By Margaret Hinman, from the Winter 2025 Connections Newsletter

However, my home is more than a practical place to live. It feeds my soul. It speaks to my senses. Over the years I have enjoyed the challenge of furnishing and decorating it with items that I love, cleaning out unnecessary clutter, including all of those obsolete small appliances and that still “good” furniture that no longer has use and decorations that I no longer REALLY like. And this continues to be a work in progress!

My spaces are opened up, providing greater accessibility, but more importantly the resulting spaciousness is calming and allows me to focus on my special things. My decor consists mostly of pictures, artifacts, and plants that I enjoy just looking at and caring for, and it includes pictures of my family and the people I love, and special gifts given to me over the years.

I have music at my fingertips, and scented wall diffusers. I can go into any room in my house and sit and just be, take in the ambiance, relax, maybe read a good book, be content and relish the peace and serenity it provides! I love my home!

My goal is to continue to age in place in my home for the rest of my life. However, if at some time I need to downsize or move to assisted living, a high priority will be to furnish and decorate my new home with items that make me happy, give me joy and serenity, even if it is limited to only a few pictures and maybe fresh flowers that need to be replaced every week! Until then, I cherish living in my practically perfect home!

Just some food for thought!

In the world of social media, there are countless voices that inspire, educate, and empower us every day. At Easterseals Colorado, we love celebrating the diverse perspectives and talents of people with disabilities who are using their platforms to share their stories, advocate for inclusion, and showcase their incredible creativity. Join us as we spotlight some of our favorite social media accounts run by those in the disability community who are making a meaningful impact online and beyond!

Cory Lee @curbfreecorylee
Cory’s content fills us with wanderlust and focuses on accessible travel. He shares travel info from the most wheelchair friendly cities in the world to photos at exciting tourist destinations. Cory is a 2 time Lowell Thomas Award winner for Best Travel Blog and has won 3 Webby Awards for Best Personal Blog/Website. Cory should definitely be next on your list of people to follow!

Kristi Cook @accessible.adventures
Accessible.adventures is a page dedicated to sharing resources, adaptive gear, guidance, and accessible travel destinations. Kristi is a mom and caregiver for her son, Robbie. Family friendly destinations in the U.S. are Kristi’s bread and butter! Her family’s main method of travel is via RV and they love visiting National Parks and other outdoor adventures.

Paralympics @paralympics
If you are a sports fan, there is no better account than the International Paralympics to follow! This account posts highlights, throwbacks, interviews, and so much more! World renowned athletes make appearances on the Paralympic account and exciting moments from competition keeps followers coming back for more.

Shane Burcaw @shaneburcaw
Shane’s account is a wonderful mix of humor, daily life, and his marriage to his wife, Hannah. Shane and Hannah also post videos to their YouTube channel, Squirmy & Grubs where they share how they navigate life together. Shane has also authored four books, one of which was co-authored with Hannah.

Molly Burke @mollyburkeofficial
Molly is a speaker, content creator, model, author, and advocate. Her page highlights daily life as a blind person, her love for beauty and fashion, her guide dog, Elton, and so much more. As an advocate for the blind and disability communities, Molly posts about her own personal experiences and commentary on disability in society on a larger scale. She is an awesome person to follow!

Do you have any favorite social media creators you love following? Share them with us in the comments!

14th Annual Season of Lights Gala
Our 14th Annual Season of Lights Gala was a fantastic evening celebrating community and making a meaningful impact for those with disabilities. With a vibrant 1950s rock ‘n’ roll theme, attendees enjoyed lively music, delicious food, and spirited dancing, bringing the energy and nostalgia of the era to life. Highlights of the night included the presentation of the Jake Jabs Community Impact Award to Holland & Hart, LLP and Iron Pony Express, in recognition of their invaluable contributions to Easterseals Colorado’s mission.

New pavement at the Vestal Center
We are so grateful to have received grant funding from Alameda Connects. This funding allowed us to put up new fencing around the Vestal Center which is home to our Neurological Rehab and Explorers Adult Day programs. The grant helped us improve property safety and vehicle security. Due to poor lighting and an open parking lot, we encountered vandalism multiple times.

Begin Construction on Rocky Mountain Village New Staff Lodge
Rocky Mountain Village is in the process of an exciting project to build a new staff lodge! The first step was to demolish the old A-frame building and clear the land in preparation for the new structure. The Staff Lodge will ease challenges Rocky Mountain Village faces by:
– Helping attract qualified staff as there is limited housing in the area.
– Providing the additional housing needed to support 10 to 12 employees year-round.
– Allowing for housing that can accommodate a family, if needed.
– Demonstrating that ESC values staff and understands they are one of our biggest assets.

Great Rocky Mountain Village Alumni Search
For more than 70 years, Rocky Mountain Village (RMV) has left an indelible mark on thousands of campers, volunteers, and staff by creating a space for people with disabilities and giving them a sense of belonging. At RMV, we miss our alumni. On January 31st, 2024, we launched Rocky Mountain Village’s: THE GREAT ALUMNI SEARCH. We left no stone unturned and no lead unfollowed. The goal of this campaign was to find 100 alumni in 100 days. And we did it! Thank you to all RMV Alumni who have joined us. If you or someone you know is an alumn, you can learn more HERE.

Adaptive Toy Workshop with Comcast
Easterseals Colorado and Comcast Team UP got together for the Adaptive Toy Workshop! Team UP engineers helped to create adaptive toys for children living with disabilities. Installing larger buttons for toy activation was a major part of workshop, ensuring that children with different motor skills have the ability to play and enjoy their toys! Thank you Comcast TeamUP!

CPPO Rocky Mountain Getaway
Colorado Post Polio Organization (CPPO) members had an incredible time at the Rocky Mountain Getaway! We gathered at Rocky Mountain Village camp to socialize, learn, and enjoy the beautiful mountains together. From insightful discussions to moments of relaxation, it was a weekend full of connection and community.

We are looking forward to so many more memorable moments in 2025!

By Reiley K.

As the holiday season approaches, we often feel a mix of excitement, nostalgia, and stress. Whether worries of winter travel, visiting family, or hosting duties pop up, we all have something on our minds. For caregivers, this time of year can add to an already high stress load. And nobody wants to be burned out during the holidays.

In the United States, about 1 in 3 adults serves as a familial or informal caregiver. They also report higher levels of stress compared to individuals who are not caregivers (Mayo Clinic). We know that stress has many impacts on your mood, body, and behavior. Symptoms like anxiety and depression, fatigue, sleep problems, and unhealthy coping mechanisms are common among those who experience a lot of stress on a regular basis. Unfortunately, the holiday season often enhances the feeling of stress among caregivers as they may feel underappreciated or resentful of other family members who are not in a care giving roll.

Managing these feelings and stressful situations is difficult, but it can be done.

Make your holiday plans simpler.
If your usual activities tend to overwhelm you, it is 100% okay to simplify things. Asking family members to make the majority of holiday meals, getting help with decorating (or decorating less), and if it is accessible, requesting that another person host are all options that could reduce stress load.

Take opportunities for self-care.
It may seem like self-care is the last thing you can afford to do, especially during this time of year. However, it is important to take even just 5 minutes to check in with yourself. A quick deep breathing exercise, getting outside in the crisp air, or a warm bath are great opportunities to give yourself the love and care you deserve.

Let others know how you feel.
As they say, communication is key. If things start to become too much, let your loved ones know. This can help minimize misunderstandings and you can set clear boundaries for what you can and cannot do. If you need help, ask those around you.

Go with the flow.
Plans are bound to change when it comes to the holidays. Adapting traditions to be more accessible for both you and those you care for is a great way to ensure everyone you love can be included. If things don’t go according to plan, remember that it is okay to let things go. Find joy in the small moments, nonetheless.

Learn about your resources and support.
Finding support groups and resources to help manage caregiver and holiday stress offers the ability to get more information that will fit YOUR needs. Colorado Respite Coalition is a fantastic starting point. You can learn more HERE.

As you navigate the holiday season, remember that taking care of yourself is just as important as caring for others. By managing stress, setting boundaries, and embracing small moments of joy, you can create a more peaceful holiday for both you and those in your care. Here’s to a season filled with balance, self-compassion, and meaningful connections!

By Mitzi Tolman (From Summer 2024 Connections Newsletter)

Watching your parents age is hard, but for a minute consider this same process through your child’s eyes. Aging loved ones can be difficult to process for them, but a few ideas to maintain strong relationships as the time together looks different:

1. Share with your grandchild things you liked to do at their age. Connect with teenagers by watching videos of shows that you used to enjoy. Be prepared for them to laugh with you at the graphics and special effects.
2. Have a game night and each bring a favorite game to play.
3. Write cards or draw pictures that you can put up to think of each other.
4. Book club with them. Read either a book you enjoyed as a child or better yet, ask them to bring you a book they enjoy. Discuss the book.
5. Share your story – less and less people know about polio – share what it is like for you, what it was like growing up during the epidemic, make sure to share positive as well as negative experiences.

Recently I went to Washington state to see my daughter and took my mother. She shared all about going to the World’s Fair in Seattle with her family while she was in high school and how the lines were so long, she didn’t get to go to the top of the Space Needle. Taking a day to give her that experience is something that both will always cherish.