Measurements of Success

By Charissa Manglona

For years, success was measured by the amount of money you made.  The more funds you had available, the more luxuries you could afford.  This type of approach towards reaching great success may have also required certain sacrifices...working long hours during the week and on weekends, limiting the amount of personal time.

In more recent years, the concept of creating a "work-life balance" has become more prevalent.  Recognizing the importance of having an income that creates comfortable living and still allowing for time to be spent with family, friends or participating in activities/hobbies, has weighed on many people's minds.

A year ago, I looked at the components in my life that influenced my sense of success, how successful I felt in those areas at that point, what would make me feel more successful, and decided on the journey that could get me there.  I recently reviewed my goals from the year prior and noted a tremendous amount of growth for me both personally and professionally.  By having my goals written down, I was excited to see the progress I had made and the transformation in my mind of feeling "successful".

This reflection prompted me to think of people with disabilities.  Their goals and components in their lives that influence their sense of success may be very similar to mine.  They may seek professional growth in their jobs and to establish strong working relationships with co-workers, colleagues, supervisors and senior management.  People with disabilities may desire to establish a balance with their involvement in activities, fostering relationships, and cultivating new networking opportunities.

Although the path that each of us takes to reach our goals may be different, three questions come to mind when measuring a sense of success:

Do you feel valued?

• This could be through work (compensation/responsibilities/knowledge), by family members or community members.

Are you engaged/involved with others and are you gaining from your interactions?  

• This is focusing on your relationships with others (work, personal, & community).

Are you happy and have a feeling of fulfillment?

• This is looking at your life overall and each of the components involved in your life.

How do you measure your sense of success?

Caregivers Deserve T.L.C. Too

Blog:  Week of 7/04/11

By Cathy Bisaillon

I admit that I used to down play the importance of respite for caregivers.  I likened it to the occasional babysitter that I used for my children, and I treated it as much more of a luxury than a necessity.

My first trip out to Easter Seals Camp Stand By Me changed my attitude forever.  It was a check-out day, where families and caregivers were picking up their children following a six-day session.  I remember one dad in particular; who I will call Mr. Camp.  “So, Mr. Camp,” I said. “How did you spend six days without having to worry about your son?  Did you and Mrs. Camp go to Hawaii or some exotic location?”  Mr. Camp’s mouth curled in a half-smile and he looked at me as if I had just fallen off the turnip truck.  “You don’t get it, Cathy.  This is the first break we have had in three years.  We took a nap, slept through the night, balanced our checkbook, and took our other son to a movie without having to leave the theater.”

Mr. Camp was right, I didn’t get it.  But I did from that point on.  Respite for a caregiver of a person with multiple needs is a life preserver.  It pulls them out of a continual cycle of tasks and worries and allows them to shore themselves up for what comes next.  All of the Easter Seals Washington programs provide respite in some form.  It is typically a hidden benefit, with the marketed service being child development, residential recreation, or employment.  It should not, however, be seen as a secondary benefit.  I am occasionally asked by our employees if we should provide respite for group home staff, as they are paid caregivers and may be “taking advantage” of our services.  Without blinking, I reply that we should embrace those opportunities, as the break that we give a routine caregiver may drastically improve his or her ability to patiently provide care.  Continual care-giving is exhausting, challenging, and often thankless.  I am not exaggerating when I say that respite services save lives and prevent abuse. 

We are all caregivers in some way at various times in our lives.  Our task is to recognize our limits, admit that we need a break, and to look for respite opportunities that will be mutually beneficial to ourselves and those we care for.  After we recharge our batteries, let’s remember to thank a caregiver – it may be just the shot in the arm he needs to get up tomorrow and start fresh.

The GIVEBIG!

The biggest fundraising day in the history of King County is coming June 23rd. Sounds a little dramatic, yes, but the Seattle Foundation is attempting to make it happen. Modeled after events in other areas across the country, the GIVEBIG will muster the Seattle Foundation's considerable resources with the backing of very generous sponsors to concentrate the giving power of King County into one blockbuster day of giving!

From 7AM to 12 midnight this Thursday, donors can make a gift to local non-profits through the Seattle Foundation's website, and have these gifts matched by GIVEBIG sponsors. The advantage for both donors and non-profits is clear: donors have their gifts go twice as far to help people in their communities; non-profits receive extra funds to help fulfil their missions.

This approach has worked well in other areas of the country, and should have a considerable impact in our fair city, considering that Seattle is the most generous in the US. As you can see, the idea of June 23rd being the biggest day of giving in King County history is not at all farfetched.

To participate, all you need to do is see if your favorite charity has a listing with the Seattle Foundation. Of course, we're hoping you decide to make people with disabilities your cause of choice. Click here on Thursday, and make Easter Seals Washington your GIVEBIG beneficiary. You'll help people with disabilities live, learn, work, and play. You'll also be a part of King County history!

Too Many Do-Gooders?

There are 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the United States, and roughly 80,000 in Washington state. Of course, not all of them are 501(c)3 tax exempt, and there are various kinds of nonprofits including churches and trade organizations.

An abundance of charitable organizations can be a good thing. It means that people have thought about where the service gaps lie in our society, and they have had the courage to do something about it. What strikes me about the huge number of nonprofits, however, is that redundancy and inefficiency must exist. There has also been a trend to push nonprofits to function much like forprofit corporations. Again, this has its advantages; but, it also breeds competition and silo thinking.

I am fortunate to be part of several groups and organizations that are engaging in dialog about the bigger issues - how to better meet the needs of the people around us by prioritizing creative solutions and collaborations. We are reminding each other to put the parameters of our own organizations aside and focus on overall systems change.

I am absolutely convinced that this is the right strategy for breaking the cycle of dependence on government funding and for opening our eyes to the actions that make our communities more diverse and ultimately more prosperous. Making time for think-tank discussions is energizing and extremely enlightening.

I challenge myself and all nonprofit stakeholders to occassionally put aside the responsibility of keeping the individual 1.5 million organizations ticking, and think about what a new way of tackling society's problems might look like. The current economic struggles and natural disasters in the world can keep us scrambling to achieve status quo, or they can inspire us to do something a little crazy, like change the world.

Cathy Bisaillon
President & CEO

April is Autism Awareness Month!

In order to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, the Autism Society has been celebrating National Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s. The United States recognizes April as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community.

Below are three video links featuring autism that may interest you:

On this episode of True Life you'll meet three young people who are doing everything they can to battle their Autism and live life to the fullest.

http://www.mtv.com/videos/true-life-i-have-autism/1554937/playlist.jhtml


An informative video about autism narrated by siblings and families.

http://www.nick.com/videos/

"Autism is a Blessing" book.

http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=113155&title=Autism_Is_A_Blessing_Book

Disability Awareness - The First Encounter

I remember my first encounter of meeting a child with a disability. My family and I had relocated from another state and I began fifth grade in at new school. My exposure to people with disabilities prior to moving was non-existent.

Within the first couple months of school, my teacher notified the class that we would have another student joining us periodically. One day, we were going to watch a film in class and our teacher asked if there was anyone who would like to volunteer to meet with the other student at her classroom and bring her back to our class. Happy to help, I volunteered. When I arrived at the other student's classroom, I was intrigued by the individual in front of me. She used a wheelchair and needed my assistance to help get her to the other classroom. As we began our trek down the hall, she shared with me that she had cerebral palsy and some other fun facts about her. When we arrived to begin watching the film, several of the other students appeared to be caught off guard by her. I thought she was great, smart and fun to be around. I felt the other students just needed a few moments to get to know her and learn about my new friend. Needless to say, each time our teacher mentioned she would be joining us; I was the first to volunteer to help bring her back to our classroom.

I was fortunate enough to learn about people with disabilities at a relatively young age. Rather than focusing on my friend's disability, I enjoyed the individual she was and the stories she shared. I saw her abilities and what she brought to the class as another student.

What was your first encounter with a person with a disability? Did you have a similar experience? Did you have the opportunity to get to know the person first?

** To obtain some tips on how to interact with people with disabilities, visit our web site at www.wa.easterseals.com and click on "Resources". **

Charissa Manglona
VP of Human Resources
Easter Seals Washington

The Value of Volunteering

There is so much talk of the meism attitude, the narcistic era, the out-for-number-one phenomenon - it can all be disheartening to say the least.

In an attempt to feel better about our society in these tough times, I pulled up a recent study by the Corporation for National & Community Service. It worked - I feel better! The recent statistics relating to volunteerism in the United States are extremely encouraging.

Over 63 million Americans volunteered in 2009 - up 1.6 million from 2008. These volunteers logged 8 billion hours of service, with a value of $169 billion. The numbers were pushed up due to higher numbers of women volunteering, especially those ages 45 - 54; and many more full-time employed Americans making time to serve.

What are people doing to help out? The number one activity is fundraising, with a close second of collecting or distributing food. Many Americans are also providing general labor and tutoring or teaching.

Bringing these statistics closer to home added to my renewed optimism. Seattle is now ranked the fourth highest large city for rates of volunteerism. Anecdotally, my happiest friends and associates are those that have several volunteer projects going at once! When I ask them what they would cut out of their busy lives if they had to, the answer is never their non-compensated activities.

The bottom line is that volunteering feels good. It allows us to focus on making a difference just for the sake of, well, making a difference. I have ramped up my volunteer involvement over the years, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I also greatly value those that lend their time and talent for the organization that I am honored to lead.

I guess the moral of this story is... if your spirits need a lift, visit volunteeringinamerica.gov to view some awesome statistics about your fellow Americans. Then, get out there and volunteer!

Cathy Bisaillon
President & CEO
Easter Seals Washington