Open House Scheduled for People Inc. Afternoon Respite in the Town of Gates

Afternoon program for young people with disabilities accepting applicants People Inc. is pleased to announce an Open House to provide an overview of the Buffalo Road Afternoon Respite Program for children with developmental disabilities who meet eligibility criteria as set by the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). Care Coordinators, teachers and families are invited to attend on Thursday, August 5, from 2 to 7 p.m. to take a tour and meet some of the staff. The Buffalo Road Afternoon Respite Program, located at 1860 Buffalo Road in Gates, NY, is currently accepting participants. The program offers youth ages 11 to 21, who have a developmental disability, participation in activities available in both group and individual formats. Various opportunities for socialization are provided, along with assistance with homework, movies, basketball, sensory activities and board games. A grassy area and a paved section affords opportunities for outdoor games. Trips to Homesteads for Hope offers planting, gardening, fishing and picnics. One of the hallmarks of this respite program is Martin, a standard poodle and certified therapy dog, who brings extra joy to members of the program and is trained to help them relax if they are having a tough day. The goal of a respite program is to provide engaging activities for the participants, while providing an opportunity for their parents or guardians to complete their work schedule, attend medical appointments, go to the gym or take a break from their own busy schedule. Anna Korus, Senior Vice President, People Inc, of Monroe County, commented, “Afternoon respite care is truly an important program that can have a positive impact on those being supported and their families. Parents can feel comfortable that their family member’s needs are met in a safe and encouraging environment.” The Buffalo Road Afternoon Respite Program operates Monday through Friday, from 2 to 6 p.m. There is no program fee, pending OPWDD eligibility. Transportation is provided by the Gates Chili Central School District. Interested families from other school districts will need to provide their own transportation. For more information, call 585-719-3415.

Open Interview Events in Silver Creek and Springville - September 2022

People Inc., Western New York’s largest and most experienced health and human services agency, is now hiring and training full- and part-time employees. Open Interview Events will be held on Tuesday, September 20, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 17 Park Place, Silver Creek and on Thursday, September 29 at People Inc. Orchard Senior Living Apartments, 276 Waverly Street, Springville.

Orchard Park Resident Dawn MacMurray Promoted to Vice President for Residential Services at People Inc.

Dawn MacMurray of Orchard Park, NY has been promoted to Vice President for Residential Services at People Inc. MacMurray has been employed at People Inc. for 13 years. Throughout that time, she has held positions as developmental specialist, team leader, program administrator, program director and associate vice president. She has her Bachelor’s in Social Work from State University of New York at Buffalo. Currently, she is working towards her Master’s degree in multidisciplinary studies with a focus on public administration, leadership and creative studies. MacMurray enjoys working in residential services where she began. She said, “In July of 2000, I began working at People Inc. as a part-time employee supporting individuals in a Southtowns home. The house itself was loud and busy and it just felt like a second home to me; it still is.” MacMurray credits her achievements to be based on the opportunities and recognition that People Inc. has for promoting and supporting hard working staff and helping them succeed. She is always excited at the opportunities to bridge the gap for acceptance and understanding in the community. She strives to empower individuals through collaboration with individuals, family and employees. MacMurray said, “Immediately, I felt I was making a difference in someone’s life and the individuals were making a difference in mine.” MacMurray is a wife and mother of two sons. She is a graduate of Leadership Buffalo Rising Leaders Program 2005, and says, “People Inc. presents opportunities for constant collaboration and a working environment with respect, opportunities to learn, and grow with a general sense of commitment by all to ensure the positive and supportive culture at People Inc.”

Orchard Park taken to task over housing

Request for seniors' data raises issue of policy on out-of-towners By Mary B. Pasciak, Buffalo News Staff Reporter When Jean Deahn retired, she wanted to move closer to her daughter, Susan, and granddaughter, Cheyenne, who live in Blasdell. So Deahn sold her home in Akron and got a tidy little one-bedroom place in the Carnation Apartments in Orchard Park, an easy 4.5-mile drive to have dinner, make applesauce or just visit with them. "It's been a good move for me all around," she said. Deahn is a spirited woman, quick to crack jokes, eager to chat with her neighbors and happy to brag about Susan, 12-year-old Cheyenne, and Deahn's son, Tom, who coaches for Temple University. She also may be just the sort of person whom some Orchard Park officials are trying to keep out of their community - a retiree on a fixed income who is not from Orchard Park. A local nonprofit group, People Inc., asked the town's Planning Board this summer to rezone a piece of land so it could build 43 affordable apartments for senior citizens, much like the one where Deahn lives. The answer: No. The reason? Many of the senior citizens likely would not be from Orchard Park. Town officials went so far as to send People Inc. a letter, asking for the ZIP codes of all the residents of Carnation Apartments, which is one of 16 such senior citizen buildings that the nonprofit owns in the region. That was a red flag for People Inc. Click here to read the rest of the Buffalo News article, "Orchard Park taken to task over housing" Click here to read the commentary, "Donn Esmonde: In Orchard Park, elitism turns absurd"

Paid Summer Direct Support Internships Available

People Inc. is pleased to continue to host its Summer Paid Internship Program running from June 3 - August 30. This is a part-time position paying $16/hour. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. The program is designed to allow students the opportunity to learn about the human services field, while gaining practical experience. Our Direct Support Internship Program places students in residential settings working in the personal living environment of people with developmental disabilities. Some internship opportunities also exist in agency day programs, as well as site-based or recreational respite settings. All Direct Support Professional Interns support the character, choices, strengths, interests and needs of people served, while ensuring a safe, healthy and clean environment. Direct Support Interns in both residential and day programming plan, coordinate and implement meaningful activities that promote independence, inclusion, and productivity of people served by People Inc. on a daily basis through areas of daily living, personal care needs, and activities such as games, music and art. In a Site Based or Recreational Respite setting, interns will assist person served in social/recreational activities and implementation of monthly activity calendars. The student will also have opportunities to interact and learn from program management, and coworkers, as well as learn the roles of different team members and career paths at People Inc. Intern applications are accepted through Friday, May 17, and can be completed using the “Direct Support Intern” listing at  people-inc.org/jobboard . Information on careers is available here .

Pampering Event and Open House at People Inc. Marigold Senior Living in Grand Island

Grand Island Chiropractic to provide free health presentation A Pampering and Treats Open House event will be hosted by People Inc. Marigold Senior Living on Monday, August 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 3026 Grand Island Boulevard, Grand Island, NY. A health presentation will be made, compliments of Grand Island Chiropractic, which includes: Five-minute chair massages, spinal screenings and Graston Technique® information. Additionally, products will be available for sale. The Anderson’s Food Truck will also be on site. Attendees will have a chance to enter to win an Anderson’s $25 gift card.  Seniors and their families are encouraged to attend the open house and presentation as apartment tours will be provided. Two benefits of People Inc. Marigold Senior Living are the affordability and safety features. Apartments are for independent seniors age 62 and over who are income eligible. As an added cost savings, some utilities are included. The one-bedroom apartments include a kitchen with appliances. For added safety, there is a day-time manager and a live-in caretaker for building emergencies. Safety features include stove fire prevention devices, grab bars in the bathroom, emergency pull-cords and a secure entrance. The apartment building includes a furnished community room, laundry facilities and a 24-hour response system. Tenants are welcome to have one small pet. Service coordinators are available to provide tenants assistance to supports and services at no extra charge. Group transportation to grocery stores is provided. For tenants who like to socialize, there are a variety of social events and community outings held throughout the year.  Registration for the open house event is encouraged. To register or for more information, call 716.773.0907. People Inc. manages 19 senior apartment locations throughout Western New York. For information about other locations, call 716.817.9090. 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 .

Paralympic Silver Medalist Mike Schultz and Author Presents First Book Event Hosted by People Inc.

Schultz Joins Buffalo Journalist and Co-Author Matt Higgins What: From Injury to Paralympics Champion: Meet Athlete and Author Mike Schultz - Paralympic Silver Medalist Mike Schultz and Author of “Driven to Ride: The True Story of an Elite Athlete Who Rebuilt His Leg, His Life, and His Career” returns from the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games with first book event to be held in Buffalo, NY, hosted by People Inc.  - Matt Higgins, Buffalo journalist and co-author of “Driven to Ride” to present - People Inc. will host a free author event to celebrate the newly-launched book on the inspiring story of an athlete, entrepreneur, father and Paralympic champion. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to attend. When: Tuesday, March 29, 2022, from 7 to 9 p.m. Advance In-Person Media Interviews: 6:15 p.m.  / Program with Speakers: 7:10 p.m. approximately  Where:  People Inc. Rehabilitative Health Services Building, 800 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY  Rehabilitative Services, Suite 101 (Corner of Hertel and Elmwood Avenues. Parking on-site. Enter from Hertel Avenue, parking available in lot).  Who: Mike Schultz, 40, is a three-time Paralympic medalist, an X Games Champion ten times over in three different sports, an entrepreneur, an accomplished adaptive athlete in horseback riding, mountain biking, motocross, snocross, snow bike, snowboarding, wakeboarding and author to his newly-released book, “Driven to Ride: The True Story of an Elite Athlete Who Rebuilt His Leg, His Life, and His Career.” Learn more: monstermikeschultz.com “Driven to Ride” is co-authored by Matt Higgins, a Western New York native and an award-winning journalist, who has written about sports and adventure for two decades. He has written for the New York Times, The Village Voice, Popular Mechanics, Outside and ESPN.com. Higgins is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute and Buffalo State College. Learn more: matt-higgins.com Why: “Monster” Mike Schultz is an athlete, innovator, speaker, author and Paralympic gold and two-time silver medalist. Schultz just finished competing in the Beijing 2022 Paralympics. Schultz is the founder of BioDapt, Inc. , engineering durable and versatile prostheses for athletes and military veterans around the world. Schultz is not one to give up and let an injury be the end of his competitive career. When a life-changing event happened, he set out to design and build prosthetic equipment that could withstand the rigors of his sports. Little did he know then, he would be helping others do the same. For the Beijing Paralympic Games, 26 athletes from 11 countries wore equipment that Schultz built, including the athlete who won gold. Schultz will share his story with event attendees. Books will be for sale during the presentation, with an opportunity for autographs. Registration is required, as space is limited. To RSVP, contact Lois Crane at lcrane@people-inc.org or call 716.817.7411. In 2008, Mike suffered a life-changing knee injury during a snowmobile competition resulting in the amputation of his left leg above the knee. Seven months later, Schultz was competing again and realized that the regular prosthetics could not handle the competitive, rigorous sports his body at one time could handle. He not only engineered a durable and versatile mechanical knee that utilizes a patented linkage system and a FOX mountain bike shock, he realized the need for advancements in high-impact adaptive sports prosthetics. Creating high-impact adaptive sports prosthetics became BioDapt, Inc. – the company Schultz founded in 2010 to help wounded soldiers, action sports athletes and amputees wanting to return to an active lifestyle. In 2018, Schultz was named to the U.S. Paralympic team. He competed in Snowboard Boardercross and Banked Slalom, where he finished the 2018 Snowboard season as the overall champion in both disciplines and the gold and silver medalist from Pyeongchang, Korea. An even more remarkable accomplishment, Schultz provided 15 athletes from six different countries with his prosthetic equipment – 11 medals were earned from athletes wearing BioDapt equipment at the 2018 Games. The U.S. team voted Schultz as the U.S. flag bearer for the 2018 Paralympic Opening Ceremony. In July 2018, Schultz won the ESPY Award for Best Male with a Disability.  Matt Higgins is an award-winning journalist and author who has written about sports and adventure for two decades. He is a veteran contributor to The New York Times, where his byline has appeared hundreds of times, including six stories published on page one. A longtime contributor to Outside, and a former correspondent for ESPN.com, his writing has also appeared in Men’s Journal; Popular Mechanics; The Village Voice; Sports Illustrated for Kids and The Buffalo News, where he began his journalism career in the Sports Department. He received a Knight-Wallace Fellowship in Journalism at the University of Michigan in 2017-18. Higgins is also the author of “The Insider’s Guide to Action Sports” (Scholastic, 2006) and “Bird Dream” (Penguin Press, 2014), which was longlisted for the 2015 PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing. He is a former mentor in the PEN/AMERICA Prison Writing Program, and a founder of the beloved and defunct author series, Buffalo, Books & Beer, held in taverns around his hometown of Buffalo, NY, where he lives with his wife and their sons. Driven to Ride chronicles Schultz's improbable journey following a life-saving amputation. From a place of debilitating pain and depression, he tapped into the same sense of adventure that had once taken him to the top of competitive snowmobile racing and followed it to the pinnacle of an entirely new sport: adaptive snowboarding. As he launched himself into the world of adaptive sports, Schultz’s ambition was only tempered by his need for better equipment – prostheses that could withstand the vibrations of a moto-cross bike or the impact of rough terrain. Without any formal engineering background, his obsessive tinkering has presented yet another new path designing innovative prostheses for athletes and wounded military veterans. The book was released in January, prior to Mike earning a silver medal at the 2022 Winter Beijing Paralympic Games. People Inc. Rehabilitative Health Services provides a comprehensive team approach to address various needs, including specializing in plans for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The team of experienced clinicians assist patients by addressing strength, movement, balance and coordination to help lessen pain and enhance lives, along with providing mental health services. Supports include: Occupational and Physical Therapy; Speech and Language Services; Social Work, Adaptive Equipment Assessments and Tableside Swallow-Function Evaluations, as well as a Wheelchair Clinic and Pressure Mapping Technology. People Inc., a multispecialty non-profit health and human services agency, provides programs and services to thousands of 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 and Twitter @PeopleIncNews .

Parents and Professionals Learning Together Annual Conference

A full day workshop with Allen Mendler, Ph.D. Discipline with Dignity: Effective strategies to manage difficult behavior Thursday, April 30, 2009 Click here to sign up today! Click here for additional information on this event! 

Participate in a Survey for Families/Caregivers of People with IDD through May 16

Input from Family/Caregivers of People with IDD Needed on New York’s Response to COVID-19 The Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council (DDAC) is compiling a report on New York State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to solicit feedback from as many providers as possible, the DDPC has developed a survey for parents/caregivers and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Please share this message with families you support: We know that people with IDD and family members faced unique challenges during the pandemic. We want to hear about your experiences, during the earlier days of the pandemic, so that the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and other state agencies can be better prepared, should another public health emergency occur in the future. The New York State Legislature has charged the independent DDAC with preparing a report assessing New York’s response to COVID-19 relating to people with IDD. The Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) is assisting the DDAC in the preparation of the report. This report will include an evaluation of policies, procedures, and programs that were implemented from March 2020 through April 2021 to determine the impact on safety for people with IDD. The report will also include feedback from stakeholder groups including self-advocates, family members/caregivers, providers, CCOs and underserved communities. Survey for Families/Caregivers of People with IDD One of the important components of this report is a survey for family members/caregivers of people with IDD. As a family member/caregiver of a person with IDD, your voice is critical to making sure our report accurately represents the experiences that people with IDD and family members faced during the pandemic for the time period of March 2020 through April 2021. It is also essential that a wide variety of family members from various parts of the state and an array of backgrounds respond to the survey so the DDAC and DDPC get the clearest picture of the impact of the state’s actions.  The survey is about 10 minutes long. It is completely voluntary and anonymous. You are free to skip any questions that you do not wish to answer. If you are interested, view the survey here . It will be open until Monday, May 16. Thank you for your participation in this important effort.