Mary Cariola Children’s Center and People Inc. Partner to Provide After-School Respite Program for Children with Developmental Disabilities

People Inc. is pleased to announce a partnership with Mary Cariola Children’s Center in Rochester to provide an After-School Respite Program for children with developmental disabilities.  The program, previously located on Dewey Avenue in Rochester, moved to its new location due to a partnership with Mary Cariola Children’s Center in the fall of 2016. Now located at 1544 Mt. Hope Avenue in Rochester, the program and its participants benefit from a larger physical education space, kitchen and other accommodations. The After-School Respite Program, for children ages 5 through high school graduation age who have a developmental disability, provides supervision for children and relief for their parents. Activities are available in group and individual formats. Various opportunities for socialization are provided, along with assistance with homework, movies, arts and crafts, sensory activities and board games. In addition, participants are provided a daily snack.  Karen Zandi, president and CEO, Mary Cariola Children’s Center, commented, “After-school respite care is truly an important program that can have a positive impact on those being cared for and their families. Mary Cariola Children’s Center is pleased to be partnering with People Inc. to provide opportunities to the community.” “The move to Mary Cariola’s building has allowed our after-school children to enjoy larger spaces to exercise and wind down after the school day and develop relationships with peers,” said Anna Korus, senior vice president, People Inc. “In addition, the program helps parents to feel comfortable that their children’s needs are met while they complete their work schedule, prepare dinner or take a break from their own busy schedules.” The After-School Respite Program, which operates Monday through Friday, from 2 to 6 p.m., is currently accepting participants. For more information, call 585.441.9300. Mary Cariola Children’s Center is Rochester’s regional leader in personalized, interdisciplinary evidence based education and life skill solutions that inspire and empower individuals and families of those with complex disabilities. To learn more, visit marycariola.org .  People Inc. provides programs and services to more than 12,500 people with special needs, their families and seniors throughout Western New York and Rochester. Since 1970, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity. To learn more, visit  people-inc.org . Like us on Facebook at  People Inc.  and follow us on Twitter  @PeopleIncNews .

Author with Down syndrome Writes Children’s Book about Bullying

Family-friendly “Meet the Author” event includes book reading and face painting  Engelic Everett, 33, is committed to making the world a better place for people with disabilities. One cause that is important to Everett is bullying awareness and prevention. Her new children’s book, Olivia The Bully, incorporates these themes. The Museum of disABILITY History, which published the book, will hold a “Meet the Author” event with Everett on Saturday, May 6, from 2 to 4 p.m. at 3826 Main Street, Buffalo, NY. The free family-friendly event will include a meet and greet with the author, book reading, coloring contest, face painting and snacks. The book 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 and resident of Buffalo, Everett, is a small-business owner, award-winning self-advocate, published playwright and children’s book author. She started her own company making shirts with positive messages, creating a brand and website based on advocacy.  Event registration is encouraged. For more information or to register, call 716.629.3626. People Inc. provides programs and services to more than 12,500 people with special needs, their families and seniors throughout Western New York and Rochester. Since 1970, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity. To learn more, visit people-inc.org. Like us on Facebook at People Inc. and follow us on Twitter @PeopleIncNews . 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.

People Inc. Hosts Active Shooter Response Training Instructor Course through ALICE Training Institute

Training provides education and proactive approaches to violent intruder events What: ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) Active Shooter Response Training Instructor Course When: Wednesday, April 26, 2017; key times for visuals/interviews: 1:30 to 4 p.m.  Where: People Inc. Satellite Office, 280 Spindrift Drive, Williamsville Information: ALICE is a set of proactive, options-based strategies that increase a person’s chance of survival during a violent intruder or active shooter event. The training course is designed to teach law enforcement, as well as school, church, hospital, workplace administrators and employees skills and strategies that bridge the gap between the time a violent event begins and when law enforcement arrives.  As a health and human services industry leader, People Inc. is one of the first agencies in New York state to bring this cutting-edge training to its employees and will be one of the first hosts of a Train the Trainer Program in the Western New York area. “People Inc. is proud to partner with the ALICE Training Institute, providing this valuable instruction to our staff and other organizations throughout the area,” said People Inc. Associate Vice President and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Thomas Ess. The 30 trainees in attendance are members of the Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York, local law enforcement, local school districts, People Inc. staff and several out-of-state for-profit companies. Attendees will become knowledgeable in concepts, statistics and information about active shooter situations and why the ALICE training is effective; experience live scenario drills that compare passive vs. active responses; and learn the strategies needed to become an effective ALICE instructor for their own organization.  ALICE is the nation’s first training program for citizens to increase their survival chances and save lives, if faced with a violent intruder. The ALICE Training Institute has trained thousands of police departments, K-12 school districts, higher education, businesses, hospitals and houses of worship in the ALICE protocols over the last 15 years. The Institute is located in Medina, Ohio. People Inc. provides programs and services to more than 12,500 people with special needs, their families and seniors throughout Western New York and Rochester. Since 1970, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity. To learn more, visit  people-inc.org . Like us on Facebook at  People Inc.  and follow us on Twitter  @PeopleIncNews .

People Inc. Receives $5,832 Grant from Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation for Elmwood Health Center

Buffalo, NY - April 21, 2017: People Inc. is proud to announce that it has received a $5,832 Quality of Life grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. The award was one of 102 grants totaling $721,425 awarded by the Reeve Foundation to nonprofit organizations nationwide that provide more opportunities, access, and daily quality of life for individuals living with paralysis, their families, and caregivers. Conceived by the late Dana Reeve, the program has awarded over 2,900 grants totaling over $20 million since 1999. Funding for the grants is made available through the Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) operated by the Reeve Foundation under a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.   People Inc. will use the grant to purchase a new electrocardiogram (ECG) and spirometry system for its affiliate, the Elmwood Health Center (EHC). The equipment, which is compatible with the EHC’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, is used to monitor both heart and lung capacity in patients.   “We are so grateful to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation for this generous grant,” said Barbara Johnson, director of clinical services at the Elmwood Health Center. “The EHC serves a number of people with paralysis-causing conditions who have difficulties communicating their health concerns. The new, digital ECG/spirometry equipment will allow the EHC to conduct routine testing in-house and no longer have to refer patients to outside testing facilities. Through this project, we will be better able to monitor and manage our patients’ primary care, and return to the convenience of one-stop health services for individuals and families.”   The grants awarded in the second cycle of 2016 were distributed among a wide variety of categories, including recreation, sports and leisure, advocacy, equipment and other independent living-related services. A significant number of projects focus on community reintegration initiatives such as assistive technology programs, home accessibility modifications, accessible transportation, and accessible playgrounds that create more community opportunities for those living with paralysis and their families.   “It’s important to find balance while filling the needs of the community, especially those living in underserved areas,” said Donna Valente, Director of Quality of Life Grants. “People may live only a few blocks from an outstanding adaptive recreation program, but if they don’t have a ramp to get out of their homes or accessible transportation to get to that location, they can’t participate in the activity, and we really aren’t meeting the overall goal of this program. That’s why we examine every proposed project to see the impact it will have in the community, and try to determine how we can best help them reach their full potential.” Founded in 1994, the Elmwood Health Center, an affiliate of People Inc., is a health care facility that provides a wide range of medical, rehabilitative therapies and counseling services for the general public. Specially designed services for individuals with developmental disabilities are provided. The Elmwood Health Center is located at 2128 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY (North Buffalo, border of Kenmore).   About the Reeve Foundation The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy. The Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) is the support side of the Reeve Foundation’s twin missions to provide “Today’s Care” and to strive for “Tomorrow’s Cure” and offers a free, comprehensive, national source of informational support for individuals living with paralysis and their caregivers. We meet all 20 of the Better Business Bureau’s standards for charity accountability and hold the BBB’s Charity Seal. For more information, please visit our website at www.ChristopherReeve.org or call 800-539-7309.   About People Inc. People Inc. provides programs and services to more than 12,500 people with special needs, their families and seniors throughout Western New York and Rochester. Since 1970, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity. To learn more, visit  people-inc.org . Like us on Facebook at  People Inc.  and follow us on Twitter  @PeopleIncNews .

J.N. Adam Memorial Hospital Presentation Focuses on its Place in Medical, Historical and Architectural Importance

As part of its Dialogues on disABILITY Speaker Series, the Museum of disABILITY History will host “History, Mystery, Neglect and Hope – A Complete Perspective on the J.N. Adam Memorial Hospital” on Friday, May 12, from 7 to 9 p.m., at Gowanda’s Historic Hollywood Theater, 39 West Main Street, Gowanda, NY. The free community event will include a panel discussion covering the grand beginning of the J.N. Adam Memorial Hospital and its place in medical, historical and architectural relevance to its compelling allure, as well as the ensuing legal battles to determine ownership and landlord responsibility.  Additionally, the book, J.N. Adam Memorial Hospital: Her Inside Voice by Char Szabo-Perricelli, will be highlighted. The book is the result of a multi-year photo documentation project containing the sensitive images and writing of Szabo-Perricelli.  A question and answer session will be held with the panel, which includes: Deb Harris, grant writer for Historic Preservation Projects; Michael Kuzma, senior legislative assistant to Fillmore District Council Member David A. Franczyk; Char Szabo-Perricelli, artist/photographer and author; Douglas Platt, curator for the Museum of disABILITY History; and Jody Shaw, Town of Perrysburg historian/curator of the Historical Museum in Perrysburg. For more information or to register, email David Mack-Hardiman at dmack@people-inc.org or call 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.

Screenings Available to Become a Volunteer Ombudsman to Advocate for Seniors

Volunteers are needed to assist seniors through the People Inc., Center for Elder Law & Justice, and the New York State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. Volunteers, called ombudsmen, play an important role by advocating and promoting the rights of residents who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties. Ombudsmen are a trusted advocate for the elderly and provide problem-solving skills. Phone screenings are now available to review eligibility to join the program’s upcoming training sessions. Ombudsmen volunteers explore, resolve and/or refer complaints. Opportunities are available for those who work in professional fields, such as paralegals, human service staff, social workers and business professionals. Many volunteers are also recent retirees, ranging from those who have worked within education systems, administration to engineering fields. Schedules are flexible with a minimum of two hours per week.  If enrolled into the program, there are two training locations available, one in Amherst and the other Silver Creek. Volunteers need to attend all six sessions, which will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on the following dates: May 9, 10, 11, 30, 31 and June 1. People Inc. provides comprehensive training and ongoing support for ombudsmen. To be screened and to learn more about the training sessions and its location, call 716.817.9222.  People Inc. provides programs and services to more than 12,500 people with special needs, their families and seniors throughout Western New York and Rochester. Since 1970, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity. To learn more, visit people-inc.org . Like us on Facebook at People Inc. and follow us on Twitter @PeopleIncNews .

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.

Apartment Application Day for North Tonawanda Apartments

title February 13, 2020: Currently under construction, People Inc. Grant Street Apartments is accepting applications for a spring move-in. Located at 25 Grant Street, North Tonawanda, NY, in a suburban setting/school zone, the apartments are ideal for a single person, couple or young family. An Apartment Application Day will be held on Saturday, February 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at People Inc. Highland School Apartments, 105 Highland Avenue, Tonawanda (an additional Affordable Income Housing location managed by People Inc.). The apartments are for people who are age 18 or older and meet the federally-mandated household income guidelines; rental vouchers accepted. The Application Day event will be held for those interested in these apartments and to address any eligibility questions. Apartment features include: Professional on-site management; kitchen with stainless steel appliances; secure entrance with intercoms, security cameras, grab bars in bathrooms and sprinkler system; on-site laundry facilities; central air conditioning; two blocks from a major bus route and smoke-free living. Additionally, tenants may have one small pet. Some apartments are designed for people who are mobility and vision/hearing impaired; the remaining apartments are handicapped adaptable. Located in the heart of North Tonawanda, People Inc. Grant Street Apartments is close by to shopping, restaurants, grocery stores, theatre, banks and schools. For more information about eligibility or to RSVP for the Apartment Application Day, email housing@people-inc.org or call 716-880-3890. 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, their families and older adults throughout Western New York and the Greater Rochester region. Since 1970, People Inc. has assisted individuals 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.

People Inc. Program Hosting Art Show

Highlights Talents of Women with Developmental Disabilities The Arts Experience, a People Inc. fine arts day habilitation program, is showcasing the talents of its female participants with developmental disabilities. A visual arts show entitled “The Female Palette” will be on view through April 1, at Planet Coffee Company, 1862 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo. The works, incorporating numerous mediums, provide a glimpse into the thoughts, feelings and perceptions of this diverse group of talented women. The People Inc. Arts Experience Day Habilitation offers classes in visual arts, theatre, music, dance, jewelry design, fitness dance and creative writing. For more information about the program or “The Female Palette,” call 716.635.6526. People Inc. provides programs and services to more than 12,500 people with special needs, their families and seniors throughout Western New York and Rochester. Since 1970, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity. To learn more, visit people-inc.org . Like us on Facebook at People Inc. and follow us on Twitter @PeopleIncNews .