News - Summer 2008

Collaboration of the Heart Quilt Exhibited at Marshfield Fair

The members of the Upper Cape Access Center of Habilitation Assistance Corporation have made a lap quilt to be shown at the Marshfield Fair this month. The fair (August 15—24, 2008) will display the Collaboration of the Heart lap quilt at the crafts pavilion. The creation of the quilt is part of the Sharing Creative Activities Project developed by the director of the Habilitation Assistance Cape Cod programs.

The quilt project was a cooperative and collaborative effort among the day program individuals, Habilitation Assistance staff and volunteers. After program individuals originated the idea, staff brought in a husband-wife quilting team who generously donated their time and expertise, educating everyone in the art and tradition of quilting and assisting in producing the finished product.

Each member of the quilt project chose a fabric whose colors, pattern or texture held a personal meaning to him or her. The center square had meaning for Joan, the woman who chose it. Joan had cerebral palsy, and physical movement was extremely difficult and often painful for her. The fabric she chose represents a tropical scene where she imagined dipping her toes in the soothing blue water of the ocean. Her square came to hold special significance for everyone involved because Joan passed away before the quilt was completed. Her beautiful square, tucked lovingly into the center of the quilt, represents her dream and her memory to all of those who knew and cared for her.

Group quilting is an honored tradition in American quilt making that conveys the message that many hands and hearts working in unison will produce wonderful results. All of those involved in the construction of this quilt want it to be viewed as a lovely representation of the beautiful things that come from teamwork and sharing.

Eddy Family Business Donates Lift Van to Vets’ Group.

MIDDLEBORO – Earlier this year, Middleborough Veteran’s Outreach Centers Executive Director Joseph Thomas accepted a wheelchair lift van donated by Allen Eddy, and his family, businessman and owner of Habilitation Assistance Corporation.

From left are Steven Eddy, Chris Hart of the Nathan Hale Foundation, Allen Eddy, owner of Habilitation Assistance Corp., Meredith Eddy, Michael Eddy, and Joseph Thomas, executive director of the MVOC

After being approached by the Middleborough Veterans’ Outreach Center and The Nathan Hale Foundation, Mr. Eddy listened to their transportation programs for veterans and their dependents. Mr. Eddy welcomed the opportunity to lend his assistance to both organizations..

Habilitation Assistance/Access Express Offers National Safety Council "Safety Tips" Link

Sometimes a "straw" of information can save a "camel's back". Now, by learning more about safety, you can help save a life or prevent an injury. The National Safety Council generates this weekly service to help raise safety awareness. The Weekly tip content leans to consumer safety, rather than occupational safety, and may include advice on driving, first aid and home safety, plus timely seasonal tips. As a member of the NSC our drivers are trained with safety materials created by the NSC. We hope all our visitors and staff can make use of this feature. By clicking on the link you will be transferred to the NSC and without a return link to Habilitation Assistance.

Habilitation Assistance Corporation Awarded
Three-Year CARF Accreditation

Plymouth, Massachusetts – April 24, 2006 – CARF announced that Habilitation Assistance Corporation has been accredited for a period of three years for its Community Services: Community Integration Programs. The latest accreditation is the seventh consecutive Three-Year Accreditation outcome that the international accrediting commission has awarded to Habilitation Assistance Corporation.

This accreditation outcome represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the standards established by CARF. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation outcome has put itself through a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable and accountable.

Habilitation Assistance Corporation is a for-profit organization with offices at 434 Court Street, Plymouth, Massachusetts. It has been providing Community Services in the Braintree, Plymouth, Pocasset and Hyannis areas since 1983.

CARF is an independent, not-for-profit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services.

For additional information, contact Habilitation Assistance Corporation’s Administrative Office at (508) 746-7433.

Committee Spotlight

This month we are highlighting the agency’s Advisory Council committee. This group meets on a quarterly basis and its role is to:

• Advise Habilitation Assistance Corporation on concerns and needs of the individuals we serve
• Advise Habilitation Assistance Corporation on ways to better integrate our program into the life of the community
• Assist Habilitation Assistance Corporation with marketing its programs to the community
• Provide suggestions and assist Habilitation Assistance Corporation with any special projects
• Review annual audit and budget in order to provide administration with feedback on the financial status of the organization
• Establish working committees to assist Habilitation Assistance Corporation with ongoing tasks
• Review and suggest short- and long-term goals for Habilitation Assistance Corporation
• Advise Habilitation Assistance Corporation on community needs and suggest ways that programs may respond to community needs on an ongoing basis.
• Assist Habilitation Assistance Corporation in identifying prospective disabled employees

Its membership includes the Executive Director of the agency, representatives from the Administrative Office and/or agency programs, representatives of program participants and/or families, and representatives from the business, financial and religious community, related service and job placement agencies, civic leaders, etc.

The following and pictured are current members of the Advisory Council: (bottom row) Chris Bell, Instructor at Mid-Cape & Islands Access Center; Ellen Dennison, program participant at Plymouth Access Center; Joan Grassi, community representative and parent of program participant; Ellen Burgio, Program Director at Braintree Access Center; (top row) Gerry Buckley, community representative Adelphia Cable Communications; Mary Little, community representative and sister of program participant; Joe Hamilton, Nursing Home Instructor at Upper Cape Access Center; Joyce Turner, community representative and parent of former program participant; Allen Eddy, Executive Director.

---