The Arc of Madison Cortland provides leadership in the field of disabilities, supporting people in every manner possible, and developing the necessary human and financial resources to allow all members of our community to achieve their potential.

Spring 2016

The Many Faces of The Arc

March 2016

The Arc of Madison CortlandOfficers:

Randy Schaal - PresidentCharles Stevens - Vice PresidentMelinda Bowe - Vice President

Joseph Zifchock - TreasurerDeborah McGowan - Secretary

Board of Directors:Gary Gibbons Nancy JonesMaureen Louis Mary PatriciaCynthia Roach Edward Scoville, Sr.

Directors Emeritus:David Lewis Edward ShivePhyllis Little Wanda Ready

Eric Stickels

Executive Director:Jack C. Campbell

Assistant Executive Director:Barbara McDermott

Contributing Photographers:Vera Brady Janice BuneoJames Cooke Brett Robinson

Liz Rocker

Administrative Office andMailing Address:

701 Lenox Ave., Oneida, NY 13421Phone: (315) 363-3389

Cortland Office16 Crawford St., Cortland, NY

Phone (607) 756-2015Website: www.arcofmc.org

Email: info@arcofmc.org

Building Futures FoundationBoard of Directors

Brett Zielasko - President & ChairCharles Stevens - Vice President & Vice Chair

Jennifer Basic - SecretaryMichael West - Treasurer

MembersJames Betro Jack C. CampbellBrian Hurley Douglas KalletKelly Karram Raymond LewandowskiCarol Neveu Eric Stickels

Email:bff@arcofmc.org

Director of Development & PR: Christine N. Sears

Assistant Director of Development & PR: Shannon Richard

PR Clerk: Erica Ostwald

2 - The Arc of Madison Cortland - Sping 2016

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

and during this month, as we do every month and every day at The Arc of Madison Cortland, we focus on raising awareness and promoting inclusion in our communities. There are many ways that each of us can do our part to promote inclusion for individuals with developmental disabilities. For example, if you are a business leader invite someone with a disability to spend the day at your business. You may find that this person has some unique abilities and may become a valuable employee. Nonprofit organizations and churches do you need volunteers? There are people at The Arc of Madison Cortland who love to volunteer and give back to their community. Throughout December, volunteers from The Arc of Madison Cortland rang the bell for the Salvation Army during the Red Kettle Campaign. If your organization could use a little extra help, give The Arc of Madison Cortland a call. Perhaps you have a family member or friend that is caring for a loved one with a disability, take them out to lunch or to the movies. I have found that just sitting and talking with someone with a disability is extremely rewarding. It is very interesting to hear about their life their likes and dislikes. I especially enjoy it when we are fans of the same teams! It does not take much to show you care, just a little bit of time but it is well worth it.March is also the time of year when The Arc of Madison Cortland kicks off the membership drive. Becoming a member of The Arc of Madison Cortland is very easy and very important. By joining The Arc of Madison Cortland, you are becoming a member of the largest grassroots movement to protect the rights of people with developmental disabilities in NYS and the nation. Together our voices become one and our representatives in Albany and Washington DC hear us loud and clear. Members must be 18 years old or older and when you join The Arc of Madison Cortland, you become a member of NYSARC, Inc. and The Arc of the US.Fifty years ago, there were only two classrooms for children with special needs in Cortland County. That is when a group of parents, teachers, and friends of people with developmental disabilities came together and formed the Cortland County Chapter of NYSARC. The first program was a summer camp that had one paid employee and many volunteers, which by the way was funded through numerous bake sales. Today, The Arc of Madison Cortland (Madison Cortland Chapter NYSARC) offers residential programs, day habilitation, clinical services, and service coordination in addition to Camp ARCO in Cortland County. I would like to pay tribute to parents, family members, and volunteers who saw a vision fifty years ago and fought for a brighter future for children and adults with developmental disabilities. They were pioneers and made a difference in the lives of so many people and for that, we are all so extremely grateful.

WE RESPECT EACH OTHER

From The President

From The Executive

Director

Sincerely,

JackJack CampbellExecutive Director

SEnD US YoUr EMAil ADDrESS: In an effort for The Arc of Madison Cortland to contact you regarding upcoming events, legislative issues, and to

receive our newsletter electronically send your email to: shannon.richard@arcofmc.org

This is the first newsletter in 2016. We accomplished a great deal in

2015 and are focused to accomplish more in 2016. To give you an update, after two years of family members, staff, self-advocates, and board members all working together dissecting every aspect of the agency The Arc of Madison Cortland was awarded the three year CQL Quality Assurances Accreditation from CQL| The Council on Quality and Leadership. This award confirms that the organization shares CQL’s vision for person-centered solutions to improve the quality of life for people receiving supports and services. I could not be more proud of this accreditation and the effort that everyone made to achieve this goal.Another goal achieved in 2015 was to consolidate some of our locations in Oneida. A building that The Arc of Madison Cortland has owned for many years primarily for warehouse storage at 634 Birchwood Dr., Oneida, was renovated and is now home to the following programs, Service Coordination, Residential Services, Alternatives Vocational Services (AVS), LoJo Technology, Pathways to Employment, Community Pre-Voc, Self Direction Broker Services, and E-Waste Recycling. My goal is to reduce expenses and create efficiencies and I will continue this theme throughout 2016. In August of 2015, The Arc of Madison Cortland started on a project to expand our Article 16 clinic to ten satellite sites at the following NYSARC chapters, Herkimer, Oneida-Lewis, Oswego, and Chenango. Conditional approval was received and pending final approval from OPWDD we will be able to provide psychiatry, podiatry, psychological, behavioral, social work, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, nutrition, nursing and vocational rehabilitation at all these sites. We also participated in NYSARC’s It Matters to Me Campaign, a grassroots advocacy effort to create awareness about the needs people with disabilities and their families. Family members and self-advocates met with Senator David Valesky, Assemblyman William Magee, Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, Senator James Seward, and a representative from the Governor’s office. Everyone expressed concern about changes to services and supports for people with developmental disabilities. The more people educating our representatives in Albany and Washington will allow our leaders to make the best decision possible regarding the field of disabilities. As I have often said, the strongest voice is the voice of a person experiencing the world of disability and their family. They live it and feel it every day. I encourage any individual and/or family member that would like to get involved with the It Matters to Me Campaign to contact The Arc of Madison Cortland or me. There is a lot happening at The Arc of Madison Cortland and I am pleased to say the focus continues to be on person-centered excellence. I would like to thank everyone, individuals with disabilities, family members, staff, volunteers, and board members, who believe that together we are building futures.

Sincerely,

RandyRandy SchaalPresident

Spring 2016 - The Arc of Madison Cortland - 3PEOPLE COME FIRST

The Arc of Madison Cortland Announces New Board MemberThe Arc of Madison Cortland announces Melinda Burdick Bowe to the Board of Directors. Ms. Bowe is a partner in the Labor & Employment, Education, Municipal and Government Relations Practices at Hancock Estabrook, LLP. She represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including serving as chief spokesperson in collective bargaining, contract administration and grievance arbitration. Ms. Bowe presently serves as general and special counsel for several school districts, counties, towns, villages and other municipalities. She has extensive experience representing employers before administrative agencies, including the New York State Division of Human Rights, New York State Department of Labor, New York State Education Department, and New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB).Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Bowe represented over 20 school districts as the administrator of the Madison-Oneida BOCES Personnel and Labor Relations office.Ms. Bowe is a frequent contributor to both the Hancock Estabrook Education Law Blog and the Hancock Estabrook Municipal Law Blog.She resides in Oneida with her husband Michael and has two children Meara, a graduate of SUNY at Geneseo who is currently serving in the Peace Corps, and Mackenzie, a sophomore at RIT.

Melinda Burdick Bowe

It was announced earlier this year that The Arc of Madison Cortland has been awarded the three year CQL Quality Assurances Accreditation from CQL, The Council on Quality and Leadership. This award confirms that the organization shares CQL’s vision for person-centered solutions to improve the quality of life for people receiving supports and services. The Arc of Madison Cortland provides programs and supports for over 1,000 people with developmental disabilities in Madison and Cortland counties. “The process of becoming CQL Accredited took over two years,” said, Jack Campbell, Executive Director for The Arc of Madison Cortland, “I have to thank all the family members, self advocates, board members, and staff that truly dissected every aspect of this organization to ensure that we are doing the best that we possibly can for the people who receive support from The Arc of Madison Cortland.”When The Arc of Madison Cortland partnered with CQL to pursue accreditation, it undertook a rigorous process to review and improve services and supports. The Arc of Madison Cortland’s efforts were focused on empowering the people who receive support from their organization to make choices in how they live their lives … where they work, where they live, how they create a community. “This was a demanding and a rewarding experience. Within the framework of CQL, the people we support here at the Arc are becoming empowered to direct their own lives as they see fit – that’s the meaning of a person-centered approach.” said Barbara McDermott, Assistant Executive Director and Compliance Office for The Arc of Madison Cortland “We have a lot of work left to do, and we plan on enjoying it as we help people grow and become more involved and accepted in their community. ” The Arc of Madison Cortland has been awarded CQL accreditation as a result of demonstrating proficiency in the

following areas:• Basic Assurances ( ensuring fundamental safeguards related to health, safety and human security)• Personal Outcome Measures® (supporting and empowering people to achieve their goals and dreams)• Person-centered Excellence (demonstrating organizational commitment to continued enhancement of systems directly related to person-centered services)Cathy Ficker Terrill, President and CEO of CQL, stated, “CQL commends The Arc of Madison Cortland for its success in increasing the quality of life for the people it supports. We are pleased to partner with them on this journey.”For more than 40 years CQL has been a leader in raising the bar for human service organizations and systems to continuously define, measure and improve the quality of life of all people. Organizations that are awarded accreditation by CQL meet a stringent set of criteria and demonstrate an on-going commitment to person-centered excellence.For more information on CQL's accreditation options go to http://www.c-q-l.org/accreditation

The Arc of Madison Cortland receives CQL Accreditation

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NY Connects is a program where individuals can obtain accurate and unbiased information and assistance on long term care. Through this program, consumers, which include older adults, and adults and children with disabilities, their caregivers, helping professionals and friends or neighbors can make informed choices about long term care based on their real needs.Long term care refers to medical and non-medical support services needed to improve or maintain one’s health and or daily function. Services may be provided in the individual’s home or other community-based and residential settings. Examples of long term care include:• Transportation • Respite• Home Delivered Meals • Personal Care Services• Home Modifications and RepairsNY Connects promotes independence and dignity, and supports those in need of long term care to remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible.For Madison County residents who would like more information please call Madison County Office for the Aging and ask to speak to the NY Connects Coordinator. 315-697-5700. In Cortland County call (607) 756-3485.

4 - The Arc of Madison Cortland - Spring 2016 WE NEVER STOP LEARNING

Save the Date:March 9 -30Through our Eyes- Art Exhibit Morrisville State College, Butcher Library Reception March 30

April 1 – 30 Through our Eyes -Art Exhibit Common Grounds, Cazenovia NY Reception TBA

June 3rdThe Arc of Madison Cortland Annual Dinner and Award CeremonyAt The Rusty Rail5:30 PM

June 14Spring Concert The Kallet Theater7 PM

June 23Planned Giving Luncheon “Why Pay the Tax Man” with Grace Ghezzi, VP Oneida Wealth and Jennifer Basic, Esq., Lincklaen House, Cazenovia

July 22ADA CelebrationKallet Civic Center, Oneida 10am

October 5Film and Education SeriesKeeper of the Kohn by David GaynesCatherine Cummings Theater, Cazenovia College6 PM Showing - Discussion Panel to followSponsored by, The Arc of Madison CortlandHosted by, the Cazenovia College Human Services Program, Communication Studies Program, and the Athletics Department

November 5A Gala Evening at Vernon Downs Event Center7-11 pmAt this time the information is

On January 30, 2016 twenty-seven members and advisors from the Madison County Motivators, a self-advocacy group, went to a mini con-ference at The Arc of Oneida Lewis conference room in Utica. There were also rep-resentatives from Utica and Herkimer Self Advocacy groups. James Jewett, a Madison County Motiva-tors Reprehensive, gave a presen-tation

on the Mid York 211 system and the officers from the Madison County Mo-tivators gave a presentation on what makes a good advisor. The Group also learned about the Caregiver way vs. the Direct Support Professional way by watching a video and discussing it. We also watched a video about how people with dif-ferent disabilities can be independent and should not be labeled. People with developmental disabilities can live in-dependently, cook, budget our money, and have a job with the right supports.“Just like everybody else, we all have

interests, goals, and feelings that should be recognized. We like to go out shopping, movies, and parties,” says Erica Ostwald, Self Advocate “People with disabilities have abili-ties and are valued.”The mini conference provided bagels and beverages for breakfast and pizza, greens, ziti and salad for lunch and cookies for dessert. We had a lot of fun and learned a lot at the conference. The Madison County Motivators would like to give a big thank you to The Arc of Madison Cortland providing transportation and thank you to Mary Ann Bates, our bus driver for taking us to the conference.

Madison County Motivators Attend Mini ConferenceBy: Erica OstwaldSecretary, Madison County Motivators

It Matters to Me, A Meeting with Assembly Member Barbara LiftonTo bring attention to critical issues affecting people with developmental disabilities and their families, and provid-ers and staff dedicated to serving them, NYSARC, Inc. is continuing with a grassroots advocacy campaign that began last summer.

“It Matters to Me” is a statewide initiative organized by NYSARC, Inc. designed to share the personal, compelling stories and circumstances of con-cerned families and providers on the issues that matter most to them.

Recently, self-advocates from The Arc of Madison Cortland met with Assembly Member Barbara Lifton’s chief of staff, Linda Smith.

Delbert Uplinger, Rose Root, and John Post all shared their concerns and experiences with how important a direct support professional is to their lives. Matthew Harding, a di-rect support professional at The Arc of Madison Cortland commented on the low wages of a direct support professional, the demands of the job, and he spoke on the rewards of help-ing people. Other topics that were covered included residential housing for people with DD employment, wages, $15.00 minimum wage and how would it be funded, preschools, and transitional services.

Members of The Arc of Madison

Cortland were extremely appreciative of the meeting. Ms. Smith, Chief of Staff for Assembly Member Lifton listened, asked a lot of ques-tions, and was very re-assuring that she would share the information with Assembly Mem-ber Lifton.

Pictured l to r: John Post, Matt Harding, Delbert Uplinger, Rose Root, and Linda Smith, Chief of Staff Assembly Member Lifton

The Building Futures Foundation held its Annual Meeting on Monday, February 01,

2016. Elected to the Board of Directors are:Officers:

Brett Zielasko, President & ChairCharles Stevens, Vice President & Vice Chair

Jennifer Basic, SecretaryMike West, Treasurer

Board Members:James Betro

Jack CampbellBrian Hurley

Douglas Kallet

Kelly KarramRaymond Lewandowski

Carol NeveuEric Stickels

Spring 2016 - The Arc of Madison Cortland - 5PEOPLE COME FIRST

Nichole Hastings is a very strong and determined woman in her thirties who does not accept the word “no” very often. If you tell her she cannot do something there is no doubt Nichole will prove you wrong. Nichole was born with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects muscle movement and she spends most of her time in a wheelchair that is until recently.Nichole will tell you that she spent four years without physical or occupational therapy and she knew that was not healthy for her. That is when she decided to seek out help from The Arc of Madison Cortland Medicaid Service Coordination. Nichole’s new service coordinator recognized that Nichole needed a lot more services than she was receiving and worked to enroll Nichole in Alternatives Clinic, an Article 16 Clinic The Arc of Madison Cortland operates. Almost immediately, Nichole started a weekly regime of physical and occupational therapy. Nichole was getting stronger and her goal of someday walking was in sight. However, there is a lot of work to do for Nichole to reach her goal and it means daily workouts. Then Nichole mentioned to her therapists that she had a dream of riding a bicycle and asked them if there was an adaptive bicycle she could ride? Riding a bike was one sure way that Nichole could strengthen her muscles. Her therapists did research and found an adaptive bicycle that would be perfect for Nichole and it was.Soon, Nichole was riding this borrowed bike up to seven miles on a track. She could feel her body improving and she was more determined than ever to get her own bicycle. That is when a blast of reality hit Nichole, the cost of this very special bicycle was more than she could afford and it would take her months if not years to save the money. A close friend of Nichole’s set up a Go Fund Me page (an internet

site that helps people raise money for individuals and groups). Nichole’s friends shared the Go Fund Me page on their FaceBook pages and within two weeks, the adaptive bike was purchased.Nichole knew that it would take weeks for the bike to arrive and then someone would have to assemble it for her. She remained as patient as she could. Then one day she went to her regularly schedule appointment at Alternatives Clinic. She was focused on her exercises and did not pay much attention to the unusual activities that surrounded her. Then suddenly her therapist told her to look up and there was her brand new adaptive bicycle ready for her to ride! If Nichole’s smile were sunshine, it would have lit up the entire universe. During the 25th anniversary celebration of the Americans with Disability Act in Oneida, Nichole met Doug Hamlin, Vice President of Operations for Our Ability, Inc. Doug spoke to Nichole about his adaptive bicycle and the ride that he and John Robinson organized, Journey Along the Erie Canal from Buffalo to Albany to create awareness for what people with disabilities can do. His inspiration gave Nichole the hope and the drive to start riding her adaptive bike with a goal of entering competitions and long distance rides. While people like Doug Hamlin inspire Nichole, she too is an inspiration to others with disabilities. She has a can do attitude. Tell Nichole she can’t do something and she will prove to you that she can. However, Nichole will be the first person to tell you that she would not be able to accomplish everything if it were not for her direct support professional, Kerri Yeoman. Nichole attributes her strong willpower and determination to her family. As a child, her family would not allow her

disability to get in the way. In fact, she says, disability did not exist in her household.“When I was growing up” says Nichole, “I couldn’t run and jump or compete in sports like my brother. So I had to find other ways to do things, that’s where my love for speed came into play.”Nichole loves the thrill of riding the wildest rollercoaster during the summer months and during the winter, she is an avid adaptive skier at Toggenburg Mountain. “I know that I would not be making the strides in life and dreaming up the aspirations that I am today if it hadn’t been for all my hard work, willpower, or support of my therapy team at The Arc of Madison Cortland and the love of my family.” says Nichole Hastings.

The Arc of Madison Cortland Makes a Dream Come True – a story about Nichole Hastings.

Why It Matters to Meby James Jewett, Self Advocate

My name is James Jewett. I used to receive services at The Arc of Madison Cortland. TThe Arc of Madison Cortland helped me in many ways. They taught me to live, socialize, and even sustain myself in a world that was at first hard to understand. When I was younger, I was a kid that few understood. I was classified as an outcast. After a while, I

became a very upset young man because no one knew the troubles that I faced every day. I was placed in psych wards and juvenile detention centers my whole adolescent life. Then in 2002 I met this amazing woman through Madison Oneida BOCES. She saw past my hard outer shell recognized that I was not a menace to society but I was actually a young man with a disability. She was the person who introduced me to The Arc of Madison Cortland.I started working at the work center not knowing what it was all about but with the support of the staff and others like me I started to feel like a human, an equal. I had started to make friends with not only my peers but with the staff. I actually became a person people wanted to be around. Not only did The Arc teach me how to socialize they started to teach me how to take interest in my job as a production worker. They taught me how to understand and follow directions. They also taught me how to concentrate on my work. After three year, I decided to give working in the real world a shot. So, I worked with Alternatives Vocational Services (AVS) at The Arc of Madison Cortland, a supportive employment program.AVS taught me skills such as keeping yourself well groomed, how to ace an interview, how to write a resume, and so much more. AVS also helped me find a job so when I started to work AVS helped me by providing an instructor to show me

how to do the work that I was asked to do. They taught me a lot. I got a job in the community.Unfortunately, I was not able to keep my job due to my employer changing things all the time. I’m a person that needs constant feedback, encouragement, and structure. These are things that the workshop provided for me and these are things that an outside company could not provide me. I know this because I have been through a dozen jobs since working at the work center. Today, I am currently unemployed and unable to go back to the work center at The Arc of Madison Cortland due to new regulations. I am concerned. What do I do? I have given working in the community a shot but even with all the necessary skills needed I still cannot obtain and keep a job. Because of this, I wake up in the morning, take a shower, brush my teeth, do my hair, sit by the window and have a cup of coffee. I watch the world go by wondering what is next. I wish this on no one. I wish one day people in Albany or Washington DC who change the rules could see for themselves what these programs that are being cut mean to me and many others. I feel like they are trying to push us to do something that doesn’t work for everybody on us. If I had one wish, it would be this, please look into your hearts and keep these wonderful work centers open.It Matters to Me Campaign is a grassroots effort launched by NYSARC. One issue is to allow people to remain in a work center setting if they prefer that to working at a job in the community. For more information about It Matters to Me go to nysarc.org

James Jewett

The Arc of Madison Cortland Clinic offers a variety of clinical assessments from psy-chological to therapeutic in Madison and Cortland counties. These are one time as-sessments completed by qualifi ed licensed clinicians that do not require enrollment in ongoing clinic services.

The Psychological Assessments are com-pleted by Licensed Psychologist which includes: Eligibility Assessments for OPWDD services which is IQ Testing and Functional Assessment, Autism Evalua-tions completed with ADOS or ADI-R, Sexuality, Guardianship, Healthcare Proxy, Medical Consents and Capacity Assess-ments. The clinic also offers a variety of other clinical assessments, which include Swallowing Evaluations, Adaptive Equip-ment, Wheelchair, Home Modifi cations, Sensory Stim and Vocational Assessments.

For more information contact Jaclyn Hoyt, Director of Clinical Services at The Arc of Madison Cortland 315-363-9281 or 607-756-2015.

Clinical Assessments off� ed at The Arc of Madis�

C� tland Clinic

6 - The Arc of Madison Cortland - Spring 2016 WE ARE A TEAM

Viva Arc Vegas Sponsors & Donors

Hosting and Event Sponsor – NYE Automotive Group

Naming Sponsor –Relph Benefit Advisors High Roller Sponsor - Oneida Savings Bank

Walmart Jackpot Sponsor -

One GroupNYSID

Elvis Sponsor - West Entities, Inc.

Gorman FoundationHot Number Sponsor -

My Cup of CakeFocal Point Federal Credit Union

Philadelphia InsuranceErie Mechanical Contractors

Tri County Heating and Air ConditioningM.E.I.D LLC

Billionaires Band Sponsor - The Bonadio Group

Champagne Tower Barbanos Wine and Liquor

Servomation

Thank you GiftsBarbanos Wine and Liquor

Travelers Insurance

Special DonorsRubicon • Bud & Cheri SheedyJean Hastie • Paul Micheelsen

Luann Losito • Nancy Marie JonesMarie Borowiec • Ellen Beebe

William Crofton • Michael & Joanne ErnenweinLou & Carol Neveu • Time Warner

Oneida Dental • Susan Stefanik

Raffle DonationsAce of Diamonds Jewelry • Ashley Tyler

Brae Loch Inn • Cazenovia JewelryHerb Phillipsons • Hummel’s Office Supply

Jim Cooke • Jim LeeKaren and Ryan Serianni • Passion NailsRosamond Gifford Zoo • Sharon Suess

Terry Phillips • Tim HortonsVernon Downs Casino & Hotel • W.J. Hinman Jewelers

Willson’s Nursery Seneca Trail • Yvonne B. Wild Pottery

The Arc of Madison Cortland and Building Futures Foundation would like to thank Bill Nye, all the sponsors, donors, volunteers and the attendees who rolled the dice and danced the night away at our Las Vegas Style evening of fun.

The funds raised support programs and services for people with developmental disabilities and their families in Madison and Cortland Counties.

The 2016 Gala Event will be held at Vernon Downs on Saturday November 5th. Save the date!

Viva Arc Vegas - NYE Auto rolls out the cars and rolls in Las Vegas for Building Futures Foundation

Camp ARCO provides a supported summer camp experience for children between the ages of 5-17, with developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health issues, and other disabilities in Cortland County. The Arc of Madison Cortland provides the needed support for a child to attend a summer camp of their choice.Camp ARCO started fifty years ago in Cortland County as a summer camp for children with developmental disabilities. Over the years, Camp ARCO evolved to promote community inclusion and children with disabilities attend a summer camp of their choosing along with their peers. Summer programs participating with Camp ARCO include but are not limited to; JM McDonald Sports Camp, Cortland Repertory Theatre, Lime Hollow, Camp Owahta, and the YMCA.“Parents often comment on how wonderful it is to see their child accepted and participating in activities that all children enjoy.” says Kim Ouderkirk, Habilitation Services Manager.Camp ARCO is now accepting applications for the 2016 summer program! To register your child for Camp ARCO contact Kimberly Ouderkirk at The Arc of Madison Cortland, 607-756-2015 x 2200. Parents are advised that availability is limited so to please call soon.

Camp ARCO Now Taking Applications For Campers

Spring 2016 - The Arc of Madison Cortland - 7WE ARE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY

Alternatives Recycling Center Announces New ManagerLast year, Alternatives Recycling Center in the Town of Lenox, marked its 25th anniversary of recycling in Madison County. Alternatives Recycling Center is owned and operated by The Arc of Madison Cortland and provides jobs for people with and without disabilities. It was also the year that after 21 years managing the recycling center Ken Stone retired. Alternatives Recycling Center is pleased to announce Michael Bowe, Oneida, is the new manager of Alternatives Recycling Center. Michael was the Assistant City Engineer for the City of Oneida until his retirement in 2011. Michael Bowe has been a long time volunteer for The Arc of Madison Cortland and recently resigned as Sr. Vice President of the Board of Directors to accept the position as recycling manager.Mr. Bowe resides in Oneida with his wife Melinda, and has two children Meara currently serving in the Peace Corps and MacKenzie, a student at RIT.

Michael Bowe

David Cofer, Delbert Uplinger and I went to a baseball practice at SUNY Cortland. As always, we had a great time! David has quite the rapport with Joe Brown, head coach SUNY Cortland Baseball team. Each season, Joe makes sure to give David the latest hooded sweatshirt to support the team. He gave David this sweatshirt and David asked if it was all right if Delbert could have a hat, to which Joe happily obliged. They both admired the items throughout the whole practice.Each time we visit SUNY Cortland, what is taken away goes so much deeper than the annual gift of the beloved hooded sweatshirt. Coach Brown makes it a point to speak to David and his friends. David gets to have a very real experience of getting to be “one of the guys”. Coach Brown will ask David what he thought about the games and /or practices. Coach engages David in what feels like average “locker room banter.” David does not always get that interaction everywhere he goes, so going to the baseball games and practices makes it all the more special. David is extremely knowledgeable in sports and takes great pride in the fact that Coach Brown recognizes that. Coach

Brown has in turn, been a great role model because now his associates and the team are doing the same thing. In fact, two of the baseball players came over, shook our hands, and thanked us for coming out to watch them. They asked David and Delbert how they thought the team looked so far. The amount of joy that radiated from David and Delbert from this was wonderful!It was such a great time; I really wanted to share the experience! Thank You to Coach Joe Brown and the SUNY Cortland Baseball Team! GO RED DRAGONS!

A Day in the Life at The Arc of Madison Cortlandby Beth O’Connor, Program Trainer/Mentor at The Arc of Madison Cortland

Delbert Uplinger and David Cofer

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! EMPLOYEES OF THE

Elizabeth O’Connor

Ashley Hillenbrand

Elizabeth is very dedicated to The Arc of Madison Cortland and the individuals we support. She is regarded as someone who stays calm in stressful situations, extremely reliable, willing to change her schedule to help �ll vacancies and assist new sta�. She has a sensitivity to the needs of the houses by training sta� to work independently as quickly as possible, has a positive attitude and demonstrates a spirit of teamwork and helpfulness. Pictured: Elizabeth O’Connor with Jack Campbell, Executive Director

Ashley’s dedication for both The Arc of Madison Cortland and the individuals we support is appreciated. Her clear sense of compassion shows through in the way she interacts with people and the desire to do the right thing. Ashley’s willingness to provide coverage to a caseload when short sta�ed and to learn anything and everything is appreciated. Ashley goes out of her way to help people we support. One example is advocating for an individual who was discriminated against at work. Actions like this support the continued development of real relationships that the agency encourages. Pictured: Ashley Hillenbrand with Jack Campbell, Executive Director

Program Trainer/Mentor - Cortland

Employment and Training Coordinator - Madison Gifts Made in Loving MemoryEllen Caswell & Kelsey

Caswell-YoungMonica Dermody

Chuck Kyle & Palooka the therapy dogVirginia (Ginger) Michels

Brian Wolff

Gifts Made in Honor of:Dave DelaneyPeter Draves

Diane Warner

In August 2015, The Arc Madison Cortland started on a project to open ten satellite sites in over five additional counties. These satellite locations will be within the day programs of our sister NYSARC Chapters (Herkimer ARC, Oneida-Lewis ARC, Oswego ARC, and Chenango ARC). The Certificate of Need (CON) has been submitted with all the required documentation and all the necessary site visits have been conducted. On December 9, The Arc of Madison Cortland received Conditional Approval from OPWDD and is currently waiting for the final approval letter. Once the official approval is received, The Arc of Madison Cortland Clinic will be able to provide the entire current clinic services offered at The Arc of Madison Cortland, which include; Psychiatry, Podiatry, Psychological, Behavioral, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Nutrition, Nursing, and Vocational Rehabilitation in all these sites.

The Arc of Madison Cortland Announces Clinic Expansion for 2016 by Jackie Hoyt, Director of Clinical Services

8 - The Arc of Madison Cortland - Spring 2016 WE ARE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY

Meet the Face Behind the Telephone Thank You!The Public Relations/Development Department at The Arc of Madison Cortland is pleased to introduce a new volunteer, Nichole Hastings. Nichole is a self-advocate and receives services at The Arc of Madison Cortland. In November 2015, Nichole started volunteering in the Public Relations/Development Department calling donors and members and thanking them for their support.Nichole is proud to be a member of The Arc of Madison Cortland and understands the important work the agency does to support people with developmental disabilities. Nichole is in the Self Direction Program, which allows her to manage her own services and activities including volunteer work. Nichole attributes her ability to do so much to her Direct Support Professional, Kerri Yeoman, who makes sure that Nichole is able to fulfill her goals and activities of daily living.In 2004, Nichole was the recipient of the NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council Volunteer of the Year Award. She also worked on the Healthy Transitions Project at Upstate Medical Center, a member of NYS Self Advocacy Association, and Co-Chair of the Madison County Americans with Disability Act Celebration Committee. Nichole and her fiancé Paul reside in Madison County. They have three dogs that keep them very busy.

Nichole Hastings

Volunteers from The Arc of Madison CortlandVolunteers from The Arc of Madison Cortland enjoy helping local not for profits like the Salvation Army in Oneida or collecting backpacks for children in need in Cortland.There are several programs at The Arc of Madison Cortland that promote volunteering and giving back to the community. Whether its Day Habilitation, Community Pre Voc, or Pathway to Employment, volunteering provides a good feeling of giving back and it also provides the opportunity for people to learn and build their work skills.In Madison County, Pathway to Employment is The Arc of Madison Cortland’s new “vocational discovery” program. It is open to waiver-enrolled individuals. Pathway to Employment is a one-year program designed to allow vocational staff to get to know the individual’s strengths and preferences, and to let each individual experience different work situations in order to get a feel for what they are most suited to. Pathway involves staff interviews with individuals, family, friends, and supports, as well as observations in a variety of settings, off-site classroom style learning, and up to four individualized “job shadowing” experiences with community businesses. Community Pre Voc (CPV) gives individuals an opportunity to build vocational skills in community settings. CPV involves some classroom style learning and some job shadowing and tours of area businesses, but the emphasis is on building work skills through volunteering with local non-profits. Small groups of individuals travel with staff

to local churches and community organizations where they put their work skills into action. In both Cortland and Madison County, Day Habilitation Program provides individuals with the opportunity to learn new skills and to development relationships in their community. If there is a not for profit organization that is looking for volunteers give The Arc of Madison Cortland a call at 315-363-3389 in Madison County or 607-756-2015 in Cortland County.

Shelly Story, Cindy Garner, and Carol Nortartomaso

Kevin Williams and Jon Sherman

The Arc of Madison Cortland – Madison County

Service Coordination Residential Offices

Alternatives Vocational Services (AVS)LOJO Technology

E-Waste

have MOVED to

634 Birchwood Dr., Oneida all telephone numbers and email

addresses remain the same

Dear Friends,

I would like to share with you what The Arc of Madison Cortland means to me. I receive services from The Arc of Madison Cortland and what a difference it has made in my life! My Service Coordinator helped me get the needed physical and occupational therapy so that I can be independent. You see, I have cerebral palsy and I require a lot of help. I am so thankful for The Arc of Madison Cortland and all they do for me.March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. It is also a time when The Arc of Madison Cortland holds its annual membership drive. For as little as $5.00 per person, your membership will:• Directly improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. • Allow for quality programs, services, and opportunities. • Will include a membership with NYSARC and The Arc US!• The more members, the louder our voice is to our

representatives in Albany and Washington, DC.I am so proud to be a member of The Arc of Madison Cortland and I hope you will join me and become a member today. The Arc helps not only me but also over 1,000 people with developmental disabilities in Madison and Cortland counties. PLEASE JOIN TODAY! For your convenience, I have enclosed a return envelope and membership form for you to mail you membership in today. Once we receive your membership, you will receive a personal phone call from me saying thank you. So please remember to include your phone number!Thank you,

Nichole HastingsSelf – Advocate & Volunteer

Please join The Arc