Lexington Herald- Leader, January 10, 2002
She's got a can-do Latitude
Recreation therapist helps disabled connect with community, their own talents
By Barbara Isaacs HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
Crystal Bader was working as a recreation therapist with a Lexington adult day care organization when she heard her calling -- loud and clear.
It was the voice of Lexington artist Bruce Burris, who was then at Minds Wide Open art center, an arts program for the disabled that he founded.
``I stepped off the elevator, and there was this loud -- and some people might say, obnoxious -- voice,'' Bader said with a smile. ``He was just full of enthusiasm -- he was exciting, he was positive. I knew I stumbled onto something great. It was all about seeing the potential of the people he served.''
Bader, a certified therapeutic recreation specialist, soon became assistant director at Minds Wide Open. Then, nearly a year ago -- the anniversary is Jan. 26 -- she and Burris left Minds Wide Open to create a new program, Latitude, which strives to offer creative direct care and community inclusion to those considered to have a disability.
Three months ago Latitude began offering a ``day habilitation'' program based at Mecca, 209 North Limestone, a downtown dance studio/community arts space. Latitude offers flexible, ongoing services three days a week; its 10 clients can drop in for a few hours or for as many visits as they like. It also offers enriched programming at area adult day programs, including Lexington's Close to Home and Frankfort's Everyday Matters. It also can add additional clients.
At 27, Bader is now co-owner of a business and is working in a challenging field, something she never likely imagined for herself.
``I feel honored that I've been led into this field,'' Bader said. ``It's hard work, but it's work that really does have a reward. Lexington can't do without us. We're serving people and giving people what they really need -- community exposure and self-esteem. We truly believe in the potential of all people.''
Latitude, as its name indicates, offers a wider vision than just exposure to the arts, though that is also a main component. ``Latitude's focus is on finding a person's story and connecting that person to the community,'' Bader said.
She is already deeply connected to the people she works with, as they are with her.
``She's genuinely caring and kind,'' said Melissa Amaral, 32, who was working on a watercolor painting at Latitude on a recent morning. ``She's always helping me.''
Burris, Bader's Latitude partner, said Bader brings some important skills to the program.
``I think she's a critical thinker, which is all too rare in this field,'' Burris said. ``And she's kind. Those things sound boring, but they're not.''
Bader can easily list several achievements: Chris Heidgerd, one of Latitude's clients, recently began creating greeting cards with a house motif that are being sold at Third Street Stuff. One of the men Latitude works with in Frankfort, Charlie Clayton, has a show of skeleton drawings at the Transylvania University student gallery running through Monday.
She hopes to have Latitude clients ``experience spontaneity'' -- something that is not often offered in the structured settings where many disabled people live. Bader admits that offering the opportunity for spontaneity takes a great deal of energy as well.
``The door is the key to the community,'' Bader said. She and Burris often take the group everyplace from galleries to the public library to coffeehouses.
``The response is activity versus inactivity, interest versus disinterest. I really think we've created something people will remember 10 years from now.''
