Reimagining Abilities: Recent Episodes
The Charles Lea Center
Learn more about the groundbreaking work being led by the Charles Lea Center to help people with developmental disabilities.
Join us as Charles Lea Center CEO Jerry Bernard discusses the events, expansions and victories of the Charles Lea Center in 2023. He also speaks on the goals and events of 2024.
Meet Ashley, our latest inspiring story in our “What Success Looks Like to Me” series where we focus on people served by The Charles Lea Center who have maintained employment in the Spartanburg community.
We celebrate the success of one of the people we serve. Learn more about Brittany Jones, a fantastic worker who is using her experience to inspire others to gain employment in the Spartanburg community.
Charles Lea Foundation Board Chairman Charles Clementson looks back on the 2023 Lip Sync Battle of Spartanburg and talks about the project that the money raised at this year's event will go toward.
We check in with Jasmine (Direct Support Professional) and one of the individuals she serves - Becky. Jasmine is passionate about her job! We have the greatest staff members!
Learn more about the musical talent we have at the Charles Lea Center. Several of the individuals we serve share their musical gifts.
Learn what it's like to live in one of our small group homes and meet Lead Staff Demetra Gossett along the way. At the Charles Lea Center, we strive to help the individuals we serve reach their goals, which, for many, includes living in a space they can call their own.
One of our fantastic Direct Support Professionals gives insight in to what it means to support the individuals we serve. We are thrilled to have Shannon and Jody on our team!
Lakeila Young, Supportive Living Director explains how the Charles Lea Center comes alongside individuals to help them realize their goals of living independently.
Five years later and Anthony Rogers has met his goal of living independently! It's these types of stories that bring us the most joy. Our staff absolutely adores Anthony and his mother. Listen to his journey now!
In this episode of "Reimagining Abilities," we delve into the fascinating world of the Charles Lea Center's exceptional individuals and their unique interests and hobbies. From music and movies to lip-syncing and cooking, our guests showcase their diverse passions and talents. Through their stories, we hope to break down stereotypes and highlight the incredible abilities of differently abled individuals. Join us as we celebrate the creativity, determination, and joy that these individuals bring to their lives and communities.
The Charles Lea Center is privileged to support a number of people across Spartanburg County. This week, we talk to Torrey Wilson who is a true fan of radio. He even has his own online radio station! Get to know Torrey Wilson, one of the many individuals we support.
Check out the Torrey show Sunday through Friday nights from 7:00 to 8:30 pm eastern on tor94fm at www.tor94fm.com.
Charles Lea Center's CEO Jerry Bernard talks about the Center's busy plans for 2023. From technology to staffing, the CLC is preparing for a productive year!
The Charles Lea Center will host a technology summit in January 2023 for other South Carolina organizations providing supports for people with developmental disabilities. Charles Lea Center's CEO Jerry Bernard talks about how this summit could be a game changer for how people are helped not only in the Palmetto State, but also across the country.
Just Walk (with your NP) is a walking program for everyone interested in taking steps for a healthier lifestyle. You’ll take a few minutes to learn about a current health topic from a healthcare professional, then spend the rest of the hour enjoying a healthy walk and fun conversation. Charles Lea Center's nurse practitioner Faith Burke shares why she spearheaded this project not just for the Charles Lea Center, but anyone who wants to get in step with the program.
You can learn more at https://www.walkwithadoc.org/join-a-walk/locations/spartanburg-south-carolina/.
The Charles Lea Center's reach goes far behind its walls at the main campus on Spartanburg's eastside. We offer a variety of programs that get our individuals involved in their communities. We sat down recently and talked with Evell Ellis, our programs coordinator and Anthony Long, a member of the ChesLea group to understand what our teams are doing out in the field.
LeaCares, a program of the Charles Lea Center, provides in home supports in Spartanburg, Cherokee, Laurens, Greenville, and Union counties. Services enhance, maintain, and improve quality of life while decelerating skill regression.
Trained personnel assist participants to live in their homes, avoiding alternative residential placement, through person centered, compassionate, and caring service.
For eligibility questions and to request LeaCares Services:
DDSN Intake Services 1.800.289.7012 www.ddsn.sc.gov
SC DHHS Community Long Term Care Services Healthy Connections 1.888.549.0820 www.scchoices.com
SC Thrive 1.800.726.8774 www.scthrive.org
For more information about LeaCares, contact the program director at 864.619.9519 or 864.461.7802.
Email questions about LeaCares to LeaCares@CharlesLea.org.
Each year, the Charles Lea Center Foundation mounts a massive project to ensure individuals at the Center have a great holiday season. The Foundation launched the Adopt-a-Home project that partners with groups and businesses to collect Christmas gifts that are distributed to the Charles Lea Center homes during the holidays. Sandi Horowitz with the Charles Lea Center Foundation discusses the project and explains how the community can get involved. email: Sandi-Horowitz@CharlesLea.org https://www.facebook.com/Charlesleacenterfoundation/ https://www.instagram.com/charlesleacenterfoundation/
The Charles Lea Center is a national leader when it comes to implementing technology to help people. We meet Marquise Pearson, our enabling technology manager, whose job is to look for innovative ways to use technology we take for granted to make a huge difference in the lives of our individuals.
The Charles Lea Center believes in providing an array of activities for our individuals. We talk with recreational coordinator Andrew Ruyack about what types of activities are planned throughout the community.
Charles Lea Center individuals reside in more than 100 homes and apartments located throughout Spartanburg County that are owned and/or managed by the Charles Lea Center. Residents receive care dependent upon their needs. Thanks to technology championed by the Charles Lea Center, these men and women can make a choice to live with limited care allowing them to experience independence in our group homes. Suzan Mason, senior director of supportive living and Lekeila Young, director of supportive living describe in more detail about the supports being offered.
Individuals with developmental disabilities are more prone to develop mental health issues across their lifespan. The Charles Lea Center believes it is paramount to ensure mental health awareness is one of the areas we strive to improve. The organization recently implemented a mental health first aid course. With the holidays around the corner, it is important to cultivate the well-being of those around us. In this episode of Reimagining Abilities, we talk with our nurse practioner and vice president of clinical services.
As we continue to celebrate Disability Employment Awareness month this October, we sit down with Charles Lea Center's VP of Special Projects Steve Ragland and learn more about the organization's "Center Ventures." This program offers services across Spartanburg County and gives individuals a chance for outside employment.
As we continue to celebration National Disabilities Employment Awareness month this October, we highlight the Charles Lea Center's Career Start program. Career Start works with individuals to give them the training they need to succeed in the workforce.
As we prepare to celebrate National Case Management Week, we chat with the Charles Lea Center's Stacy Bobo who talks about the important role case managers play. Case managers help bridge the gap between individuals and the agencies that provide those much needed services.
October marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The month celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices. The Charles Lea Center has been a champion for including people with disabilities in the workforce and has a plethora of programs to make this dream a reality for many. Lois Durrah is the senior vice president of the Charles Lea Center. She gives us an overview as we begin to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Welcome to the Charles Lea Center's new podcast, Reimagining Abilities. In our first episode, we talk with Charles Lea Center CEO Jerry Bernard about what listeners can expect from this podcast and how the Charles Lea Center is a nationwide leader in supports for people with developmental disabilities.