Bulletin Board Archives

February 20, 2025 By Delaine Zongo

Disability Services Day at the Capitol 2025

📅 Date: March 18, 2025
📍 Location: Capitol Rotunda, Minnesota
⏰ Time: 10:00 A.M.

Minnesota’s largest disability advocacy rally is happening soon! Meetings with legislators will follow at the Senate Office Building. No registration needed—just show up and make your voice heard!

This event is organized by ARRM (Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota), and they need our help to fight for the valuable services you provide. For more information, check out ARRM‘s event page here.

Thank you for standing up for disability services—let’s continue to make an impact, together!

February 20, 2025 By Delaine Zongo

Preserve I/DD Services—Tell Congress Protect Medicaid!

A person with I/DD smiles at their support professional Dear Friends and Family of Aveyron Homes,

Congressional leaders have released a budget draft that calls for at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, with Medicaid likely facing some of the deepest cuts, according to Politico. If Congress is successful in passing its budget resolution, it would direct further legislation to make these drastic cuts, which could:

Shift Medicaid costs to states, forcing them to cut provider rates or reduce essential services.
Threaten home and community-based services (HCBS), leading to longer waitlists and higher rates of institutionalization.
Put individuals with I/DD at risk of losing critical supports that allow them to live independently.

Why Your Action Matters

Members of Congress rely on feedback from their constituents when making decisions on public policy. Studies show that direct outreach from constituents is the most effective way to influence legislators—your voice truly makes a difference. That’s why it’s critical to act now and tell Congress to protect Medicaid and the services individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) rely on. Congress must hear from you now. Tell your Congressional members: Reject Medicaid cuts and protect services for people with disabilities.

Preserve I/DD Services—Tell Congress Protect Medicaid!

January 2, 2025 By Delaine Zongo

Aveyron Ink Newsletter, Jan-March 2024

Click here to open this quarter’s edition of Aveyron Ink!

December 27, 2024 By Delaine Zongo

Celebrating Holiday Cheer and Community at Aveyron Homes

Becky sharing a festive moment with the Grinch.

Dear Friends of Aveyron Homes, the holiday season is here, and it reminds us of the importance of time spent with loved ones in a warm, joyful home—exactly what we strive to provide for our clients every day.

Becky had a truly magical day at Flank’s in the Days Inn, Hutchinson, meeting both Santa and the Grinch, and enjoying a festive horse-drawn sleigh ride! Jeff, Don, and Sam came together to decorate their home for the holidays, exchanging thoughtful gifts and creating a space filled with festive cheer. Everett added a personal touch to his space with a beautifully decorated miniature tree from Hutchinson’s Adult Training and Habilitation Center (ATHC).

As we celebrate these special moments within our community, we wish you all a holiday season filled with happiness, laughter, and cherished time with loved ones.

Warm regards, The Aveyron Homes Team

Jeff, Don, and Sam posing in front of their beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

Becky sharing a joyful moment with Santa

Becky preparing for a horse-drawn sleigh ride.

Everett proudly displaying his decorated mini Christmas tree.

December 17, 2024 By Delaine Zongo

Navigating Grief: Resources and Support from Aveyron

We understand that grief is a deeply personal and challenging journey. At Aveyron, we are committed to supporting our community through this process.

If you or someone you know is in need of resources or support to navigate grief, we have tools and services available to help. Whether you’re seeking a listening ear, coping strategies, or connections to professional help, we are here for you.

What is Grief?

An emotional response to loss
A natural, healthy process that enables one to adjust to the changes resulting from loss
A highly personal and subjective set of responses that an individual makes to a real, perceived, or anticipated loss
Similar to family members healthcare workers can also experience grief after the loss of a client

What happens with Grief?

Feelings, emotions and behaviors result from loss which may come and go and there may be good days and bad days
There may be symptoms such as: pain, loss of usual patterns of behavior, agitation, sleep and appetite disorders, decreased concentration, social withdrawal
Symptoms often get better as time goes on and as an individual adjusts to the loss. If not, arrange to have an assessment by a medical professional.

What is the treatment for Grief?

Often individuals need to work through the loss
Symptoms experienced may require medical assessment and/or treatment but for many symptoms resolve as the loss is dealt with
Use of medications for grief is rare

Points to Remember…

Being a health care provider doesn’t protect you from grief.
It’s very natural for you to feel grief when a client dies.
It is not wrong to show grief or cry after a client dies.
Not showing your grief or failing to recognize you are grieving can cause stress and may even affect the way you care for future clients.
Your grief will vary from client to client depending on your relationships.
Experiencing grief after a client dies and the healing process takes time.

Take advantage of Aveyron’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential counseling and mental health resources.

Kavira also provides mental health services. To find out more information, check out their website kavirahealth.com.

Please reach out for more information or to access our resources. You are not alone.

November 18, 2024 By Delaine Zongo

Kris with her birthday cake.

Dana, Katie Jo, Paula celebrating Kris’s birthday.

This past week has been full of fun and happy moments with our amazing clients! Dana, Katie Jo, and Paula came together to celebrate Kris’s birthday, and kicked off winter early with an indoor snowball fight—let the snowball season begin! ❄️

Elena and Genessa enjoyed a lively bingo night at Mystic Lake Casino, while Lucas and Sally kept cozy indoors, working on puzzles.

Don, Trina, Theresa, Sara, Samara, and Rodney joined forces to make beautiful fall wreaths, filling the house with creativity and joy. 🍁

We’re grateful for the lifelong friendships you’re building here and can’t wait to make even more heartwarming memories this season. Stay warm and safe, everyone! ❤️