$2.25 Million Grant to Assist WNY Dental Patients with Special Needs

Higgins Announces $2.25 Million for Erie County Medical Center to Assist WNY Dental Patients with Special Needs Expanded Services Made Possible Through Collaborative Effort with People Inc. Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) announced the award of a 5-year federal grant totaling $2.25 million through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) for expansion of their Special Needs Dentistry program. The Special Needs Dentistry program at Erie County Medical Center plans to use this federal funding to create a state-of-the-art dental center dedicated to the unique needs of adult patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Collaborating with People Inc., ECMC plans to outfit the center with specialized dental equipment, as well as support faculty and staff dedicated to treating this underserved population. The funding will also be used to train dental providers so that they may pursue careers in the community with the necessary skills to treat adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Part of this award will be devoted to improving the training of dental residents, students and assistants both chairside and in the operating room. “For residents of Western New York, ECMC and People Inc. are trusted providers of quality services and care and this initiative takes the incredible work they do one step further,” said Congressman Higgins. “This federal grant supports an exciting partnership that will strengthen and grow opportunities to better serve and improve the health of people with special needs.” Elizabeth B. Kapral MS, DDS, Attending Dentist, Oral Oncology & Maxillofacial Prosthetics, Erie County Medical Center said, "Alongside my incredible colleagues at ECMC, I have worked diligently over the past 5 years to improve dental care for adults with special healthcare needs, and to train the next generation of dentists to feel confident in doing the same throughout their careers. When I began my tenure at ECMC, our department identified this great need in the community, and worked tirelessly to address that need. We were thrilled that People Inc. approached us with this opportunity, but quickly realized the need for grant funding to make this dream possible. I am immensely grateful to my colleagues and administrators at ECMC who afforded us this opportunity to work with People Inc. and the population they serve. We could not be more thrilled." Rhonda Frederick, President and CEO of People Inc said, “To tackle big issues, it’s all about collaboration. People Inc. and our Elmwood Health Center are very happy to work with ECMC on establishing a Dental Clinic as part of overall plan for the new Health Center under construction now. Dr. Kapral’s passion and expertise are incredible assets to this team effort. Best of all, the dental needs of our special population are going to be met in a quality manner in a convenient and familiar setting!” This federal funding was awarded under the HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grants for General, Pediatric, and Public Health Dentistry, the purpose of which is to improve access to dentistry services, particularly to low income, underserved, uninsured, underrepresented minority, health disparity, and rural populations.

2008 NYS Disability History Week!

People Inc. and the Museum of disABILITY History are pleased to announce the second annual celebration of New York State Disability History Week October 19th-25th. A resolution earmarking the third week in October was passed again in the 2008 legislative session. This week provides an opportunity to acknowledge the impact and contributions of individuals with disabilities throughout history. Attend the 4th Annual disABILITIES Film Festival on October 17th and 18th. This event will be held as a "kick-off" to Disability History Week. See www.disabilityfilmfest.org for details. Read a book with a disability-related them such as The State Boys Rebellion by Michael D'Antonio, Mozart and the Whale by Jerry and Mary Newport with Johnny Dodd or Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison. Visit the Museum of disABILITY History at 1291 North Forest (next to the main administrative office) or browse the Museum's website at www.museumofdisability.org . Encourage your local school district to acknowledge the week by having a guest speaker (person with a disability, family member or service provider), scheduling a Kids on the Block performance see (www.kidsontheblockwny.org), or implementing the lesson plans available through the Museum of disABILITY History. If you are involved with the Boy Scouts of America, work on the Disability Awareness Merit Badge. Volunteer or help at a program offering services to individuals with disabilities. Take part in celebrating 2008 Disability History Week! For additional information contact Karen Lazik at (716) 817-9015.

2009 Drive Fore Disabilities Golf Tournament

The 8th Annual People Inc. Foundation Drive Fore Disabilities Golf Tournament will be Monday, August 24, 2009 at the East Aurora Country Club. Space is still available for golfers and sponsorship opportunities. There will be great prizes, a vacation raffle, and complimentary golfer gifts. In-kind donations are welcome for the silent and live auctions! For more information and to reserve your foursome, call the People Inc. Foundation at 716.817.7461. Click here for more information! Learn more about the People Inc. Foundation!

2010-2011 CAMPAIGN...Creating the Strongest Link

Our fundraising campaign is officially underway, under the leadership of Diana and Ronald Papa and Foundation Board. Our goal is to raise $250,000 in one-time gifts and two year pledges toward renovation costs for the new Training Center for Human Service Excellence and Museum of disABILITY History. Thousands of direct care staff will be trained through this Center, and we all know that they are the strongest link in providing quality care. To learn more, contact Denise Paszkiewicz, Foundation Director at 817.7470 or denisep@people-inc.org . Click here to review our campaign booklet  and our pledge form .

2013 DDAWNY Family Committee Legislative Breakfast and Panel Presentation

“Still waiting?” Tell your story! Parents and caregivers are invited to attend:   2013 DDAWNY Family Committee Legislative Breakfast and Panel Presentation Friday, December 6, from 8:30am-10am Millennium Hotel Buffalo 2040 Walden Avenue, Cheektowaga, NY 14225   The DDAWNY Family Committee invites parents, caregivers and family members to a legislative breakfast and panel presentation. Several legislators have been invited and it is expected that you will have an opportunity to share with them your comments and concerns about the residential waitlist and unmet needs in Western New York. Please register . Space is limited. If you have any questions, email  ddawny@ddawny.org or call 716-877-7007.      

4th Annual disABILITIES Film Festival and Speaker Series

Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc., to host disABILITIES Film Festival and Speaker Series BUFFALO, N.Y: The Museum of disABILITY History, will host the 4th Annual disABILITIES Film Festival and Speaker Series October 17th (7 to 10 pm) and 18th (12:30 to 5 pm). The series will take place at the Market Arcade Theatre, 639 Main Street in Buffalo. Admission is $2 per person and free for students with proper I.D. The Film Festival targets students, educators, families, human service professionals, self advocates, and movie-goers. The goal is to provide entertainment and information while exploring issues faced by people with disabilities. The programs are intended to educate viewers about disabilities, challenge stereotypes, and celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities to popular culture. There will be a presentation and discussion by a variety of speakers following the showing of each film. For more information go to  www.disabilityfilmfest.org The Festival is also the unofficial start of New York State's second annual Disability History Week. The schedule of the films and speakers are as follows: October 17th (7:00 -10:00 pm): Mozart & The Whale (PG-13) The story of a developing romance between Donald (Josh Hartnett), a man who has Asperger's syndrome, and Isabelle (Rhada Mitchell), a woman who has autism. The film is based on the true story or Jerry and Mary Newport.  Running Time: 92 Minutes  Rating: PG-13 (Language)  Speaker: John Elder Robinson, author and New York Time's Best Seller. October 18th (12:30-2:30 pm): Body & Soul: Diana & Kathy. Two life long friends and disability advocates who are determined to live independently. This documentary moves beyond disabilities and activism, giving a rare portrait of a profound and symbolic friendship. Running Time: 40 Minutes  Rating: Unrated  Speakers: Diana Braun, President, People First and disability rights advocate, Kathy Conour, disability rights advocate and writer, and Alice Elliot, Director, Welcome Change Productions. October 18th (3:00-5:00 pm): The Collector of Bedford Street. Academy Award nominated documentary that takes and intimate look at Larry Selman, and activist and fundraiser who has a developmental disability. Larry's neighbor, filmmaker Alice Elliot captures Larry's persistence in overcoming obstacles and how he served as an inspiration to his community. Running Time: 34 Minutes  Rating: Unrated  Speakers: Larry Selman, advocate and fundraiser and Alice Elliot, Director, Welcome Change Productions. For more information, visit  www.disabilityfilmfest.org or call 716.817.7261. The Museum of disABILITY History advances the understanding, acceptance and independence of people with disabilities. Its exhibits, collections, archives, and educational programs create awareness and a platform for dialogue and discovery. The Museum, located at 3826 Main Street in Amherst, is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or by appointment. Admission to the Museum of disABILITY History is free. For more information, call 716.629.3626 or visit www.museumofdisability.org

5th Annual disABILITIES Film Fest & Speaker Series

The Museum of disABILITY History and People Inc. are pleased to host the 5th Annual disABILITIES Film Festival and Speaker Series. The goal is to provide entertainment and information while exploring issues faced by individuals with disabilities. The programs are intended to educate viewers, offer different perspectives, challenge stereotypes, and celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities to popular culture. This year, join us in watching Autism: The Musical, with speakers Elaine Hall, Founder of The Miracle Project, and Tricia Regan, an award-winning director, producer and cinematographer of documentary film and television. October 16 University at Buffalo Center for the Arts Screening Room 103 Center for the Arts, Amherst, NY 14260 Reception 6 - 7 p.m. Film screening begins at 7 p.m. Tickets $2 donation, Students with ID: FREE Click here for the flyer! The Film Autism: The Musical - Winner of 2 Primetime Emmys! Autism: The Musical counters today's bleak statistics with one woman's optimistic pledge to lead of group of children with autism in defying diagnosed expectations by writing, rehearsing, and performing their own full-length musical. Following five Los Angeles children over the course of six months, director Tricia Regan captures the triumphs and struggles of their family lives and observes how this musical production gives these performers a comfort zone in which they can explore their creative side. Running time: 93 minutes      Rating: Unrated Speakers Tricia Regan - Director, Cinematographer & Producer Tricia Regan is an award winning director, producer, and cinematographer of documentary film and television. For television, Ms. Regan directs, produces and shoots for ABC, Fox, NBC, MTV, VH1, Lifetime and TLC. Elaine Hall - Founder, The Miracle Project Elaine is an Educator, Writer, Consultant, Performer, and Professional Acting Coach for television and film. Her unique, positive relationship-building approach to children's arts education has been featured in many documentaries and publications. www.disabilityfilmfest.org www.disabilityhistoryweek.org

6,000 Miles for the Change of a Lifetime

Four individuals with developmental disabilities embark on an experiential learning cross country trip On May 30, four guys will begin their journey of traveling 6,000 miles – an experience that will change them for a lifetime. It may seem like just another cross-country road trip to the west coast, but it couldn’t be further from ordinary. These four guys are part of Guys Group, a social group for young men with developmental disabilities (DD). Developed by People Inc.’s Life Quality Coaching Department, the Guys Group helps participants discover and nurture their passions, build lasting friendships and develop important life skills so that they have increased opportunities to live and work independently. People Inc. is the leading non-profit human services agency in Western New York. With the assistance and support of two People Inc. life quality coaches, this trip is their chance to learn in action everything from planning and budgeting to safety and social skills – almost everything needed for an average tourism venture. One way the guys helped prepare for the trip was by making a check list. Twenty-two-year-old Aaron Hanson, a People Inc. Guys Group and trip participant who is autistic, said making the list helped him learn new organizational skills. “I have to make sure I have enough clothes for each portion of the trip,” he said. He also learned how to develop a budget and use his new bank card. But beyond the planning and preparation, Hanson can’t wait to see new parts of the country. “I want to learn about new places and take a lot of photos,” Hanson said. He hopes to take his picture in front of “Welcome to” signs to recap the many places he’ll visit on the trip. As Hanson and the other participants make their way across the country and see the likes of the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and Hollywood, they will also visit other DD agencies to share the kids coaching philosophy and encourage them to create programs similar to People Inc.’s Guys Group. The agencies they plan to visit are Bethesda Lutheran Communities in Fort Collins, Colorado; Opportunity Village in Las Vegas, Nevada; TERI Inc. in Oceanside, California; and New Horizons in San Fernando Valley, California.  This trip is the first sponsored trip of its kind for People Inc. Their journey can be followed in real time on the Facebook page “Crossing Borders WNY.” The trip will be documented on film and combined with footage of the group preparing for the journey. People Inc. is a not-for-profit health and human services agency providing programs and services to more than 12,000 people with special needs, their families and seniors throughout Western New York. Since 1971, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity.

6th Annual disABILITIES Film Fest & Speaker Series

The Museum of disABILITY History and People Inc. are pleased to host the 6th Annual disABILITIES Film Festival and Speaker Series. The goal is to provide entertainment and information while exploring issues faced by individuals with disabilities. Join us in watching Profoundly Normal, with speakers Donna and Ricardo Thornton, active and strong self-advocates, and the subjects of this movie. October 11 University at Buffalo Center for the Arts Drama Room 103 Center for the Arts, Amherst, NY 14260 6:30 p.m. - Cocktail Reception 7:30 p.m. - Film screening and speakers Tickets $2/students with ID: FREE Click here to view the flyer!   The Film Profoundly Normal Based on the true story of Donna and Ricardo Thornton who met at Forest Haven; an institution for people with developmental disabilities in Laurel, Maryland. Donna (Kirstie Alley) and Ricardo (Delroy Lindo) form a bond of friendship that blossoms into love. The two overcome extraordinary circumstances to build a life together as husband and wife. Eventually, Donna and Ricardo become parents and rely upon their love for each other to raise their child in an uncertain world. Running time: 86 minutes Rating: Unrated The Speakers Donna and Ricardo Thornton Ricardo and Donna Thornton are active and strong self-advocates in the Nation's Capital, the District of Columbia. They married over 26 years ago and have a son, Ricky, Jr., who is 23 years old. A movie of their life was made, entitled "Profoundly Normal," and they have had multiple interviews with Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes about their life as one of Washington DC's first couples with developmental disabilities to be married. www.disabilityfilmfest.org www.disabilityhistoryweek.org