Since this is our first issue, we would like to introduce our-selves. We are Supports for Liv-ing, providing services and sup-ports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and treatment in the specialized program for children with Au-tism spectrum disorders.

As a recipient of this Newsletter, we acknowledge you as a friend or family, sharing a common goal with us of supporting people to live their everyday lives to the fullest and to reach their poten-tial.

We are excited to share with you some of our many stories and hope that you will let us know your thoughts after read-ing! Enjoy, and we hope that you have a happy spring!

Spring Fling at Orchard Lane , SFL’s Prader-Willi program

This March, 32 individuals moved from our Media campus into community homes in Delaware County. These individuals were identified by the teams and pro-fessionals as people who will benefit from a move into com-munity living. Six single family homes were identified after a

long and arduous process of evaluating hundreds of homes, and eight folks were chosen to participate in the Lifesharing program. The homes were vis-ited, and finally the long-awaited moves occurred through March. Many individuals purchased brand new bedroom sets for their new

bedrooms, as each person re-ceived his or her own bedroom.

Thank you to all Elwyn staff, families, and our Delaware, Phila-delphia, Montgomery and Ches-ter County partners for making this happen!

Friends and Family

I N S I D E

T H I S I S S U E :

Friends and

Family 1

Media cam-

pus 2

Raising Funds 2

Media Cam-

pus 2

Brighter Fu-

tures 3

Upcoming

Events 3

PWS re-

ceives grant 4

Building Lives and Changing Sceneries

E L W Y N

SFL News S P R I N G , 2 0 1 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1

S P E C I A L

P O I N T S O F

I N T E R E S T :

Building lives

and Changing

Sceneries

New Focus

Celebrations

Supports for

Living Treat-

ment Learn-

ing Center

(RTF)

Upcoming

events

P A G E 2

The Fun

Never

Ends...Many

Barbeques

and

Summer Parties are in the

Plans!

SFL First Annual

Fundraiser was a

success

Media Campus Happenings in SFL

Celebrations

Raising Funds to Support More Throughout the last few months, Supports for Living has been working on various fundraising projects.  

On March 22nd, a spring dance was held in Barr Hall.  

Individuals came to‐gether to enjoy an eve‐ning of singing, dancing and socializing.  

More dances and Bingo are being planned for the near 

future. On April 26th, Sup‐ports for Living held its first annual “Happy Hour” fund‐raiser at Barnaby’s to raise money for the people to whom we provide services.  The event included a buffet and beverages. Staff came together to coordinate dif‐ferent baskets and dona‐tions that were used as door prizes, silent auctions, and raffles. Raffle tickets were sold ahead of time in front of the cafeteria for 

people who could not make the fundraiser. On the night of the event, names were drawn and the winners were announced. Baskets included various items such as Phillies tickets, garden‐ing supplies, movie tickets, coffee items, hair products and services and Wawa coupons. Thanks to all of you who donated, attended the event and supported the program and our daily work!   

have been supporting 

for 50 years and more 

is especially honored 

during a special Lunch‐

eon. Last Golden Jubi‐

lee was celebrated at 

the Bruce Wechsler 

The annual 

Golden Jubilee 

is celebrated in 

November each 

year, and every 

individual that 

our SFL staff 

Hall, and we were able 

to pay homage to 

twenty five individuals 

whom we have sup‐

ported for 50 years or 

longer!  

Many ladies who moved from the McCabe build‐ing had the opportunity to move to a smaller liv‐ing arrangement.  As of April 1, 2013, each indi‐vidual had settled into the  new home and be‐gun a new journey with friends, some old, some new.   

Activities for all living on campus remain plentiful: church services on Sun‐days, dances on Fridays, movies on Thursdays, Talent Connection on Wednesdays, and Walk‐ing Club on Thursdays. In March there was a big St. Patrick’s Day party, and then a nice dance for the Easter holiday.  Many barbeques and summer parties are planned.   

Media Campus is looking beautiful this time of year with fresh spring flowers, budding trees, and much sunshine!  In‐dividuals who live on campus are enjoying walking to day program and activities and trips to Rita’s Water Ice for early summer treats. 

S F L N E W S

New Induc-

tee to the

Golden Jubi-

lee last time

was Joe

Calhoun,

pictured

with sister

Joan.

Dances are one of 

the favorite activi‐

ties enjoyed by indi‐

viduals SFL supports  

Brighter Futures Award to Lifesharing P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1

Philadelphia’s Intellectual dis‐Ability Services (IDS), Public Awareness Committee wanted to award those in the commu‐nity that exemplify their logo’s message: It’s all about commu‐

nity! They hon‐ored those that are models of ex‐cellence, compas‐sion, commit‐ment, growth, and achievement.  On March 5th, Adriana 

and Michael Rolon were recog‐nized as Brighter Future Award Recipients. The two are brother and sister who have been with Elwyn since 2005. Before 2011 when they entered the Lifeshar‐ing program, they were resi‐

dents on campus at Cottage 2 for six years. The siblings enjoy many activities together such as going to the movies or out to eat. They also enjoy the oppor‐tunity Elwyn has provided to grow as individuals. Currently, they live with two Elwyn em‐ployees who were also Brighter Future Award Recipients. To‐gether, Ernest Gibson, Marcia Williams, Adriana and Michael Rolon give a true meaning to the word “family”. 

social communication and 

functional living skills 

while decreasing challeng‐

ing behaviors that inhibit 

the children from func‐

tioning to their fullest po‐

tential. We use iPads in 

the children’s treatment 

Treatment Learning Cen‐

ter (RTF) for children with 

autism has recognized the 

unmet needs of individu‐

als with autism and is 

working to fill this gap.  

The program focused on 

developing and promoting 

plans. iPad apps 

can help non‐

verbal children 

or children with 

limited verbal 

skills to commu‐

nicate basic needs. 

Want to know more, become 

involved with events, or sup‐

port an event?  Please let us 

know by contacting us at: 

O’connork@elwyn.org 

or  

610‐891‐2613 

Michael &

Adriana

(front) with

new family,

Ernest and

Marcia

(middle).

Upcoming SFL Events

SFL Residential Treatment Facility

iPads and apps are being util-

ized in treatment in the RTF.

Giving True

meaning to the

word “family”.

 

April – Happy Hour Fundraiser 

September – COACH Bingo 

Thanksgiving – Harvest Dinner 

October – Elwyn Elves kick off 

November – Golden Jubilee 

December – Holiday Events 

ity is a grand plus with our Prader Willi  individuals due  to  low mus‐cle tone.  

The  Kistler‐Tiffany  Foundation awarded  SFL’s  Prader  Willi  Pro‐gram a two thousand dollar grant on  4/30/2013.  The  award  was received by  Joanne Bias, Director of  Operations  for  Community Residential  Services  and  Johanna Schaaf, Deputy  Director  for  Sup‐ports for Living Services.  

The grant will enable SFL  to pro‐vide much needed physical  ther‐apy  choices  in  addition  to  the structured  activity  schedules  by the  personal  trainer  and  individ‐ual exercise schedules to improve health. 

Elwyn  SFL  supports  eight  very special  individuals with a diagno‐sis of Prader Willi Syndrome. This syndrome  is  a  complex neurobe‐havioral,  genetic  disorder  to which there is no cure. Two of the many  symptoms  people  with Prader Willi Syndrome have is low muscle tone and low metabolism. Horseback  riding has been  found to be a helpful therapy with  indi‐viduals with  Prader Willi.  Thorn‐croft  Therapeutic  horseback  rid‐ing provides  services  to  individu‐als  with  special  needs,  teaching them  horseback  riding.    Horse‐back riding provides therapies for balance,  strength,  mobility  and improved  self esteem. The bene‐fit of strength, balance and mobil‐

Supports for Living 111 Elwyn Road

Elwyn

Phone: 610-891-2613

Fax: 610-891-2100

E-mail: Krysta_Oconnor@elwyn.org

Supports for Living provides services to

adults with intellectual and/or develop-

mental disabilities living in the commu-

nities and in our Media campus resi-

dences and through Lifesharing and In

Home Supports programs.

We also provide specialized services to

children on the Autism spectrum in the

short term Residential Treatment Fa-

cility on Media campus.

SFL’s Prader Willi Program Receives a Grant