Tin Man Awards
Tin Man Award-Elsinore Construction and Remodeling, LLC
A Testimonial for an ABiLITY Good Deed Doer
Recently, a client had a home modification done with a complete bathroom remodel to better fit his needs. The company, Elsinore Construction and Remodeling, LLC, completed the work. Over the two weeks it took to complete this job, Elsinore employees were in the home every day working hard. The client was also present in the home. As the guys did their work, they often took the time to talk to the client, show him what they were doing, and even included him in some of the decisions. The client was made to feel a part of the job as he carried the tool bag in his chair. The workers often joked around with him, were very respectful, friendly, and even shared their lunch with him during their breaks. When the client had a birthday party, the workers attended the party and brought him t-shirts and a hat. Not to mention, the bathroom looks great and is much more adaptive to the needs of our client.
Seeing how friendly, respectful and accepting the workers of Elsinore Construction were with our client makes them worthy of the Tin Man Award.
Tin Man Award-Steve Wilmesherr
A Testimonial for an ABiLITY Good Deed Doer
ABiLITY/DSFC Inc. would like to acknowledge Steve Wilmesherr for volunteering his time, vehicle, and gas to help coach our Special Olympics athletes for the past several years. Steve always drives his personal vehicle for practices and for out of town trips. On our out of town trips, we are usually all in one big bus. Steve driving his personal vehicle has come in handy many times and he is always willing to help out wherever he his needed. Most recently, Steve picked up an athlete and a parent from the emergency room at midnight and brought them back to our hotel. Steve’s knowledge of coaching and compassion is a great asset to our Recreation and Special Olympic program. Steve cares deeply about all of the athletes and our athletes respect and cherish him.
This is why we feel that Steve is worthy of the Tin Man Award.
Tin Man Award-Debbie Scharff
A Testimonial for an ABiLITY Good Deed Doer
Going above and beyond in the care of our clients can have lasting effects. Debbie Scharff is always willing to go above and beyond for her clients. She has developed multiple sticker and magnetic charts and utilized them with her clients which has led to the client independently completing more tasks proactively, while she purchased all the components out of her own pocket. Debbie has supplied learning tools including notebooks to teach the clients letters, numbers, and how to write each. She has spent numerous hours deep cleaning various parts of the client’s home, such as the bottom side of the table, to ensure it is as clean as possible. She is a team player by organizing closets and drawers making it easier for others to find things, and covers numerous open shifts and is always flexible with coming early or staying late to help out.
Recently, when a client was attending a different medical provider, Debbie created an easy to read and comprehensive seizure chart to take to the new doctor. Debbie took it upon herself to compile the information spanning multiple years to give a more accurate and easy to read display of information. The doctor was very impressed, and it aided in getting active treatment for this client. Because of her thoroughness and hard work, Debbie is worthy of the Tin Man Award.
Tin Man Award-Sally Lavigne
A Testimonial for an ABiLITY Good Deed Doer
There are not many life events that are more traumatic than the loss of a parent. One of our clients (Tom) dealt with the illness and death of his mother two years ago. This last month Tom’s father passed away after a long illness. This process was hard for him to work through. Without special behavioral supports to teach him social, communication, and coping skills, it would have been much more difficult. Sally LaVigne is to be commended for her hard work in behavioral supports for this individual in his entire life, but especially as these traumatic events unfolded.
Sally and the behavior support staff taught Tom how to observe his environment and the other people around him to interact in helpful and expected ways. He learned to practice reactions to the emotions he would feel and how to communicate with his family. Sally took him to see his father in hospice. Each of the expected triggers, including seeing his father so ill, were thought through, worked through and practiced. Tom realized his father was so ill that he would not be able to ask some of the questions he wanted to ask him. They did not expect, however, that when they arrived his father would have already passed away. Sally was with him to work through this grief before he met with his family.
Sally accompanied Tom to his father’s visitation and funeral to help him to use the tools he had learned and help him navigate the difficult emotions. They were so successful in being a family support that Tom’s family asked to get some training to help them maintain a relationship with Tom in the future.
Sally understands what she does is not just a job, but a life line to those she serves. We want to recognize her today with the Tin Man Award for her heart in everything she does.
Tin Man Award-Teresa Barylski
A Testimonial for an ABiLITY Good Deed Doer
It is easy to take for granted the people and processes that make life simpler and make things work better for all of us at ABiLITY. With an agency of over 125 employees there are many details and deadlines that are essential to get our paychecks and our benefits delivered effectively. Teresa Barylski is one of the unsung heroes and an essential piece of this organic and always changing tapestry of human resources and business management.
Teresa has spent months working through or new employee and benefits program, Zenefits. She has integrated the system with our present systems and with the Program Directors and Executive Team that make it all fit together. She has also been the initial guinea pig to help the company that created Zenefits to make their product work effectively. Teresa has been recognized with a “Most Persistent Person” gift card by our One Digital insurance broker, Bill Maher, in October, in recognition of her hours of documentation, conversation, and follow up to make this program work better and work for us. We at ABiLITY wanted to echo his praise for Teresa’s work with our Tin Man Award today.
Teresa, thank you for all you do for us (and in spite of us) to keep ABiLITY functioning, our checks coming, and our benefits on track. You are an awesome ally and resource to all the employees here. You are worthy of the Tin Man Award.