Day # 298 Dorothy Hopkins

Thursday

The day has finally dome where I get to go to Dorothy Hopkins, its a group home for people with disabilities of all ages. I have to thank Steph agin for helping me get the opportunity to go. Anyways it is my firsts day so we introductions to the staff and the residents, I did not meet all of the residents there is about 40 of them. They come from when they are babies. Some some threw child protection and other are dropped off by family because the families can't take care of them. Then me and steph set up for art! I had 9 people that I was working with. The 2 older lades where awesome both in wheelchairs one with good function with the upper part of her body and the other with medium control. They had so much spunk I loved it. I had a few nonverbal, 1 deaf, and 2 awesome little girls that painted with their feet. It was the best feeling in the world to be working with them. It was relaxed and clam. I do however have some ideas of things to get when I am home to help a few of the people/residents out.

After art we cleaned up and headed up stairs for lunch it was pumpkin sup with dumplings and pig tail. I have decided that I do not care for pig tail its a bit fatty for my liking. It was grate for me and steph to sit and talk about ideas that we could do with the. I think I will be able to so some more things that people such as my grandma suggested because of the environment. I am so exited to go back and work there. I am hopping that I can start going once a month but I have to move slow with it because I just got my second assignment working with white cane approved last month. Step by step.

After lunch steph tough a workshop on assertiveness to the staff. It was so awesome she had videos and worksheets to get them involved, we had about 12 staff members. Their is another workshop next month.

After the workshop it was off to dance class, steph teaches it. We had 7 residents, both woman in wheelchairs, the young man who's deaf, and some others I don't know what they have. She played music and they followed her. They did ballet, folk, and some soca dancing. Then she has this board with 6 spots for velcro spaces, and little cards with different body parts hips, arms, legs, head and they pick 6 to create their own dance. So amazing to watch and help with the people.  we walked home and talked about everything that we had done that day and what we could do next time. It was an amazing magical day because I am inspired and ready to go back. The staff asked me to come back and so did the residents. I even got invited to a fundraiser brunch.

So happy that I went.