Category: Resources

October 30, 2024

Face it. We All Need Friends.

“A friend may be waiting behind a stranger’s face.” Maya Angelou What gives your life meaning? While that may be a very existential question, the answer can have a lot of different themes. I would bet that for most of us it has a lot to do with connections. We have many different relationships in our lives. We have our...

Categories Community/Resources

October 23, 2024

The Importance of Cybersecurity for Nonprofit Organizations

Why Cybersecurity is a Priority It seems like every time I scroll through my news feed, there are multiple articles about cybersecurity. But when you consider that data breaches exposed 7 billion records in the first half of 2024 (source: IT Governance), it’s understandable that cybersecurity is such a hot topic right now. Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems,...

Categories General/Resources/Technology

September 25, 2024

Connect Over a Cup of Coffee – Expand Your Community

On a beautiful Virginia day, Deputy Shannon of the Stafford County Sheriff Department was in Wawa waiting to pay for his items. He noticed a group of people he had met before were outside gassing up their van to go on a trip to the zoo. Deputy Shannon also noticed that one of the individuals was starting to walk away...

Categories Community/Resources

September 18, 2024

Starbucks…Brewing More Inclusion and Accessibility

Who loves a good, hot cup of coffee?  I do!  It does not matter to me if I have that cup of coffee at home or at a coffee shop with a friend. Perhaps you are someone who enjoys coffee and visiting a coffee shop from time to time with those you support.  Maybe you have gone into the shop...

Categories Community/Resources

August 14, 2024

Project Lifesaver to the Rescue!

Last revision 8/24 Do you support someone who is prone to wandering from home or a program site? Have you had to call 911 when a loved one cannot be found? Project Lifesaver, a program comprised of components specifically designed to protect “at risk” individuals, may be able to help you to be proactive in supporting a loved one or...

Categories Community/General/Resources/Technology

July 31, 2024

What is the WorkLink at Penn State University all about?

Penn State University has a program called WorkLink. It is an on-campus, non-residential 2-year certificate program. WorkLink is fully integrated. It provides the opportunity for individuals with ID to participate in postsecondary experiences and education opportunities with their peers. This program was founded in 2018. Special education students receive the opportunity to participate in Penn State classes. Participants connect with...

Categories Community/Resources

July 17, 2024

Breaking News: Milestone HCQU West is on Facebook!

What is a HCQU? Do you know what HCQU stands for? What services do they offer? Back in January of this year, I had the privilege of attending the Everyday Lives conference in Hershey, PA. Some of my colleagues and I shared a vendor table with the other Health Care Quality Units (HCQUs) across the state and had an opportunity...

Categories Community/Everyday Life/General/Resources

June 26, 2024

Outdoor Safety in the Summer: Avoid Tickborne Diseases

It’s that time of year when the weather starts to warm up and we start to have outdoor activities.  As we go outside to enjoy the sun so do other living things.  We may not realize the prevalence. According to the Smithsonian Institute “insect /arachnids species have been found to be quite numerous, with calculations of from 3 to 23...

Categories General/Resources

May 8, 2024

Lisa Tovcimak:  A New American Hero

“The British are coming; the British are coming!”  As Americans, we have all been taught these famous words of Paul Revere since a young age. We Americans value our freedom.  We hold Paul Revere in high esteem and remember him as an American hero for helping to safeguard our liberties.  What if…instead he had yelled through the night “The cavities...

Categories Community/Resources

May 1, 2024

Colin the Jedi: A Star Wars Story

To say I had an affinity for all things sci-fi when I was a kid would be an understatement. It was more like a constant preoccupation. For a while, it was all about Star Trek. I could talk nonstop about the Enterprise and her crew. I drifted off to sleep each night, wondering what it would be like to have...

Categories Everyday Life/General/Resources