DDD Comes Together to Support a Family in Need

Often during trying times, it takes a village to help someone in need. Sometimes, it takes the village of the DES Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD).

On December 14, 2020, DDD Environmental Home Modification Specialist, Mike Treinen, was on his way back from completing a home modification assessment in Chinle on the Navajo Nation. A family living in Tuba City, also on the Navajo Nation, requested Mike make an assessment of their home. Knowing that the family was temporarily living in Flagstaff due to their home having caught fire, Mike decided as a courtesy, to make a quick stop to scope out the extent of the damage.

“The home was pretty much 100% smoke damaged,” said Mike. “The damage was everywhere. Forty-percent of the structure had some sort of fire damage.” Also, the restoration company sprayed Kilz, a bonding primer used on walls to block in the smoke, on every surface including appliances, countertops, walls, floor, the shower and all the fixtures.

Sharon Granger, the mother of a DDD member, was presented with gift cards from Fry’s, Walmart and Home Depot.

In addition, he noticed that when the fire department was fighting the fire, they kicked in the front door, which rendered it useless. Mike also found out the family lost all of their appliances, kitchen cabinetry and furniture. Anything that was salvageable was stacked outside in the elements. “After going through winter, what had been salvageable was now destroyed,” he said.

DDD and AHCCCS policy excludes repairs and allows for only one home modification in a lifetime. Mike determined the family did not meet the criteria for the home modification service because the member previously received modifications to the now destroyed bathroom. But he couldn’t forget what he’d seen and wanted to help.

Once back at the DDD offices in Phoenix, Mike described what he witnessed with his supervisor and Home Modification Manager, Irene Scherberger. Despite the realization that the DDD member would not be eligible for DDD Home Modification services a second time, the two firmly believed that assistance could be provided in another way.

A new refrigerator and range.

So Irene informed Abigail Villodas about the family’s circumstances, who also agreed that the DDD member and family could use some assistance due to the challenging circumstances. Abigail discussed the situation with DDD Medical Director, Dr. Pamela Tom, and then all staff involved with the decision came together to discuss. An action plan was set in motion.

Mike’s next step was to call Jim Bennett, a DDD contracted provider and co-owner of ADL Solutions, for advice on how to remove Kilz from surfaces, who was able to determine that the shower was not salvageable. Irene then called Jim to ask if ADL Solutions had a used shower unit to sell, but he didn’t have one available.

Jim discussed the situation with his business partner, Todd Cress, to see what they could do to help. Together, they decided they would donate and install a brand new shower. Irene was flabbergasted as ADL Solutions was not the vendor who did the original modification. “I think that the State was taken aback because we didn’t do the original job,” said Jim. “It was like, ‘I can’t believe ADL is stepping up and they didn’t even get the benefit of doing the original job.’ ”

ADL Solutions donated the materials and labor to install a new barrier-free shower, bathroom sink and fixtures.

In further paying it forward, Jim contacted the manufacturer and told them about the needs of the family. As a result, the manufacturer donated the shower. Knowing the family was in need of additional appliances, Dr. Tom suggested that the DDD Healthcare Services Unit hold a fundraiser. “By the end of January, we had $2,000 in cash, which was converted into gift cards to Home Depot, Fry’s and Walmart,” said Irene. “I shared this story with my husband and he said, ‘We typically adopt two families for the holidays. How about we adopt this family?’ ” That led the Scherbergers to donate a brand new refrigerator and range. Now they had to figure out how to get the appliances up to the family.

Jim advised the Scherbergers to have Spencer’s deliver the appliances to their office in Chandler. “We have an office in Flagstaff and this job was in Tuba City,” explained Jim. “We had our guys come down and loaded up the truck with all the materials [and the appliances] and they went and did the job. “Our guys donated their time to install it,” he said. “They got a lot out of it -- they enjoyed seeing the smiles on the family and the family was extremely appreciative.” ADL also donated a new high-rise toilet, wall-mount roll-under sink, and replaced the front door.

A new front door was donated and installed at the family’s home on the Navajo Nation.

“It’s kind of how our business got founded,” said Todd. “We donated a lot of our time, whether it’s to certain agencies like ALS, Multiple Sclerosis, Brain Injury Alliances, when we can. We can’t afford to do it every month, but we do it throughout the year. Our goal is to come up with a solution. There are usually three or four ways to do something. We try to come up with some kind of option that will help people.”

“I was actually surprised in this whole deal that I found out that Irene and her husband were buying the appliances,” said Jim. “I was just more taken back. Irene’s a great person, don’t get me wrong, I think the world of her, but just being that involved with who she’s dealing with really gained a lot of respect on our part. I just could not believe that – that’s a lot of money.”

Todd added, “When you talk to Irene, she has so much compassion for all of her members. Matter of fact, I’ve heard her and Jimmy talk and she gets kind of teared up sometimes about the things we do. She’s really into what she does. It’s infectious.”

Jim Bennett (left) and Todd Cress of ADL Solutions.

“There was no shortage of people willing to help,” said Irene. “That just reinforces how amazing the DDD family is and how generous the family is – to this day – and the vendors. The vision Mike had when he was there and he heard the family’s story; he knew that he couldn’t just stop and say, ‘no, we can’t do this for you.’ He recognized we couldn’t just stop there. We need to go further.”

Another person who was a big help was Support Coordinator, Daisy Riggs. “Daisy was instrumental in helping me get the consent and being the conduit between the family and the home mod unit,” said Irene. “We couldn’t have done it without her. The teamwork between Support Coordination, the home mod unit and Healthcare Services – I just love it when a plan comes together.”

And the reaction of Sharon, the member’s mother, regarding the modifications: “It is beautiful! Our family is very grateful! Ahéhee’,” which is Navajo for thank you.