The spring of 2020 has been an unparalleled period at Grafton. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to reimagine how we safeguard the health of our clients and colleagues and altered the way we work. As always, we have rallied around a common cause and come together as one, united team.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve seen staff volunteer to change their schedules, stay overtime, and fill vacant shifts to help keep operations running smoothly. Our managers have worked tirelessly to secure hard-to-find personal protective equipment, while others have taken it upon themselves to sew homemade masks for their teammates. So many of our employees have gone above and beyond during this difficult time, and we have been truly humbled by their actions.<\/p>\n
Some of the changes we have implemented have not been easy. For much of the pandemic, leadership made the difficult decision to suspend non-essential visits between residential clients and their families. With some of the individuals we serve being medically fragile, ensuring our group homes and dorms stay virus-free has been \u2013 and continues to be \u2013 a top priority. As of today, we are happy to report that no clients in our care have tested positive for COVID-19.<\/p>\n
While our day schools and in-home therapy sessions have stopped, we are still using technology to reach and teach our clients virtually. Grafton\u2019s teachers have been hard at work creating online videos for students, including everything from sing-a-longs to storybook readings to baking lessons. If you\u2019re curious, we\u2019ve included a sampling our video lessons below this message. Grafton\u2019s Early Intervention team has also shifted to a telehealth system using video conferencing, with great success.<\/p>\n
The pandemic is not behind us yet. However, as we head into summer, we are hopeful that brighter days lie ahead. In the meantime, I am confident that Grafton\u2019s staff will continue providing outstanding care to our clients, whether it\u2019s face-to-face or on the opposite side of a webcam.<\/p>\n