Coming Together to Support Healthy Families

Lisa Wing has been volunteering at the Core Values Thrift Shop in Stamford, NY since December 2008. She takes pride in sorting the clothing, pricing them, and neatly putting them on display to be sold. But when asked what her favorite part about volunteering at Core Values has been, Lisa quickly replied, “Being around other people, being out in the community, and meeting Sandy, David and Rose.”

Kelly Gardepe, a Life Coach at The Arc of Delaware County who supports Lisa, explained, “Lisa has developed a special friendship with fellow volunteers David and Sandy Stevenson and Core Values Manager Rose Churchill. She was thrilled to be one of the honored guests at the Volunteer Recognition Dinner held at Brook’s BBQ in October. She looks forward to Fridays when we go to Core Values and she volunteers her time working side by side with her newfound friends.”

Lisa, together with the assistance and support of Sandy, Rose, and Kelly, was recently able to contribute to her community in another significant way. She collected baby clothes from the Core Values Thrift Shop and donated them to the Healthy Families Program of Delaware Opportunities. Healthy Families helps families gain knowledge about childhood development and age appropriate activities that enhance development; they also do referrals to other programs or agencies, depending on the needs of the families.

When Lisa presented her with the baby clothes, Rayeanne Stein, Family Assessment Worker for Delaware Opportunities’ Healthy Families Program, commented, “I just think it’s great there are people within our own community supporting each other and understanding that sometimes we all need a little help. Also, the network of different agencies working together for the greater good of the community is just awesome.”

Lisa Wing and Sandy Stevenson volunteering at Core Values Thrift Shop in Stamford, NY.

Lisa Wing presents a donation of baby clothes to Rayeanne Stein, Family Assessment Worker for Delaware Opportunities’ Healthy Families Program.

Flame on Good Morning America

Flame, who performed at a Delarc Staff Retreat a couple years ago and received rave reviews, was recently featured on Good Morning America.

Flame is a band from upstate New York and is made up of 11 people with disabilities. The band from Lexington Center, Fulton County Chapter, NYSARC, Inc., wants to change the world through music.

To view the Good Morning America video, click here:
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerindex?id=9188643

To learn more about the band Flame, click here:
http://www.flametheband.com/

Rosa's Law: "...what you call people is how you treat them."

U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Michael Enzi (R-WY) have introduced a bipartisan bill, “Rosa’s Law.” Modeled after a recently enacted law in the state of Maryland, this legislation would substitute the outdated, stigmatizing terms “mental retardation” and “mentally retarded” with the terms “intellectual disability” and “individual with an intellectual disability” in federal health, education and labor policy statutes.

In Senator Mikulski's statement to the U.S. Senate, she explains that the name Rosa is in reference to a young girl whose mother shared a compelling story of her family’s efforts to give Rosa an opportunity for an education and to be treated with respect and with dignity. When it was time to bring the bill before the Maryland General Assembly, Rosa's then 13-year-old brother spoke up for his sister and explained, "What you call people is how you treat them. What you call my sister is how you will treat her. If you believe she’s ‘retarded’ it invites taunting, stigma. It invites bullying and it also invites the slammed doors of being treated with respect and dignity."

To hear more about Rosa and her family, read Senator Mikulski’s statement to the U.S. Senate upon introduction of the bill at: http://mikulski.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=319975&.

What Are You Thankful For?

Arlene Goedel shared her feelings about working at Delarc with The Daily Star for their "What Are You Thankful For?" story.

Arlene wrote, "I have said this before, but believe me, I will say it again! Words cannot express how thankful I am to have found the Arc of Delaware County. To be among staff that care so much for people with disabilities is certainly something to be thankful for! To help those people acquire their hopes and dreams is truly a blessing. Every day is Thanksgiving at the Arc of Delaware County!"

When asked if her quote could be posted online and shared, Arlene responded, "Yes! Sometimes I just get so overwhelmed by what I feel working for the Arc, I just have to spread the word!!!"

Visit The Daily Star's website to view Arlene's quote by clicking the link below:

http://www.thedailystar.com/archivesearch/local_story_325043008.html

Check out new Youtube Videos featuring Delarc Staff!

Several staff members recently shared what brought them to Delarc and what inspires them to continue working here. To see their stories, visit our YouTube site at http://www.youtube.com/user/ArcDelaware

These videos are being done as part of a major Employment Recruitment effort - please share them with others and help us to expand our Delarc Family. For info on current career opportunties with Delarc or a job application, visit our website careers page at http://www.delarc.org/careers.htm

Staff stories will continue to be captured and shared, so stay tuned for more!

SUNY Delhi & Delarc Join Together

Seventeen students from Dr. Amber Tatnall's Psychology Courses will be participating in individualized Service Learning Projects at Delarc. For example, Kristen Guerriero, (pictured below, left, with Cheyenne) is studying to become a Speech Pathologist and will be working with Delarc Speech Pathologist and staff. You can follow the activities of the SUNY students on our Delarc Community Forum.

Delarc Fishing Trip

Folks served by Delarc were treated to fishing and friendship thanks to some great volunteers and neighbors. Those served by Delarc, along with Jim and Jeremiah Warren and the members of Trout Unlimited, joined at the Watkins Family Pond for an afternoon of fishing.

John Rucky proudly displaying his first catch of the day with volunteer Jeremiah Warren.

David Greenwood and volunteer Jim Warren check out David's big catch of the day.