SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

March 2024

March is
Developmental
Disabilities
Awareness Month
T2 March 2024 March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month with Arc GLOW

Arc GLOW will host many events
in March as it celebrates Devel-
opmental Disabilities Awareness
Month (DDAM).
Throughout the month Arc
GLOW aims to educate the public
about developmental disabilities
and highlight the many ways people
with and without disabilities come
together to form strong, diverse
communities. Some of these ac-
tivities will be fundraisers to help
Arc GLOW continue its mission to
empower and support people of all
ages with intellectual and develop-
mental disabilities.
■ Have a Heart Campaign
(Case-Nic Cookies): March 1 to
March 31, 439 Main St., Medina.
Buy a $1 frosted Have a Heart cookie
to support Arc GLOW!.
■ DDAM Proclamation Pre-
sentation at Hilltop Industries
(Livingston County): March 7, 3
East State. St., Mount Morris.
■ Food Fundraiser (Subway in
Albion): 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. March
12, 162 South Main St., Albion. A
portion of all sales supports Arc
GLOW’s programs and advocacy
for children and adults living with
disabilities and their families in
the GLOW region. Upon ordering,
please mention you are there to
support Arc GLOW to help us raise
necessary funds.. For any ques-
tionss, contact Tracey Jones at (585)
343-1123 ext. 1735.
■ DDAM Proclamation Pre-
sentation (Wyoming County):
2:30 p.m. March 12, 143 North Main
St., Warsaw.
■ DDAM Proclamation Presen-
tation (Genesee County): 5:30 p.m.
March 13, 7 Main St., Batavia.
■ WBTA Monthly Radio Show:
9:17 a.m. March 15, Tune in to 1490
AM or 100.1 FM.
■ Food Fundraiser (Batavia’s
Original Pizza): 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
March 20., 500 East Main St., Bata-
via. A portion of all sales supports
Arc GLOW’s programs and advo-
cacy for children and adults living
with disabilities and their families MARK GUTMAN/DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTO
in the GLOW region. To place an Mary Lou Tuohey of Case-Nic
order, call (585) 343-3303 or visit Cookies in Medina holds two
BataviasOriginal.com. Have A Heart Cookies during the
For any questions contact Tracey 2021 Have a Heart fundraiser for
Jones at (585) 343-1123 ext. 1735. Arc GLOW.

It’s Pizza Time!

March 20
11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Developmental Disabilities Livingston County Poor House east building in 1850.
ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF GENESEO

Awareness Month The history of disability rights

Batavia’s Original Pizzeria
By MALLORY DIEFENBACH and/or developmental disabil-
500 E. Main St. Manager of Grant Writing and Communication
for the Arc GLOW
ities (IDD) has been long and
winding.
A portion of all sales supports Arc GLOW’s programs The fight to gain rights for While national legislation
individuals with intellectual is usually looked at when
and advocacy for children and adults with disabilities discussing the history of rights
for IDD, it is important to know
and their families in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and our own roots and how those
Wyoming counties. with IDD were treated in Gene-
see, Livingston, Orleans and
To place an order: Wyoming counties.
Before putting the magnify-
Call (585) 343-3303 or visit bataviasoriginal.com. ing glass on the GLOW region,
Questions: Call Tracey Jones at (585) 343-1123 ext. 1735 we need to take a step back and
www.ArcGLOW.org look at an act passed by New
York state for the establish-
ment of county poor houses
in 1824.
During this era, it was com-
mon for the poor to remain
in their own community and
stay in their homes or with
members of their own families.
Children took in their aged
or sick parents. Those who
no longer could manage to
keep up their own home, or
whose family members were
all gone, were often taken in by
neighbors who could then be
reimbursed for the costs.
It was only when someone
had no one to turn to did the
Poor House provide their care.
Just how many people with
IDD lived in these poor houses
proves difficult, in no small
part due to the labels used at
the time, which are not socially
acceptable or politically cor-
rect today.
County Poor Houses
On Dec. 4, 1826, the
Genesee County Board of
Supervisors met in Bethany
for the purpose of establishing
a county poor house. Now
known today as Rolling Hills
See RIGHTS T3
 March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month March 2024 T3

Rights lives come to an early end, is

one of the mysteries that will
not be solved in this life.”
From T2
Unfortunately, this attitude
Asylum, the Genesee County was prevalent; looking at the
Poor House was where many newspaper articles and the
people who had IDD were sent state of the Genesee County
to in the 1800s and 1900s. Poor House and other poor
People with IDD were not houses in the GLOW region
the only individuals who lived can only give a glimpse into
there — alcoholics, single what could have been the
mothers and immigrants also conditions individuals with
found themselves in the poor IDD and other residents lived
houses. through.
One of the first people to The Livingston County
enter the Genesee County Poor House opened in 1829.
Poor House — and to die there Livingston County purchased
— was a woman by the name about 136 acres of land on
of Phebe White. both sides of what was known
Her obituary, which ran in as Canandaigua Road (Route
the Progressive Batavian on 20A) in Geneseo for use as a
Jan. 29, 1886, reads: poor house farm. The original
“Miss Phebe White was building was located on the
found dead in her room in south side of the road with
the County House on Sunday additional farmland on the
morning last. She was 67 years north side.
of age. Built in 1878, the Orleans
“For 58 years she had been County Poor House was on ORLEANS COUNTY HISTORIAN OFFICE
an inmate, never having spent West County House in Albion. The Orleans County Poor House inmates and staff around 1900.
a single night away from that The three-story building
institution. The County House accommodated 140. They
was completed in 1827, and were supported financially
Miss White entered it at 9 years the 155-acre farm that raised
livestock and grew crops.
by
The birth of Arc GLOW Voted #1 for Best Floor Coverings in the GLOW Region!

of age in 1828, thus becoming

Finally, the first person to Arc GLOW is a private, non- a back seat during most of 2020.
one of the first recipients of its profit organization founded by By fall 2021 – with all approv-
care and protection. She was enter the Wyoming County
Poor House on Sept. 1, 1844, parents and friends of people als in place – Arc GLOW was
always idiotic, and for the past with intellectual and develop- born. The nonprofit disability
was Sarepta Leno, a 20-year-
10 years she has been totally mental disabilities. service provider is dedicated
old woman from Allegany Arc GLOW is the result of to helping people served meet
blind.”
County. The cause of her a merger by The Arc of Living- their full potential and find ful-
The obituary went on to
dependence was “idiocy” and ston-Wyoming and Arc of Gen- fillment in learning, personal
share, “She had some musical in the remarks it was stated that
esee Orleans. In the agency’s relationships, employment, vol-
talent and could whistle or “this woman is idiotic and very name, GLOW is an acronym for unteerism, recreation, the arts,
hum a tune after hearing it disagreeable and was abused the four counties served — Gen- and more.
once or twice. Her personal … by her parents.” esee, Livingston, Orleans and In a letter of congratulations,
habits were filthy beyond all Wyoming. Erik Geizer, CEO of The Arc New
Being abandoned and left Discussions leading up to York shared: “Unification be-
description, which made her a without any means of support
great care and burden. the merger began in 2019, first tween two separate agencies
was common for those with focusing on collaboration of ser- is a daunting task, filled with
“Miss White is a distant IDD. vices. By early 2020, the boards unexpected twists, turns and At Will’s Carpet One Floor & Home we’re proud
relative of Ben White, who of each organization agreed to challenges. You navigated these to be your local flooring store, but we’re so
was hanged in Batavia in To the state hospitals pursue a more formal agree- challenges successfully, and
1843. Superintendent Hay, As the 19th century was ment and move towards a merg- have positioned the new merged much more. With our expansive inventory of
in looking over the books of drawing to a close, laws were er. The chapters notified The agency well for the future.” products and services, make us your one-stop
put into practice removing Arc New York and the local De- Arc GLOW serves up to 2,000
the poor house, estimates her
velopmental Disability Regional individuals with IDD of all ages
source for every home improvement or office
cost to the county during the those who were “insane” from
58 years at $7,000 ($228,655 the poor houses to institutions Office about the request and throughout the GLOW counties upgrade. As members of the world’s leading
were seeking approval to move and has more than 1,000 em-
in today’s money), and this where it was believed they forward. ployees providing assessment, independent flooring cooperative, our focus is
amount would not begin to pay could be treated suitably, each When the pandemic began in health, educational, therapeutic, as strong as our commitment to every customer
for the trouble she has made if for his or her condition. March 2020, efforts to complete supportive, vocational, residen-
that walks through the doors. Visit us today and
an attendant had been hired to This is in no small part due the merger were paused. With tial and administrative services.
care for her. to Dorothea Dix, a 19th century so much uncertainty and con- Arc GLOW’s service area cov- learn more about why shopping local matters.
cern about the health of people ers roughly 2,400 square miles
“Why such persons are per- activist who championed for served, staff, and the world as a — geographically, the largest Arc 651 East Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 • 343-7830
mitted to be a burden so many the causes of the mentally ill whole, the formal process took chapter in New York state.
lives, while scores of beautiful See RIGHTS T4
Visit our web site at: WillsCarpetOneBatavia.com
T4 March 2024
Rights The state legislature ap-
pointed Dr. Sylvester D. Willard
From T3 to investigate the conditions
in poor houses, jails and other
and indigenous populations,
places where those who were
and the underfunded county
deemed “insane” were kept
superintendents of the poor in 1864. Willard’s report of ne-
who drew the state legislature’s glect, abuse and suffering led to
attention to the unspeakable the passage of a bill calling for
plight of the chronically ill. a second state asylum which
The first state asylum was would become known as the
The State Lunatic Asylum at Willard Asylum.
Utica. From 1843 to 1890, Utica Eventually, the more
served the entire state of New chronic patients went from The
York, residents were sent here State Lunatic Asylum at Utica
during this time. It was the first to the Willard Asylum for the
of its kind in the United States Insane at Ovid on the east bank
to provide mental health care of Seneca Lake, about midway
within an institutional setting. between Geneva and Watkins
March 12, 2024
8am - 10pm
162 S. Main St. Albion, NY 14411
(585) 589-0900
Developmental Disabilities
Awareness Month
A portion of all sales supports Arc GLOW’s programs and advocacy for
children and adults with disabilities and their families in Genesee,
Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
Upon ordering, please mention you are there to
support Arc GLOW to help us raise necessary funds!!
www.ArcGLOW.org
Questions: Contact Tracey Jones (585) 343-1123 ext. 1735
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
Glen. Willard was for the care
and treatment of the “chronic
insane poor” was located on
the east bank of Seneca Lake,
about midway between Gene-
va and Watkins.
The act of establishing
Willard Asylum for the Insane
passed the legislature on April
8, 1865, and the erection of
buildings commenced in the
spring of 1866.
In 1877, Willard, at 475 acres
(1,500 patients) was the largest
asylum in the United States.
It was in 1890 when Willard
reduced its service footprint
to Allegany, Cayuga, Genesee,
Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler,
Seneca, Steuben, Tompkins,
Wayne and Yates counties.
Craig Colony for Epileptics
The most notable local
connection in the history of in-
dividuals with IDD is the Craig
Colony for Epileptics.
Located in Groveland, Liv-
ingston County, it was initially
a community/institution for
people with epilepsy, estab-
lished in 1896, before starting
to accept other individuals
with disabilities in 1935. It start-
ed with funding support from
William Pryor Letchworth.
In the 1919 Annual Report
of Social Services in New York
state when Dr. William T.
Shanahan was the superinten-
dent, it stated, “Epilepsy is to
be sharply differentiated from
mental defect; but it is possible
that epilepsy may occur on a
basis of mental defect.”
In this report, it stated there
appeared to be about three
times as many people showing
mental health conditions
as there are those showing
epilepsy.
Also, during this time Craig
Colony reported overcrowding
problems and lack of staff:
“The capacity of the colony is
inadequate to the demands
made upon it for new admis-
sions. Many patients, knowing
of its limited capacity and
overcrowded conditions do not
attempt to gain admission to
the colony. The administrative
problems thus created have
been further intensified by the
dearth of attendants making
application for employment.
There should be 264 persons in
the personnel of this institu-
tion, but there are so many
vacancies at the present time
that the ward service is mate-
rially hampered, while in the
industrial departments it has
been found extremely difficult
to get firemen, laundresses and
laborers.”
It is an issue which will be
seen again and again.
Willowbrook
The most infamous insti-
tution for children with IDD,
Willowbrook State School
Wyoming County Poor House ledger.
opened in 1947. Designed for
4,000 people, it was at the time
the biggest state-run institution
for IDD in the United States.
Disability Justice wrote on
its website, “At its highest pop-
ulation, in 1969, 6,200 residents
were living in buildings meant
to house 4,000. Understaffed,
overcrowded and underfund-
ed, Willowbrook was little more
than a ‘human warehouse,’
according to William Bronston,
a physician at Willowbrook.
The institution’s overcrowding
fostered abuse, dehumaniza-
tion, and a public health crisis.
Hepatitis was so rampant that
several researchers took ad-
vantage of the situation to use
residents as participants in a
controversial medical study in
which residents were inten-
tionally exposed to the deadly
virus, without their consent, in
order to test the effectiveness of
various vaccines.
“In 1965, Senator Robert
Kennedy paid an unan-
nounced visit to Willowbrook.
He found thousands of
residents ‘living in filth and
dirt, their clothing in rags, in
rooms less comfortable and
cheerful than the cages in
MALLORY DIEFENBACH
which we put animals in a zoo.’
Kennedy went on to describe
the institution as a ‘snake pit.’
The visit put conditions at
Willowbrook into the national
spotlight and the state of New
York responded by developing
a five-year improvement plan.
However, after making minor
adjustments, conditions at the
institution quickly reverted
to the inhumane conditions
that had thrust it into public
consciousness.”
That was until an exposé in
1972 by ABC News investiga-
tive reporter Geraldo Rivera
showed millions of horrified
viewers the serious overcrowd-
ing, dehumanizing practices,
dangerous conditions and
regular abuse of residents.
The public was outraged and
spurred parent advocacy
groups to act in federal court.
That same year, the parents
of 5,000 people living at Wil-
lowbrook State School filed a
suit in federal court over condi-
tions at the facility. In 1972, the
Willowbrook Consent Degree
is passed. This and ensuing
legislation led to the closure
of developmental centers in
See RIGHTS T5

Rights
From T4
New York state, established the
current system of community
support, and laid the founda-
tion of civil rights protection for
people with IDD.
ARC is created
While it is now known as
The Arc of New York following
a rebranding in 2017, when
it was founded 75 years ago it
was known as the New York
State Association for Retarded
Children or NYSARC. It began
when a Bronx mother, Ann
Greenberg, put an ad in the
New York Post calling on moth-
ers of children with disabilities
to start a school for her son,
Jerry, and other children like
him. Through advocacy and
legislative action, Greenberg’s
small support group has grown
into the largest nonprofit in
New York serving individuals
with disabilities.
In1961 the first of the three
chapters that make up Arc
GLOW was created, the Arc of
Livingston Wyoming. The local
Arc began with Phyllis Light,
who served as its first presi-
dent and remained an active
member for several years. She
advocated for services, educa-
tion and vocational opportuni-
ties for children with IDD and
worked to provide resources
for families and teachers.
The Genesee chapter
formed in 1966. It started
with an ad in The Daily News
announcing a gathering for
parents of children with IDD.
The first meeting in 1957 was
the first time many of these
parents had the opportunity
to speak candidly about family
issues that were so entwined in
their lives. The support and en-
couragement to speak up and
provide social and educational
experiences similar to other
children in the community
became their mission.
The late Henry Valerych,
one of the Genesee Arc’s
founders, said the group began
raising money to help pay for
summer camp visits to Camp
From left, Gary, Dan and Marlene Hill enjoy Arc GLOW Night at the Ballpark at Dwyer
Stadium in Batavia.
Cornplanter in Allegheny Na-
tional Forest in northwestern
Pennsylvania, the first camp
for children with disabilities.
The last of the Arc GLOW
chapters to form was Arc of
Orleans in 1970. It started with
Camp Rainbow and the Shen-
berger family donating land
in Lyndonville to help create
a place where children with
disabilities had opportunities
for fun and interaction. While
Camp Rainbow was originally
designed to meet the needs of
children with developmental
and/or physical disabilities, it
was opened up to all children
ages 5 to 21 in 1992. Camp
Rainbow encourages friend-
ships and understanding
among children with and with-
out disabilities and promotes
integration and inclusion.
Over the years, every New
York state county would
become covered by an Arc
chapter. Ten years ago, there
were 59 chapters. Now, due to
funding cuts, there will soon
be 33 chapters covering every
county.
The Arc New York is the
largest private 501c(3) not-
for-profit in the state and Arc
GLOW is the largest for the
GLOW region. Arc GLOW
provides programming from EI
to hospice care and offers ser-
vices to support every interest
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
and ability along the way.
Opening Doors
After Willowbrook, several
large pieces of national legis-
lation were passed. The most
notable were the Individuals
with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA) in 1975, Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) in
1990, Olmstead Act in 1999,
Health Care Decisions Act in
2003, and Disability Act of 2005
in 2005.
The NY CARES Act passed in
1998 under Gov. George Pataki
created placements for indi-
viduals seeking out-of-home
placements in community
homes and residences, which
Come out and support the ARC at
Wednesday
March
20th
Lunch or
Dinner
A portion of the
day’s sales goes
to the ARC!
500 E. Main St., Batavia • www.bataviasoriginal.com
Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm • Fri & Sat 11am-10pm • Sun Noon-8pm
MALLORY DIEFENBACH
allows for people with IDD to
live in their own communities.
The CARES Act allowed
local Arc chapters to expand
residential programs.
An article in the fall 1998 is-
sue of “Arc Horizons” from the
then Genesee ARC, described
the 5-year plan as a precedent
setting move to virtually elimi-
nate the residential waiting list
for individuals with IDD.
“According to NYSARC
Inc. Executive Director, Marc
Brandt, ‘The governor makes
New York the first state to adopt
a policy to eliminate a problem
that has become a national
issue,’ ’” the article said.
585.343.3303
Annual appeal achieves milestone
Arc GLOW conducts its annual
appeal every November through
the end of February. This year, Arc
GLOW raised $57,280 — the most
the agency has ever raised.
The appeal raises vital funds
for Arc GLOW programs and ser-
vices such as KidStart Preschool,
employment, day habilitation,
Camp Rainbow, Meals on Wheels,
residential, self direction and
community living initiatives.
During the 2023 Appeal, a Me-
dina family shared how its life has
been positively affected by Arc
GLOW programs and services.
Gary and Marlene Hill’s connec-
tion to Arc GLOW began more
than 40 years ago following the
birth of their second son, Daniel.
The doctor told the Medina
couple that Daniel was a, “floppy
baby,” or had low muscle tone and
would need to be watched closely
to ensure he was meeting devel-
opmental milestones. “The doc-
tor was right,” Marlene said. “Dan-
iel wasn’t doing what he should be
doing between the ages of 3 and 9
months, like rolling over or trying
to crawl. We needed help.”
Early intervention services
through the Orleans Arc chapter
began, with Daniel receiving oc-
cupational, speech and physical
therapies at home. “They were
our biggest resource,” Gary said.
“They gave us knowledge, sup-
port and the tools to help Daniel
March 2024 T5
begin meeting his milestones.”
Daniel continued with cen-
ter-based services from when he
was 2-1/2 until he began attending
Kindergarten in a BOCES class-
room.
Summers were an especially
wonderful time for Daniel as he
attended Arc’s Camp Rainbow in
Lyndonville. “He loved going to
camp, everything about it,” his fa-
ther said.
The week of Daniel’s high
school graduation brought a huge
setback. He lost his memory.
“It was devastating, we had
to re-teach him everything, even
chewing and swallowing,” his
mother said. An exam by a neu-
rologist confirmed Daniel had
two strokes. “He had been doing
so well, and was even able to stay
home alone for short periods,
pack his lunch and do other typ-
ical household tasks; we had to
start all over again.”
The Hills continued to utilize
Arc services such as respite and
recreation, which focus on com-
munity involvement and integra-
tion. Today, Daniel attends Arc
GLOW’s Academy Street Day Ha-
bilitation program and lives at an
Arc residence in Albion.
When Daniel became a part
of the Arc family, mom and dad
did, too. Gary, in a support role,
and Marlene as a member of the
board of directors.
T6 March 2024
Self advocates give a voice to those
with developmental disabilities
Self-advocacy means speak-
ing up for yourself about the
rights and responsibilities in
your life. People who do so are
called “self-advocates,” and hav-
ing once learned how to speak
up for themselves can assist
others in doing so as well.
The birth of self-advocacy
started with Bernard Carabello.
From 3 to 21, Carabello lived
at Willowbrook State School, an
institution synonymous with ne-
glect and deplorable conditions.
With incredible strength and
resilience, Carabello was instru-
mental in joining with Geraldo
Rivera and others in exposing
the abuse and neglect that was
happening at the institution.
Carabello’s voice was at the cen-
ter of the movement that would
eventually close down Willow-
brook and institutions across
New York state.
Carabello believed that all
people with developmental dis-
abilities should be supported
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Disabilities
Awareness
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to speak up for themselves. Be-
tween 1985 and 1986 Bernard
and 12 other self-advocates
serving as the Self-Advocacy
Association of New York State
(SANYS) steering committee
worked together to make SA-
NYS a reality. On April 29, 1988
the Self-Advocacy Association
of New York State was founded
and he started SANYS for that
purpose.
Though retired, Bernard re-
mains a passionate advocate on
behalf of people with develop-
mental and other disabilities. He
is considered one of the great
civil rights leaders of our time.
The former Genesee Chapter
invited him to speak at an anni-
versary event in 2006.
“Meeting Bernard and hear-
ing his firsthand account of life
at Willowbrook was a capstone
moment for me,” Arc GLOW
Community Relations Coor-
diantor Sandy Konfederath
said. “His courage to do the
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
right thing not only saved lives,
but led thousands of people to
better lives in the community,
where they belong.”
Arc GLOW has three active
self-advocacy groups: Advo-
cates Coming Together (ACT) in
the southern region and Friends
for the Future and Self Advoca-
cy All Stars in the northern re-
gion. Together they make up the
GLOW Trotters.
Some activities self-advo-
cates are involved in include:
■ Political advocacy
■ Rights education
■ Voting
■ Regional Self-Advocacy
Day Conference
■ Fundraising
■ Donations in the
community
■ Volunteer in the
community
■ Education
■ Newsletter
■ Dances
■ Talent show
“IT’S WHAT WE DO”
We are
ready anytime!
Aaries and her self-determination assistant, Andrea Golino, at Arc GLOW’s Awards
Banquet and Annual Meeting where Aaries was honored as Community Services and
Self Direction Person of the Year.
From our individuals
What barriers do people
with disabilities still some-
times face in the communities
in which they live?
“The problem people with dis-
abilities have in the community
is that the general public looks
at us and say
that because
we have a
disability
that we are
not capable
of doing the
same things
mainstream
Nate
people can,
and its
wrong for people to think that
way about us because a lot of
times we the people with dis-
abilities can do the same job that
mainstream people can do bet-
ter. People with a disability will
be happier to have a position in
a job because they care about
making their employer happy
and they end up being the em-
ployer’s best employee.”
– Nate, self-directed and a
member of the Orleans County
Self-Advocacy Group.
“I only wish I could hang out
with people more — my friends
and the community. There isn’t
enough time in the day. On cer-
MALLORY DIEFENBACH
tain days I don’t have staff, so I’m
at the whim of a staff member,
bus and taxi. Living in a rural
area makes getting public trans-
portation that much harder, and
I don’t know my friends’ sched-
ule.”
– Joe Barchet, self-directed
and member of Orleans County
Self-Advocacy Group and Arc
GLOW Board of Directors.
ARC GLOW
The United Way Backpack
Corinne, who is part of the
Program provides food for
AIM and WOW Day Hab at
children at Batavia, Alexander,
Batavia, helps pack food
Oakfield and Elba school. Each
for the United Way Back-
week the WOW and AIM pro-
grams pack 290 bags of food and pack program.
deliver to Alexander, Oakfield
“It is awesome to give back.”
and Elba schools. The group – Joshua.
helps unload pallets of food, or-
“I like taking the backpacks
ganize the food on shelves and
prepare bins for packing. to the Oakfield school where I
graduated from.”
Why do you like volunteer-
– Corrine.
ing at the United Way Back-
pack Program? What opportunities does
“Backpacks are important Arc GLOW give you?
for the kids when they are hun- “I love helping others and vol-
gry, and helps keep these kids unteering at the NYS Veterans
healthy.” Nursing Home with my friend,
- Casey.
Andrea (Arc GLOW self-direc-
“It is fantastic because it tion staff). I also work part-time
teaches us skills and it helps at Oliver’s Candies! I enjoy going
kids.” bowling, attending craft classes,
- Raymond. working out at the Y and baking
for my family. I have a full life!”
– Aaries, self-directed.

‘Coming to work feels like time with family’
The jobs of direct support
professionals jobs are complex
and go beyond caregiving, re-
quiring skills such as indepen-
dent problem solving, decision
making, medication adminis-
tration, teaching new skills, cri-
sis prevention and intervention.
Working as a DSP and other
positions at Arc GLOW can of-
fer meaningful and purposeful
work. Employees make a differ-
ence in the lives of others and
help them reach their life goals.
See what the following em-
ployees have to say about work-
ing at Arc GLOW.
Genesee County
For 31 years Joy Bookmiller
has been working as a DSP at
Arc GLOW’s Day Habilitation
Center in Elba.
She helps each individu-
al in her room with their daily
person-centered goals. She
explores every chance to take
individuals she supports out
for community-based activi-
ties, and on nice weather days
she helps individuals enjoy the
extensive outdoor space at Elba
Day Hab.
Bookmiller was selected as
one of the four recipients of The
Arc New York’s 2023 Thomas
A. Maul Direct Support Profes-
sional Excellence Award. The
award recognizes a DSP who
consistently demonstrates ex-
cellence, creativity and com-
mitment to providing supports
to people who have intellectual
and other developmental dis-
abilities.
“It is more than just a job with
Joy, the way that she has im-
pacted those she supports, and
made their lives so much richer
and better,” said Kathy Grant,
Arc GLOW coordinator of Day
Habilitation Services. “She
makes it all about the individu-
als, and never about herself.”
Sherri Raab, Day Habilitation
director at Elba, said Bookmill-
er has a strong connection to
the individuals she works with.
Raab shared Bookmiller’s abili-
ty to use manual sign or specific
signing for an individual who
has become very comfortable
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month March 2024 T7
nings, split shifts, day shifts andmined what direction I wanted passionately about helping oth-
recently got promoted to med- to take with my life/career. Six ers and agreed with Arc GLOW’s
ical appointment coordinator. years later, and I’m still here.” mission statement. It didn’t take
“This job has been so reward- Brad started as a direct sup- long for her to fall in love with
ing in so many ways. Every day is port professional/self-determi- the agency and the people it
a new day, and as soon as I walk nation assistant in November supported.
in the door and hear ‘Tashy!’ 2018. In June 2022, he was pro- For five years Powers worked
it puts a smile instantly on my moted to his current position as an MSC before transitioning
face,” she said. “These ladies are of coordinator of self-directed into the Intake and Innovative
my second family, and I hon- services. Supports department with a
estly can say I enjoy waking up “I firmly believe my time as a focus on quality improvement
every day to come to work! Yes, DSP/SDA served as an essential and intake for the residential
some days can be challenging pre-requisite to what I do cur- department. Since December
but to know I can make a differ- rently,” Wilson said. 2021, Powers has been coordi-
ence in their lives and be ‘fami- When asked what he likes nator of residential services for
ly’ to some that don’t have fam- about working at Arc GLOW, Wyoming County.
ily is such a great feeling.” Wilson said that’s easy; “Seeing “My passion in life is working
with and advocating for vul-
ARC GLOW Orleans County the individuals we work with
nerable people. The people we
Joy Bookmiller, DSP, dancing with Joe at Elba Day Hab. When Brad Wilson, coordi- progress, and being able to support deserve to have a great
nator at Self-Directed Services, work with the team we have in quality of life, and I’m fortunate
with communicating with her. individuals! In November 2013, graduated from college, he Self-Direction to make that hap- to get to be a part of that,” she
This individual has been learn- I applied and have been here needed a job. pen.” said. “We have such hard-work-
ing more signing via working ever since!” “I volunteered at the Arc for a Wyoming County ing staff who truly care for the
with Bookmiller and his speech When O’Neil first started, while in college and enjoyed it. I In 2013, Jennifer Powers ap- people we support, and I love
pathologist, and has expanded she worked overnights as a DSP. figured the Arc would be a great plied to Arc GLOW as a medic- that coming to work feels like
his signing vocabulary. Since then, she has been on eve- place to work while I deter- aid service coordinator. She felt spending time with family.”
“As she role models for other
staff, her compassion and thor-
oughness shines through,” Raab
said. “She demonstrates that
she loves what she does, and
that she wants that for her co-
workers as well. Joy doesn’t just
show by example, she also takes
the extra time with new staff to
really explain the importance of
reading any necessary materials
thoroughly, taking individuals’
personal goals into consider-
ation and all around demon-
strates an adherence to the core
competencies.”
Livingston County
Tasha O’Neil had a connec-
tion to Arc GLOW for a long
time, going back to her child-
hood.
“When I was little, I would
go to Aberth IRA (Individual-
ized Residential Alternative)
where my mom had worked for
years. I loved going there with
my mom and visiting with the
ladies that lived there. I always
looked forward to it!” she said.
“When I graduated high school
I really wasn’t interested in go-
ing to college. I just kept leaning
towards applying for a position
with the Arc because I really did
enjoy spending time with the
T8 March 2024 March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month