We heard you! Camp Parkview, held on Vashon Island each July, is wildly popular – and you want more community engagement activities like this all year-long. So, with that in mind, we are thrilled to welcome Vibrant Palette (VP) into the Parkview Services family. By taking over operations for Vibrant Palette we are now uniquely poised to expand and enrich our weekly community engagement program resources for adults with I/DDs.
At Vibrant Palette, our Parkview client-artist participants are able to meet with studio art professionals, each Wednesday, at the Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle’s Central District. The all-day program is designed to provide client-artists with life-altering opportunities to develop independence, self-direction, and creative expression while acquiring artmaking skills. Studio directors and client artists work in a wide range of visual mediums including painting, drawing, ceramics, woodwork, and textiles. Show your support and see the artist’s progress by attending our quarterly art shows across Puget Sound.
Parkview Services could not make an impact on affordable housing in Washington state without the incredible support of our dedicated board of directors. Check out the board section of our website to learn why each of these amazing professionals have chosen to commit so much of their personal time and money to support the Parkview Services mission. Under the guidance of our current board president Timo Norring, this 11-person mighty board is growing. Consider joining our board today. Representation matters. Self-advocates and those who self-identify as members of historically marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. Here’s what one of our newest board members Timothy Adam, a pilot for United Airlines, has to say about why he joined earlier this year.
“My daughter Melanie, now in her thirties, has required full time line-of-sight care her entire life. I know, firsthand, of Parkview’s invaluable services and support; the decisions this board makes dramatically improve lives and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.” -Timothy Adam
We are excited to announce that Parkview Services has taken on the care of 5 clients and 21 staff members from Stand Together. Stand Together has been a leader in the field of self-directed and family-directed services for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DDs) since 2001. It is a privilege to continue and grow their efforts by taking on these individual’s care in their Burien, Covington, Des Moines, Marysville, and Auburn homes.
When Stand Together approached Parkview Services as a potential partner organization to aide in client support, all 5 people, and their families, had other options. Ultimately everyone selected Parkview because of our staff’s unique ability to listen and respond to immediate needs. We understand the importance of care-continuity when supporting the I/DD community and believe that every person has the right to live with dignity and respect. We delivered on our promise that all clients would remain in their homes, and all client-staff relationships / client-support structure, (including lead staff and live-in support) would remain intact.
We’re committed to a smooth transition. Now, with the newly expanded Supported Living Services program, we’re poised to serve even more adults with I/DD while continuing to offer a safe, nurturing environment that supports our client’s ability to reach their full potential. We’re honored to welcome these talented staff and wonderful residents into the Parkview family. We’ll keep you updated on our journey and share positive impact stories in the months that follow.
Life can be a giggle. Life can be goodness. Life can be a growth opportunity. Life can be a gift of helpfulness from Parkview Services – just look and see!
I’m a hope-giver and believe in serving and helping others. Parkview Services helped me: ME, an eighty-two-year-old disabled lady with a disabled forty-five-year-old blind son. I have a home because of Parkview! And I am ever-thankful. Parkview provided me with one of God’s greatest personal and shared blessings – a roof over my head. Saving homeownership saves lives. I can attest to that personally.
Maybe you remember the economic downturn in 2008. Many people lost their homes. It was frightening. My finances vaporized. I was an in-home caregiver with dissolving job opportunities, and nearly homeless. Today I’m in my own home of thirty-three years. Parkview Services was there for me then and they are here for us all right now. They help people save their homes. Since 2008 my mortgage company has raised my house payments by several hundred dollars. I could easily lose my home if my room rentals fail or another economic downturn causes my tenants to lose their jobs so they can’t pay their rent to me. But Parkview helps everyone with housing and I find peace knowing I can go there again if needed.
Life’s growth opportunities can be hard, but I’ve found that when I put my faith-based values and healthy humor at the helm, I can make it. Trust me, you can too. Remember the little engine that could? If my blind son can reroof an elderly friend’s house by scooting around on the roof using not much more than tenacity and prayer, then he’s proof that obstacles can melt. All my foster/adopted kids came from horrific backgrounds. My spouse and in-laws had paranoia that went unrecognized. I believe that no matter where you are in life, faith helps find what you need – including support from Parkview Services. Because of Parkview Services my son and I, plus other homeless or nearly-homeless folk, have a home.
I don’t recall how I discovered Parkview Services but I am eternally grateful to God for helping me find their aid. If you need this kind of help, I highly recommend them. They are committed to being a beneficial presence. My son and I have been blessed by Parkview’s loving, expertise, and committed presence. We benefitted from the Lord’s help via Parkview Services, so it felt right to commit to a monthly $5 gift-for-life to help others. If I can do it on my meager income, so can you. I just stopped buying that bag of chips. I give that chip money to Parkview instead – That $5 chip money adds up!
Best blessings to all of you. Jesus loves you and so do I. The giving of smiles and hugs are free and healing. Joy is a choice. If you are able to look deep into your spiritual strength, you will find the inspiration you need to donate to Parkview Services. And chips aren’t good for you anyway –so donate that chip money to Parkview instead!
CM
[Editor’s Note: A devoted monthly donor explains, in her own unique words, how her faith and Parkview Services helped her save her home. She has given to Parkview Services for over a decade.] _______________________________________________
Today, we celebrate the achievements of women who have made a significant impact on our community, particularly in the area of advocacy and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
We mourn the passing of two trailblazing pioneers who have contributed immensely to our community. Stella Chivers, who dedicated her life to creating safe housing solutions for individuals with disabilities, passed away in February. Along with her late husband Norm, Stella purchased a home on Capitol Hill in Seattle in 1967 for their son Billy to live in with a few of his peers. She worked tirelessly for the first licensed group home in the state of Washington, often without pay for the first seven years. In 2023, Parkview Services still operates this Group Home, with five residents living safe, happy lives within those same walls.
Stella’s sacrifice and dedication to the cause of providing safe and comfortable housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is a testament to the tireless efforts of women in our community. Women all over the world make similar sacrifices to create positive change, and we at Parkview Services appreciate and honor their contributions year-round.
Judy Heumann, a fierce disability rights advocate, also passed away last Sunday at the age of 75. Ms. Heumann was a teacher in New York City, and when she was not allowed to work due to discrimination against people with disabilities, she became a one-woman advocate to be allowed to teach. She went on to become an official in the Clinton administration, a special adviser in the Obama State Department, and a fellow or board member of some of the country’s leading nonprofits. She was also featured in the Oscar-nominated 2020 documentary “Crip Camp.”
These women have left an indelible mark on our community, and their contributions will never be forgotten. Today, we recognize and appreciate the many women who work tirelessly to create positive change in our society, and the women who make Parkview Services the thoughtful, caring, and compassionate organization that we are today.
