Arc resident looks to technology to gain independence – My Central Jersey
These are among the requests detailed in this year’s 12 stories about 13 individuals and families from around Central Jersey. These people, your neighbors, just need a little something that is beyond their financial means right now, but will make a huge impact in their lives. Alexander Lewis, Home News Tribune and Courier News
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It’s never too late for someone to declare their independence.
Sixty-seven-year-old Bridgewater resident Vicky Mihal is not letting her cerebral palsy stop her from learning more and improving her life.
She has recently begun new adult learning to increasing her independence, decrease her reliance on others and improve her ability to communicate.
When Mihal’s caretaker asked her to turn to her other side for a photo, Mihal gestured for him not to help. With some difficulty, Mihal turned on her own and sat back, satisfied that she accomplished what for most of us would be simple, but for her was a challenge she wanted to overcome.
Because of her condition, Mihal communicates in various ways — with some words, gestures and communication boards, said Karen Kowalski, director of adult services at The Arc of Somerset County.
“Most recently, she started using a technologically advanced speaking device,” Kowalski said.
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This progress has inspired Mihal, who lives in an Arc residential home and attends the day program, to explore other ways she can use technology to reduce her dependence on caregivers, Kowalski explained.
“She would love tech-controlled environmental units for the home so that she can more easily access her TV, various lights and other fixtures,” Kowalski said.
This would give her the opportunity for more privacy, control over her personal comfort items and the satisfaction of managing more of her own home, Kowalski added.
Wish 7
Tech-controlled environmental units: $850
How to support the Courier News Wish Book
This year, we are asking our fellow community members to consider assisting 13 Central Jersey individuals and families featured in the 2019 Courier News Wish Book program.
Checks must be made out to the United Way of Northern New Jersey, which manages a separate checking account at Peapack-Gladstone Bank just for the Courier News Wish Book project. We keep track of the checks as they come in and direct the United Way of Northern New Jersey to write checks from the account. Mail your donations to the Courier News Wish Book, 92 E. Main St., Suite 202, Somerville, NJ, 08876. If you wish to be acknowledged in a follow-up story about the program, let us know. You also can remain anonymous. You also can take direct action on the additional agency and individual requests for this year’s program, listed in this article. You can contact the agency directly if you want to help with a request.
We sometimes receive calls from readers who wish to donate a needed item rather than cash. In those cases, we direct the caller to the agency to see if the request can be accommodated.
If you have any additional questions, please contact Carolyn Sampson at 908-243-6601 or csamspon@mycentraljersey.com.
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