Lutheran Family Services of Virginia

FALL 2016

He surprises
me all the time. Photo by Dan Montgomery/LFSVA

Brandon Oliver lives a full life with help from music and Mom
Walk into Brandon Olivers bedroom, and its not Brandon and his mother, Gloria, have lived in
too hard to figure out that his passion is country Greene County, Virginia, since he was born 38
and bluegrass music. years ago. As a young mother, Gloria was chal-
lenged by Brandons disabilities, but not over-
The albums, tapes and CDs fill a wall plus some.
whelmed. Her natural can-do spirit prevailed,
There are old-timers, like Buck Owens, Johnny
and just like any parent, she set out to find the
Cash and Conway Twitty, alongside newer artists
support that would allow her son to live the best
like the Oak Ridge Boys, his absolute fave. Their
life possible, like visiting his favorite restaurants
music begs for singing along. And sing he does.
for seafood, having fun, making friends, going to
Brandon may not see well, but he listens care-
church, and being the center of attention at his
fully. He gets the rhythm and emphasis of every
huge 30th birthday bash. Brandon is a sociable
twanging phrase just right.
continued inside....

He always surprises me .... continued
guy, and he enjoys a gag. If you shake his hand, he might
just give it a kiss. He always surprises me, says Gloria.
It takes a building!
Take a state-of-the-art structure and
Most Friday nights, you can find Brandon at the Fire De-
an enthusiastic staff who are experts
partment Bluegrass Jam in nearby Stanardsville, where
on behavior and learning, and you
the artists often ask him to join them on stage for a song. get a place where students who
He is a regular at the stores that still sell classic albums, struggle in the classroom will thrive.
tapes and CDs and loves interacting with the people be-
The new Minnick School location
hind the counter. He has a best friend at his day support in Harrisonburg has classroom
program, and the attention and love of a devoted brother observation booths, a vocational lab,
and his family, who live nearby. In short, he is guy with a two large kitchen areas for learning
about life skills, and room to grow.
hobby, wheels (courtesy of his mom), and a desire to get
out and mingle. The schools
Behavior
Life is good. Gloria says that after she realized that Specialist, Ansley
Brandon would have lifelong challenges in speech, Kiser, says that
the L-shaped
mobility and intellectual development, she got to work.
layout and noise
There was no internet when I began. I just went to the
damping building
phone book and started calling, she says. When Bran-
materials help
don was getting ready to leave school at age 22, she was
support learning
able to get one of the few Medicaid Waivers available in by minimizing
the area, which meant that he could attend a day support distractions.
program. Quiet is key,
especially for Harrisonburg Minnick
Gloria was also one of the first parents in central Virginia staff member Tony
children with
to become a certified Lutheran Family Services Family Hostetler assembles
sensory needs,
a table for the
Care Home, which made her eligible for Medicaid fund- so we used
schools new PAEs
ing to take care of Brandon as well as the means to hire a extra-thick
vocational lab.
wallboard with
Family Care Assistant for him while she works as a full- Photo by Carole Todd
fiber mesh
time elementary school secretary.
and insulated
As part of the LFSVA family, Gloria and Brandon work all interior walls, she says. Having
one floor and two wings helps, too.
Would you like more
with Family Care and In-Home
Manager Crystal Steger-Smith, Even something as simple as using
information on LFSVA incandescent bulbs can help students
who provides oversight for Glo-
services for adults focus, says Kiser. For children
rias Family Care Home. Bran-
with disabilities? Call with sensory needs, the buzzing of
dons care is complicated, says
800.359.3834 .or fluorescent lights can be distracting.
Steger-Smith. We help Gloria
email info@lfsva.org.
with the nuts and bolts of being a
The school will continue its successful
schoolwide behavior program, which is
certified home and give her emotional support, too. based on data and observation. Sounds
Glorias advice for any parent? Be prepared to advocate like a great year in a great facility is in
store for students and teachers. CT
and get your network together. Carole Todd
Jahem joins the Js
As in siblings Joseph, Joelle & Jolie!
Lots of kids started the school
year with a new backpack, new
shoes and new binders. One
Richmond-area 12-year-old
arrived with a new name.
Jahem has a new family, after
all. Hes Jahem Logan now, son
of Joe and Celeste and brother
of Joseph, Joelle and Jolie.
New starts are nothing new
for Jahem. He has endured 27
surgeries to correct a variety
of conditions. His speech
is difficult for strangers to
understand, so he often uses a
speaking computer.
Jahem spent much of his life in
hospitals and doctors offices
before moving in with one
LFSVA foster family seven years
ago and the Logans two years
Thank you for your
wishes for our students. A special
ago. Family
life meant big
changes.
He had always
been a person
who was given
care, Joe says. Jahem, on the right, with his
family.
When he came
to us, that changed. We started
next room (Surgeries and
making him more responsible
tracheostomy tube or not,
for his own care, as well as
Jahem plays hard.)
giving care.
Independence, yes.
The main difference Ive
seen from him is that he But also inclusion. In a family.
wants independence. Thats
Story & photo by Dan Montgomery
not something I saw before,
Celeste says. Hes not living as To find out more about upcoming
information meetings on adoption
a patient anymore. Hes living
and foster care in Tidewater and
as a little boy.
Richmond, visit us at lfsva.org.
As his parents talk, there is Or call 1.800.359.3834. Wed
laughter and a loud bang in the love to answer your questions!
back-to-school wishes!! Believe in yourself,
learn something
More than 100 people sent back-to-school
new every day, be a
message at the right from from Sue friend to someone
who needs one,
Clemens, a member of St. Pauls
Lutheran Church in Hampton, and you will have
caught our eye. We thank a great year!
you and our students thank you!
Sue Clemens
 2609 McVitty Road, Roanoke, VA 24018
mission moments
Find us on social media. From photos of our
student field trips to informative articles on issues
facing individuals with disabilities, like us on
Facebook (facebook.com/lfsva) to get the most
up-to-date news about our workand interact with
us there, too. We also post new stories to our blog
(lfsva.org/blog) weekly.
Foster parenting can be a tough job...maybe
the toughest one youll ever love! Being a foster
parent means training and continued learning,
hanging in there with kids when the going gets
rough, and expanding your heart and skills in ways
that you never knew were possible. Questions? If
you live in Tidewater or Southside, contact Wendy
Luna (757.876.9151; wluna@lfsva.org). In Richmond
and the surrounding region, contact Monica Cannon
(804.241.4616; mcannon@lfsva.org).
Making a planned gift can be as easy as adding a few
sentences to your will or designating a beneficiary to your life
insurance or annuities. For details, contact Ellen Bushman
(ebushman@lfsva.org or 757.722.4707, ext. 1302.)
Sample A Sample
ABC Medical Care Inc
1234 Any Street
Any Town, US 12345
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Wish List
Our wish is for ... you! Our Minnick Schools
(located in Roanoke, Harrisonburg,
Wytheville, Wise and Bristol) and Day
Support programs (in Charlottesville,
Lynchburg, and Roanoke) need people
to help with community outings and with
art, music and reading activities. To find
the volunteer opportunity nearest you,
call or email Leah Hatcher (540.750.9211;
lhatcher@lfsva.org).
And, if you wish to donate items or gift
cards to our Minnick schools and programs
that serve adults with disabilities, please
contact Leah Hatcher at the above phone
number and email address.
Our MissionWorks is published by LFSVA, 2609 McVitty Rd.,
Roanoke, VA 24018. 1.800.359.3834; lfsva.org.
Editor: Carole Todd, 434.981.9952, ctodd@lfsva.org.
Drop me a line! Id love to hear from you.