People Inc. Chocolate Sale – Delicious Fowler’s Chocolate

Many Opportunities for Businesses Available Join in our annual Chocolate Sale! People Inc. will receive 100 percent of the net proceeds! Please consider ordering chocolate (or Easter candy) for your kids, sweetie, family or for yourself through this event. Ask a few friends and family members to do the same! Ordering online through our pre-sale ensures the best selection and provides extra time to package your order personally. All orders can be placed by visiting the People Inc. website and completing a secure online check out between now and February 17. It’s simple: just visit www.people-inc.org , click on the Chocolate Sale button and choose that chocolate you have been craving all year. Even a small purchase helps so order some delicious Fowlers chocolate and support this great cause! Attention businesses and organizations? You can help too! Join us in a Presale Partnership: a no hassle, convenient opportunity to make a difference! Features and benefits include: • Recognition in Buffalo Business First • Corporate representative to appear on “The Kiosk Presents” daily TV show • Custom promotional materials • Invitation to the media kick-off event • Formal check presentation and photo plaque • Delivery options available For more information on the pre-sale or to customize a business or organization level of participation, contact Sarah Snyder at ssnyder@people-inc.org or call 716.817.7269.

Two Upcoming Events at Museum of disABILITY History

The Museum of disABILITY History and the Center for Disability Studies are pleased to host two upcoming events – both will be held at the Museum of disABILITY History, 3826 Main Street in Buffalo. “Changing Paradigms from Accessibility to Universal Design” will be presented on Wednesday, February 1, from 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. The presentation will be led by Professor Edward Steinfeld, a faculty member at the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning and the Director of the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (the IDEA Center). The disability accessibility movement is globally adopting a new paradigm: universal design. This lecture will describe the history of the accessibility movement in addition to discussing the difference between universal design and accessibility. Professor Steinfeld will also offer observations and insight into the reasons why the change from accessibility to universal design is now underway. “A Sens-ible Home” will be held on Friday, March 2, from 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Professor Beth Tauke, University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning and director of University Educational Activities for the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (the IDEA Center), will present the discussion. She will discuss The LIFEhouse™, a universally designed concept house and model residence, developed by UB’s IDEA Center and a number of partners, which provides a model of a residence adapted to a person’s changing needs throughout the course of a lifetime.

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.

DDAWNY Family Committee Hosts Breakfast with Legislators

WHAT: Breakfast with Legislators to discuss key issues faced by people with developmental disabilities and their families. WHEN: 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Friday, December 2, 2011 WHO: Sponsored by the DDAWNY Family Committee. Legislative representatives to include: Congresswoman Kathleen C. Hochul Congressman Brian Higgins New York State Senator Timothy Kennedy New York State Senator Patrick M. Gallivan New York State Senator Mark Grisanti New York State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer New York State Senator George E. Maziarz Assemblymember Robin Schimminger Assemblymember Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes Assemblymember Jane L. Corwin Assemblymember Dennis H. Gabryszak Assemblymember Sean Ryan Assemblymember Mark J. F. Schroeder Assemblymember Kevin Smardz New York State Legislator Raymond Walter WHERE: Millennium Hotel Buffalo 2040 Walden Avenue Cheektowaga, New York 14225 The Developmental Disability Alliance of Western New York (DDAWNY) Family Committee is hosting a breakfast with local legislators. Family members of individuals with disabilities will have the opportunity to speak with their legislative representative about key issues, including: the lengthy waiting list for living opportunities for people with developmental disabilities and the 1115 Medicaid Waiver through the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).

Buffalo Chili Fest at the Statler Benefits People Inc.

Event Includes Awards for Chili, Entertainment and Buffalo Bills Game on Huge Screen Presented by WebArt Designs, the Buffalo Chili Fest will be held on Sunday, October 16, from 1 p.m.-5 p.m., at Statler City, 107 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo . Chili samples will be featured from some of Western New York's finest restaurants. Proceeds from the event benefit People Inc., Western New York's largest human service agency. A variety of chili recipes can be tasted by attendees. Participating restaurants include: Bada Bing Sports Bar and Grill of Buffalo, Brodo of Amherst, Buffalo Chophouse of Buffalo, Darcy McGee's of Buffalo Laughlin's of Buffalo, Soho Burger and Bar of Buffalo, The Riverstone Grill of Grand Island, Bings Restaurant and Catering of Amherst, Irishman Pub and Eatery of Williamsville, The Roaming Buffalo of Buffalo, Potters Field Restaurant and Pub of Buffalo, R&R BBQ Food Truck of Buffalo, Sal's Famous Pizzeria of Tonawanda, Shadow Lounge and Restaurant of Buffalo and Statler City of Buffalo. Sponsors of the event include Solar Liberty and Wegmans. The event will include live music by the band November 11th and Buffalo Bills fans will have the chance to watch the away game on a huge screen. There will be a 50/50 split and raffle and a caricature artist by CReilly Art. The event is family friendly with special guest stars from two new TCT children's television shows Captain Chuckberry and the Super Silly Science Show. There will be an appearance by People Inc.'s Kids on the Block, an internationally acclaimed educational program promoting the awareness and acceptance of individual differences through the use of live puppet theater. Local celebrity judges will determine the first, second and third prize winners; and there will be a special Peoples' Choice award voted on by all the attendees/patrons. All attendees will be given a score card upon entering to select their favorite recipe. Admission is $5.00 per person. Kids age five and under are free. Tickets for chili samples will be sold for $1 each, along with special ticket packages. Event tickets may be purchased at Airport Plaza Jewelers, 4210 Union Road, Cheektowaga, or tickets may be purchased at the door. Walk-ins welcome. For more information, visit  www.buffalochilifest.com or call the People Inc. Foundation at 716.817.7269 or Jim Breidenstein, creative director and owner of WebArt Design, at 716.674.0870. 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.

Presentation by Jan Nichols, Author and Polio Pioneer at People Inc.'s Museum of disABILITY

People Inc.'s Museum of disABILITY History will host a presentation and lecture by Jan Nichols, author and polio pioneer on Thursday, October 6, at 5 p.m. at the Museum of disABILITY History, 3826 Main Street in Buffalo . Janice Nichols is a polio survivor. In 1954, she was one of nearly two million children in the United States, Canada, and Finland who participated in the Salk vaccine trial, which is the largest vaccine trial in the history of the world. Nichols made a complete recovery. Her book, "Twin Voices: A Memoir of Polio, the Forgotten Killer," was published in 2007. The book wraps her family's personal story around the greater story of polio, the disease. Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is a disease that can damage the nervous system and cause paralysis, and sometimes death. Since polio immunization has become widespread in the United States, cases of polio are rare. However, polio remains a problem in many parts of the world. A childhood victim of the 1953 Dewitt, New York, polio epidemic, Nichols personal and professional life have been profoundly shaped by her experience. Nichols lost her twin brother, Frankie, to the disease and suffered temporary paralysis, leading her to choose a career as a rehabilitation counselor. Despite setbacks, Nichols has never lost her optimism. Nichols earned a BA in psychology from Seton Hill University and a MEd in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Pittsburgh. She worked in the social service department at Community General Hospital in Syracuse, New York, and was an instructor in the social work graduate department at Syracuse University. For more information about the presentation, call 716.629.3613. 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. Located in the Amherst/Buffalo border and at www.museumofdisability.org , the Museum offers educational exhibits and activities that expand community awareness. 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.

People Inc. and the Collins Correctional Facility Assist with Restoration of Wheater Road Cemetery in the Town of Collins

People Inc. and the Collins Correctional Facility will host a Ceremony of Remembrance to honor the lives of individuals who now rest at Wheater Road Cemetery. The event will be held on Thursday, September 29 at 11 a.m. at Wheater Road Cemetery, which is on Wheater Road between Route 62 and Bagdad Road in the Town of Collins. Former residents of the Gowanda Psychiatric Center will be commemorated with a memorial garden, dove release and a brief program. In a grassy hollow in the town of Collins, People Inc. employees and program participants have spent the last three summers restoring the Wheater Road Cemetery. In this unmarked area, at least 1,200 patients who resided at the Gowanda Psychiatric Center are buried, most with anonymous numbered graves. Burials began after the center opened as the Gowanda Homeopathic Hospital in 1898. Two sections of the cemetery contain cast iron grave markers. In many cases, these were straightened and staked into place. Other sections closer to Clear Creek contain gravestones. In one area, the size of a football field, there were only three stones visible. After much exploration and excavation, nearly 500 stones are now resting on the surface. Each stone was painstakingly unearthed, cleaned and set on the ground again. This restoration project, led by People Inc., is helping to restore some dignity and honor to their lives. The Wheater Road Cemetery is the final resting place of approximately 1,200 people who resided in what was known as Gowanda State Hospital and later the J. N. Adam Developmental Center, which opened in 1898 to provide residential care for the "insane and idiotic." The restoration endeavor is an example of the strides that have been made in the treatment of people with disabilities and to acknowledge their history. This is the third cemetery which People Inc. volunteers have helped to restore. In total, more than 2,000 graves of patients in the Office of Mental Health and New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities system have been touched by the work. Monuments were placed in the two previous cemeteries. The Collins Correctional Facility has generously donated use of equipment and volunteers to maintain the grounds. People Inc. has been joined along the way by volunteers from the Office of Mental Health, the Cattaraugus County Mental Health Association, Randolph Academy, St. Bonaventure University and Siena College. Hundreds of spring bulbs have been planted and a heart shaped garden will be installed. As People Inc. concludes its work at the Collins site, the human services agency has been asked to assist with another abandoned cemetery in Lockport. Restoration efforts there will begin in the spring of 2012. 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. Note to Media: As per the guidelines of the Collins Correctional Facility, members of the media are asked to kindly RSVP if you are able to attend the event to provide any necessary authorization to be on the grounds. If you have any questions or to RSVP, please contact Nicole Forgione, People Inc. public affairs manager, at  nforgione@people-inc.org or at 716.817.7490 (office) or 716.598.9692 (cell). Thank you. Directions to  Wheater Road Cemetery 1. Take the 90 West toward Erie, Exit at 57 A (Eden Evans Center Road) 2. Turn left on to Eden Evans Center Road 3. Proceed into the village of Eden 4. Turn right onto Route 62 5. Proceed on route 62 through North Collins and into Collins 6. Across from the Collins correctional facility, you will see a barn on the corner at the left - turn left, this is Wheater Road 7. Just past the farm land on left, there will be a tire track drive - park in grassy area there 8. Walk down the hill and look for folks working toward the front of cemetery

EKS Day - Saturday, September 24, 2011

Celebrating Eunice Kennedy Shriver as Champion...Advocate...Leader... People Inc.'s Museum of disABILITY History in Buffalo, NY recognizes Eunice Kennedy Shriver on EKS Day on Saturday, September 24, 2011. Eunice Kennedy Shriver's legacy of service is being remembered worldwide on the 2nd annual global EKS Day as she will be celebrated around the world bringing together people with and without intellectual disabilities in sport activities and other events. People Inc.'s Museum of disABILITY History recognizes Eunice Kennedy Shriver for her achievements - please see  this flyer to see some of her accomplishments and the education programs offered by the Museum of disABILITY History.

Restaurants Needed to Participate in Buffalo Chili Fest to Benefit People Inc.

Calling all Restaurant Chefs to Compete for Western New York's Best Chili Restaurant chefs are needed to participate in the Buffalo Chili Fest. The event will be held on Sunday, October 16, from 1 p.m.-5 p.m., at Statler City, 107 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo. Chili samples will be featured from some of the area's finest restaurant chefs. The event will include live music, People Inc.'s Kids on the Block of Western New York puppet show, prizes, giveaways and plenty of chili. The event is presented by WebArt Designs and proceeds benefit People Inc., Western New York's largest human service agency. The cook-off is open to all local restaurant chefs with original recipes within Erie and Niagara counties. The restaurant vendor fee is $100, which includes use of electricity and bowls and spoons for the patrons. All varieties of chili may be entered such as chili con carne, with beans, vegetarian, exotic concoctions and other variations. Celebrity judges will determine the first, second and third prize winners, and there will be a special Peoples' Choice award voted on by all the attendees/patrons. Admission is $5.00 per person. Kids age five and under are free. Tickets for chili samples will be sold for $1 each, along with special ticket packages. For more information, visit www.buffalochilifest.com . Restaurants must submit their chili submission vendor forms by October 7. For details on how restaurants may be a chili vendor for the event, sponsorship information or to purchase tickets, call Sarah Snyder, annual giving manager for the People Inc. Foundation at 716.817.7269. 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.