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(July 2024, Spring, TX)   The month of August begins with National Girlfriend’s Day and sparkle events is hosting a Garden Party Brunch complete with Derby-style hats. The event is set to raise awareness for TEAM Abilities, an agency that serves adults with special needs through Day Habilitation and Community Living care.

“We are going to have a lot of fun along with a sumptuous brunch,” said Rachel Jelks, Founder & CEO of TEAM Abilities. “We will have cash giveaways for the biggest Derby-style hat, People’s Choice and more.”

The Garden Party event will be an eloquent way to raise funds and awareness for the special needs community and how TEAM Abilities is serving adults who have nowhere else to turn. There is also space for those who wish to be vendor at the event. 

“Many of our Team Members, which is what we call our residents, are wards of the state. We are their everything. I often think, if not for us, where would they be?” said Jelks.

The event will take place at the new and spacious Team Abilities’ day habilitation building located at 611 Westridge Drive in Spring which sits under a canopy of trees. There attendees can pull from the “Wishing Magnolia” for items like notebooks, markers, backbacks, and such in efforts to provide items for Team Members who reside in TEAM Abilities 19 Community Living homes.

TEAM is an acronym for Together Everyone Achieves More which goes along with the philosophy of the agency stating TEAM Abilities is not a holding place for those with special needs, but a place for them to reside and thrive in life. TEAM Abilities also has a Supported Employment program so that Team Members can secure jobs, feeling both independent and productive.

“We hope everyone will turn out for this inaugural event that promises to be so much fun and so rewarding,” said Jelks.

The Garden Party Brunch event will be held Saturday, August 3, 11:30am-2:30pm at 611 Westridge Drive in Spring. For more information on becoming a vendor or to reserve a $35 ticket, call or text Donna at 832-790-2879 or go to www.MyTeamAbilities.com.

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TEAM Abilities staff stands outside their new building located at 611 Westridge Drive in Spring! The Open House has been rescheduled for Thursday, July 25. The public is invited for special needs families.

 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, TEAM Abilities has rescheduled their Open House and 14-Year Anniversary Party to Thursday, July 25.

"We have waited for so long to move into our new building after setting our sights on this location more than a year ago," says Rachel Jelks, Founder and CEO of TEAM Abilities. "We want to celebrate with our community, but Hurricane Beryl had other plans!"

The agency, which serves adults with special needs through Day Habilitation/ISS and Community Living Homes, moved into its new location after more than a decade at its previous Spring location. 

"The new location is just around the corner from where we had been for more than a decade so those families needing to drop off their special needs loved ones had the same convenience they enjoyed previously," says Jelks. "We have a robust day program and 19 Community Living Homes to serve the ever-growing demand for short- and long-term solutions for families in need."

The Open House invites families with special needs to tour their facility and to learn more about how TEAM Abilities can assist them. The agency is also celebrating its 14-year anniversary and is one of the leading agencies for adults with special needs in both Montgomery and Harris counties. 

"TEAM Abilities takes all levels of need and all levels of care distinguishing us from most other agencies," says Jelks. "So those families who have special needs loved ones with behaviors or are nonverbal or have a juvenile record or need total care, etc. can find a home and care with us."

The agency is located at 611 Westridge Drive in Spring off Budde Road. The Thursday, July 25 Open House event is free, offers light bites and the public is invited. 

For more information, please go to www.MyTeamAbilities.com or call/text Donna at 832-790-2879.

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The TEAM Abilities staff stands outside their new location at 611 Westridge Drive. The Open House has been rescheduled for Thursday, July 25.

 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, TEAM Abilities has rescheduled their Open House and 14-Year Anniversary Party to Thursday, July 25.

"We have waited for so long to move into our new building after setting our sights on this location more than a year ago," says Rachel Jelks, Founder and CEO of TEAM Abilities. "We want to celebrate with our community, but Hurricane Beryl had other plans!"

The agency, which serves adults with special needs through Day Habilitation/ISS and Community Living Homes, moved into its new location after more than a decade at its previous Spring location. 

"The new location is just around the corner from where we had been for more than a decade so those families needing to drop off their special needs loved ones had the same convenience they enjoyed previously," says Jelks. "We have a robust day program and 19 Community Living Homes to serve the ever-growing demand for short- and long-term solutions for families in need."

The Open House invites families with special needs to tour their facility and to learn more about how TEAM Abilities can assist them. The agency is also celebrating its 14-year anniversary and is one of the leading agencies for adults with special needs in both Montgomery and Harris counties. 

"TEAM Abilities takes all levels of need and all levels of care distinguishing us from most other agencies," says Jelks. "So those families who have special needs loved ones with behaviors or are nonverbal or have a juvenile record or need total care, etc. can find a home and care with us."

The agency is located at 611 Westridge Drive in Spring off Budde Road. The Thursday, July 25 Open House event is free, offers light bites and the public is invited. 

For more information, please go to www.MyTeamAbilities.com or call/text Donna at 832-790-2879.

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Blessing the Building The Church Project stands with TEAM Abilities' founder and CEO, Rachel Jelks, as they bless the building before the agency sets up their new Day Hab!

(July 2024/Spring, TX) TEAM Abilities, an agency that serves adults with special needs through ISS
services and Community Living, has relocated to a new facility after being at their previous location for nearly a decade.


“Services for the special needs community have grown and unfortunately, will continue to grow,” said
Rachel Jelks, Founder and CEO of TEAM Abilities. “Because we take all levels of need and all levels
of care, our agency is growing leaps and bounds due to our all-encompassing range of services for
the IDD community. We don’t turn anyone away. There aren't too many agencies like ours so the demand is high."


TEAM, an acronym for Together Everyone Achieves More, Abilities has one of the most robust ISS
and Community Living programs in Montgomery and Harris counties.


“Our ISS program, formerly referred to as Day Habilitation or Day Hab, offers in-room crafting, life-
skills training, and off-site field trips even as far as Waco to visit the Dr. Pepper museum! It’s our
philosophy to expose our Team Members to life and all the wonder and adventure we can involve
them in,” said Jelks. “For those in one of our 19 Community Living homes, we offer weekend outings
and game nights. We provide countless opportunities for our Team Members to thrive in life. We also
provide Supported Employment for those seeking jobs.”


Their new location at 611 Westridge Drive in Spring is very close to their previous location making it
easy for parents and guardians to continue to drop off their loved ones. Their hours are still the same,
8am to 4pm, Monday thru Friday.


“We are so happy to be in our new location, a space we have had our sights set on for more than a
year,” said Jelks. “As a faith-based agency we are grateful to our landlord and neighbor Church
Project who blessed the building for us before moving in. This is our divine space and we are so
grateful.”


The agency will be celebrating their 14-year Anniversary and Open House on Thursday, July 11, from 5pm-7pm
and the public is invited to join us and tour the Team Abilities’ new location.


TEAM Abilities can be reached at MyTeamAbilities.com, Facebook, Instagram or by calling Donna at
832-790-2879. The agency is always looking for great staff and enthusiastic volunteers.

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International Women’s Day Event Set for March 8, Houston

Be who you came to Be. Do what you came to Do.

 

March 8 will prove transformational for International Women’s Day as Houston has put together a stellar lineup of speakers, workshops, shopping and self-care indulgence for women to realize their purpose, power and passion for 2024.

Keynote speakers and Influencers will command the stage offering compelling stories of achievement, success, self-discovery, overcoming and triumph over tragedy. Renown Houston Top Lawyer, Sofia Adrogue, host of Latina Voices and Style Influencer, Theresa Roemer, entrepreneur and business coach are just two of the illustrious headliner speakers to take the stage to share their stories.

“We all have something to share with each other and something to learn from each other,” Theresa Roemer said. “This is going to be a fantastic opportunity to speak with women who would otherwise be outside one’s circle of influence. I encourage all women to set this time aside to grow and to become all they hope to be. If you have a dream, then you need to be here!”

All the women scheduled to speak have captivating stories to share letting attendees know that there is no challenge too great, no dream too lofty and no time like the present to achieve the life they’ve always dreamed of.

“This is an ‘all gold-no rubble’ day. This isn’t about motivational platitudes and hollow promises of who one is and what is possible for them,” said Donna Wick, co-host of the International Women’s Day conference. “This is a touch day! This event is going to be about ‘you know what you want to do, you know what’s in your heart and here are the tools, wisdom and inspiration so you can make that happen’ with dynamic keynote speeches, workshops and break-out sessions. This event is about becoming all that one has thought possible for themselves. You will leave touched, transformed and renewed in what you thought possible for yourself.”

Our Lady of the Lake University is the Premier Sponsor for the event and the venue where the event will take place.

“This is the perfect venue for the International Women’s Day conference,” said Angela Frederick, event co-host with Donna Wick. “Having graduated from OLLU, I know full well their commitment to empowering women. This is going to be a breakthrough day for women!  The stories are incredible and the women presenters are the best of the best.”

Additional keynote speakers are Felicia Lee-White, LaTosha Davis Moore, Misty W. Gilbert, Kimberley Nicole Sprintz, Rachel Jelks, Dr. Lorelle Strong Rich, as well as the co-hosts, Angela Frederick and Donna Wick. Each speaker has their own unique message and will offer a breakout session throughout the day so attendees can glean the wisdom they desire.

“All our presenters have amazing stories of pushing through to ‘be who they came to be and to do what they came to do’. We are excited about will happen during the day for all our attendees,” Wick said.

In addition to a day chockful of information and inspiration, there will be three grand prize give-a-ways, namely: $500 cash Seed Money for one lucky woman to fund her dreams, $150 Office Depot gift card to set up one’s office, and an iPAD to get started with the right equipment.

For more information, discount ticket prices, go to www.IWDHTX.com. Our Lady of the Lake University is located at 600 N. Sam Houston Parkway in Houston. The event will take place Friday, March 8, beginning at 8:30am and ending at 4:30pm. Free Parking.

 

DW OMNIMEDIA is a diversified Media, PR/Marketing, Promotion, Publishing & Merchandising Group to enlighten, uplift and renew the human spirit. www.DonnaWickOmnimedia.com

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Team Abilities to benefit vital community agency.

 

TEAM Abilities, a local agency that serves adults with special needs, is hosting a sock drive to benefit Star of Hope Mission in Houston.

"We know that 'together we can' when thinking about serving the needs of our community," Rachel Jelks said, Founder and Executive Director of TEAM Abilities in The Woodlands. "Our agency depends on the generosity of others as do most nonprofits in our community. Monthly TEAM Abilities finds a way to serve our community by giving to the Montgomery County Food Bank, the Conroe Salvation Army and more."

Star of Hope Mission is a Christ-centered community supporting Houston’s homeless men, women and children. They encourage positive life changes through programs in spiritual growth, education, employment, life management and substance abuse recovery. 

"We are asking for socks of all sizes for both youth and adults," Jelks said. 

TEAM Abilities serves adults with special needs through day habilitation programs and community living homes. The agency is located at 1029 Pruitt Road in the Spring/Woodlands area and is open from 9 am to 4:30 pm. 

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March 8 is the designated day for International Women’s Day and Houston has put together a stellar lineup of speakers, workshops, shopping and self-care indulgence for women to realize their purpose, power and passion for 2024.

“This will be a rubber hits the road day, not a day of false platitudes and hollow promises of who one is and what is possible for them,” said Donna Wick, co-host of the International Women’s Day conference. “The event is going to be about ‘you know what you want to do, you know what’s in your heart and here are the tools, wisdom and inspiration so you can make that happen’ with dynamic keynote speeches, workshops and break-out sessions. This event is about becoming all that one has thought possible for themselves.”

Our Lady of the Lake University is the Premier Sponsor for the event and the venue where the event will take place.

“This is the perfect venue for the International Women’s Day conference,” said Angela Frederick, event co-host with Donna Wick. “Having graduated from OLLU, I know full well their commitment to empowering women. This is going to be a breakthrough day for women!”

In addition to a day chockful of information and inspiration, there will be a Beauty Bar featuring headshots, makeovers and massages. There will also be three grand prize give-a-ways, namely: $500 cash Seed Money for one lucky woman to fund her dreams, $150 Office Depot gift card to set up one’s office, and an iPAD to get started with the right equipment.

For more information, discount ticket prices and speaker lineup, go to www.IWDHTX.com. Our Lady of the Lake University is located at 600 N. Sam Houston Parkway in Houston. The event will take place Friday, March 8, beginning at 8:30am and ending at 4:30pm. Free Parking.

 

DW OMNIMEDIA is a diversified Media, PR/Marketing, Promotion, Publishing & Merchandising Group designed to Enlighten, Uplift and Renew the Human Spirit. www.DonnaWickOmnimedia.com

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Monday, December 5 & 12, Bullritos at Cypresswood is hosting Christmas movie night for children, free. On Monday, December 5, the eatery will feature The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and on Monday, December 12, the feature will be Peanuts Christmas. Each child will receive chips and queso with small drink.

“We are the new owners of this location and our vision is to become a local community hub offering great food, good fun and a family environment,” said Rachel Jelks, owner of the Spring Bullritos location. “We love this time of year and are looking forward to hosting two exciting movie nights for children! We hope to build a community of families at our Bullritos location!”

The movie events will be held Mondays, December 5 and 12, 4PM-5PM, at the Bullritos located at 20053 I-45 No in Spring next to the Office Depot. The event is FREE! For more information, please call Donna at 832-790-2879.

 

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Local owners want to be Spring’s community hub for Food, Fun and Family

Saturday, December 3, Bullritos at Cypresswood is offering children an opportunity to have Tacos with Santa! The event is FREE and will be held from 11:30-12:30 at the Bullritos located at 20053 I-45 No in Spring. Children will receive a crispy beef taco, small drink and cookie after whispering their wish lists to Santa Claus himself.

“We are the new owners of this location and our vision is to become a local community hub offering great food, good fun and a family environment,” said Rachel Jelks, owner of the Spring Bullritos location. “We have several events during the month of December for the family like Grinch movie night on Monday, December 5 and the Peanuts Christmas movie night on Monday, December 12.”

In addition to these Christmas offerings, Bullritos will also be hosting two Sunday Jazz Brunches. December 11 they will feature Mark Scurlock Jr for Jazz & Tamales Brunch. And on December 18 Bullritos will feature Scurlock, Jr again for Jazz & Gumbo. One can find all the goings-on for this location on their Facebook page, #BullritosInSpring.

“We are a tight-knit family and even have a mural painted inside the location of how my husband and I met right here in Spring. The mural is a great tribute to our family,” Jelks said. “We grew up right here in Spring and attended Spring High School where my sons now attend and play football. We hope the community will stop in at one of our events and say ‘hello’!”

The Tacos with Santa event will be held Saturday, December 3, 11:30AM-12:30PM at the Bullritos located at 20053 I-45 No in Spring next to the Office Depot. The event is FREE! For more information, please call Donna at 832-790-2879.

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Navigating Transition for Graduating Special Needs Students

Where to look for expert care, continued structure and affordable options

 

High school graduation is a time for celebration, but it is also a time of transition that affects the entire family. With a new routine, many individuals with IDD and their families find it difficult to adjust to the new lifestyle. Many will find that they will require new resources to assist with care, but where does the journey begin?

“For families with special needs children, high school graduation can be an eye-opener as they try to plan next steps for their children,” said Rachel Jelks, executive director and founder of Team Abilities. “Even though their child may be able to stay in the school system for a few years longer, exiting at 21 years of age, the transition is inevitable.”

There are a few things to know before parents begin to search out day habilitation services and perhaps even community living options.

First to consider is level of care/level of need. Not all agencies will take all levels of care. If one’s special needs child is higher functioning, the placement options are readily available; however, if children have toileting needs, are nonverbal, are wheelchair-bound, have special feeding needs or is in need of total dependent care, the options can be more obscure.

Secondly, the structure of the day program is important, especially for those leaving the high-school environment which can be very structured. Some agencies have an organized structure and classes to keep students with special needs engaged. Other agencies may have a more relaxed environment with a non-structured environment.

“We know that structure is very important in our special needs community,” said Jelks. “This is why our classes are structured in format, as well as using visual cues to let students know what is coming up next in their day. Team also features cooking classes, science experiments and art classes to continue to elevate the engagement with the student and we take numerous field trips during the month to the delight of our students.”

Third to take into account are the financial obligations. If one is on the HCS Waiver then options run more available for care. For private pay, the daily day habilitation fee can run $50 per day, but not all agencies are flexible where one’s child can attend just a few days a week.

“We turn no one away,” said Jelks. “It doesn’t matter the level of care, the level of need, behavior issues or if there is the need for total dependent care, we are going to provide excellent services for them and still engage them socially. The special needs community is only expanding and we are ready to serve our community well with expert care and loving-kindness.”

Team Abilities currently offer two Day Habilitation locations: 1029 Pruitt Road in Spring and 15775 Bammel Village Road off FM1960 in Houston. The FM1960 location offer Metro Lift for transportation convenience. They also offer 13 Community Living homes for those looking for a long-term solution for their loved ones.

Team Abilities serves low- to high-functioning adults with special needs thru Day Habilitation programs & Community Living care. For more information, call Donna at 832-790-2879 or go to www.MyTeamAbilities.com.