Monday, January 30, 2023
  • Advertise
  • Submit Story Idea
  • Submit Event
  • Calendar
Arlington Today Magazine
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • People
    • Community
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
    • Uncategorized
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • People
    • Community
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
    • Uncategorized
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
Arlington Today Magazine

The gift of independence

Donna Darovich by Donna Darovich
December 20, 2016
in Community
0 0
0
The gift of independence
0
SHARES
34
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Wade Family Funeral Home Oct 2020
The Helping Restore Ability team operates the largest non-profit in Texas providing independent living services. It was founded by Sam Provence (inset) in 1977. (Photos courtesy of Helping Restore Ability)

Johnny, 55, injured his spine in a 1980 diving accident and is unable to dress or bathe himself or cook meals. But he lives alone and works full-time. Double-leg amputee Kay, 68, lives alone and drives herself to Tarrant County College where she teaches a French class.

Sandy, 51, has muscular dystrophy and no hand/arm control, but works as a Mary Kay consultant and recently competed in the Ms. Wheelchair Texas 2016, and won.

Related posts

January 3, 2023

January 2, 2023

All have the desire to live independently, pursue a career and enjoy life. And they are able to do so because the Arlington-based non-profit Helping Restore Ability (HRA) provides each with attendants who assist them with everything from bathing, dressing, cooking and errands to feeding and applying make-up.

HRA is the largest non-profit in Texas providing independent living services. Persons with any disabling condition, physical and intellectual, are eligible for their services, many of which are free or based on one’s resources.

Cerebral palsy, autism, spinal cord injury, developmental delay, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, quadriplegia and spina bifida are the most common diagnoses for which HRA provides care. Its network of more 1,700 care attendants across Texas cares for those diagnosed.

HRA, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year, was established in 1977 as the Arlington Handicapped Association by UTA student Sam Provence, who had polio but was determined to wean himself from the iron lung he lived in, so he taught himself to “frog breathe” (gulp in large gasps of air that forced his body to absorb the oxygen, so that pneumatic belt on his wheelchair would squeeze his body and force the air back out of his lungs).

Over time, he was able to lengthen the time “frog breathing” from a minute or two to more than two hours so that he could fly to Washington D.C. and meet with his Congressmen to advocate for funding to start the organization. An award in his name is given each year to recognize an individual who works diligently for disability rights.

The name of the association was changed in 1999 to better reflect its goals and mission, without the implied restrictions of the word handicapped, says Vicki Niedermayer, the organization’s chief executive officer for 15 years. “Our primary goal is simply to assist individuals to remain in their own homes (and out of institutions, including hospitals and nursing homes) for as long as possible,” she says.

About l9 percent of those HRA serves are in Arlington. “But there are likely thousands of Arlingtonites or members of their family who have disabilities but just aren’t aware that we can help,“ she says, noting that the number of clients has grown from 80 clients in 2001 to 1,000 this year.

Niedermeyer is recognized as a state leader in in the field of home health care and is on the board of the Texas Association of Home Care and Hospice.

HRA is funded through grants, individuals and corporate donors, and recently received a grant from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation that funded enrollment costs for 50 new clients this past year.

HRA has also been selected for inclusion in the Greatest Gift Catalog Ever for the fourth year in a row. The catalog helps connect donors and potential donors by noting the impact of their giving. The link to the catalog is thegreatestgiftevercatalog.org.

HRA will celebrate its 40th anniversary May 20 at Park Place Motorcars Mercedes in Arlington. Details are on its website at helpingrestoreability.org It also has a Facebook page.


 

Related Posts

  • Arlington Entrepreneurs

    A spotlight on Arlington business owners and what makes them unique.

  • Guide to Arlington Healthcare

    A guide to physicians and healthcare resources in and around Arlington...

  • Arlington On Tap

    Popular happy hour lecture series returns next month with an eclectic speaker assembly

Tags: Helping Restore Ability
Prippie Oct 2020

Follow Us

  • But first   coffee    The Arlington Dunkin    located at 5801 Office Park Dr  today announced it will help keep the community running with a happy hour celebration offer throughout the remainder of August  Every day beginning now through Monday  August 31  guests can power through the rest of the month and receive a FREE  Medium Hot or Iced Coffee with any purchase from 2-6 PM   On behalf of local Arlington Dunkin    franchisee  Hiren Patel  Dunkin    is proud to keep Arlington running throughout the month of August
  • Nothing soothes the soul like a trip to the Majestic Smoky Mountains  Read all about the Greene family   s    COVID-cation    and travel safety in the link in our bio
  • Read the latest message from UTA   s interim president  Teik C  Lim  by clicking the link in our bio
  • The City of Arlington announces Unity Council  Read all about this positive way for the city in the link in our bio
  • Here   s to the All Stars  Click the link in our bio to find the complete list of Arlington Today   s 2020 All Star businesses in over 160 categories
  • Put DFW Restaurant week on YOUR calendar  Support your favorite Arlington and local DFW restaurants this August 31-September 6 during restaurant week    For more info and participating restaurants  click the link in our bio
  • This Arlington radio station is making movie magic   Read all about Crystal Vasquez and her upcoming documentary about local radio station     The Ticket     by clicking the link in our bio
  • With the school year starting soon  it   s important to know what   s going on  Read all about AISD and MISD   s back to school plans in the link in our bio
  • August is for the All Stars        Click the link in our bio to read our latest edition of Arlington Today and check out your local All  Star businesses
  • 12 Mighty Orphans: There’s a fascinating ‘story behind the story’ regarding this fine film

    12 Mighty Orphans: There’s a fascinating ‘story behind the story’ regarding this fine film

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • March Scene

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Visionary Who Didn’t Give Up

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Boot-scootin’ Boogie

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • In case of emergency: Mansfield Fire Department introduces the ‘Vial of Life’ initiative to keep residents on the ready

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Arlington Today Magazine

Arlington Texas Area News and Events Magazine

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

  • (no title)
  • (no title)
  • (no title)

Category

  • Arlington News
  • Business and Education
  • Commentary
  • Community
  • Design and Interiors
  • Featured
  • People
  • Scene
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized
  • Wellness

Recent News

January 18, 2023

January 18, 2023
  • Advertise
  • Submit Story Idea
  • Submit Event
  • Calendar

© 2022 Arlington Today - Designed by Advent Trinity Marketing Agency Web Design

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Arlington News
    • Community
    • People
    • Commentary
    • Business and Education
    • Featured
    • Wellness
    • Scene
    • Design and Interiors
  • Digital Editions
  • Join the Newsletter
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Arlington Today - Designed by Advent Trinity Marketing Agency Web Design

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add Arlington Today Magazine to your Homescreen!

Add