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The Freedom Center continues to grow to serve you better! Please join me in welcoming our newest board member, Chelsea Sadaie, and our new Community Health Worker, Tina Chaney.
- Dave
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Welcome New Board Member, Chelsea Sadaie!
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Chelsea is an Occupational Therapist (OT) and has been working in the Frederick area for the last five years at the Brain and Balance Center. She has been working in the OT field for over ten years.
Chelsea was born in Texas, but has lived all over and moved to Maryland five years ago with her husband, who is a native Marylander. From a young age, she was inspired to see that "where there is a will, there is a way," as her mother had been affected by Polio shortly after birth, but never let that stop her from doing anything she truly wanted to do. Therefore, Chelsea chose a career as an OT to build on this passion and facilitate people's independence to do the things that matter most to them. She has worked primarily with adults with neurological conditions (such as, stroke, TBI, SCI, dementia, MS) to help them gain the highest level of independence and provide support as they tackle these challenges. She is excited to join the Freedom Center Board of Directors to continue this mission through a new avenue.
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Welcome New Team Member, Tina Chaney!
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I am super excited to be joining The Freedom Center (TFC) as a Community Health Worker (CHW). Before joining TFC, I worked as a CHW at the Asian American Center of Frederick. I enjoyed doing outreach and working in the community, recruiting participants for our program, planning monthly workshops, and providing information and referrals.
Prior to that, I worked for 5 years as a substitute teacher for Frederick County Public Schools. The biggest challenge that I overcame was when the schools reopened during the pandemic and went to a hybrid model, I had to teach students in-person and those from home concurrently.
I have 2 wonderful children, Victor and Nia, that attend Walkersville High School. My son is graduating in May. I am originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and have lived in Frederick for 18 years and I love it here!
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Congrats Chandra Smith on Being Crowned
Ms. Wheelchair Maryland 2023!
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In the fall of 2021, Chandra Smith emerged from three lifesaving amputations of her right leg above the knee, the toes of her left foot, and her left hand, knowing she was about to enter a world far different from the one that she’d known.
Every set of stairs became an impediment, every email and phone call an exercise in creativity, and access to places she'd once frequented would present a challenge. Smith’s perseverance and fighting spirit was recognized when she was crowned Ms. Wheelchair Maryland, 2023.
Though modeled after traditional beauty pageants, the competition focuses on advocacy and leadership, not appearance.
As a disability advocate, she wants to convey her message, "When you make things accessible for those with disabilities, the whole community benefits from it." With her platform, she hopes to help spread awareness, promote advocacy, and change the world!
"I won’t stop fighting until every single thing is accessible to every single person with a disability," says Ms. Smith
Chandra is a first-generation college graduate and a daughter of disabled parents. She holds two Master’s Degrees and an MBA. She currently works in intelligence as an IT engineer for the federal government.
You can support Chandra's goal of attending Ms. Wheelchair America National Competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan this fall by making a donation to her GoFundMe fundraiser.
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Coming Up on Freedom Train
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Monday, April 17 at 2:00 pm
SPEAKER: Chandra Smith, Ms. Wheelchair Maryland 2023
DISCUSSION TOPIC: Limb Loss Awareness
Join us for the next Freedom Train in recognition of Limb Loss Awareness Month with guest speaker Chandra Smith, Ms. Wheelchair Maryland, 2023.
Register for Freedom Train on April 17
And don't forget to mark your calendar for the May Freedom Train!
Monday, May 15 at 2:00 pm
SPEAKER & DISCUSSION TOPIC: TBA
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Housing Success Story in Celebration of
Fair Housing Month
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The Freedom Center's Lorna-Mae Silcott diligently worked with a Consumer for four years to secure affordable housing for her and her family. Her health along with her living situation were steadily changing and not for the better so she decided to relocate out of state. On January 16th, 2023, Lorna-Mae received a call letting her know they had move back to Frederick and were now homeless.
We got in contact with some of our partnering agencies in the community and within a week and a half she and her children were off the streets and in a shelter. She was approved for an Emergency Housing Voucher on February 17th, signed her lease and retrieved her keys on March 16th, and moved into their three bedroom apartment on March 18th, 2023. We were also able to assist her with the purchase of a sofa and dining set!
We here at The Freedom Center would like to congratulate this Consumer for her determination and trust. We could not have done this without each other!
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Autism Acceptance Month (AAM) occurs every April and aims to show support, inclusion, and acceptance for those diagnosed with autism. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurological disorders that affect brain development and can lead to challenges with social skills, language/communication, and behavior.
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Dear Society… Signed, Autism. Daniel Share-Strom, TEDxYorkUSalon
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Friday, April 28, 2023 at 7:30 pm
Scott Key Community Center
Get ready to strike a pose while you make your red-carpet debut at Frederick County Parks and Rec's first ever Sensory Friendly Prom! Put on your suit or your favorite dress, do your makeup and your hair, and get ready to have your own Hollywood-style entrance. Get the opportunity to experience Prom, dance the night away with our DJ, enjoy light refreshments, and snap a picture at our photo booth. All while in a sensory friendly environment with fewer people and quieter music.
$35 per person, caregivers are welcome with free entry.
This event is geared towards individuals with disabilities.
Advanced registration is required. Limited space is available, so we recommend that you sign up early.
Register for the Sensory Friendly Prom
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Changes are coming to Maryland Medicaid
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Do you or a family member currently have health insurance through Medicaid or the Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP)?
Changes are coming to Maryland Medicaid. Check-in to make sure your contact information—including your mailing address—is up to date so that you can receive important notices on any changes to your health insurance.
Log in to your account at https://www.marylandhealthconnection.gov/Checkin/
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In the Assistive Technology Lending Library
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NovaChat® 10 Classic AAC Device
- Measures 10.4″ L x 9.3″ W x 1.8″ D, with handle
- Weighs 2.4 lbs.
- 9.7″, 2048 x 1536 pixel display
- Fully-adjustable stand allows for a wide range of angles that stay in place
- Comes with the widely popular Chat software on an Android™ platform for familiar use
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If you are interested in our lending library or would like additional information on assistive technology, please complete an AT interest form on our website or contact our AT Specialist, Pauletta Sheppard, at psheppard@thefreedomcenter-md.org or 301-846-7811 for assistance.
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The Freedom Center is a nonprofit organization committed to providing a wide array of services to assist individuals with disabilities to live independently. Our mission is to offer services and supports to empower people with disabilities to lead self-directed, independent, and productive lives in a barrier-free community.
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