Are all Leaders Supervisors? Are all Supervisors Leaders?

By Ellen Hierl I have been immersing myself in supervisor and leadership materials recently in preparation for a project on leadership.  The more I read the more convinced I am that leadership does not equal supervision.  In fact, I think we deceive ourselves when we think that supervisors are naturally the leaders of the people [...]

Real Jobs With Real Pay

By Lynn Wiles Bethesda Lutheran Communities Bethesda Lutheran Communities’ Portland office is heading up a pilot project in Supported Employment, offering “real jobs with real pay” to the individuals we support – those both from Bethesda residential programs, as well as from outside referral sources such as the State Vocational Rehabilitation office and county DD [...]

Dare To Make a Difference

By Gretchen Block Andrea and I have had the opportunity to work together for a little while now. We both work for Bethesda Lutheran Communities.  Different jobs, different responsibilities, but co-workers nonetheless. Last week she attended training on personal outcome measures (POM). I had the opportunity to do so a few years ago. We spent some time talking about [...]

Does Disability Mean Inability?

By Connie Horn Sometimes, it is easy for people – even people with disabilities – to be lulled into believing that disability is a virtually impenetrable barrier to success. Yet nothing could be further from the truth.

Autism Awareness Month

By Matthew Hobson Since April is “Autism Awareness Month,” I wanted to tell what autism is like for me.  In my book, I’m So Glad You Found Me in Here, I give a little idea of what living with autism is like.

The Old and The New

By David Morstad Those words were part of the keynote address by Patti Stonesifer at the annual conference of Lutheran Services in America. Ms., Stonesifer currently serves as Chair of the White House Council for Community Solutions.

A Few Basic Things

 By David Morstad Last week in Pittsburgh, Lutheran Services in America held their annual conference.  On Tuesday afternoon, the Disability Network of that group sponsored an open forum titled “Long Term Supports and Services,” featuring Dr. Charlie Lakin, director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

Advocacy for Change

By Gretchen Block Change…change…more change. Why is it that things always seem to be changing? Who decided that a change was needed again? Can’t we ever slow down? We just get used to something and then there we go, changing things again. So this time, it’s a new employment opportunity for people that choose Bethesda [...]

Just tell me how many!

By David Morstad Occasionally, I have the chance to speak to people about developmental disabilities and the people who have them.  “How many people have a developmental disability?” is among the most basic questions.  People deserve a good answer and it would be helpful to provide a simple percentage upon which everyone agrees. Unfortunately, that’s [...]

Beyond Social Capital – Civic Wellness and Personal Sustainability

By Albert Van Kleeck CEO, Van Kleeck and Associates, LLC During the past several years I have dedicated a considerable amount of time to thinking about and developing different approaches to how we think about our lives and the lives of those we impact and support. I’ve thought about how moving through life one day [...]