08/01/2010 View the Summer 2010 Newsletter!

In prior summers, Over The Rainbow has held fabulous summer events at a variety of interesting locations from evenings at Ravinia to private concerts at historic residences along the North Shore.

Click here for details on our past midsummer event - One Bright Night by the Lake 2008.

On Sunday, December 12, 2010, Over The Rainbow and world-renowned opera singer, Nancy Gustafson, will host another foot-tapping, heart-stopping CELEBRATION musical extravaganza. In addition to Nancy, the concert will showcase world-renowned singers including Sylvia McNair and Richard Leech who have regaled past audience members from across the United States with beautiful contemporary, classical, and holiday music. Michael DeVries from Wicked, will be joining us this year as well. Stay tuned for more details to follow!

Interested in helping with the staging of CELEBRATION? Contact us at info@otrassn.org to volunteer.

In the morning hours of Sunday, September 12, 2010, multiple bike teams will set off from our Hill Arboretum Apartments in Evanston as part of the Rainbow Challenge Tour to raise money for the association. Riders will complete 25 to 100 miles of the Evanston Bicycle Club’s North Shore Century ride, working up a good sweat and meeting friends along the way.

Interested in slipping into your cycling jersey, straddling your bike and joining one of our teams? Click here for detailed information or contact us at  info@otrassn.org.

At age 17, Laura Falvo was diagnosed with arthritis. Her left knee has now failed and her right knee is also failing. In addition, Laura had a stroke last year that left her visually impaired.

Before she moved to Rainbow Village Apartments in November, Laura’s living arrangements were not ideal. She had lived with a friend and then, after a hospitalization, moved in with one of her daughters. Lack of privacy was a big issue.

When a secretary at her church received information about Rainbow Village Apartments, she gave it to Laura, who completed the forms and was thrilled after being interviewed to learn that an apartment was available. Her two daughters and two grandkids were very concerned about Laura living alone.

But Laura said, “This apartment is great. I don’t have to do gymnastics to take a shower. I am cooking again. And I feel I have a little piece of heaven here.” Laura’s family and friends live close by and visit often.

Laura said she finds the Rainbow people fantastic, and Rainbow finds Laura to be pretty fantastic too.

Kevin Robinson moved with his parents from Chicago to Matteson in 1991. With cerebral palsy limiting his motor skills and muscular dystrophy forcing him to work twice as hard to stay strong, Kevin was dependent on his parents.

Neither Kevin nor his family believed he would ever live on his own. He had inquired about apartments in the past, but most had few accessibility features; others put his name on a waiting list and never called.

Then a bus driver told Kevin about Rainbow Village Apartments. He applied, interviewed, and moved in late last year.

"Everything here is where it needs to be to help me move around, reach, cook, and handle dayto-day necessities," said Kevin. Another advantage, he noted, is not being on the time schedules of other people. Although the dramatic change in lifestyle was at first daunting, Kevin now enjoys doing things for himself.

"There are many more people out there with disabilities," Kevin said. "It would be wonderful to expand the number of accessible apartments everywhere."

Best wishes to Kevin as he continues to enjoy his new independence.

How long have you lived in a Rainbow apartment?
15 years

Which building do you live in?
Hill Arboretum

Where were you living before?
Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education, preparing to live on my own

How did you hear about Rainbow?
From an ICRE board member and Lisa Davis, a Rainbow tenant

How long did it take you to get in after you applied?
I was lucky. It took less than a year, as the building was brand new.

What do you like best about your home?
The freedom to do what I want, when I want

How has your apartment changed your life?
Not being dependent on other people

What do you like to do in your leisure time?
Listen to music and hang out with family and friends

Do friends or family visit your apartment?
Sometimes family from Chicago and Maywood

Who are your heroes?
I'll have to think more about that!

What is your biggest accomplishment?
Living on my own and having choices

What is your biggest goal?
To get my family back together and have my daughter back in my life

What would you like to say to the people who make Rainbow housing possible?
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to live independently.

How long have you lived in a Rainbow apartment?
Since August

Which building do you live in?
Gustafson Apartments

Where were you living before?
A nursing home

How did you hear about Rainbow?
From friends at Hill Arboretum and Belden

How long did it take you to get in after you applied?
Four years

What do you like best about your home?
Coming and going as I please

How has your apartment changed your life?
At the nursing home, I didn't even want to get out of bed. Now I look forward to every day.

What do you like to do in your leisure time?
Go to the movies, but it's so expensive that I can't go very often.

Do friends or family visit your apartment?
My sister from Mundelein

Who are your heroes?
My parents and five siblings, who never turn their backs on me

What is your biggest accomplishment?
Graduating college in 1995

What is your biggest goal?
To get back to work

What would you like to say to the people who make Rainbow housing possible?
Thank you. Please help to spread the word that there is a great need for more housing like this.

Bob Gustafson was born with cerebral palsy and has always relied on a wheelchair for mobility. He is also profoundly deaf, does not speak and uses a TTY to communicate. Despite his challenges, Bob is one of the happiest men you would ever hope to meet.

Before moving to the Hill Arboretum Apartments, Bob lived with his parents in Evanston. He worked for Sears Roebuck for 17 years doing data-entry. Because it would have been difficult for Bob to commute to the Sears Tower or communicate with co-workers, Bob worked at home in an upstairs bedroom of his parents' house. Although he loved his work, he was alone most of the day.

Bob was one of the original residents of the Hill Arboretum Apartments and is one of the first residents to arrive at Hill's business center when there is work to do. His pride in completing a job well done is an inspiration for us all.