Happy Holidays from First Place–Phoenix!

The bright and beautiful tree and menorah in our lobby are a testament to the festive feel during this very first holiday season at First Place for residents and staff. December marks two years since our groundbreaking. And what a miraculous transformation: from moving some dirt with shovels to walking into our state-of-the-art, thoughtfully designed and welcoming building that our residents now call home!
 
As we wrap up 2018 and usher in 2019, we express our boundless and heartfelt gratitude to each and every individual and organization that have gotten us to this amazing point in what promises to be a long and prosperous future for residents and staff alike. All the best to you and yours during this season!
Reflecting on Many Unforgettable “Firsts…”
Our dedicated staff has compiled and is proud to share a list of notable “firsts” they have experienced throughout the first several months of working, learning and leading at First Place–Phoenix. They have enjoyed the chance to help various residents with their big and small successes like….

Tours of First Place–Phoenix Continue Through December

Tours of First Place–Phoenix continue through the holidays. Bring visiting family and friends along! Choose from several December tour dates and RSVP. This is an ideal time to see first-hand what makes First Place so special for individuals with autism and other special abilities who are considering living on their own. Experience our supportive Phoenix community, too. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Special Generosity Gets Our
Residents Out and About  

Thanks to Linda and Sherman Saperstein, the Saperstein Entertainment Fund—established for First Place—and others are providing opportunities for residents to experience fun community events, especially in the midst of the holidays. Several Valley organizations have also generously donated tickets so residents can enjoy enriching experiences that include the Desert Botanical Garden, ZooLights, the Musical Instrument Museum, “Elf the Musical” and “Swan Lake.” We’re grateful and excited about how our first season and new traditions are taking shape!

New Life Chapters Tie Together Bingo, Besties and The Beatles 

With year-end in sight, Denise Resnik's latest blog reflects on the progress of First Place–Phoenix residents—her 27-year-old son Matt included—and the new life chapters being written every day.

Remember First Place for Your Year-End Giving

We greatly appreciate your consideration in making a year-end gift to First Place AZ. Your donations are helping us develop and maintain programs benefitting adults with autism and other different abilities on their journeys to greater independence. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you!
DONATE

Inclusion through a Different Lens

Inclusion is a word we hear often these days. But do we really give much thought to how we apply the concept in our own lives? Lisa Friedman’s article “Inclusion Is Not a Program” offers some valuable insights into reframing inclusion as a mindset for how we treat others.

This is something we practice each and every day at First Place–Phoenix as we work—and play!—to integrate our residents into the community at large. As an expert in disabilities and inclusion, Friedman notes the perspective that “we do not ‘do’ inclusion ‘for’ others; we should be working to make our communities fully inclusive because it is who we want to be.” We couldn’t agree more!
Copyright © 2018 First Place AZ, All rights reserved.


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