Specials Week

These pictures were taken during Specials Week. Specials Week is the week between semesters where we offer a variety of different groups each day, outside of the normal schedule. 

The new semester starts Monday January 4, 2010.  We are looking forward to another fun and fabulous semester.  Thank you to Ginny and all the programming staff for putting together a wonderful variety of therapeutic groups!

We are CLOSED New Years Day- Friday 1-1-10

Ho Ho Ho !

Happy Holidays! From Santa, Kendra, and the rest of your friends at KADEP

*We are CLOSED 12-24-09 and 12-25-09*

-Wishing you a joyous holiday weekend!

2009 DVD for sale- $5.00

2009 Year in Review DVD's are for sale!

Jessi (pictured in the purple sweater) put together a fantastic collection of pictures from 2009.  The DVD is about 25 minutes long and was shown on the day of the Holiday Party. Please contact Jessi if you would like to purchase one:  jwilliams@mscenter.org or 303-433-6887!

2009 KADEP Holiday Party!

The annual KADEP Holiday Party was yesterday and WOW was it a fun time!

We started off with Holiday themed groups: Cooking, Painting, Fitness, Holiday Trivia, and Christmas Movie.  We ate lunch, then the Party started!  Families and friends started to arrive around 1 PM.  We had plenty of treats, meats, and drinks to enjoy.  The band, Dressed in Black, rocked the house this year!  The music was fantastic and a great time was had by all!

We have many people to thank for allowing friends and family of KADEP to party with love and joy:

United Seating & Mobility
Shield Healthcare
MS Center Guild Ladies
Dressed in Black
LCM Foundation
Larry Smith
Dunn Family
Sheri Locket
Volunteers
and to all the individuals who contributed to the KADEP Giving Tree, so that each KADEP participant received a special gift this time of year

THANK YOU!!

There are SO many good pictures from this party that it was hard to choose which ones to put on the main blog page.  Please visit http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=862207394114:129882622&cm_mmc=site_email-_-new_site_share-_-core-_-View_photos_button

There are over 100 great pictures in this gallery-Enjoy!

Check out a video from the Party: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jh3h-dQ370


Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

MS Center Guild comes to KADEP for caroling!

Thank you to the Rocky Mountain MS Center Guild members, staff and volunteers for sharing their Holiday Spirit with KADEP! 

The ever so talented Karen Wenzel played piano as the rest of us belted out the Christmas carols.

Thank you so much for coming and a special thank you to all the bakers of the yummy cookies!

Click on this Youtube link to see a video of KADEP singing the "Twelve Days of Christmas" :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqE4JNxnaQs

I Think I'm Turning Japanese!

As the semester comes to an end, the "I Think I'm Turning Japanese" group celebrated with a bang.  Shin led the 16 week group as they learned about Japanese culture, language, history and fascinating real life stories from the instructor. 

Future Garden project for KADEP

Check out Ivy Street Design's blog and a story about KADEP: http://ivystreetdesign.blogspot.com/

Thank you, Wendy and Jennifer, for supporting KADEP!

Letter from Pat

Some shared words from Pat Dworkin...

An open letter to the KADEP clients and staff:

I have now found some of the words to express my sadness in departure from KADEP. In my departure there were too many emotions to sort out to make an eloquent departure speech. You all deserve that, but there was just too much shock, sorrow, frustration and pain to sort out quickly to respond to the abrupt nature of my layoff. Believe it or not, I was speechless. You all have honored me in my leadership through your courage, honesty, compassion and creative approach to addressing the issues of life and death. The past years we have shared marriages, divorces, births, and deaths. In reflecting over my own personal experiences, I have had to say goodbye to many KADEP participants and staff. I have married, experienced the wonderment of the birth of two grandchildren, and the death of another. You have been there with me as my “KADEP extended family” through it all. It was the place I came 24 hours after attending my grandson’s memorial service to be at peace, keeping going and move on. I will miss you and wish my farewell could have been more coherent and eloquent. Goodbyes, however unpleasant, are unfortunately, necessary.


My life has been enriched through the vicarious and direct experiences at KADEP. Through listening to the stories of people, it was always easier for me to put my troubles, seemingly small in comparison, into perspective. I continue to be in awe of the courage and tenacity of human spirit and the gratitude of people in simply being seen, heard and listened to,. Thank you for this. Thank you for reminding me that I too, can rise above adversity. Thank you for the laughter and the tears and the genuine manner in which you deal with people. Thank you for continuing to care and perform an exemplary service in the face of lack of monetary and sometimes philosophical support. Two very important concepts to which I adhere have been reinforced through my experiences of the last five years at KADEP. 1) Life is about the relationships that you form and 2) Its not what happens to you in life that defines you, but what you do with it.

Know that I will continue to advocate for the benefit of those less fortunate in life and do all that I can to accomplish progress in a dignified manner in the lives of people with disabilities. I leave therefore, with my head held high with a salute to the hopeful success of you and all you do.

-Pat

Important Dates

We have lots going in the next few weeks!

Here is a reminder of the events happening through the end of the year at KADEP

Monday 12-14-09-  Register for groups for new semester

Tuesday 12-15-09-  RTD Outing to Target- Groups going: Boxing, Dining Out/Cooking, Pool Hall

Wednesday 12-16-09-  Carolling with the MS Center Guild at KADEP at 1:30

Thursday 12-17-09-  KADEP Holiday Party- see flyer below

Friday 12-18-09-  Last day of regular groups

Monday 12-21-09-  Specials

Tuesdsay 12-22-09-  Specials

Wedneday 12-23-09- Specials

Thursday 12-24-09- CLOSED

Friday 12-25-09-  CLOSED

Monday 12-28-09- Specials

Tuesday 12-29-09- Specials

Wednesday 12-30-09- Specials

Thursday- 12-31-09- Specials New Year's Eve Celebration

Friday 1-1-10-  CLOSED

Monday 1-4-10- Start of new groups for Winter Semester!

Annual KADEP Holiday Party

KADEP Holiday Party is almost here!

The annual holiday party is Thursday December 17th, 2009 from 1-3 pm

All KADEP participants and families are invited to attend!

We are thrilled that once again this year, Peter Yellen's band Dressed In Black, will be performing live! 

Live Band and Refreshments from 1-3

Please join us and bring your holiday spirit!

RSVP to Maria Alvarez 303-433-6887 or alvarez@mscenter.org

Can't wait to see you all there!

Calling all Karaoke buffs

Karaoke is back by popular demand!  Laura is doing an karaoke class next semester.  If you have any Karaoke CD's you are no longer using and could donate to our class, please let Laura know.

This is a fun class and we are looking for all types of karaoke music.

Thank you- Laura Hartman 303-433-6887 or hartman@mscenter.org

Christmas Caroling 12-16-09

Please join the Rocky Mountain MS Center Guild Members and KADEP for some Christmas Caroling next Wednesday, 12-16-09!

The Caroling starts at 1:30 PM

Bring your singing voices and your holiday spirit!

KADEP says farewell to Pat

KADEP says goodbye to Administrative Director, Pat Dworkin.  Pat's last day was Dec 7th.  She served as KADEP's director for nearly 5 years.  Pat was a great leader and advocate for each of the KADEP clients and staff. She fought hard for many legislative issues related to TBI, MS, and coverage for adult day services.  Pat also led therapeutic classes and had many meaningful relationships with clients and their families. 

Pat, thank you for your time and effort throughout the years- We will miss you!

A Free Week of Skiing in Durango, CO!

Free Week of Skiing in Durango, Colorado!

The Adaptive Ski Association (ASA) is offering a free week of adapted skiing. There are no strings attached. Transportation and all other costs are taken care of.  There are a number of trips offered throughout the winter so they can schedule your trip according to your schedule. This opportunity applies to all clients but scholarships are more likely to be awarded to those with MS, blindness or an amputated limb. Nonetheless, it really is an amazing offered to all and if you are interested you can contact ASA directly at (970) 385-2163 or visit their website at www.asadurango.com.

Their application is lengthy and the deadline for applying is December 15th so contact them right away.

BOEC Winter Ski Trip was a success!

KADEP's annual adaptive ski trip was a huge success!  Eight clients, (Tony, Ryan, Dennis, Mike, Kenny, Glo, Flo, and Brenda) three interns (Sam, Nick, and Lindsay), and one KADEP staff member (Laura) had a blast at the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center last Wed-Fri. 

The BOEC staff drove to KADEP on Wed. morning and helped load all the campers' ski gear, pillows, and duffle bags.  When we arrived in Breckenridge, we headed straight to the ski office to get fitted for skis and bi-skis.  We had delicious BLT's for lunch and shortly after unpacked at the beautiful Griffith Lodge, where we stayed for three days.  We helped prepare a dinner (chicken, rice, salad, and dirt pudding for dessert).  After enjoying dinner, each of us set a ski goal and weekly goal. 

Thursday we woke up to brutal temperature of -15 degrees!  The BOEC staff declared it unsafe to ski in the morning.  We played games, had lots of laughs, ate lunch, then hit the slopes around noon.  Each participant skiied a good 3 hours straight.  Check out the pictures, as each participant met their ski goals for the day!  Thursday night we returned to the warmth of Griffith Lodge and had a wonderful post-skiing meal-Baked Potatoe Bar!  After dinner, we did crafts, played, laughed, and danced, enjoying our last night together as a group.

Friday we awoke and packed our bags.  We had loaded waffles, reviewed our goals, and shared the highlights of each of our experiences.  The BOEC staff (Katie, Dunbar, Ashley, and Katie) safely drove us back to KADEP just in time for lunch.

The trip was AMAZING, and definitely one we will never forget.  Thank you so much to the BOEC staff and ski instructors, to Laura, Nick, Sam, and Lindsay, and to all the KADEP participants who had a positive attitude and made this trip one of the best yet!  Congratulations!

Check out all the great pictures on the Left Hand Side of this blog, under Pictures

Intern Farewell and KADEP Closure 12-11-09

KADEP will sadly say goodbye to Lindsay, Nick, and Sam.  The Intern Farewell will be held on Thursday 12-10-09.  Be sure to sign their journals in the Great Room.

also...

KADEP will be CLOSED Friday 12-11-09 for a Staff CPR/First Aid Training.  Please make a note of this closure and contact your transportation companies.

RTD OUTING tomorrow!

RTD Outing to Target

Tomorrow, Wednesday 12-2-09

Groups going are: Wellness & Fitness and Fascinating People

Be here by 9:30 AM to be eligible to go

Pictures from the Thanksgiving Celebration and Talent show

Thank you to all KADEP participants, staff and volunteers for making the Thanksgiving Celebration and the Talent Show an absolute blast!  Talents ranged from poetry reading, dancing, karaoke, singing, and ping pong stunts.  Hope you had a great Thanksgiving weekend!