Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Programs and Services, Stories Of People We Support, Uncategorized

Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month During October, we are celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month and highlighting a few people we support who are employed through our Job Path program. First up, we highlight Steve Blum who works as a Lot Attendant at Home Depot where he’s been since 2002. Steve says he enjoys the job and his coworkers very much. He’s been working throughout the pandemic, thankful for the opportunity to keep patrons safe by sanitizing the Home Depot carts – something completely new for him. Now he’s used to it and enjoys keep the customers know the …

Sibley’s Christmas Adventure debuts from Don Alhart

Uncategorized, Volunteer, What's In The News

Before WHAM-TV, Channel 13 anchor Don Alhart rushed out to do the 11 p.m. news on October 3, he spent the evening with us at The Arc of Monroe’s annual celebration, A Toast to the Arc. We were thrilled to help him launch his first children’s book, “Sibley’s Christmas Adventure,” wonderfully illustrated by Doug Hoyt. Join “Sibley,” the mouse on a magical Christmas adventure set in Sibley’s Toyland in downtown Rochester. “Downtown Rochester was a special place during the holidays, and the fourth floor toy department at Sibley’s was the center of the universe for me.” All sales from Sibley’s …

How Do Our Brains Respond To Trauma?

Uncategorized

Our brains are amazing.  They are the control centers for our whole body, and they make us who we are.  But for some people, it can feel like they are fighting a constant battle with their brain.  People who have experienced trauma, such as violence, abuse, a serious injury or a natural disaster, are at risk for developing a condition called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  PTSD impacts the way in which a person’s brain functions. There are three specific areas of the brain that are impacted by traumatic events.  The first is called the amygdala.  The amygdala’s job is to …

Covid 19 masks

Asking for volunteers to sew masks

Uncategorized

We have been so grateful to all of the support that we have received from our community! You may be asking, how can I help during COVID-19? We could use some handmade masks for people working in our residential homes, to provide a little extra barrier while cooking, playing a game of cards, and interacting with the people we support. Handmade masks in a sealed bag can be dropped off inside the lobby at 2060 Brighton Henrietta Townline Road, Rochester, NY 14623 Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm. Here is a link that has been helpful to our community of …

The importance of educating medical residents

Staff Perspectives, Uncategorized

It is with open arms that Kim Rinehart, former Director of Community Arts Connection (CAC), welcomes medical residents from UR Medicine’s Pediatric Links with the Community (PLC) intern community rotation program. CAC supports adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) with a focus on arts programming.  Between one and six medical residents visit the day service location in Brighton at a time. Residents are required to attend a variety of different local community programs to spend time anywhere a patient might receive services, for example a homeless shelter or CAC.   What do the residents learn while visiting? When residents arrive …

Kitchen renovation

Grant makes housing renovations possible

Uncategorized

Renovations in two of our residential houses are complete! These projects are made possible by a grant from Access to Home. Project #1 A tight kitchen space is opened up to accommodate everyone. This particular kitchen serves 10 people plus staff. An update is much-needed as many of the residents use wheelchairs and are unable to reach counters and appliances. The kitchen was very closed in there wasn’t much room for movement. Renovations include new appliances, lower counters, and an island on wheels that can be moved as necessary.  Architect Dave Strabel worked closely with our team here to provide …

Staying healthy this holiday season

Uncategorized

Arc Alive, our wellness committee, offers ways to stay healthy and well during the holiday season. Find time for fitness FITON is free app that I downloaded on my phone and it has access to so many workouts, stretches and simple exercises- and did I mention it’s free?! The best part is you can chose the amount of time you have to exercise (the first one I did was only 10 minutes), the type of workout and your level of intensity.  You can pull the workout video on your phone and instantly have a great trainer encouraging you along. It’s …

Board Member

Why I am a board member

Uncategorized

The way I came to know the Arc and the Foundation is a bit different.  I was very close with my aunt who dedicated her professional life to working with individuals with disabilities.  Sadly, she passed away at a young age from breast cancer.  Joining the Arc team and the Foundation Board is my way to help in the field she loved so dearly and to continue her legacy. Working as an employee benefits consultant, I have the opportunity to meet many different people.  A few years ago I met Dave Rizzari.  We came to know each other and through …

Instrument Drive

Uncategorized

Here at the Arc of Monroe, we currently have a couple of great music-based initiatives going on. Our very exciting, very first annual ArcBeat Music Festival will be taking place on June 15th at the Penfield Amphitheater (for more information click HERE), and you may have noticed that admission is FREE when you donate a new or gently used instrument. That’s because we are also currently hosting our first instrument drive to benefit the Arc’s music programs, and we hope you will be a part of both! At the Arc, we have two main music programs that help enrich the …

Add Volunteering to your New Years Resolutions

Uncategorized

It’s time to make your New Year’s resolutions!  How about volunteering more?  Here are 10 reasons to start volunteering: It’s beneficial to get involved in your community Meet new people Give back to an organization that has helped you personally That natural sense of accomplishment May help advance your career Helping those in need makes you feel good Provides a sense of purpose Learn new skills Gain a whole new perspective Make a difference Finding the right volunteer opportunity What type of organization would you like to be involved with?  Are there particular skills you want to use or learn? …