 
 

November Service Awards
Several employees celebrated their one year anniversary with us in November. They are Lilly Sledge, Diane Hicks and Martha Orr. They each received a pin and certificate for their hard work and dedication. Thank you so much!

 A.U. Blytheville Attend Rotarian Luncheon
By Christy Wyatt
On November 19th, the entire workshop, clients, employees, and the Special Olympics Coach were invited to attend a luncheon at the Blytheville
Country Club. The Luncheon was paid for by the local Rotarians.

Ms. Saprina Aldridge, store manager, offered wardrobe make over for those who did not have clothing appropriate for the affair. Of course, the
clothing was returned to stock when the luncheon was finished.

The buffet included several holiday favorites and a wide selection of pies. The main dishes were wonderful, but the dessert was even better. We
were all pampered by the country club staff who actually carried plates for people whose hands didn't work very well and carried water and drinks to the tables. One of the country club staff even asked if she could feed a young man who does not use a spoon very well. The Rotarians and country
club staff were complimentary of the staff and the clients of Abilities Unlimited (even though they still call us the special workshop). A group portrait was taken on the front steps just after lunch and will be hung on the wall at Abilities when it is developed.

Cell Phone Fundraiser to Begin Soon
Abilities Unlimited has initiated a fundraiser through the CellFund Program. We are asking all employees to bring their used cell phones to the retail store at 311 Union St. These phones can be refurbished, reprogrammed and recycled to help benefit secondary markets and international markets that are becoming a part of the wireless community. Abilities Unlimited will receive $7.00 for every qualifying phone and you the donor will receive a $50 or more tax deduction. So, if you have any old phones which you are not using, we would appreciate your donation.

  Consumer Services
 
 

10 ways to Stop Toxic Stress

Chronic tension takes a huge toll on us physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  We exist in a world that is 24/7, and as such we are flirting with total burnout.  It takes more than treating ourselves well in our downtime.  Despite our growing awareness of the effects of stress, we’re going about reducing it all wrong.  Rather than trying the “a little here, a little there” approach to repairing the damage in short spurts over weekends and on vacations, we would do much better to minimize tension over the course of a day, every single day.  We need to create daily “pockets of peace”.  Exercise, eating right, self-massage and meditation are just a couple of examples of what we can do every day to keep stress levels from becoming toxic.

Perhaps not surprisingly, for most people work is the major cause of toxic stress.  Numerous studies show that stress levels have risen progressively over the last four decades and that job stress is far and away the leading source of stress for American adults.  Technostress is another major contributing factor.  In the era of cellphones, pagers, e-mail, faxing, call forwarding and voice mail the boundary between our work and our personal lives is increasingly blurred.  For many people, there are no boundaries anymore.  It is now possible to reach anyone at any time anywhere in the universe.

We can’t eliminate all stress, of course, nor would we want to.  Stress spurs us to meet demanding deadlines, or handle a “crisis” with our work situation.  But you need to remember that you’ve got toxic stress when three specific emotions are involved: The first is defeat; the second, hopelessness; and the third; helplessness.  It’s not news to researchers that chronic stress isn’t just bad for your mental well-being - they’ve long known that it’s physically harmful too.  The effects of elevated levels of cortisol - the hormone you produce under stress - are virtually endless.

Following are 10 simple strategies from experts to help you stop stress now.

1) Flee your computer.  Just sitting in front of a desktop PC evokes a moderate fight-or-flight response in most people.  When using a computer you automatically tighten your shoulders, breathe 30 percent more quickly and shallowly and blink significantly less.  To give your muscles frequent breaks while at the computer, drop your hands to your lap or by your sides every 30-60 seconds and get up and move around every 20 minutes.  Blink every time you end a sentence, and make sure you don’t have to reach for your mouse.  Remember too to stop occasionally and breathe...deep breathing is an effective stress reliever in virtually any situation.
2) Break your e-mail addiction.  E-mail is the biggest time waster at work.  Limiting how much time you spend on e-mail will help you complete your more critical tasks.
3) Deflect “stress carriers.”  Some people are “stress carriers”...they themselves have no problem with stress, they just leave in their wake a path of frustration and anger in their co-workers.  Sometimes an effective solution for deflecting a workplace tormenter is a surprising one: Pity him.  By feeling sorry for the person, you don’t react with anger and resentment...hold those judgements, they produce negative results anyway.  They may need to be talked to about some issues but remember this...you can not solve every problem.
4) Take a walk at 4:34 p.m.  That is the average meltdown moment for people on a diet who relapse into overeating, according to a study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology of 57 dieters.   The point is this, we need a late afternoon break, a brisk walk can offset the low energy and increased tension the majority of us feel at this time of the day.  It can help you avoid overeating, which usually leads to more stress and guilt.
 

5) Play offense against work stress.  Every job has some stress.  How can you survive a workplace that’s beyond stressful?  First, identify your support system, both at work and at home; it should include your closest confidantes - the people who share and reinforce your values and
motivate and inspire you.  Second, keep contact with disgruntled types and cynical naysayers to an absolute minimum.
6) Exercise and eat right.  The world will continue progressing, so taking care of yourself is essential.  Establishing the discipline and determination to incorporate healthy habits will provide immeasurable rewards spiritually, emotionally and physically.   Just do it.  It is that simple.  And keep doing it, even when you backslide during the holidays.....all that scrumptious temptation can not always be avoided....if you indulge, pick up those habits again and work hard to get back on track.
7) Keep problems from supersizing.  It is an especially female phenomenon: Every night women everywhere lie awake in their beds, ruminating, whether over a child/relative/spouse/boss /friend rudeness, an abrasive comment from a co-worker made that day, or how in the world will they ever meet the crushing demands at work.  The stress caused by worry can easily spiral out of control - which is why it is essential to reduce problems to their actual size.  “Ask yourself, ‘Is this worth dying over?”.  It may sound ridiculous, but posing that question aloud, as often as necessary, will help you put problems in their proper perspective.
8) Don’t make stress worse.  Many times we create our own stress.  There is a turning point when stress goes from increasing our productivity to taking a progressively downhill toll.  That point differs for everyone; you have to determine what yours is so that you can learn how stress can make you more productive, rather than self-destructive.  If this means saying no more to outside obligations, delegating at home if possible, creating a system that organizes your work and home life...then do it.  Nobody else will do it for you....they may help you develop it but it will be up to you to recognize your needs.
9) Do the self-massage workout.  Massage decreases levels of the stress hormone cortisol.  Yoga is a very good example of self-massage.  Using Yoga allows you to stimulate pressure receptors on your own body.  If Yoga is not your thing, or time is limited, invest in massage implements ..... using them to rub your muscles several times a day, especially in hands and feet, where we hold a lot of tension.
10) Find what de-stresses you.  There is no stress-reduction strategy that works for everyone.  Jogging or meditation is great for some people, but boring and stressful when arbitrarily imposed on others.  You have to find out what works for you and stick with it - not do it because someone tells you to, but because you want to.
 
 

From the Coordinators, Case Managers and Office Staff of Abilities Unlimited.