We would like to shine a light on a certain someone who has been helping out with various groups who volunteer with our weekly Cooks in the Kitchen program on the East side. His name is Andy, and he is one of the many fabulous folks that we support here at Hammer & NER. Andy attends our day...
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...
Each of our Hammer & NER homes is unique because of the people who live and work there. The “Showcasing Our Homes” profiles celebrate our homes (and apartment programs), the people who live there, and the staff who support them. Let’s learn about the Currie home in Maplewood! The Currie home...
Each of our Hammer & NER homes is unique because of the people who live and work there. The “Showcasing Our Homes” profiles celebrate our homes (and apartment programs), the people who live there, and the staff who support them. Let’s learn about the Zealand apartment program in New Hope! The...
Seventeen Years of Love and Laughter with Lynn Meet Bethany Collins, one of our Hammer & NER volunteers, who has grown a strong friendship with Lynn, who is supported at our Zealand apartments. By Bethany Collins Seventeen years ago, I set out on a journey that would change my life. I had just...
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...
Each of our Hammer & NER homes is unique because of the people who live and work there. The “Showcasing Our Homes” profiles celebrate our homes (and apartment programs), the people who live there, and the staff who support them. Let’s learn about the Lawndale home in Plymouth! The Lawndale...
A sweet reunion with early childhood teachers Chris Ringe joined the Hammer & NER family in 2017 when he moved into our Lancaster home. Chris, who has Down syndrome, is an active, friendly, outgoing guy with a big heart. Earlier this year, as our annual Reach for Ralph fundraiser was...
Volunteering Brings About Gifts of Many Kinds Ever since Brooke Vidlund was a little girl, she has had friends and classmates who had special needs. Once she was out of college, she wanted to continue to be involved with those with developmental disabilities. Brooke first became aware of Hammer...
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...
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