Flag-Raising Ceremony for Deaf Awareness Week at Buffalo City Hall

September 20, 2021 What: Flag-Raising Ceremony in Recognition of Deaf Awareness Week When: Monday, September 20, 2021, at noon Where: Buffalo City Hall, 65 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY Who: Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown; representatives from Deaf Access Services, People Inc., St. Mary’ School for the Deaf and the Erie County Office for People with Disabilities; along with community members and people supported by the fellow organizations. Why: In honor of Deaf Awareness Week, Deaf Access Services (DAS), an affiliate of People Inc., is hosting a flag-raising ceremony. The ceremony is also presented by People Inc., St. Mary’ School for the Deaf and the Erie County Office for People with Disabilities. The Global Flag of Deaf Communities will be raised, which symbolizes the following: The shape in the middle represents a hand, which is used by people who communicate through Sign Language. The light blue represents how the Deaf community cherishes Sign Language. The gold symbolizes light, hope, knowledge and enlightenment. The dark blue indicates Deafhood, an individual and collective journey to combat audism and embrace Deaf gain.  Deaf Awareness Week is celebrated for the following: - To spread awareness and educate people about the Deaf community’s issues and push for equal access/communication. - To celebrate the culture, language and heritage of people, who are Deaf all around the world. - To learn that there are many kinds of hearing loss, from hard of hearing to Deaf and to Culturally Deaf and many more. - To recognize the achievements of notable people who are Deaf. - To show that people who are Deaf are capable of doing anything, except hear. Formed in 1983 by a group of dedicated Deaf leaders and volunteers concerned about the welfare of the Deaf community, Deaf Access Services, an affiliate of People Inc., is the only local non-profit community organization solely dedicated to serve the Deaf and hard of hearing communities. Deaf Access Services envisions a community where all people experience equality, empowerment and inclusion to lead lives full of possibilities.  People Inc., a multispecialty non-profit health and human services agency, provides programs and services to more than 10,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, special needs, families and older adults throughout Western New York and the Greater Rochester region. Since 1970, People Inc. has assisted people to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity. With nearly 4,000 employees, People Inc. is one of the region’s largest employers. To learn more, visit people-inc.org, follow People Inc. on Facebook or Twitter @PeopleIncNews. St. Mary’ School for the Deaf has been serving the Deaf community throughout Western New York since 1853. The school is committed to providing equitable access to exemplary educational programs that prepare Deaf students to be self-directed, lifelong learners.

For Families: People Inc. President and CEO Announces Retirement

Dear Families, There is an immense respect and admiration people have for this agency – not just in Western New York and Rochester, but across the entire state. My confidence in our Senior Leadership Team is high and after planning with the Board of Directors for the past year, I want to share some news with you. I’ve decided to retire in April 2023 – on what will be my 43rd anniversary with the agency (April 7). I’ve worked with our Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team on a thoughtful plan for a smooth transition. While it is almost 8 months away, I wanted to share directly with all of you before the public announcement later today.    Our Board spearheads the transition process and leading that effort is our Board Chair JoAnne Hudecki. JoAnne and I were able to present together in a remote Teams meeting with our management team this morning and an email to all staff followed. It has truly been the honor of a lifetime to be able to spend my entire career here at People Inc. It certainly wasn’t anything I expected when I walked through the door of the Main Street ICF in 1980. I can’t even begin to describe what a profound impact the agency has had on me. I have been so incredibly fortunate to meet so many wonderful people – from the hundreds of families to the thousands of staff and community members – but most importantly, the people we support.   I love this organization and don’t know how I was so lucky to essentially spend my life here. Even through the toughest times, I knew there was an entire team here working and we could do anything. And we have certainly proven that.  I have great faith in the transition process that the Board has put together. I like the feedback and input from our entire team and stakeholders. We started the process early with the goal of a smooth transition. The Senior Leadership Team has been involved and can address questions. This team has been working side by side, for decades, in managing the programs and systems throughout the agency and they have my utmost confidence. Great attention is being given to ensuring commitment to our mission first, and that our deeply-held guiding values and culture will continue.   So, we are announcing this today and then it’s back to our regular work – business as usual. I’m still doing the same job until April. It’s our tremendous Board of Directors working on this transition, along with the rest of the staff focusing on the work of People Inc.  Thank you all for your support and partnership as the agency has developed over the past 52 years. I know there will be continued success in the next 50.   With heartfelt thanks, Rhonda Frederick,  President & CEO  

Former Elmwood Heath Center Infrastructure Community Offering 9.16

People Inc. is offering infrastructure items from our former Elmwood Health Center located at 2128 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14207. There will be a first come first served open offering on Friday, September 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. We kindly ask that you make arraignments to pick up items on the same day. For questions, contact Thomas Ess at e-mail: tess@people-inc.org or cell: 716.714.5384 (call or text). Former Elmwood Heath Center Infrastructure Community Offering includes: 12 Hon two drawer file cabinets 1 four drawer file cabinet 1 five drawer file cabinet 18 Office chairs 20 office desks 3 Stools 20 various stacking chairs 4 patient exam tables 1 high-low treatment table 7 portable exam lights 6 privacy curtains 3 rolling medical carts w/ power supply. 3 Deteco 350 lbs scale 3 rolling oxygen carts 11 Rubbermaid foot pedal garbage cans 15 small office garbage cans 10 Brewer Biohazard Waste cans 10 cork boards Various desk organizers 20 hanging file folder holders

Foundation and Federal Grant Will Allow City Health Center to Better Triage

Buffalo, NY, October 27--- The Elmwood Health Center at 2128 Elmwood Avenue (between Hertel and Kenmore Avenues in Buffalo), the North Buffalo health facility which offers a comprehensive range of quality primary and specialized health care and can be seen as a model for the community health initiatives currently being debated in Congress, will celebrate its 15th anniversary of service on Wednesday, October 28 from 12 - 1:30 P.M. with a significant grant announcement. The Patrick P. Lee Foundation of Amherst, NY, will provide $130,000 in funding to the Center for upgrades to its physical plant, specifically a redesign of its registration area and improvements in the efficiency of its communications equipment. The grant announcement is in addition to a recent award from the federal government of almost $400,000 for an electronic medical records (EMR) system. "Inefficient, unwelcoming and inaccessible facilities are a significant barrier to services for people with special needs. Upgrading both our phone and computer system along with modernizing our physical plant will enable us to better triage calls and visits resulting in better outcomes for our patients," said Dr. James Boles. President and CEO. Added Boles, "This grant from the Patrick P. Lee Foundation is going to put us ahead in the area of healthcare delivery in our community. It speaks volumes to the Lee family's commitment to the City of Buffalo and WNY." Founded in 1994 by People Inc., Western New York's leading not-for-profit human services agency, the Elmwood Health Center is what Anna Korus, People Inc. vice-president for health and senior services, describes as "a very inclusive and comprehensive neighborhood health center." The Center sees 3,600 patients per month, or 43,000 visits per year. Elmwood Health Center Director Frank Azzarelli referred to the health center as "a place where people can come and we can take care of all of their medical needs." It is a successful and thriving model of a neighborhood health center, the type offered as an example of a low-cost and high-result facility often mentioned in the current national conversation on health care reform. The Elmwood Health Center provides a wide range of medical, rehabilitative therapies and counseling services for the general public - adults, seniors, teens, and children - as well as specially designed services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Services include adult and pediatric primary health care, audiology, podiatry, mental health counseling services gynecology, neurology, occupational, physical and speech therapies, and support groups.

FREE Health Screenings

November 30 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Where: Maple Apartments A People Inc. Senior Living Community 3511 Union Rd. Cheektowaga, NY 14225 ARE YOU AT DISK FOR DIABETES? Over 5.7 million Americans are unaware that they have diabetes. Risk factors include: - Family history of diabetes - Excess body weight - Lack of exercise - Smoking Stress Tests Include: - Blood Pressure - Blood Glucose - Hemoglobin A1c* *Hemoglobin A1c test will only be performed on those who are interested or show signs of being "at risk" for diabetes. Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center will provide free hearing screenings as well as informational handouts on hearing loss and hearing aids. Feel free to stop by and have a licensed Audiologist: - Visually inspect your ear for wax - Perform a short screening to tell you if you have a hearing impairment Brought to you by VascuScript Inc. Health Mart Pharmacy, Buffalo Hearing and Speech, and People Inc. To learn more, call 683.3027.

Free Webinar: What is Care Coordination 8.23

People Inc. is pleased to share this information for parents, family members and caregivers. Person Centered Services is hosting a free webinar on Tuesday, August 23, from 6-7 p.m. titled What is Care Coordination? Focusing on information for parents and/or caregivers of children ages birth to five years old with a suspected or diagnosed disability. Topics to be discussed include: An overview of Care Coordination; OPWDD eligibility and services; referral process and a Question/Answer session.  Register for the event. Please note: Even if someone is unable to attend the live webinar, registration for the event is encouraged, as a follow up email will be sent to all registrants with a link to the recording and materials.   

Get a free ID card

Erie County residents age 65 and over are eligible for a free identification card issued by the Erie County Department of Senior Services. Cardholders can ride the NFTA bus system for half-price, and the cards can be used as a secondary form of identification. They feature a photograph and a place for an emergency contact, as well. Cards will be issued, through the collaboration of People Inc. Senior Living Apartments, at the following locations: Monday, September 21, 9 to 11 A.M. at Marigold Apartments, 3026 Grand Island Boulevard, Grand Island Monday, September 21, 1 to 3 P.M., Daffodil Apartments, 160 Robin Road, Amherst Monday, September 28, 1 to 3 P.M., Maple Apartments, 3511 Union Road, Cheektowaga Saturday, October 17, 9 A.M. to 12 P.M., Lilly Apartments, 36 Arthur Avenue, Blasdell Niagara County residents age 65 and over are eligible for an identification card issued by the Council for Older Adults in Niagara County. This I.D. card may be used to receive discounts from various merchants throughout Niagara County and is also a second form of I.D. The cost is $5.00. You will need to have the following information with you: Birth Certificate OR Social Security Card, Drivers License OR Utility/Medical Bill showing current address. Cards will be issued, through the collaboration of People Inc. Senior Living Apartments, at the following locations: Tuesday, September 29, 1:30 P.M., Pine Apartments, 6231 Tonawanda Creek North, Lockport Wednesday, October 28, 9 to 11 A.M., Willow Apartments, 3990 Forest Parkway, Wheatfield For more information, please call 716.817.9090.

Gifts at People Inc.'s Museum of disABILITY History Store

Distinctive Gifts and Museum Memberships Available Looking for that perfect gift? Look no further than the unique and quaint Museum Store located inside the Museum of disABILITY History. The Museum Store is open Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the Museum of disABILITY History, at 3826 Main Street in Buffalo (near the University at Buffalo South Campus). For the past year, the Museum Store has offered merchandise made by individuals of the Day Habilitation programs of People Inc. Individuals have created unique items such as silk scarves, cement garden turtles, dried hydrangea wreaths, stained glass butterflies, hand painted wine glasses and pillows. Each item is lovingly hand-made and no two items are the same. Other items for sale include: canvas totes, t-shirts and paperweights with the Museum logo, copper and leather "Jewelry in Braille," and plant-able "bloomin" greeting cards with flower seeds embedded in the paper. Several different books are for sale, including children's books as well as autographed copies of GIMP , by Mark Zupan and Tim Swanson, and Dr. Skinner's Remarkable School by James M. Boles, Ph.D. and Michael Boston, Ph.D. A variety of keepsake ornaments, perfect for any time of the year, are also available. The Museum Store will even gift wrap purchases. The Museum Store makes things easy and convenient for shoppers through online ordering. Simply visit the website, store.museumofdisability.org , peruse gifts and place your order. In addition to the many hand-crafted and one-of-a-kind items from the Museum Store, the gift of a Museum of disABILITY History Membership makes an ideal gift for yourself, family and friends. Members receive: Unlimited free admission, invitations to exclusive events and exhibit openings and 10 percent discount in the Museum of disABILITY History store. A variety of memberships are available, ranging in value, and all memberships are good for one year. Community members are encouraged to visit the Museum of disABILITY History to see the latest exhibits and stop by the Museum Store. All profits benefit the Museum of disABILITY History and the Museum's Educational Outreach programs. The Museum of disABILITY History is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and display of artifacts relating to the history of people with disabilities. The mission is to tell the story of the lives, triumphs, and struggles of people with disabilities as well as society's reactions. For more information, visit  www.museumofdisability.org or call 629.3626. People Inc. is a not-for-profit health and human services agency providing programs and services to more than 10,000 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.

Give to Help People Reach their Goals

At People Inc., we are proud to help people reach their goals each and every day. Will you be part of Giving Tuesday, a global generosity movement? Link included to donate.