SARRC’s 2022 Annual Community Breakfast Shares Theme of “Better Together”
Congratulations, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center, on reaching an incredible milestone—25 years! We look forward to celebrating with you at the 2022 SARRC Annual Community Breakfast, Thursday, April 14 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Arizona Biltmore. Read more about their story here.
To mark SARRC’s 25th anniversary, co-founder and First Place AZ founder and president/CEO Denise D. Resnik has shared a blog with personal reflections, favorite memories and insights on progress made over the last quarter century.
How Clouds & Clocks Can Help Us Make Headway in Healthcare
Clouds and clocks can be creative metaphors when addressing the complex challenges associated with housing, healthcare, research and systems change, as described in this blog by First Place CEO Denise D. Resnik and the First Place Global Leadership Institute’s Maureen Casey.
Join us from 12–1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30 for the FREE virtual workshop, Health Starts at Home: What You Can Do Today! Learn more about First Place’s innovative 360 Health & Wellness® curriculum and new technologies helping support you and your family member in the successful transition from adolescent to adult healthcare.
Medical Students + First Place–Phoenix Residents = Unique Learning Opportunities
First Place–Phoenix has started a new collaboration with Creighton University’s School of Medicine pharmacy/occupational therapy students. First Place Director of Support Jessica Luna and the Creighton University students are working with residents and Transition Academy students to help them better understand the importance of medication adherence and create a process to simplify refilling medications. Creighton students are also learning about the challenges special populations face with medication management and what they can do to help bridge the gap.
First Place Forever Legacy Member Profile – Judy Ackerman
It seems appropriate that Judy Ackerman would be our inaugural member profile. Not only is Judy one of our very first “First Place Forever” legacy giving donors, but she has also inspired and helped lead our arts and culture programs over the past several years. In November 2021, Judy’s wonderful husband, Richard Epstein offered a $15,000 challenge grant to benefit First Place—an organization close to their hearts—in honor of her 90th birthday. Family and friends rose to the challenge with donations now funding First Place’s 2022 Year of Adventure!
“When making a gift, we consider the people, purpose and our trust in both,” says Judy. “We also follow our personal passion to make a difference. At first, I committed to this cause because of Matt and Denise. Then I learned more about the urgent need for families caring for children of every age as they questioned, ‘Who will care for them when I’m no longer able?’”
Judy adds that “we’re doing what we can to help answer that daunting question—not only for people living at First Place–Phoenix, but also through the work and impact of the First Place Global Leadership Institute. Richard and I have attended several Institute events, where we have experienced that impact firsthand.”
Save the Date to Follow First Place Down the Yellow Brick Road!
First Place–Phoenix residents have been hard at work with rehearsals for their first-ever foray into acting. Thanks to a collaboration with ASU Design & Arts Corps—and funding from the Arizona Commission on the Arts—First Place is excited to be performing The Wizard of Oz at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 16 at Phoenix Center for the Arts. Doors open at 7 p.m. Masks are required. Feel free to contact Lexie Egerer at alexis@firstplaceaz.org for more information. We hope you’ll join us to see what budding acting careers might be in the making! Register here.
Coaching • Connecting • Creating Confidence in the Future
We’re excited to share that Lifelong Networks for Communities of Support (LNCS) is back! LNCS (pronounced “links”) is a group of parents and family members of adults with autism and other neurodiversities, who are helping coach and connect other families to help loved ones achieve their independent-living goals.
The March 2 session (with another planned for May) featured Matt Miller—avid outdoorsman, ultra-runner, baseball fan, writer, speaker, coach and self-named “survivor”— who lost most of his fingers and toes to frostbite during a 2002 mountain-climbing expedition in Mexico. A Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC®) with Versant Capital Management, Inc., Matt is dedicated to helping parents and caregivers of those with special needs or disabilities plan for care while guiding families through complex financial decisions and benefits systems. The agenda also addressed being financially prepared for the future and included parent-facilitated discussion. Look for May details soon!
Tax Credit Time! ⏱
Celebrating our 10th year as First Place AZ reminds us how far we’ve come in realizing our big vision, thanks to the generous support, encouragement and enthusiasm of our donors, families and friends! With a few weeks to go before the April 15 deadline, we’re reaching out about that convenient, easy, annual way to give: the Arizona tax credit. It offers a dollar-for-dollar credit for donations made to qualifying charitable organizations like First Place AZ. Individuals can claim up to $400 a year, couples up to $800 a year.
Every dollar counts—and helps keep us on track with our vision to ensure that housing, healthcare and community options are as bountiful for individuals with autism and other neurodiversities as they are for everyone else. You can learn more and donate here. Thank you for your invaluable support!
Слава Україні !
That’s Ukrainian for “Glory to Ukraine!” the country’s patriotic slogan since it declared independence from Russia in 1991. First Place–Phoenix residents and Transition Academy students have taken to the walls of the Cox Community Room to show their support for Ukraine. Using sticky notes in the blue and yellow colors of Ukraine’s flag, they decorated the windows with peace signs and wishes of hope for all to see. First Place AZ stands with Ukraine!
Community Life Alive and Well at First Place
First Place residents are out and about in the community! Here are just a few of the recent activities that kept residents engaged and on the go in March…
- Residents recently put their boots and riding helmets on for a horseback-riding adventure at Scottsdale-based HUNKAPI [pronounced hun-kah-pee]. This specialized equine therapy program allowed residents to connect with not only the horses, but also their own thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Riders had the chance to establish a unique bond with their horse and shared experiencing decreased anxiety but increased confidence and patience—all catalysts for positive growth. There was lots of sunshine and laughter to make this yet another memorable First Place adventure!
- Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) “What Makes Me Me” exhibit. Featuring self-portraits of 35 artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities, this unique exhibit was created to help empower and give them the tools to boost their confidence and tell their own unique stories—and advance the role of self-advocacy in our supportive community.
- Arizona Science Center’s “Survival of the Slowest” exhibit. In addition to learning about the often-overlooked critters who have learned to survive—and thrive—in a world dominated by faster, larger animals, everyone enjoyed testing the bed of nails and making HUGE bubbles outside!