Kids Day Event Encourages Inclusion for All Ages and Abilities Presented by Museum of disABILITY History

Appearances from Justice League of Western New York and Princesses from A Dream is a Wish Entertainment Adds Fun to Family-friendly Event  August 6, 2019: Before the summer ends, the Museum of disABILITY History will host Kids Day on Friday, August 30, 2019, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its location, 3826 Main Street, Buffalo, NY. The family-friendly event encourages inclusion for all ages and abilities in the community. The event includes guest appearances from Justice League of Western New York, princesses from A Dream is a Wish Entertainment and visitors from Buffalo Furries. Activities include: Crafts, free food, face painting and free Museum gallery tours, among other happenings.  Kids Day was created for families and children to get together to have fun, while having the opportunity to also learn about disability history and people with disabilities. Information about programs and services provided by People Inc. and Deaf Access Services will also be available.  Event admission is $3 per person, which includes all activities and food. Registration is encouraged. To register or for more information, call 716-629-3626. The Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc., 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. Located in Buffalo, NY, the Museum of disABILITY History offers educational exhibits, programs, publications and activities that expand community awareness.

Kids Day Event Presented by Museum of disABILITY History

The Museum of disABILITY History is hosting a Kids Day on Friday, August 24, 2018, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at its location, 3826 Main Street, Buffalo, NY.  The Museum of disABILITY History is pleased to host this family-friendly event to encourage inclusion for all ages and abilities in the community. Activities include: Face painting, kids karaoke, mini movies with popcorn, book reading by Engelic Everett of “Olivia The Bully,” visits from People Inc.’s Therapy Dogs, sand art, crafts and more.  The Museum of disABILITY History published Engelic Everett’s book, “Olivia The Bully,” which discusses bullying with children at an early age, sharing the values of friendship, understanding and loving one another. A recipient of People Inc.’s services, Everett lives and thrives with Down syndrome. An entrepreneur, Everett is a small-business owner, award-winning self-advocate, published playwright and children’s book author. Event admission is $3 and includes a hot dog, chips and a drink.  Registration encouraged by August 21. For more information or to RSVP, call 716.629.3626. Tours of the Museum exhibits will be available.  Established in 1998, the Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc., is the only one of its kind in the United States and is dedicated to advancing the understanding, acceptance and independence of people with disabilities. Located in Buffalo, NY, the Museum’s exhibits, collections, publications, archives and educational programs create awareness and a platform for dialogue and discovery.

Kids on the Block educating the community

Kids can learn about people with differences in a fun setting! The Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc., is offering free performances of the educational puppet program, Kids on the Block. Puppeteers travel to elementary schools, colleges/universities, and other local venues across Western New York to promote awareness, education, and acceptance of individuals with disabilities through the use of large and life-like puppets. The performances are designed for third and fourth graders. Each performance includes a question and answer period during which members of the audience ask questions directly to the puppet characters about disabilities. Kids on the Block relays the message that being different is a universal condition that should be celebrated! There are two ways you could become involved! You could recommend that Kids on the Block perform at schools, your community center, or even for a scout troop. The other way to become involved is to become a puppeteer. No prior puppeteering/acting experience is necessary. Qualified applicants will have a willingness to learn puppeteering techniques, be enthusiastic, and dedicated to the future development of the Kids on the Block program! Hours are flexible but commitment to training and learning puppetry skills and scripts is a must. If you are interested in scheduling a performance or becoming a puppeteer, contact 716.629.3626. Learn more about Kids on the block, by visiting www.kidsontheblockwny.org

Kids on the Block of WNY launched a brand new website!

This site features information about the Kids on the Block program sponsored by the Museum of disABILITY History at People Inc. It also features interactive games for students to access. The address for the site is: www.kidsontheblockwny.org The games are geared towards 3rd and 4th grade students, the target audience of the Kids on the Block program, and were created in large part by our Museum Education Coordinator, Lindsay Wratny. The games focus on the skill levels typical for 8-10 year old children while addressing disability awareness issues. The Kids on the Block program promotes the education, awareness, and acceptance of individuals with differences and encourages children to "celebrate their differences!" Kids on the Block travels to elementary schools across WNY and has presented to over 50 schools so far this school year for an audience of over 5,000! The troupe is always recruiting new puppeteers and will provide full-training to anyone who is interested in volunteering. For more information on becoming a part of this fun and rewarding opportunity, please contact Brie Hofschneider, Project Coordinator at 716.629.3626 or via e-mail at KOB@people-inc.org .

Lancaster Resident Michael Horn Promoted to Assistant Director of People Inc.’s Behavioral Health Services

Michael Horn of Lancaster has been promoted to Assistant Director of People Inc.’s Behavioral Health Services. He holds a Master’s degree in Community Psychology with electives taken in a MBA program and concentration on Program Evaluation from Sage Graduate School. He began his career after hearing about People Inc. in The Buffalo News and has worked for the agency for six and half years.   Horn’s new position will involve supervision of all departmental staff, including oversight of individual and group goal setting and tasking, the quality, quantity and timeliness of work, caseload turnover, professional development and participant satisfaction. Horn will also ensure programs/services are survey-ready, and meet or define highest standards and best practices in the region. Horn said, “It is important that the interfaces with agency and community stakeholders ensure a high degree of satisfaction among service recipients, and that opportunities for service or program development are capitalized upon. I look forward to my new leadership role in new and existing departmental development projects that meets quality and productivity standards.” Horn wants people to know that, “Every day I get to see the impact we make with individuals, families and the community. I am part of one of the best rated behavioral services in Western New York and am lucky to supervise the staff that has made that possible. I now get to lead a team to the Monroe/Rochester region to begin development of services there to assist in helping the community there much like we have in Buffalo and Niagara region.” He credits an exceedingly professional staff and coworkers who can adapt to an incredible amount of change. Horn recalls, “Just when I was getting burned out, I started to receive letters from families about the difference I was making in their lives and if it hadn’t been for People Inc.’s involvement, their child would have had to live outside of their home. I have kept those letters and they have gotten me through every Monday since…” Horn is a family man, with his wife Lori and an incredibly gifted 16 year old daughter Sydney that he states, “Rocks at school and theatre!” He also participates every Friday Night in a Wood Bat League and said, “I love every second of it. I will continue to be a catcher until my knees give out.”  

Leslie Garrity Named People Inc. Director of Public Relations and Marketing

People Inc. has named Leslie Garrity to serve as director of public relations and marketing. Garrity is responsible for the oversight of all aspects of People Inc.’s communications efforts including planning, development and implementation of marketing strategies, communications and public relations activities, both external and internal.   Garrity brings nearly 20 years of communication experience to Western New York’s largest human services agency. Notably, Garrity spent 14 years leading corporate communications at First Niagara Bank and most recently held the title of director of strategic marketing and communications for Roswell Park Cancer Institute. A resident of Williamsville, NY, she earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in communication from SUNY Brockport.   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.

Letter Writing Campaign Underway to Increase Staffing for People with Developmental Disabilities

In an effort to bring attention to the staffing shortage across New York State for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to receive assistance, a local disability rights advocate is helping to make his and other voices heard. BJ Stasio, who also receives supports from People Inc., is launching a campaign to bring New York State Governor Kathy Hochul’s attention to a workforce crisis that is leaving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities without the assistance they need. The goal is to gather at least 10,000 letters written by people with disabilities, their families, workers and community members, that BJ plans to deliver to Governor Hochul. Learn more about this letter writing campaign in a feature story by WBFO , where BJ shared, “This is your opportunity to make change for yourself and for others. So please use your voice. It doesn’t have to be a long story. It can be a short story; it can be however long you want.” BJ continued, “This is an issue for all people with disabilities and all those who love them and all those who support them. Because if we’re not seen, it’s not a truly inclusive community and without the staff who support us, we can’t be in the community to do what we’re all doing.” Families, direct support professionals (DSPs), people with disabilities and anyone who works for a disability services provider are encouraged to participate. Submit your letter online or email NYRiseUpTogether@gmail.com .

Life, Animated Featured at Museum of disABILITY History Film and Speaker Series

Academy Award nominated film documents young man with autism whose imagination unlocked new world The Museum of disABILITY History Film and Speaker Series will feature, Life, Animated , on Friday, April 28, at North Park Theatre, 1428 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo. There will be one showing at 7 p.m., followed by a short film discussion with a question and answer session. A heartwarming story, Life, Animated is the inspirational story of Owen Suskind, a young man with autism who was unable to speak as a child until he and his family discovered a unique way to communicate by immersing themselves in the world of classic Disney animated films. An emotional coming-of-age story, the film follows Owen as he graduates to adulthood and takes his first steps toward independence. Life, Animated was a 2017 Academy Award Nominee for Best Documentary.  Co-presented by Autism Services, Inc. of Western New York, the goal of the Museum of disABILITY History Film and Speaker Series is to educate viewers, offer different perspectives, challenge stereotypes and celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities. Admission tickets are $7.50 each. Tickets will be available for sale at the North Park Theatre Box Office on the day of the show. For more information, go to disabilityfilmfest.org or call the Museum of disABILITY History at 716.629.3626. Established in 1998, the Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc., is the only one of its kind in the United States and is dedicated to advancing the understanding, acceptance and independence of people with disabilities. Located in Buffalo, NY, the Museum’s exhibits, collections, publications, archives and educational programs create awareness and a platform for dialogue and discovery.

Limited Time Offer Available for People Inc. Senior Living

Does your mom, dad or grandparent need a safe senior apartment based on income? Is your loved one having difficulties managing household expenses and maintenance? People Inc. Senior Living can help with affordable and safe living in many nearby neighborhoods! For a limited time, a special move-in allowance is being offered – here are the steps: 1. Apply to the participating People Inc. Senior Living location by June 1, 2013. 2. Move in by December 31, 2013. 3. Receive $300 move-in allowance after third month of residency. Participating Locations: Daffodil in Amherst Lilly in Blasdell Holly in Angola Marigold in Grand Island Pine in Lockport Seneca-Cazenovia in South Buffalo Sunflower Apartments in Lackawanna Leisuretimers in Akron For more details, please see the flyer or call 716.817.9090.