A Month of Heart and Love – February In Flight Times

March 13, 2024 | In Flight Inc | In Flight Times

Heart and Love encompassed our February! Read how In Flight’s February showed love to our fellow community members and each other.

In Flight Times: February 2024

In Flight Times

February

2024

A Month of Heart and Love

In February, we embraced the spirit of love and compassion in various impactful ways. Our Catskill Day Habilitation Program demonstrated the essence of spreading love by creating nearly 100 heartfelt Valentine’s Day cards. These tokens of affection were generously donated to The Pines Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, brightening the days of its residents and fostering a sense of connection within the community. This initiative not only showcased the creativity and kindness within our organization but also exemplified our commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others. As we reflect on the month, it is heartening to see how our collective efforts continue to bring joy and warmth to those we serve.

A Year of Health Relationships

Valentine’s Day is not just about romantic relationships; it’s also a celebration of all forms of love and connection. At In Flight, Inc., we’ve witnessed a remarkable journey of growth and empowerment through our year-long Sexuality and Relationship course conducted by our esteemed clinical team. From January 2023 to December 2023, this monthly gathering became a platform for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to explore and enhance their understanding of relationships, boundaries, and self-discovery.

Read more about the impact our Sexuality and Relationship course has had on those we serve!

In Flight’s Heart Health Innovative

February is not only the month of love but also a time to focus on heart health. This Heart Month, In Flight, Inc. is shedding light on an often-overlooked aspect of cardiovascular well-being—individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). According to the National Institutes of Health, this community faces a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

By the age of 39, the cumulative incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) for individuals with intellectual disabilities stands at 17.3%, compared to 12.7% for those without intellectual disabilities (NIH). This emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to ensure heart health in individuals with I/DD.

As part of our comprehensive approach, In Flight is raising funds to install Automated External Defibrillator (AED) devices in all our locations. AEDs are crucial in cardiac emergencies, and our initiative aims to increase response times, especially for individuals with I/DD.

Read more about the unique challenges in identifying cardiac emergencies for people with I/DD.

Join us in Nurturing Hearts

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More than a Manger – Ashley Johnson

Ashley Johnson is one of our amazing program managers here at In Flight. Currently, Ashley oversees our Supported Apartments in Kingston and Hudson. Additionally, she has been instrumental in re-instating our Special Olympics Basketball Team and has coached it alongside her co-worker Adam Williams since 2023. We are so grateful to have Ashley on our In Flight Team for over 12 years…

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Meet Tanya!

Meet Tanya Smith, In Flight’s Behavioral Specialist II! Tanya is a vital member of our In Flight team, ensuring the health and safety of those we support.

LEARN MORE

Sensory Room Makeover!

Our Catskill Day Habilitation Program’s sensory room has recently undergone an amazing transformation that not only enhances the physical space but also provides a therapeutic and engaging environment for the people we support.

Through a collaborative effort between our folks and CONTINUE READING they covered the walls with paintings of ocean creatures and beach activities. These murals are more than just colorful paintings – they are a key addition to the room’s ability to provide a therapeutic experience. Meghan, our Catskill Day Habilitation manager, incorporated various textures onto the walls using varying painting techniques and items such as clay to offer a realistic and diverse sense of touch to each image. She, thus, created her version of a textured sensory wall. These diverse textures serve as a tactile element, allowing individuals to engage with the surfaces for a calming and grounding experience. Moreover, these textures also engage in fine and gross motor skill growth, providing additional therapy in the room.

February Birthdays!

Marvin

Jalana

Juana

Help us make every person we support’s birthday special by making a donation to In Flight in honor of them.

In Flight is their home with people they consider family and friends. By donating today in honor of them, we can continue to make their special day as important as any family would.

Every Birthday Tribute donation will be highlighted in the newsletter each month.

Donate Today!

Thank You January Donors!

Marie Sieloff

Micela Bulich

Elena Mosley

Thank you to the A. Lindsay & Olive B. O’Connor Foundation for donating $10,000. This generous contribution allows us to further enhance our programs and tackle crucial barriers faced by individuals with I/DD. Specifically, the foundation’s support brings us one step closer to integrating cutting-edge driving simulators into our I-SAIL programs, addressing the significant barrier of transportation for work.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR IMPACT