Air Quality Safety

Health and Wellness

Clean air is something that is taken for granted in New York State. Climate Change has affected some weather patterns and caused hotter and bigger fires in Canada. Yes, Canada does have fires annually, but the smoke is usually pushed out to sea. This time, the weather pushed north to south – also not typical for this time of year. That brings out all the wildfire smoke. Any smoke is inherently bad for you as is any particulates within the smoke. The body can handle things in small doses but not nearly enough to contend with fires. Just remember that …

LifePrep@Naz Mentors

Volunteer

Having student mentors as part of the fabric of LifePrep@Naz is what makes this program such an incredible experience for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They not only provide support for LifePrep students, but also become genuine friends who make a life-long impact on their peers. Recently, we sent out a survey to all of our LifePrep Mentors to learn more about what makes this program so meaningful to them. The responses were amazing and truly highlighted the sense of comradery and respect that we strive to encompass in all Arc of Monroe programs.   100% of Mentors Agreed …

Grant from NADSP and OPWDD Allows The Arc of Monroe to Offer Professional Development Opportunities

Employment, Staff Perspectives

The Collaborative of NY recently received a grant through a collaboration between the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) that allows member agencies to offer professional development through the NADSP E-Badge Academy. The Arc of Monroe is excited to announce that we are one of those agencies! Participation provides an opportunity for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and values as they earn NADSP E-Badge Academy electronic badges (e-badges). Direct Support Professionals provide so much more than just assistance with daily tasks. They advocate for people with …

Chronic Pain and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

Health and Wellness

Studies have shown that pain has long been recognized to have a negative effect on emotional status, ability to work, social activities, interpersonal relationships, and functional ability and leads to the increased utilization of healthcare services. I chose this topic because it is personal to me. I have bone-on-bone arthritis in my hip, and my quality of life has been greatly effected because the pain is exhausting.  With that said, I am lucky because I have the tools to either ask for help or get help myself. Can you imagine having chronic pain and not being able to express your …

Dementia and People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

Health and Wellness

What is Dementia? Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia. Although it is well known that older people are at higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, it is less well known that individuals with intellectual disabilities, especially Down syndrome, are also at high risk of the disease, and research shows that people with IDD have a prevalence of dementia. What are some signs of Dementia? Early signs may include changes in health, and in …

Benjamin Doan Awarded Employee of the Month at Mission BBQ

Stories Of People We Support

Ben Doan grew up learning the value of hard work on his family’s bee farm. His drive and dedication to do good work spilled over into his search for a job outside of his beekeeping duties. After recruiting the help of an Employment Specialist from Job Path, Ben successfully started a new job as a dishwasher at Mission BBQ in Henrietta. Ally Levy, an Employment Specialist at Job Path, will be the first to sing Ben’s praises. She’s had the pleasure of working alongside Ben since the beginning of his time with Job Path. From the first day they talked …

Community Connections to Project SEARCH: Cedric Burton’s Transition

Stories Of People We Support

Empowering people to achieve their goals and thrive in their communities is The Arc of Monroe’s primary mission. It’s always incredibly rewarding for staff to watch people they support work hard and see their dreams come to fruition. Cedric Burton is one of those people. Cedric knew that he wanted a job someday. As he explored job readiness services, he started attending Community Connections, a program at The Arc of Monroe that allowed him to volunteer with his peers, as well as receive classroom instruction centered on gaining various job skills. “We do a mixture of volunteering and core room. …

“In A Different Key” Free Movie Premiere

April is Autism Awareness Month and to mark the occasion, The Arc of Monroe and AutismUp will present a free screening of “In A Different Key.” The event is generously sponsored by Dixon Schwabl and Company. DATE: Thursday, April 28 TIME: Doors open at 5:45 pm with film screening at 6 pm LOCATION: The Theater At Innovation Square, 131 Chestnut St, Rochester. COST: Tickets are free, but you must have one to attend the event. OPTIONAL VIP RECEPTION: $20 per person, 5 to 5:45 pm “In A Different Key” is the highly anticipated documentary about the history of autism and …

Arc of Monroe Job Fair

Join us on Saturday, March 19 at The Arc of Monroe’s Lambert Day Services to explore career opportunities at The Arc of Monroe! Meet with members of our team and find out more about our open positions, including residential managers and supervisors, Direct Support Professionals, drivers, employment specialists, LPN’s, maintenance staff and social workers. Many of our open positions also include generous sign-on bonuses: Direct Support Professional – $1,000 for Full-time; $500 for Part-time Employment Specialist 1 & 2 – $1,000 LPN – $1,000 Social Worker – $1,000 Vehicle Operator – $2,000 for Full-time; $1,000 for Part-time Saturday, March 19 9 …

Understanding The Intersection of Black & Disability History

Advocacy, Stories Of People We Support

For decades, civil rights advocates have led the way in creating meaningful change in American society for many diverse groups of people. As the Civil Rights Movement picked up momentum across the United States in the mid-1900’s, the Disability Rights Movement mirrored many of the same efforts, creating an overlap in advocacy for both populations. Generations of Black people and people with disabilities were treated in horrific ways throughout our nation’s history. In order to help create a more welcoming, kind community, self-advocates and supporting staff of Arc Alliance – a self-advocacy group organized by The Arc of Monroe – …