I am not directly involved with WFC but I have had the wonderful experience of attending fund raisers and other special events, and have met many of the staff and therapists there. The thing that stands out most in my mind about my experiences with WFC is the way they celebrate the lives of the people they serve and the passion that drives them. An example of that passion is the creation of the sensory park. I learned from the staff how the park started with a small, "I wonder if we could...", that turned into a unified brainstorm among them with no limitations! The result was a huge plan to make a park that enhances the lives of the resedents and individuals served by WFC, and then to have a big celebration and dedication of the park. My family and I attended the dedication and we were all touched by the love, the unity, and the passion of everyone involved. The spirit of the people, staff and clients is definately contagious. As I said before, I am not directly involved with WFC but I hope to be in the near future. I would truely be blessed to be a part of their mission.
I have had the chance to participate in training at Wendell Fosters campus. I have always enjoyed the training and found it benefits my job. They are close by, cost effective and always very sincere in the work they do. I have recommended several community individuals to turn to Wendell Foster for services in assisting with Austim Spectrum Disorders.
I have had the wonderful opportunity to work at Wendell Fosters Campus for Developmental Disabilities for 15 years in the Outpatient Therapy Department. I have also had the pleasure of bringing my son when he was a young child to the campus to receive outpatient Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy services. The Campus strives to ensure that their professional staff are adequately trained to meet the needs of a variety of individuals with a multitude of abilities. They put the individuals they serve first and ensure they receive high quality services. The campus has a wide variety of Assistive Technology equipment available to them to better serve the needs of individuals with multiple disabilities. The campus also provides trained Assistive Technology Professionals in Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy to facilitate the use of this cutting edge technology.
As a former employee of WFC for eight years I believe no other facility has such a profound impact on the lives of multi-handicapped indivduals as the WFC.
The employees are dedicated to the well-being of the individuals served and through therapies and active daily living skills, many clients have gone on to more independent living that was never dreamed of years ago.
There is a commerical that runs on CBS every spring about the Masters Golf Tournament stating, "A tradition unlike any other.." Well, you can say that about WFC, "A tradition unlike any other..."
My brother was a resident of the WFC for 49 years. He came to the Fosters as a baby, very early in the development of this fine place. My Mother was on the Board for most of her adult years, all our family volunteered in preparing food, painting walls, cleaning floors, helping procure and donate funds, thru my entire life. We are very proud to have been a small part of the growth. The facility has many facets and we have not found one that hasn't excelled! All the therapies are state-of-the-art, the care is top notch, cleanliness is outstanding and the staff is so loving and gentle with this group of special people. It is a very respected home for many special needs folks and a great service to the community for others who use it.
2 1/2 years ago I moved from Kentucky to Nashville, Tennessee. I left behind the most fulfilling experience of my life outside of my salvation through Jesus Christ and the birth of my children. I was the Director of Nursing at WFC for a very short four years. I went there with several years experience as a nurse in long term care (nursing home), but I wanted to venture into a new horizon. It took a very few short weeks for me to become acclamated to the absolutely beautiful, state of the art facility and the residents that live there. I must admit, I was apprehensive in the beginning, but soon these guys stole my heart. Even though I knew God wanted us to move to Tennessee it didn't make it any easier when I submitted my resignation. I felt a part of my heart die that day...I cried for the next thirty days. It's been 2 1/2 years since then and it still brings tears to my eyes to just think of how much everyone meant to me, but most of all I miss the unconditional love each resident bestowed on those of us that have and had the rare privilege and honor of being allowed to be a part of their lives. In my new job I often have an opportunity to "advertise" Wendell Fosters Campus to folks seeking a more appropriate placement than a nursing home for their loved one's future residence. When I was in the midst of one of these conversations with a co-worker I began to cry at the very mention of the name Josh, Andrew, John, Robbie, Megan Leigh, etc. The co-worker stated, but Sharon, "you've just got to remember how much you helped change their lives." It was at that moment God made it so very, very clear to me what had really happened and without missing a beat I had to say it, "No, don't you see, I didn't change them.......they...changed me....forever." I could go on and on with this emotional outpouring, but suffice it to say I've never been associated with a more pure hearted, loving, caring and dedicated group of people than those that I knew at Wendell Fosters Campus...both residents and employees. They will forever be in my heart and part of the fabric of my life.
I have visited and served on committees at Wendell Foster since as far back as 35-40 years. I have an adult disabled daughter whom lives with me and has for 43 years. I have seen Wendell Foster change and grow over these years, and have seen the good that they do and the change in peoples lives that they have made. My own daughter is on the state SCL waiting list, and Wendell Foster is my placement of choice for her when I can no longer care for her.
I am an artist, and this year have done art classes with the Hugh E. Sandefur Work Program at Wendell Foster. I work on a VSA grant through the state of KY and have done so in my hometown of Henderson, where Hugh E. Sandefur Training Center is located, for several years. The staff and clients at Wendell Foster Center program have made me feel welcome, been very helpful, and I have enjoyed getting to know them. More importantly, the director of the work program, and the staff, are very respectful toward the clients, as well.
Wendell Foster does good work, and is deserving of the support of the citizens of Owensboro, as well as surrounding areas.
It is my opinion as a lifelong caregiver and mother of a disabled young woman that Wendell Foster is an excellent facility providing a much needed service to the disabled folks in our midst.
Wendell Fosters Campus is an amazing place to be a part of. The therapies that they offer with all the hands on that the residents or the clients get to have. I don't know very much about the therapies due to the fact that I work in one of the cottages there at Wendell Foster. So I do have a hands on experience all the time with the residents that live there. From my understanding from my residents that I help assist, they enjoy their therapies and the other things that they do during the day. The residents take pride in the new Sensory Park that was just built a little over a year ago.
It is an awesome feeling working in the cottages with the residents. You assist them with daily tasks and hygiene. Plus nothing beats the feeling you get when some one walks in and one of the residents' face just lights up. They really enjoy going out into the community and doing normal everyday things that we do. I love being able to say that I'm a part of the Wendell Foster Campus' Staff. I take pride in my work to help some one work toward a goal that they have set. Nothing beats that feeling when you leave to go home, knowing you have helped those residents work toward a potential goal or helped them set a goal to work toward.
While not having direct contact from the client standpoint I have had positive contact with the staff and administration.
I have not met a more dedicated or professional group that deal with the special clientel that are served by Wendell Foster Center. They keep themselves up to date and educated so as to provide the best service possible. They also see to it that the participants have input and a say in how things are done. They take great pains to see that the residents are integrated into the Owensboro community.
The center facilities are clean, modern and constructed for the needs of the people they serve. They are constantly looking for ways to enhance the property and the area surrounding it. A recent outdoor park attached to the main facilities allows for the interaction with the outdoors and the relaxation it provides.