It's Not Too Late to Join Us This Saturday for The Arc's 5K!

Join Us for the 21st Annual 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, May 2nd

The Arc of Orleans County's 21st Annual 5K Run/Walk
in Memory of Terri Krieger
Sponsored by Case-Nic Cookies & The Sacred Heart Club

Saturday, May 2nd

Sacred Heart Club, 189 N. Gravel Road, Medina

 

What's special about The Arc's 5K Run/Walk? Cookie awards!!
We award the top three in each age division, and the overall male and female, with cookie awards made just for us by Case-Nic Cookies in Medina!

 

Registration: 12:30 - 1:30 pm

Walk starts: 1:30 pm

Race time: 2:00 pm (Race entries close at 1:45 pm)

Walk 1, 2, or 3 miles or race the 5K on the historic Erie Canal towpath!

 

$18.00 Pre-register

$20.00 Day of Race/Walk

$3.00 Food for non-participants

 

All participants will receive a gift bag with commemorative t-shirt.

Post race party with food and beverages, and door prizes!

Cookie awards for race winners!

 

 

Thank You to All Our Wonderful Sponsors and Donors:

Avanti's - Case's Paint & Wallpaper - Tina Bieber - Case-Nic Cookies - Country Lane Veterinary Services - Darlene Golson - Della's Chocolates - Grant-Pollard, Inc. - Hinspergers Poly Industries, Inc. - Hojack Ice Cream Shack - Mark's Pizzeria - Medina Lanes - Medina Lions Club - Pecoraro's Barbershop - PF Sports - RKS Plumbing - S~N~L Sweet Escapes - Sacred Heart Club - Stanton Signs - The Bank of Castile - The Book Shoppe - The Medicine Shoppe - United Apple Sales - Vision 2000 - Whipple Realty
 

To download a registation form from The Arc's website, click here:

Arc of Orleans 5K Run/Walk Registration Form

 

For more information or with questions, please contact Darlene Golson, Community Relations Manager, at 585-589-5516 ext. 228 or by email at dgolson@arcoforleans.org.

 

We look forward to seeing you on May 2nd!

The Arc of Orleans County and the 5K Run/Walk Committee

JOB FAIR FOR DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS

JOB FAIR FOR DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS FOR THE ARC OF ORLEANS COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
458 WEST AVE.
ALBION, NY 14411
SAVE THE DATE: MAY 11, 2015 FROM 1PM-3PM
MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Have a positive impact on the lives of others, experience personal growth and satisfaction in a community of caring people working as a team to help people with developmental disabilities achieve their goals.
Full-time/part-time and part time positions as a Direct Support Professional for our Community Living Department. Flexible hours, day, evening, overnight, weekends & holidays.  Good math & writing skills.
Must have a valid NYS driver’s license.  Experience not required and extensive training is provided.  Must be willing to work various hours to include evenings, weekends, overnights & holidays. Must be able to lift, push and pull 40 lbs and must be capable of completing SCIP, CPR, First Aide and other trainings as required.
STARTING RATE: Grade 7DC, STEP 1 - $9.66 per hour.
Send resume to Carol Fox, The Arc of Orleans County, PO Box 439, Albion, NY  14411, Fax 589-5669, E-Mail cfox@arcoforleans.org; visit our website at www.arcoforleans.org   

Thank You Iroquois Job Corps!!

 

Thank you to the Iroquois Job Corps for painting the interior

of our Stork Street Residence.  

 

 

 Great job!

Thank You for Your Support!

The Arc's 35^th Annual Best Friend Dinner

 

Thank you to everyone who came out to support and celebrate the individuals we serve, volunteers, and business partners at our 35^th Annual Best Friend Dinner on Friday, April 17^th.  The evening was a great success!

The evening’s award winners included:

2014 Best Friend – Rob & Debbie Monnier

Community Worker of the Year – Jessa Pollock
Mobile Crew Worker of the Year – Donna Biaselli
Enclave Worker of the Year – Brittany Marciszewski
Amber L. Wolfe Memorial OE Worker of the Year – Benjamin Litchfield
Self-Advocate of the Year – Shelley Hilbrand
Community Service Award – Emily Sorta
Heritage Award – Keding Automotive
Business Partnership Award – Tillman’s Village Inn

The evening included the celebration of the 179 volunteers who donated 5479.25 hours of their time (and talents) in 2014 assisting The Arc to fulfill its mission.

In addition, the Annual Meeting was held with election of officers and directors to The Arc Board.

The evening concluded with dancing to the music of Jonesie and the Cruisers.

New Director Named at Arc of Orleans County

The Boards of both Genesee Arc and The Arc of Orleans County are pleased to announce that Donna Saskowski, current Executive Director at Genesee ARC will be assuming similar responsibilities at The Arc of Orleans County.  Donna will work collaboratively with Pattie Kepner, who has served Orleans well during her Interim Executive Director tenure.  Pattie, in accordance with her request will once again assume her duties at The Arc of Orleans County focused on quality and compliance.

Donna’s role as Executive Director for both Genesee and Orleans is based on the terms of a Management Service Agreement developed by a joint Board Task Force and unanimously approved by each Chapter’s Board of Directors.  Donna, Pattie and the joint Board Task Force will continue to work together to identify and implement opportunities for the two chapters to integrate and share services, where appropriate, with the primary objectives of improving cost effectiveness and improving the quality of services provided by each chapter.

It is expected that Donna will serve in this dual role for at least the remainder of 2015, with the Board Task Force continuing to discuss and evaluate how the two chapters can best work together on a prospective basis.

Please welcome Donna in her now role at Orleans and be assured that she has the full support of each Chapter Board and will be assisted by Pattie Kepner in transitioning to her new responsibilities.  Donna may be contacted at dsaskowski@arcoforleans.org or (585) 589-5516 ext. 222.

Thank You for Your Support!

Thank you to everyone who came out and
supported the Nutrition Program's Spaghetti Dinner
held on Thursday, April 9th. 

Your support is truly appreciated!

 

Proceeds from this event benefited the

Meals on Wheels Program of Orleans County.

2015 Best Friend Dinner Invitations Are Out!

The Best Friend invitations are out!  The RSVP has been extended to next Wednesday, April 15th.

Please see below the information on the dinner.

Please join us Friday, April 17, 2015
Hickory Ridge Golf and Country Club                                                    
15816 Lynch Road, Holley

 

6:00 p.m. Reception and Cash Bar

7:00 p.m. Dinner

8:00 p.m. Awards and Annual Meeting

9:00 p.m. Dancing to music by Jonesie & the Cruisers

 

 

Honoring

 

2014 Best Friends

 

Robert & Debbie Monnier

 

Community Service Award

Emily Sorta

 

Heritage Award

Keding Automotive

 

Self Advocate of the Year

Shelley Hilbrand

 

Community Worker of the Year

Jessa Pollock

 

 

Orleans Enterprises Worker of the Year

Benjamin Litchfield

 

Mobile Crew Worker of the Year

Donna Biaselli

 

Enclave Worker of the Year

Brittany Marciszewski

 

Business Partnership Award

Tillman’s Village Inn

 

In addition, we will be saluting our many other volunteers, and holding our Annual Meeting and election of new Officers and Board Members.

 

Questions regarding the event may be directed to The Arc’s Community Relations Manager

by calling 589-5516 ext. 228 (Darlene Golson) or emailing at dgolson@arcoforleans.org.

 

RSVP's can be mailed to:

The Arc of Orleans County

ATTN:  Darlene Golson

PO Box 439,

Albion, NY 14411.
 

Reservation Information

 

Kindly Respond on or before April 15, 2015

 

Name (s) ________________________________________________

 

Dinner - $18.00 per person / $10.00 for individuals served by The Arc

Please enclose your check made payable to The Arc of Orleans County

Limited transportation is available for $5.00 per person (served by The Arc)

please include address and phone number for transportation on the back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Membership Matters!

Annual Appeal & Membership Drive Begins

The Arc of Orleans County's Annual Appeal and Membership Drive has begun! 

Your membership is vital to our mission and will help the Arc of Orleans County to provide services for over 1,150 individuals and their families. The Arc of Orleans County is one of 55 chapters of NYSARC, Inc. and a chapter of The Arc of the U.S., and has been working for forty-five years to help children and adults with developmental disabilities to pursue their desired quality of life. In addition, we have run the Nutrition Program (Nutri-Fair/Meals-on-Wheels) for the past six years in partnership with the Orleans County Office for the Aging.

Your membership will also help to increase the voice to both the state and federal governments about the issues that affect people with disabilities.  Please consider becoming a member during the 2015 Membership Drive! 

 

For those who have been members in the past, please consider renewing your membership for the 2015 year!  Thank you for your support!

Hope to See You This Thursday!!

Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser

to benefit

The Arc of Orleans County's Nutrition Program 

Thursday, April 9, 2015

4:30 to 7:00 PM

16 East Academy Street, Albion (south side)

Tickets only $9 for adult / $5 for children under 10Unlimited Spaghetti !! 

50/50 Raffle!         

 

Take-outs available

This program is run in partnership with the

Orleans County Office for the Aging.

April is Autism Awareness Month

 

For the sixth year in a row, Autism Speaks will be hosting Light It Up Blue on World Autism Awareness Day on April 2^nd. Light It Up Blue is a campaign to honor of people with autism worldwide like myself. Each year thousands of buildings are lit up and events are held to help with the campaign!

 

Here are 5 ways you can get involved on the big day to help everyone who has autism…

5. Raise Awareness with Blue!

 

Someone once said “ignorance is just a lack of awareness.” Help us spread autism awareness by distributing information about autism, World Autism Awareness Day and Light It Up Blue in your establishment, neighborhood or company.
And we can help! We have field staff all across the United States ready to help support your efforts! Invite a local Autism Speaks representative to speak to your staff, school or town about autism and the Light It Up Blue campaign.

4. Support Blue!

Consider supporting Autism Speaks! You can make a donation or even host your own fundraising event for the month!

3. Post Blue!

Social media is a great way to help get the word out about Light It Up Blue! For example, last year World Autism Awareness Day was trending on Facebook and Twitter.
One big way you can help is by turning your Facebook or Twitter profile picture blue! Another way which is new to the Autism Speaks campaign this year is our LIUB Selfie Sign which you can download here. You can personalize your sign and tell us where you are lighting it up blue this year by taking a selfie! Post these photos on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram or Flickr with the hashtag #LIUB to be a part of the global autism awareness movement!
For those who want to take it a step further, you can even turn your website blue! Our Site It Up Blue kit gives a great run down of how you can make this a reality!

2. Wear Blue

One of the easiest ways you can Light It Up Blue is by rocking your blue clothes! Ask family, friends, coworkers and staff to wear blue - it can be ties, scarfs, shirts, you name it!
Need something blue? Our Autism Speaks e-Store has our lapel pins, bracelets and other blue accessories that you can wear throughout the month.

1. Light it up Blue!

There were over 10,000 events and buildings that went blue last year! By lighting it up blue on April 2^nd and throughout April, we can start a conversation towards helping individuals with autism.
There are several ways you can make this happen. First, you can change outdoor or indoor light bulbs to blue bulbs. Second, you can tint windows with blue gel sheets. Third, you could cover existing fixtures with blue gel filters. Finally, you can light it up blue by posting the Autism Speaks puzzle piece or Light It Up Blue logo on walls or buildings by downloading them here.

No matter what you can do for April 2^nd and throughout Autism Awareness Month in April, we hope that you will help us shine a light on all of those individuals affected by autism out there!Growing up, I wish we had a campaign that would bring up the topic of autism on a national level. We now have that and I’m glad that we can be a part of this for years to come!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead

#LIUB #April2nd #WorldAutismAwarenessDay

How will you Light It Up Blue? Learn more about the campaign at www.autismspeaks.org/LIUB and register today!

No matter what you can do for April 2^nd and throughout Autism Awareness Month in April, we hope that you will help us shine a light on all of those individuals affected by autism out there!
Growing up, I wish we had a campaign that would bring up the topic of autism on a national level. We now have that and I’m glad that we can be a part of this for years to come!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead

 

Information shared from Autism Speaks Website.

 

For more information on Autism please contact:

Kristen M. Ostrander

Educational Advocate at The Arc of Orleans County

(585) 589-1750 ext. 2231 or via email at kostrander@arcoforleans.org

Or go to Autism Speaks or Autism Society.

Niagara Gazette Article on Sheltered Workshops

Posted in Niagara Gazette: Monday, March 30, 2015 3:00 am

GUEST VIEW: State plan to phase out sheltered workshops is ill advised

Senator Rob Ortt

GUEST VIEW: State plan to phase out sheltered workshops is ill advised

EDITOR’S NOTE: March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and in support of the disability community and sheltered workshops in his district, New York State Sen. Rob Ortt is urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities to protect the workshops from closure. This is the full text of the letter Ortt sent last week to Kerry A. Delaney, acting commissioner of the OPWDD in Albany.

In recognition of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, I’d like to renew the push to keep sheltered workshops serving individuals in need open across the state. As an advocate for the intellectual and developmental disability community, and as a supporter of work centers in my Senate District, I’m asking the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and the Governor to reconsider its plan to phase out these vital workshops in the coming years.

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, I have heard from those with disabilities, their families, their supporters, and their health care professionals. These individuals all share a deep concern regarding what might happen if these workshops were to close. This is especially troubling due to insufficient information provided by the state and an enormous amount of uncertainty surrounding what the future holds for those facing disabilities, or their caregivers. Without a plan, we fear that many of these individuals will end up at home, unemployed.

The Arc of Orleans County in Albion is one of many sheltered workshops in Western New York that touts the freedom of choice and inclusion. These foundations have proven to be successful for employees in the shop. I’ve worked with Arc’s executive director, Patty Kepner. Patty and the Arc foster an environment of freedom and safety. We cannot afford to replace this secure environment for disabled workers with an unfamiliar employment setting filled with uncertainty and lacking support structures.

Duane Smith tells the story of so many sheltered workshop employees. Duane, an elderly employee with Down Syndrome, has been working in shops for most of his adult life. He works five days a week and his paycheck provides him something beyond take-home pay. It fills Duane with self-respect – knowing that he can work like his peers and contemporaries. For Duane, and so many sheltered workshop employees, being in a work center cultivates a sense of pride, fulfillment, and accomplishment.

Employees like Tom Popowych like the work and particularly the social aspect of the job. Tom is one of Arc’s non-verbal employees, and would have an extremely difficult time adjusting to an integrated setting in a competitive workplace. Changing Tom’s, along with countless others’, daily routine could be disruptive and have significant negative consequences. I believe we should keep Tom alongside the friends and co-workers he’s had for years and continue to foster his sense of belonging.

A clear plan from the state remains to be articulated for disabled workers like Tom and Duane. As someone who fought overseas to defend our freedoms, I’m urging OPWDD and the governor to allow those in the disability community to keep their voices and their freedoms. We need to protect the employment and lifestyle opportunities that sheltered workshops provide for individuals with disabilities. Together, we can make this happen.