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Celebrating Brooke’s 10th Anniversary at TVS

Celebrating Brooke’s 10th Anniversary at TVS

“I knew I wanted to help and give back because I can’t imagine doing anything else,” said TVS INTERACT Program Supervisor Brooke Wilson. “There is never a question if I am helping people; I see it every day.” Brooke is celebrating her 10th anniversary of serving and giving back to individuals with disabilities at Transylvania Vocational Services (TVS).

Brooke has been the INTERACT Program Supervisor for the past three years. She is responsible for creating meaningful and engaging activities, setting individual goals and independent plans for each participant and keeping detailed documentation and reports. But her favorite part of the job is getting to be a Direct Support Professional (DSP). “I enjoy getting to jump in and watch them grow and laugh,” she says. “It fuels me when someone is successful, meeting a goal, and growing as a self-advocate and gaining independence.”

In the beginning

Brooke was hired as a DSP in 2014 and promoted over the years to Activity Coordinator and the INTERACT Team Mentor. “Brooke is an exceptional employee.  She has worked in many capacities, DSP, mentor to other DSPs, and is currently supervisor,” said Program Director Carla Hill. “She believes in our mission and purpose, making every effort to ensure that our participants and staff are having meaningful experiences.” 

After graduating high school, Brooke lived in Charleston, Portugal, and Little Rock, Arkansas where she graduated from Arkansas State University with her bachelor’s in criminal justice and minors in sociology, internationals studies, and forensic psychology before moving back home to Brevard in 2011.

“It was actually my senior project in high school along with my personal relationship with friends and family in the disability community that pushed me in this career direction,” said Brooke. “My senior project was helping a woman with down syndrome read and explore the community. This is the experience that lit my fire.”

Describing Brooke

Described as compassionate, encouraging, hardworking, and fun. Brooke has flourished in her INTERACT Supervisor position. “She is always focused on being person-centered and doing what is best for the participants, guided by their interests and needs,” says Program Manager Suzanne Byers.

It takes a special kind of person to be a DSP. “An individual in this position must be able to change directions in a second, work alone with multiple disabled individuals at one time, be aware of and keep all those individuals safe, be engaging with everyone, and be a mentor,” says TVS Employee Support Specialist Tracie Fisher. “It requires a person with a certain character and heart, and Brooke is the perfect example of that. She is a very caring and selfless individual, and it shows in her role at TVS.”

Thinking back over the last decade, Brooke smiles exclaiming, “there are too many favorite moments!” She reflects on numerous company picnics and Christmas parties, Racquet Club pool trips and playing pickleball and ping pong, visiting Sky Top Apple Orchard, the Asheville Art Museum, Arboretum, Carl Sandburg House, PARI, gingerbread houses at the Grove Park Inn, Night to Shine Proms, hikes at Gorges State Park, reimagining Avery’s Place with adventures such as the recent Christmas Cruise and Harry Potter Christmas, and TVS dances.

“I dressed up and danced as a dinosaur at this past Halloween dance,” said Brooke. “Our folks kept asking what I was dressing up as and I told them they would have to wait and see. When they figured it out, we could not stop laughing.”

Tracie also laughs thinking back on Brooke at the TVS dances, “She gets right out there and encourages everyone, even the DSPs, to boogie. She is everyone’s biggest cheerleader and supporter. Brooke is, and will always be, one of my favorite parts of my TVS time.”

According to INTERACT participants, Brooke “has a good heart and is fun to be around.” She also happens to be a “good cornhole partner with a good sense of humor.”

Outside of work

When not at TVS, Brooke can be found doing a lot of similar things such as outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and swimming. She also can be found with tie dyed hands shopping in a thrift store. Some of her favorite things are babies, the movie Elf, and her family. Brooke is married to her husband, Jamie, and is a proud mom of three; Haiden, Maybrie, and Kennedy.

“Brooke is a sweet person. Our friendship grew when we realized we were cousins and noticed how much we resemble each other,” laughs TVS Housekeeping Supervisor James Gardin. “All jokes aside, she is a very important piece of TVS and in my life, even if she is a ‘Dukie’ or a Duke fan.”

She believes that people should never be underestimated because you never know what they are capable of; give them some time and they will show you. Brooke quotes Neurologist, Oliver Sacks, “I wish for a world that views disability, mental or physical, not as a hindrance but as unique attributes that can be seen as powerful assets if given the right opportunities.”

“I have met some of the most incredible people, coworkers and participants alike, at TVS. They have the same passion and heart for this work and that is something I will carry with me forever,” Brooke reflects. “They have all impacted my life in ways that I could never even come close to doing the same in theirs.”

Borrowed from an INTERACT participant, “Hope for the best but prepare for the rest” is a fun twist on the popular saying, “hope for the best but prepare for the worst.” Brooke prefers the updated version because she doesn’t believe in bad days – just days with different challenges. She says, “I get excited when getting ready for the day. It’s a new adventure and I look forward to what’s next.”

TVS & Mountain Sun Community School Partnership Highlighted for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

TVS & Mountain Sun Community School Partnership Highlighted for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

In honor of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and its annual campaign highlighting how people with and without disabilities come together to form strong communities; Transylvania Vocational Services (TVS) is proudly celebrating our community partnership, “Reading Buddies,” with Mountain Sun Community School.

The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) 2024 theme, “A World of Opportunities” aims to raise awareness about inclusion of people with Developmental Disabilities (DD) in all areas of community life and reminds us to explore the work still needed to remove barriers.

TVS and Mountain Sun Community School have been working together since 2018 with the Reading Buddies program. “This partnership helps the TVS participants learn leaderships skills, along with helping the students and participants to have relationships with others that are not paid service providers,” said TVS DSP Ashleigh Alquiza. “When you look at communities and individuals with DD, there is a critical divide that sometimes separates rather than includes them. Reading Buddies is helping bridge that gap.”

Participants join students every other Friday for reading and literacy activities. Each group ranging from five to six students plus a TVS participant showcase creativity by creating skits, crafts, songs, and dances to accompany the readings.

“Through our adventures with Mountain Sun Community School we have grown, gained confidence, and made some lifelong friendships,” said TVS INTERACT Supervisor Brooke Wilson. “A true partnership is about people listening to one another and working together to accomplish a common goal. Each person contributes in their own unique way and with respect and learning for all.”

This partnership offers TVS participants opportunities to develop leadership skills while encouraging long lasting relationships in an inclusive and mutually benefiting environment. 

“Our class reading lessons are far more engaging with our [TVS] Reading Buddies here,” said Brigid Cameron, Mountain Sun Community School Teacher. “Concepts such as literal and figurative, inferring, setting, or plot are the main focus for our morning lessons, but the real learning is about working with diversity.”

The benefits of this community partnership stretch past the immediate benefits of reading and literacy. Each individual and student is developing self-advocacy skills, gaining confidence, and creating problem-solving skills with life-long friendships.

“I have seen children grow more comfortable with diversity, engage more fully with new people and guests, and their creativity and openness expand,” reflected Cameron. “Having a break from our Reading Buddy program during COVID impressed upon me the need we all have to embrace the beautiful friendships we have created with our class and our friends who learn with us every other Friday.”

Mountain Sun Community School holistically nurtures, challenges, and guides each unique child to discover academic skills using Montessori principles, explore the natural world, create through self-expression, and belong to a collaborative, diverse, and peaceful community. We invite you to learn more at: https://mountainsunschool.org/

Read in the Transylvania Times

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TVS Participants ‘Bake for Good’ with King Arthur Baking Company

TVS Participants ‘Bake for Good’ with King Arthur Baking Company

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Transylvania Vocational Services (TVS) participants from INTERACT spent last Friday morning learning how to bake scones from scratch with the King Arthur Bake for Good program thanks to the recent partnership between TVS and King Arthur Baking Company.

“Baking is a wonderful way to connect with others,” said Bake for Good Program Manager Amy Driscoll. “We were thrilled to have a chance to meet some of our TVS partners and share our love of baking.”

Bake for Good is King Arthur Baking Company’s free outreach program with the main goals to learn, bake, and share. TVS participants practiced math and science skills while making scones from scratch.

They learned to measure dry ingredients, mix in butter, and were able to customize their scones with either blueberry jammy bits or cinnamon.

“Even our participants that don’t like to get their hands dirty were kneading and working the butter and flour mixtures like champs,” said TVS INTERACT Supervisor Brooke Wilson. “Working with King Arthur crew was a wonderful experience – everyone was kind, helpful, and inclusive.”

Each baker made half a dozen scones to enjoy later and share with family and friends. After the event, the INTERACT team was able to keep the extra baking supplies to support their baking club at TVS.

“The Bake for Good event was a great way to show how business and mission can be even more interconnected,” said TVS VP of Business Development and Marketing Beth Rich. “Having King Arthur as a partner is a benefit to TVS and our community in so many different ways, and we could not be happier working with them.”

Looking ahead, King Arthur Baking Company will be in the Greenville area from November 2 – December 22 for their pop-up store and has plans to continue teaching the Bake for Good program in schools across Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina.

TVS Programs Receive Highest Mark on 2023 CARF Audit

TVS Programs Receive Highest Mark on 2023 CARF Audit

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TVS recently received a 3-year Accreditation from CARF, International. The accreditation is an indication of TVS’ dedication and commitment to improving the lives of the individuals we serve in our group homes, day programs, and employment services. TVS was reviewed against 1,126 Quality Standards. At that end of the review, there were no recommendations! Now that is something to be proud of!  According to CARF, an accreditation report that identifies no recommendations is achieved in only 3 percent of CARF surveys.

“What an accomplishment,” said Program Director Carla Hill. “This achievement by TVS is the result of many caring and dedicated Direct Support Professionals and Supervisors who believe that helping individuals have the lives they choose is good for the individuals and the community.”

At TVS, CARF evaluates our employment supports, job development, group homes, INTERACT, and Life Skills. The CARF accreditation is an acknowledgement of quality and TVS has been proudly accredited since 1984!

Want to know more about our CARF accreditation?
Click here to view our TVS Programs Monthly Newsletter, In The Loop!

Successful Art Showing for TVS No Limits Artists

Successful Art Showing for TVS No Limits Artists

Party Animal - acrylic on wood uses abstract lines and colors to create a fun and colorful cow sticking out its tongue.

During the month of April, the art exhibit “Just Passing Through” was shown at the Transylvania Community Art Council (TCArts) gallery. This annual show promoting the Transylvania Vocational Services (TVS) “No Limits” artists highlights a variety of subject matter, different medias, and lots of color.

“At the Arts Council, we look forward to the “No Limits” artists’ exhibition each year. The quality and variety of the artwork in the exhibition is exceptional, and each artist has his or her own unique style,” said TCArts Executive Director Kathy King. “My favorite part of the show is the opening reception and visiting with the No Limits artists, most of whom really enjoy talking about their artwork – and seeing it exhibited in the Gallery.”

This year the TCArts hosted two separate opening receptions to accommodate all the “No Limits” artists. Both day and evening receptions welcomed community members, family members, and artists as well as snacks and beverages for refreshments. Visitors had a variety of painted animals, geometrically country quilts squares, and other nature themed media to see.

“From the flowers to the feet, to all the funky animals we painted, it was all a lot of fun. Many days we went home covered in paint ourselves,” laughed TVS INTERACT Supervisor Brooke Wilson.

TCArts remits 100% of the sales price to the artists and this year, the gallery did exceptionally well with 75% of the artwork having been sold.

“I feel like after the first few hours of the show being on display it was already a success. In my opinion, success is measured by much more than just monetary value,” reflected Wilson. “Success was looking around the gallery and seeing nothing but smiles and joyful conversations amongst the artists, families, and community members.”

Looking ahead, the TVS “No Limits” artists will be featured at the Transylvania Chamber of Commerce as their featured Artist of the Month in August and is planning an internal holiday themed art sale near the end of the year. 

Click here to read the Transylvania Times article about the event.

Highlights from Just Passing Through