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Beechwood NeuroRehab’s Clubhouse Creates “DIY with Jen” Videos

November 12, 2020

 

The Brain Injury Clubhouse at Beechwood NeuroRehab provides our clients here at Woods a unique opportunity to develop work skills through five different programs: Culinary & Nutrition, Maintenance & Horticulture; Communications; Community Resources and BeechTree (making and selling of body products). While the Clubhouse’s physical location has been closed due to the pandemic, our members haven’t missed a beat with connecting with each other virtually in creative ways.

 

Jen Love, one of our outpatients in the Community Resources Unit, has been filming a series of tutorials called “DIY with Jen” since June to inspire her co-members to tap into their creative geniuses and gain valuable life skills through crafting, which will prepare them for days back in the Clubhouse when the time comes.

 

Jen’s tutorials are posted to the Beechwood Clubhouse and Beechwood NeuroRehab Facebook pages, with the help of editing from Caroline Francis, communications unit coordinator, and filming from Jen’s one-to-one aide, Chris. Jen has shown us everything from how to create spooky Halloween home décor to making a weighted blanket for your pet, a sugar scrub for your skin, tabletop coasters from felt and pebble rocks, and so much more!

 

We sat down with Jen recently to get to know her a little more, as well as learn about the inspiration and process behind filming the DIY projects.

 

Q: What is a typical day like for you, and what do you like to do for fun?

 

Jen: I volunteer at the Women’s Animal Center. It’s the first animal center in the United States. I do that a few hours for two days out of the week. I walk dogs, feed all the animals, do laundry, clean all the kennels, clean all the dishes, do paperwork of any sort that they ask, fill up food bowls, wash dishes, wash kennels, wash litter pans, take out trash…there’s a lot.

 

I also have a lot of pets at my house. It’s my own little urban zoo. I have two dogs, three guinea pigs, one rabbit, a turtle and several fish. And I also dog sit.

 

Q: Tell us a little bit about the DIY projects. What inspired them, and how did they all start?

 

Jen: The very first one, Amanda [Elliott, unit coordinator] had asked me to do. And I was like, “OK.” And then I didn’t think I was going to have to do anymore. But then one of the new interns had asked me to do it. And I said, “Alright.” And so I started doing more of the videos, and my aide Chris and I started coming up with ideas for DIYs that would help us in our day-to-day lives and tasks, or that would maybe interest some people.

 

Q: How involved is the process of filming these videos?

 

Jen: There’s a lot of trial and error. Chris is the one who’s recording them. We’re doing a lot of testing, and sometimes the ones that we want to do don’t end up making it to the cut. So we end up just coming up with something else because it doesn’t work out.

 

Q: It seems like you have a natural talent for these kinds of projects. Have you been doing these crafts before filming the videos? Were you crafty as a young child?

 

Jen: I wouldn’t know if I was crafty when I was a kid because I don’t have any memories of myself before age 21. But, afterward, I didn’t get into crafting until, I’d say, about five or six years ago when I made my own hammock.

 

Q: What has been your favorite project to create thus far?

 

Jen: The one for my turtle tank, when I was making my filter. That one was the hardest, but it was the best one. It was my best, cheapest DIY. It was hard, and you had to use your brain for it.

 

I had the bucket, I had the bat, and I had the tubing. I just had to go purchase some more silicate and a plastic screw. And I had to purchase some more fish charcoal, but I had everything else. It was pretty nice to do things on the cheap and still be able to say, “Oh wow, I can MacGyver this!”

 

Look out for more upcoming “DIY with Jen” videos on the Beechwood Clubhouse Facebook page, and follow @Clubhouse_Beechwood on Instagram!

Author With Beechwood NeuroRehab Pens Second Book

July 9, 2020

Three years ago, Lauren McGowan, a Beechwood resident, wrote her first book. In Kayla’s World, She’s Never Afraid to Have Big Dreams, McGowan introduced us to Kayla, a character dedicated to her late best friend, Kayla Jo Young. Now, Lauren has published her second book.

 

Kayla’s World: Kayla Meets Brooke takes us back to Kayla’s childhood. We learn what it is like growing up with Cerebral Palsy, meet characters with other complex conditions, and get to read the story of an amazing girl as she goes through life’s many ups and downs.

 

While Kayla is inspired by Lauren’s friend, much of the story is based on Lauren’s own experiences growing up with Cerebral Palsy.

 

“In times like these, what keeps me going is working with amazing residents here at Woods.  Lauren, one of our wonderful residents, recently gave me her latest authored book, which she also illustrated, Kayla’s World.   Lauren writes books to represent children with disabilities, as there were few books about disabilities, such as Cerebral Palsy or autism when she grew up,” Woods President and CEO Tine Hansen-Turton said. “Lauren’s words of wisdom – through her inspirational character, Kayla, is more important than ever:  Life is beautiful, and being different is a wonderful experience.  Thanks, Lauren, for all you do.  Kayla’s World is a recommended read for all ages – children and adults”

 

Lauren hopes that children growing up with Cerebral Palsy can read this book and see themselves in the main character. Lauren shows us some of the challenges she faced growing up as well as some of the challenges faced by Brooke, a character with autism who is based on another friend of Lauren’s. Though Brooke and Kayla seem very different at first, they are able to bond, learn about each other, and grow together.

 

Lauren McGowan is a resident at Woods’ Beechwood Neurorehab. She enjoys writing, Facebook, going to the mall, spending time with her family and friends, and living life to the fullest.

 

Lauren has focused very hard on developing her craft as a writer. After her first book, she joined the Bucks County Writing Group, a community-based group that meets once a month. The members read each other’s stories and give feedback.

 

Ms. McGowan is very excited about the progress she has made as a writer. She is very passionate about her writing and feels that she has really developed her skills. Lauren’s book, Kayla’s World: Kayla Meets Brooke, is published by Shutterfly. To purchase a copy, please email the author’s manager at thmcgowan54@yahoo.com.

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Health, Wellness & Therapeutics

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  • .
  • About Woods
    • Our History
    • The Woods System of Care
    • Meet the Woods Services Leadership
    • Meet the Woods Services Board of Trustees
    • The Woods Clinical Approach
    • News & Events
  • Services
    • Short Term Residential Treatment
    • Health, Wellness, & Therapy
    • Vocational & Adult Day
      • Holland Enrichment Center
      • The Woods Enterprises
      • Yellow Daffodil
      • Common Grounds Café
      • Woods Wear
  • Education
    • An Overview of Education
  • Research Institute
  • Work With Woods
    • Employee Testimonials
    • Benefits of Working at Woods
    • Staff Development
    • Teach with Woods
  • Support Woods
    • Make a Gift to Woods
    • Join the Heart of Woods
    • Give through your Donor Advised Fund
    • Give through EITC
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Honor a Friend or Loved One
  • Admissions
    • Tour Woods
    • Email Admissions
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Admissions Team