Updates, Resources, and a Dance Party!
HERO SPOTLIGHTJose Ricardo Serrano
PARTNER SPOTLIGHTAlways Best Care Senior Services
Ingredients
- 2 cans chickpeas
- 1 can kidney beans
- 1/2 onion, finely chopped
- 1 bunch fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 large cucumber, diced
- 8 roma tomatoes, diced
- juice of 1 lemon
- 5 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Directions
3. Dice the cucumber and tomatoes.
Together we are creating a Virtual Cook Book that features easy and healthy recipes.
We would love to include yours! Send yours to contact@myconnectability.org!
EVENTSTaylor'd For You Fashion Show
Fashion-ABILITY models will include several people from the ConnectAbility community!
- Shelia Brown, Support Group Coordinator/Peer Mentoring Coordinator
- Mona Patel, Executive Director, San Antonio Amputee Foundation
- Amber Gorman, Cerebral Palsy and Spina Bifida support group
RESOURCESMeditation
Knowledge Series: VIA Updates
In this Knowledge Series discussion on June 29, 2021, we heard from VIA and VIA Transit to discuss: What’s Happening Now & Upcoming Changes.
The presentation was led by Sylvia Castillo (Manager of Paratransit Operations) and Mike Dominguez (Community Engagement Specialist).
In this Bridging the Gap meeting on June 7, 2021, Dr. Brett Helmonds, D.O. shared information about staying safe in the heat of summer. He discussed: – CDC Recommendations – Heat Related Illness (Heat Stroke v. Heat Exhaustion) – Sunburns – Sunscreen – Dehyrdration – Pool Safety – Sunglasses
Exercising at Home
Contributor Andre Greene
Social distancing, self-quarantining, and the closure of many gyms made it more difficult to exercise over the past year. Even as more people get vaccinated and opportunities open up, there is great value in exercising at home. The heat of summer is already starting here in San Antonio, with temperatures too hot to safely exercise outside. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can incorporate exercise into your everyday routine at home.
How often do you exercise?
Daily exercise can improve your strength and mobility, decrease pain, and even improve independence according to Alejandra Garcia, physical therapist for Results Physiotherapy.
It doesn’t have to be a huge time commitment. As yoga teacher Adriene Mishler says, a little goes a long way.
According to helpguide.com exercise and physical therapy can help ease depression, stress, anxiety, and aid in the management of chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
By finding new ways to get moving and stay motivated, you can take charge of your mood and well-being and regain a sense of control during this time of great uncertainty.
Garcia suggests the infographic below for some general chair exercises to help stay active and strong.
Garcia recommends consulting your physician before starting any new exercise program. According to the Cleveland Clinic, patients who need assistance to move, are at risk for falls, have a movement disorder, or have a neurological injury with a functional deficit should continue in-person physical therapy, if possible.
Exercise can be a form of Self Care
If you use exercise to keep up your energy and spirits in trying times such as these, you might be less inclined to turn to unhealthy coping methods, such as drinking too much, which can wear down your immune system.
Each week in our Events emails, we share yoga and meditation videos from the free Youtube channel, Yoga with Adriene. There are over 500 videos with varying lengths and focuses. Many of them focus on taking care of yourself, however you are today. Even a few minutes of mindful movement will benefit your overall wellbeing.
The playlist below has seated yoga practices.
Exercise outdoors
Scripps Health promotes getting fresh air while you exercise, by going out for a walk near your home, or at a park or trail near you. Just make sure it’s a location where you can keep at least six feet of distance between yourself and others. Wear a mask if social distancing is difficult.
It is not safe to exercise outside when the weather is very hot or humid, so as summer approaches, you may need to schedule your outside exercise for early mornings or evenings. Be sure to bring water with you!
Exercise with others
Daily exercise, even just a few minutes, is good for your mind and body. But sometimes it’s hard to get yourself motivated. You can find support and accountability by working out with others!
Whether in-person, through Zoom, FaceTime, or even just in spirit, knowing that someone else is exercising with you can be very motivational and fun!
ConnectAbility offers several exercise groups via Zoom each week that are free to join.
Annie Muñoz Parkinson’s Exercise Group
11 – 11:30 AM on Wednesday and 12 – 12:30 PM on Saturday
Hatha Yoga
Chair Yoga
In this Club Connect meeting on 11/11/20, we welcomed a guest speaker from Texas Adult Protective Services (APS). Lisa Senteno shared information about how APS can help you and your loved ones.
In this Club Connect meeting on 3/3/21, we welcomed two guest speakers from Disability Rights Texas. Jeanie Hanzal spoke about Vocational Rehab (VR) and Cicely Reid spoke about Support Decision Making (SDM) / Guardianship and Self-Determination.
Spring Newsletter 2021
Spring is Here! Inspiration and New Beginnings
Here at ConnectAbility, we are happy to announce that we have grown!
HERO SPOTLIGHTBriana Marta
PARTNER SPOTLIGHTYellowroc Construction
Ingredients
- 11 oz spaghetti
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3/4 cup onion, finely chopped
- 3/4 cup celery, finely chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 3/4 cup cooked lentils
- 1/4 cup vegetable broth
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 2/3 cup tomato sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
Directions
3. Add celery, garlic, chili flakes, oregano, and cook another 5 minutes.
Together we are creating a Virtual Cook Book that features easy and healthy recipes.
We would love to include yours! Send yours to contact@myconnectability.org!
RESOURCESCaregiver Social Group and Self Compassion Exercise
Practice Self Compassion
This practice can be utilized in actual caregiving situations and it can also be used as a meditation.
"Everyone is on their own life journey. I am not the cause of this person's suffering.
Nor is it completely within my power to make it go away, even though I wish I could.
Moments like these are difficult to bear, and yet, I will try to help if I can."
Winter Storm Resources February 2021
Food Delivery to Vulnerable Residents, Transportation, Staying Warm, Water Distribution Centers, and Other Helpful Resources
Click here to download this list of resources as a clickable PDF
How did the Texas winter storm impact you?
Food Delivery to Vulnerable Residents
The San Antonio Police Department worked with the San Antonio Food Bank to deliver food to elderly, disabled and vulnerable residents who lack transportation options to leave their homes. Visit safoodbank.org to learn more.
Transportation
VIA
For help planning a trip, visit VIAinfo.net or call Customer Information Line at (210) 362-2020.
To schedule VIAtrans trip, visit VIAinfo.net/VOS to log on to your VIAtrans online account or call (210) 362-5050.
Download the VIA Link app to schedule a VIA Link trip.
COVID-19 health and safety precautions remain in place, including face coverings at all times while in a VIA vehicle or at a VIA facility for non-exempt persons, age 2 and older.
Uber
Visit the Uber app for updates on drivers in your area.
Yellow Cab
Contact Yellow Cab at 210-222-2222.
Staying Warm
Warming centers have closed due to electricity being restored across the city.
Water Distribution Centers
SAWS closed their distribution stations on March 4 at 5PM. Click here for more information.
Other Helpful Resources
News and information from the City’s Office of Emergency Management.
Bexar County flood information and emergency road closures.
Outage Center Report or view current outages.
Download app for evacuation maps, safe routes, shelter info, and alerts.
Receive City of San Antonio text messages: text COSAGOV to 55000.
Should you require emergency assistance, call 911.
Managing Stress and Anxiety
Reunite with Your Breath
Lay or sit down in this 19-minute session as you learn to develop breathing techniques for stress relief, anxiety relief, and improved overall wellbeing. |
January Newsletter 2021
A letter from Dawn Dixon
Hero Spotlight
Sophia Munson
At just 12 years old, Sophia is our hero. In 2019, her family had a car accident in which she suffered Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), right brain stroke, and many broken bones. She spent 101 days in the hospital and needed a lot of medical care.
Sophia and her family were matched with ConnectAbility Care Coordinator, James Moody. Sophia’s Caregiver, her mother Jackie, says of going home: “When you leave the hospital, you think you are prepared, but you’re not. Emotionally, it is a roller coaster from leaving a place that had nurses, staff, and supplies to going to your home and it just being you and your family.”
As a Care Coordinator, James helped with supplies, transportation, and guidance during stressful times. He gave the family information to apply for grants and ways to help with Sophia’s expenses.
Every week, Sophia has Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy.
The changes come slowly, but there is always improvement.
We are thrilled to share that she can move her left leg on command, stand with help, and this month has been practicing walking with lots of assistance. On Christmas Eve 2020, for the first time since the accident, Sophia began talking.
Sophia’s family says there is no way they would have gotten through the first two weeks out of the hospital without her Care Coordinator, James. “James was my support to get through all of this. I think every parent should have this connection when they leave the hospital.” says Sophia’s mom. We hope to match our heroes and their families up with that connection, so that they can recover, find the support they need, and offer inspiration to us all.
Partner Spotlight
Upward Care
There are over 53 million family caregivers in the United States. Nearly all of us will be a family caregiver at some point in our lives.
Ryan McGuire, Founder
Healthy Habits
Plant-Based Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large baking potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 cup dry red lentils
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
- 4 cups tomato puree
- 1 tablespoon ground paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 pinch white sugar
- 1 bunch fresh chives, chopped
Directions
Together we are creating a Virtual Cook Book that features easy and healthy recipes. We would love to include yours!
Resources
Managing Stress and Anxiety
Reunite with Your Breath
Lay or sit down in this 19-minute session as you learn to develop breathing techniques for stress relief, anxiety relief, and improved overall wellbeing. |
Are your kids in school?
How a local family with disabilities is coping with COVID-19 and the new school year.
Contributor Andre Greene
Since the start of the pandemic, San Antonio officials have warned that COVID-19 would pose the greatest threat to people with existing medical conditions. Those individuals with disabilities in the San Antonio community understand the COVID-19 precautions that local schools and universities have instituted.
For those with disabilities, having children in school can have its challenges. Marci Steinle, a spinal cord injury survivor has a son in his first year at Southwest University. “He wanted to live on campus and is required to have a roommate, but my son has been very careful and responsible since the very beginning of the pandemic,” Marci said. “If anything happens during this period, my husband will get him to recover back at home and would have to self isolate during his recovery. Because I’m considered to be a risk as a person with disabilities, my husband and I will have to wear a mask,” she added.
According to university policy, students who have been exposed to COVID-19 will be asked to quarantine and students who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be asked to isolate at home or off-campus for a period of at least 10 days and show no fever for 24 hours before returning to school.
Public school students in Bexar County were allowed to return in phases for in-class instruction on Sept. 8, but some have not started to bring students back on campus yet.
According to the San Antonio Independent School District, students will either attend their assigned campus or participate in teacher-led remote learning from home. In either case, each child will receive a high-quality education. Parents can make a change to the model they want at the end of each nine-week grading period.
“Some of the positives are that some students who would skip school or constantly not turn in assignments are now more active because they have opted to stay home where they are more comfortable and complete their assignments on their own time.” said Jennifer Love, a San Antonio High School teacher. The staff at Thomas Jefferson High School has come together to identify “at-risk” students such as students with learning disabilities, or failure to focus, to be a part of the 10% of students allowed back first so that we can tend to their needs, Love added.
Having strategies to ensure your students are healthy and get quality education on all levels is critical for all parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Steinle said she regularly checks the university website for updates and/or changes to any policies. People with COVID-19 who are cared for at home should stay in isolation until they are no longer able to transmit the virus to others. People without symptoms should stay isolated for a minimum of 10 days after testing positive.
According to the World Health Organization’s website, those with symptoms should stay isolated for a minimum of 10 days after the first day they developed symptoms, plus another 3 days after the end of symptoms – when they are without fever and without respiratory symptoms.
Monitor and ensure plans are in place for a continued provision of support and assistance for people with disabilities where caregivers and service providers may not be able to visit their homes due to hospitalization, quarantine, or social distancing practices. Local public health officials will monitor progress and warning indicators to determine whether further delays will be needed to protect the health and safety of students, teachers, and school staff.
