News
James Street Progress (Click to enlarge)
Team Online Meeting at Lifespire on February 3, 2012
Lifespire Innovates Transportation Fleet Technology to Improve Consumer Safety
February 14, 2012—New York, N.Y.— By continuously enhancing their programs and services, Lifespire remains a progressive leader through their programs, safety policies, and use of technology in the field of the developmentally disabled. In a recent partnership with ATWEC Technologies, Inc., a US-based child safety company, Lifespire has been retrofitting their transportation fleet to increase consumer safety. Beginning in November of 2011, Lifespire installed KiddieVoice™ safety systems in their buses and vans, consisting of a fleet of nearly 100 vehicles.
The safety system is an automatic alerting system owned exclusively by ATWEC Technologies, and was originally developed to guard against the accidental abandonment of a child on a vehicle. With Lifespire transporting dozens of consumers to and from their programs daily, the organization looked to ensure the safety of those they serve to avoid consumers being left unattended on a vehicle.
"The system ensures that the driver has to walk to the back of the vehicle and manually insert a key to shut the system off," said Nicole Delerme, Director of Fleet & Safety at Lifespire. "Once the vehicle is turned off, prompts are given from a box located under the seat telling you to check the vehicle, and follow a series of safety checks."
With the partnership meeting both organizations missions: AWTEC's technology has now expanded beyond primarily servicing daycare and elementary schools, and has the potential to save the lives of dozens of disabled persons. Although ATWEC has been manufacturing safety systems for over 30 years, this is one of the first instances in which a nonprofit organization is utilizing this technology.
"It’s part of our mission to continuously provide the highest quality services and safety measures for our consumers," said Mark van Voorst, CEO and President of Lifespire. "Through this partnership, we remain on the cutting edge of technology, and prove that through out-of-the-box thinking and collaboration, we can continue to be a leader in the advancement of the developmentally disabled field."
Continuously looking to expand and improve the way services are provided to the developmentally disabled, Lifespire's commitment to excellence continues to resonate throughout the communities they serve and beyond. To read more about Lifespire, log onto www.lifespire.org.
Lifespire Hosts Delegation from the Danish Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration
February 14, 2012—New York, N.Y. — In the effort to continue to find new, innovative and cost efficient ways to better serve New Yorkers with Developmental Disabilities, Lifespire Inc., a major provider of services to individuals with developmental disabilities, on February 3rd hosted a visit from a delegation from the Danish Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration led by The Permanent Secretary, Jesper Østrup Zwisler. Secretary Zwisler noted that "the purpose of the visit to Lifespire was to gain insight into how and what services Lifespire offers to the developmentally disabled in New York, and how Lifespire as a service provider strives to improve efficiency and quality."
The Secretary and his delegation were escorted on a tour of the facility and then participated in a discussion of services in New York and how services are provided in Denmark. Included was a demonstration of the Bosted System. Lifespire is partnering with Denmark's Team Online to test the Bosted System and to recommend changes to the widely used software. The visit also continues to expand upon the new relationship with Team Online. Denmark's Team Online—known for being a leader in technology in the field of the disabled—plans on collaborating with Lifespire to release the online Bosted system to their facilities and programs. The Bosted system will provide immediate, up-to-date information on any and all patients within their facility.
"We are entering challenging times in New York. The Bosted System will be a tremendous help in creating fiscal efficiencies while at the same time improve quality," said Mark van Voorst, Chief Executive Officer of Lifespire. "Lifespire provides a wide array of services to over 3,000 individuals each and every day. The innovative use of technology will be crucial in meeting Lifespire's mission."
Consul General, Ambassador Jarl-Frijs Mikkelsen and the Deputy Consul General Thomas Rizk both pledged the cooperation of The Danish Consulate as Lifespire and Team Online continue to explore ways to better serve the developmentally disabled populations of both Denmark and New York, both organizations look forward to collaborating on technology advances.
For more information on Lifespire, the Bosted System, or their programs and services, please log onto www.lifespire.org.
Special Needs Industry Embraces Kiddie Voice© Systems
Memphis, TN, January 18, 2012 (PR Newswire) – ATWEC Technologies, Inc. (OTC Markets: ATWT), a US-based child safety company, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Lifespire, Inc. for the immediate purchase of Kiddie Voice™ safety systems for their buses and other vehicles.
Founded in 1951, Lifespire is recognized as a leader in providing services to developmentally disabled adults of New York City and the surrounding metropolitan areas. Lifespire has 81 locations throughout the five boroughs of New York City, serves over 5,600 individuals, and is headquartered at 350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 301, New York, NY 10118, with website www.lifespire.org.
Lifespire provides a wide range of services, and has a fleet of greater than 100 vehicles used in the transport of disabled persons. The initial order was for 85 Kiddie Voice© units, which retailed for $289 per system.
ATWEC and their certified technicians began installing the systems in November 2011. ATWEC also custom-designed some units for the special needs provider. Details about ATWEC and its Kiddie Systems™ safety products can be found on the company's website: www.atwec.com.
Alex T. Wiley, President & CEO of ATWEC Technologies, stated, "receiving this order from Lifespire is a great breakthrough for ATWEC. While we have focused a majority of our efforts on daycare and elementary schools, it is apparent that our systems are needed to protect disabled persons as well. Lifespire has given us a significant order, and at the same time introduced us to the market which includes disabled and otherspecial needs persons.
ATWEC believes we have found a valued partner with a similar organization mission which advocates for those who do not have a voice. This partnership will allow ATWEC to focus on another important market that has a need throughout the state of New York and the US."
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Lifespire Group Brings Holiday Joy To Residents At St. Albans VA
Lifespire offers suggestions for caregivers of children with mental illness
Most new parents look at their child full of hope. They can see their child playing, developing, and excelling. They wonder what their child will like and dislike. The realization that the child has the potential to be anyone great and do anything great is gleefully overwhelming. Unfortunately, for some parents, the glee fades too soon. Day by day they learn their child is different. The child may cry more than most. Or, maybe that child prefers not to play with other children. Their new-born angel may have become an enraged toddler. First, the parent wonders if they are doing something wrong – bad parenting. Then, they turn to parents, friends, and doctors for answers. Eventually, the fear they never considered becomes reality. Their child is mentally-ill.
Parenting or caring for a child with a mental illness presents very unique challenges. The parent or caregiver may begin to question whether or not the child will live the future the parent dreamed. Fun family vacations are planned around doctors' visits and medication adjustments. One day the parent looks in the mirror and realizes that their lives are lost in the background. Their own dreams and career objectives are no longer of primary importance. In fact, they may feel their existence is defined by their role as caregiver.
According to Howard Traub, Psy.D., Director of Psychology for Lifespire, "Caregivers often have to make difficult sacrifices to take care of a child with mental illness. This may involve changes to their work schedules, career choices, personal and romantic relationship. To help families cope with these changes I usually start by validating for them that they are experiencing an emotional loss. We discuss that it is okay to feel angry and resentful about how their life has needed to change, and that it is normal to even harbor some negative feelings towards the child." When the caregivers realize the depth of their feelings, many begin to work to suppress the feelings out of shame. Dr. Traub continued, "By exposing, discussing, and validating these feelings which often cause the caregivers shame, guilt and embarrassment for having, it helps them to start the process of healing and acceptance. It is also important to help the caregivers learn to not forget or lose themselves in the process. Often they might feel that 100% of their attention and efforts must go towards the child. However, this is not true."
Helping a child cope with their symptoms, such as abrupt changes in mood, auditory and visual hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, anti-social behaviors, and lack of empathy, requires a great deal of consistent strength. There is nothing in life that can train or prepare a parent of caregiver for the task. Dr. Traub introduces a very important point concerning the "life script" a parent has for their child. "As parents, we all have dreams and hopes for our children. However, when you have a child with mental illness it is easy to quickly think that those dreams and hopes for your child have been lost. This is not true at all. What is more realistic is that a new or different life script from the original plan may need to be discovered, but there is no reason to believe that this cannot be accomplished because of mental illness. Instilling a new sense of hope, expectation, and understanding is key to acceptance and fostering healthy support for the child."
Caregivers seek their own comfort. To this, Dr. Traub offers the following advice: "I often encourage the parents and caregivers I work with to continue to do things for themselves that they enjoy. This is very important in helping to decrease feelings of resentment. In addition, in order for the child to be taken care of effectively, they need a happy and healthy caregiver around them. If the caregiver is angry and depressed themselves, this will have a strong negative impact on the child. Therefore, I often encourage that they go out to dinner, socialize with friends, go shopping or to the movies, things that they enjoy. Taking a break for themselves will help the caregiver to stay energized and rested which will be helpful when caring for their child."
Lifespire Contracts to Provide Uniforms to the New York City Housing Authority
December 6, 2011—New York, N.Y.—The climate for many nonprofit organizations and businesses is the same:
cutbacks, decreasing profitability, and shrinking funding/income. As the recession continues many entities are finding
that there is hope, hope through collaboration. Organizations such as Lifespire, Inc., an organization dedicated to
helping individuals with developmental disabilities reach their aspirations, are currently working to provide products
and services to organizations and businesses without the resources they need.
Contracting for $1.9 million with the New York City Housing Authority, Lifespire will be providing uniforms to the
employees of the housing authority. Not only does the partnership provide caps, trousers, jackets, etc, for the
employees of the Housing Authority, but it provides employment for individuals with disabilities.
"Not only does this partnership benefit the employees, who continue to receive their uniforms at no cost to them,
but it creates new job opportunities and dksills training to our consumers," said Paul Oddo, Executive Vice President
of Lifespire. "The Housing Authority was very pleased with our service and we look forward to providing their
employees with uniforms for the winter."
Lifespire is responsible for purchasing the uniforms from the manufacturers, inspecting the product, and then
packaging it for shipment to a variety of locations and organizations throughout Manhattan. For more information
about Lifespire and those they serve, log onto www.lifespire.org.
NYC Nonprofit moves from Empire State Building to avoid downsizing
Novenber 28th, 2011 - New York, N.Y.
2011 proved to be a difficult year for many organizations.
There was a large decrease in funding, and a sharp increase in demand for services. however, organizations such as Lifespire, Inc. found themselves thinking outside-of-the-box for ways to redefine, rebrand, and continue to meet the demand of their constituents without downsizing. Starting the New Year in a new building, Lifespire, will be moving from their current location at the Empire State Building, to the 9th floor of 1 Whitehall Street.
While many nonprofit organizations are finding themselves closing their doors or merging to keep their programs alive, Lifespire, an organization dedicated to helping individuals with developmental disabilities reach their aspirations, sought to cut costs and maintain their programs without decreasing staff. The renovated 24,000 square foot location will provide the organizations entire administrative staff with new offices and new savings.
The current economic climate has organizations thinking more strategically the long-term impact of the move is that well not incur higher costs, ultimately generating savings that will help keep our programs alive, said Mark van Voorst, CEP and president of Lifespire, Inc. Where many organizations are increasingly reliance on volunteers and cutting back on thir staff, were able to maintain our staff who work to ensure we continue to provide high quality services.
Partnering with Rudin management Company, Inc., known for their experience and philanthropic nature, Lifespire expects to move to their new location within the next 90 days. For more information about Lifespire, their locations or those they serve, log onto www.lifespire.org.
