Over time, Hammer & NER’s Community Life activities have truly created a sense of community that keeps growing stronger. These events are designed for everybody: inclusive, welcoming, and all about making sure everyone feels like they belong. People come for all kinds of reasons: to hang out...
A life in full bloom By Ted Wentink & Erin Dunn Our daughter, Jessica, started her Hammer & NER journey 12 years ago when she moved into the Lake Place apartment program. Although she was 26 years old, we were hesitant to have her leave home, but we also wanted Jessica to develop an...
Exploring what “community” looks like When we think of the word community and what it means to us, I think it’s safe to say that we would all define it a bit differently, or would we? On a cold January day, I had the pleasure of sitting down with two of the individuals we support at...
Sharing the journey of a sibling with special needs Michelle Olson is a Hammer & NER Board member. She and her husband, Steve, utilized NER’s former respite program to help care for their daughter, Tiffany (Tiff), when she was younger. Their other daughters, Chrissie and Nikki, grew up...
The sibling relationship is one of life’s most enduring and multifaceted connections, particularly for those with a brother or sister living with an intellectual disability. This bond often transcends mere companionship: Siblings frequently find themselves taking on roles as advocates, caregivers,...
Novel idea supports Reach for Ralph and strengthens connections Chris Ringe joined the Hammer & NER family in 2017. He is an active, friendly, outgoing guy with a big heart. His parents, Mitch and Judi Marie, were thrilled when Chris was invited to live at the Lancaster home, where he...
A sister’s devotion ensures he lives his best life Julie Wesley-Wong is Vice President of the Hammer & NER Board and chairs the Board’s Advocacy committee. Her brother, Mickey, joined the Hammer family in 1978 when he moved into the boys’ dorm on the Hammer campus. Recently, she sat down with...
By Diane Bruns, Steven’s sister Steve was diagnosed as a toddler with an intellectual disability. He is non-verbal but communicates through basic sign language. Despite some new health challenges, Steven loves to spend time with his family and go to his day support program, drink coffee and...
Growing up, siblings of people with intellectual disabilities will watch their parents care for all aspects of their brother or sister’s life, even during young adulthood. As they grow older, these siblings may wonder where they belong in terms of their involvement with caretaking and decision...
For many of us, sibling relationships are the longest-lasting bonds, surpassing even those with parents, partners, or friends. As a result, siblings often find themselves in the “club-sandwich generation,” balancing support for aging parents, siblings with disabilities, and their own children...
The relationship between siblings is one of the most enduring and multifaceted connections in life. For those with a sibling living with an intellectual or developmental disability, this bond can be especially profound. Siblings often take on roles that extend beyond friendship and familial...
Any parent has likely heard the phrase, “the days are long, but the years are short.” The years may be short, but my son, Josiah, definitely isn’t! It seems like just yesterday he was a tiny toddler running around the house and now I have an 18-year-old young man who is almost as tall as me (I’m...
Recent Comments