Maryland News

Volunteers From Spectrum Support
Help Beautify Cumberland

Spectrum Support, Inc. believes that people with disabilities are capable of accomplishing great things, and recently the staff and individuals ‘gave back’ to the community in its caring and sharing. More than a dozen of the supported individuals and Spectrum Support staff joined others in the ‘Let’s Beautify Cumberland’ campaign in May and again last week. The people receiving services from Spectrum Support, Inc. demonstrated again the benefits they’ve reaped from its programs and the community by painting four of the baseball dugouts in two parks. Although not all the painting was completed, Kelly Everett, Support Specialist, said the ladies in her group want to go back and finish their dugout at a later date. They take pride in beautifying their city.

     Working outside for almost three hours in the 95-degree sun was rewarded with a celebratory luncheon with the 700 other volunteers. True to the billing of ‘caring and sharing,’ networking, laughing and story-telling among all neighbors were part of the day. Everett says next year her group will adopt their own area to beautify on a monthly basis, and there will be a sign to mark the efforts of Spectrum Support.

Nora Lee (R) receives a 2007 Excellence in
Direct Support Award from Laura Howell,
Executive Director of MACS

Exceptional Staff Member Honored

Nora Lee, a Spectrum Support staff member, has shown herself to be exceptionally caring and professional in the face of challenges. As a result, the Maryland Association of Community Services for People with Disabilites (MACS) found it appropriate to present this gentle and patient woman with a MACS 2007 Excellence in Direct Support Award. Nora has followed through with the care of one of the most psychiatrically and cognitively challenged persons we support at Spectrum. She has stimulated positive change in the behavior of this person, whom we will call Karen (not her real name). Nora has therapeutically managed Karen’s physical, verbal and psychological assaults and helped her find more appropriate outlets for her needs.

Nora has been present and attentive in supporting Karen, who can be confrontational and physically aggressive. She has also helped Karen to progress in her work. Karen, formerly disinterested in developing work skills, is now one of the most successful of 65 individuals who help maintain a highly important Spectrum Support work contract. Nora’s planning, adaptability to Karen's changing needs and moods, and implementation of an individualized support plan have guided Karen to this point. Nora has demonstrated the positive attitude of "I believe in you," which Karen rarely heard, and then through her actions Nora helped Karen develop trust in herself and others. The result of that trust relationship is that Karen now demonstrates a sense of confidence and happiness. Nora Lee is truly an outstanding Spectrum Support staff member.

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Scott Donahoo Roast participants (L to R) Marla Johnson (then-Spectrum
Board President), Mickey Cucchiella, Marc Clarke, Marty Bass,
Debra Langseth (Spectrum Exec. Director), Scott Donahoo,
Chip Cucchiella

Donahoo Roast Benefits Spectrum Support

Scott Donahoo, owner of Donahoo Automotive, has gone out of his way to help Spectrum Support. One way he did that was obtaining and retrofitting to our specifications two vans, recently off lease, at a very reasonable price. He also has solved a big part of the safety issue by proactively putting the Spectrum fleet of vans on a regular maintenance schedule. In addition, Donahoo Ford employees have served Spectrum Support individuals who receive job coaching in its auto prep shop. As if this weren’t enough, in February 2007, Scott allowed himself to be roasted at the Baltimore Comedy Factory by radio personalities Marc Clarke (92Q), Mickey Cucchiella (98 Rock), and Marty Bass (WJZ)….to the tune of $3200 for Spectrum Support!

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Kenny's Perusin' the Paper Now

The individuals we support grow in many ways. They put forth effort, and they receive gifts in return. Take Kenny, for example. Kenny wanted to be able to read the paper. He expressed his wish in his annual individual plan, and his wish was granted in the form of the volunteer Lisa. She took on Kenny weekly, meeting with him and his Support Specialist at Borders, a haven for readers. At the book and magazine center, Kenny browsed for books on his reading level with Lisa’s help, and then he received attention to his reading skills, including word recognition and comprehension, from Lisa. The books were simple to start, but he graduated to reading chapter books. Lisa gave of her teaching talents, and she also contributed monetarily to help develop Kenny’s reading library.

Thus nurtured, Kenny has grown not only in mind but also in heart. His accomplishments have generated more and more self-esteem. He has pride in his voice and light in his face as he speaks of his achievements. He smiles from ear to ear. Kenny has grown through the programs provided by Spectrum Support. He asked for and accepted assistance, worked hard, and he is a better, happier person because of it.

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Maryland Office FAQ

Who does the agency support in Maryland?

• We support people with developmental disabilities who may also have a mental illness (dual diagnosis)
• Some of the individuals we support have a developmental disability and/or mental illness, and they have been involved with the court system
• Individuals referred to us often are already well known within the developmental disabilities and mental health systems
• We support individuals who live in the community in apartments or homes operated by residential agencies
• We support families who would like extra supports for their family member who lives at home with them
• We support people with developmental disabilities who are currently living in state psychiatric hospitals
• We support people without regard to race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, political affiliation or physical disability

What does Spectrum Support, Inc. do?

• Employment Supports
• Transitioning youth from public schools into the community

• Residential

• Community Supported Living Arrangements (CSLA)
• Individual Family Care (IFC)
• Alternative Living Units (ALU)

• Individual Support Services
• Family Support Services
• Transportation
• Transition Services at Maryland psychiatric hospitals

What are the Principles in Providing These Services?

• Staff use a non-confrontational and supportive stance when supporting people by:
• Affording the person a chance to maintain her/his dignity and self-respect regardless of her/his behavior
• Assisting the individual in learning from the challenges and experiences he/she may encounter
• Staff attempt to anticipate potential problems before they arise and take proactive intervention measures to known issues, thereby defusing the situation before it requires reactive measures
• Staff avoid power struggles so that when a person has a verbal or physical encounter:

1. Staff do not dictate or enforce rules.
2. Staff acknowledge the situation. This imparts that staff’s role is to help the person come to a place whereby his/her safety and the safety of others is maintained.
3. She/he will not be, or be perceived as being, “punished” by a staff person.
4. The person is allowed to arrive at an acceptable solution.

Where do Maryland Referrals come from?

• Resource Coordination and the Developmental Disabilities Administration
• Individuals or families who desire our services make their request known to Resource Coordination.

Maryland Locations
Administrative Office
1643 Liberty Road
Suite 205
Eldersburg, Maryland 21784
Ph: 410-795-6543
Fax: 410-795-6544

info@spectrum-support.org

Serving Baltimore and the counties of Baltimore, Howard, and Anne Arundel -
1708 Whitehead Road

Baltimore, Maryland 21207
Ph: 410-281-7822
Fax: 410-281-7879

Serving the counties of Carroll, Frederick and Washington -
9436 Earley Drive
Suite 1
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740
Ph: 301-791-1242
Fax: 301-791-4841

Serving Allegany and Garrett counties -
27 East Industrial Boulevard
Cumberland, MD  21502
Ph: 301-724-1690
Fax: 301-724-1691