New York State Association of
Day Service Providers
Annual Symposium 2014
November 5th, 6th and 7th, 2014
Gideon -Putnam Hotel
Saratoga Springs, New York
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Wednesday, November 5th, 2014
Session I 12:30 - 2:30 PM
1. Relax your Body, Recharge your Brain to Beat Stress: Robin Holcman, and Katie Brisley-Logue,
YAI/NIPD. This workshop provides tips, tools, and techniques to manage stress. Maximize
brain functions which impact our physical, emotional and cognitive health. Experience reactions
to stress and how to release it. Develop good breathing habits and focus. Energize body and
brain with movement, relaxation and drumming. Useful for all individuals we support. Session
culminates in a drumming exercise, a powerful emotional release without using words. Dress
comfortably. Session limited to 25 people.
2. Community Based Services: A Journey on the Employment Path: Kathrine Basal & Stephen
Lewis, The Arc of Monroe County. Participants will learn strategies as to how to develop a
community based setting, how to integrate a person centered planning and self-directed services,
curriculum resources, strategies to recruit internships, employment assessments, natural support
system of mentors and community outreach.
3. How’s the “Weather” There?: Shirley Baker & Caitlin Doran-Prior, Oswego Industries, Inc. There
are 3 keys you can use to “change the weather”. The first key is recognizing each individual.
The second key is consistency. A consistent routine helps the individual become aware of
expectations and become more comfortable with themselves and their environment. The third
key is the setting: When development a setting you should ensure that it is supportive of all of
the individuals that are in that area. Utilizing all 3 of these keys can unlock the door to a
“Positive Environment”. The participants will learn to create a positive environment for the
individuals to learn and grow.
4.
Customized Supports: A Person Directed Perspective to Employment Peggy Gould, The
VISIONS Center. Person directed approaches are achieved through customization, creating
supports that are uniquely crafted based on what the individual's choices, and preferences. The
session focuses on practical strategies to customize employment opportunities that enhance
person outcome measures. The session is designed to build options through a variety of
discovery strategies. This session is highly interactive and incorporates scenario’s and group
exercises. If you are looking for ideas this session will be helpful.
5. Self Direction: Katherine Bishop, OPWDD
Wednesday, November 5th, 2012
Session II 2:45 - 4:45 PM
A. Beyond the Stereotypes Part 2 – One Groups: Kenneth Reedy/Laurie Silver-Lewis & James Duer,
YAI/NIPD. This training will focus on the one classroom’s continuing journey through the
world of Autism. It will provide a recap of the early stages of the room and will address the
evolution of the curriculum and a program based around health and nutrition. Practical
strategies include visual supports, behavior management and creativity will be discussed.
B. Dementia: Having a Better Understanding About What it Is and How to help Support
People with Dementia: Dr. Derek J. Mizerak, Arc of Onondaga, Inc. The people we help every
day are aging more and more. It is becoming more common for staff to work with people who
have dementia. This presentation will focus on helping staff to identify the signs and symptoms
of people displaying dementia along with learning about the causes of dementia. Staff will learn
about who are most likely to develop dementia and how the agency can prepare for it and help
support it. The course of dementia will be explained. Staff will develop a better understanding
of what dementia is and how to effectively support people who have it. Treatment approaches
will be outlined from environmental modifications, staff interactions and drug therapies.
C. RESERVED FOR OPWDD
D. Own Who You Are: Improving your Self-Awareness and Self-Confidence for Personal
and Professional Development – Sonja Williams-Richardson and Nancy Shea, – YAI/NIPD
Do you want to grow and learn? Do you want to be considered for opportunities when they
arise? Are you ready to look within yourself and make the changes necessary to get noticed?
This training will focus on the foundation of emotional intelligence – Self-Awareness and SelfConfidence. Self-awareness is achieved through self-evaluation, and self-confidence is a skill
that can be developed though practice and risk taking. The ability to examine and reflect on
who you are, and to seriously evaluate your personal strengths and needs for growth, will
empower your growth opportunities.
President’s Reception Immediately Following
5:00 - 7:00 PM Putnam’s Restaurant
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Thursday, November 6th, 2014
Commissioner’s Address
And Award Ceremony
9:00 - 10:30 AM
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Thursday, November 6th, 2014
Session I 10:45 – 12:15 PM
1.
Progressive Teaching to Employment (Part I): Stephanie Rozanski & Warren Alley,
YAI/NIPD. This presentation will focus on teaching skill acquisition towards competitive
employment. Skill acquisition is the ability to learn a measurable task through progressive
teaching and experience. It is attained through 3 levels: Accuracy, Fluency and Competency.
Teaching through each level increases an individual’s employability potential and opportunity
for greater job retention.
2.
Pet Connections: A division of Ontario ARC: Gail Furst & Brenda Burton, Onatario ARC.
Ontario’s ARC’s Pet Connections program will present a 90-minute, multimedia
presentation in which attendees will learn about an innovative program that matches therapy
dogs with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Attendees will learn how
treatment sessions are designed to meet a variety of physical and cognitive goals. In
addition, attendees will receive an overview of the Bad Dog Spa, an onsite grooming salon
for dogs that has the potential to create both jobs and revenue, reducing the agency’s
reliance on public funds.
3.
Facilitating Community Development and Participation: Jeanelle Hector & Kapri Edwards
– AHRC – NYC – Fisher ADS. We will be speaking about Urban Innovation and
Community Development within the Harlem community. Over the past year, we have
collaborated with a number of organizations such as Marcus Garvey Park Alliance and
others in an attempt to further develop the Harlem community. We would like to speak
about the process, how to form connections, and build upon formed relationships within the
community. Most importantly, we would like to speak about bringing involvement and
moving from being volunteers or participants in the community to members of the
community, where we are helping to further assist in the greater need of our community and
finding employment opportunities.
4.
Incident Management Updates: Leslie Fuld, OPWDD
5.
Clare's Boutique: Laurie Silver – Lewis, YAI/NIPD. This presentation is about the
inspiration of one consumer. The program curriculum bridges the gap between working
in the community and working within the Day Hab setting by providing individuals with
community type jobs within the Day Hab walls.
Thursday, November 6th, 2012
Session II 1:30 – 3:00 PM
A. Progressive Teaching to Employment (Part II): Stephanie Rozanski & Warren Alley,
YAI/NIPD. This is a continuation of this morning’s training.
B. The Healing Power of Pets – Using Pet Therapy to Reach, Teach and Enrich the Lives
of Others: Nanette Winter, Chizeu Advocates, Inc. This presentation will explore Pet Therapy
programming based on the special connection between animals and people. In particular, the
bond we have with dogs has profound benefits on our emotional and physical health and well
being. In conjunction with Therapy Dogs International, participants will learn how to develop
pet therapy programs to help address a variety of needs. There will be certified therapy dogs
assisting with this presentation.
C. Clay Therapy: Molding our Future: Wendy Nebiosini and Steve Gagas, Developmental Disabilities
Institute, Inc. Our clay program enhanced the participants’ emotional and physical well being
while expanding their existing skills and teaching new skills. The program encompassed all
levels of abilities and enabled all participants to produce works of art that were exhibited at the
DDI Main Street Art Gallery. Additionally, by utilizing the Art League of Long Island kilns to
fire our clay works, we have opened up new avenues of community integration for our
individuals to explore.
D. The Journey from Advocacy to Activism: SANYSU at your Local College!: Danielle Pompili,
AHRC NYC. This presentation will take you through the steps of how we were able to
collaborate with multiple colleges to administer self advocacy courses on their campus. This
lecture will explain the reason behind creating an environment for learning that is inclusive to
everyone, i.e., high school students, college students, families, service providers, those we serve
and other community members.
E. Division of Quality Improvement Updates: Barbara VanVechten, OPWDD
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Session II 3:15 – 4:45 PM
1. Putting the Pieces Together: Miranda Fleming & Scott Robinson. Center for Disability Services.
Putting the Pieces Together will demonstrate the process of creating individualized puzzles.
They are individualized in the picture that is used as well as the number of pieces that the puzzle
is made up of. The puzzles can be donated to children in hospitals/daycare centers or used by
individuals in a program. The demonstration will include steps to create the puzzle, highlighting
how this project will enable the individuals to fully participate in an activity that will benefit them
and their community.
2. Strategies for Outside Success (SOS) – Dealing with behaviors in Community Based
Work Settings: Jonathan Gold & Samantha Sampath, YAI/NIPD. This session will discuss how to
deal with challenging behaviors in the public sphere of a work/volunteer environment. This will
include motivational techniques for commuting/working at the site and for job tasks. It will also
include self-relaxation exercises and other individualized proactive measures (including contracts
with positive reinforcement) to prevent maladaptive behaviors from occurring. The 3rd part will
center on reactive strategies. We will open it up for discussion of methods that have been
effective for participants.
3. “Won’t you Be My Neighbor?” A model for Building Full Community Partnerships:
Danielle Pompili & Cheriselle Scott, AHRC NYC. This presentation will take service providers on a
step by step model of building community that was used by multiple programs in Staten Island.
It will focus on techniques that were used to create community partners, ensure full participation
and assist people to become authentic members of their community.
4. Self-Advocacy: Jordan Jankus, WARC. What does it take to become more independent?
First, you have to learn to speak up and know what you’re good at and what you need help with.
Come learn about self-advocacy and the “Who Does What” measurement tool that helps people
learn about the skills needed for a more independent life.
Friday, November 7th, 2014
Session I 9:00 – 10:30 AM
1. COARC Drum Circle: Building Community through Music: Danielle Palleschi, COARC.
Drum circles are used to facilitate feelings of belonging and community. Music is a universal
language with success attainable by all participants. Drum circles provide a forum for
participants to be creative and expressive. Participation in active drumming has many benefits.
Learn how to start a drumming circle at your program and enjoy a demonstration.
2. An Experience in Sensory Stimulation Training – “We are Spectrum”: Michele Thompson &
Sheshonya Rivero, YAI/NIPD. A continuum of experience in the growth and development of
individuals with profound and multiple challenges. This presentation is intended to show the
ongoing success of individuals with multiple disabilities using progressive and innovative
teaching.
3. Technology As Tool of Empowerment At Your Agency: Jordan Jankus, WARC.
Technology is one of many tools that you can use to empower the people that you support.
Learn how Arc of Westchester began a technology initiative at the agency called the “Tek
Portal” and the plans for expanded use of iPads and SMART Boards by the people the agency
serves.
4. OPWDD Employment Updates: Ceylane Meyers-Ruff & Lynne Thibdeau
Friday, November 7th, 2014
Session II 10:45 – 12:15 PM
A. Community Based Programming from the Staff’s Perspective: Abigail Reilly YAI/NIPD.
This presentation will begin with a brief description of what Community Based Programming
means, the benefits of the structure, and the benefits to the individuals that we serve. Each
panel member will share firsthand experience of how they felt when they began this alternative
scheduling, what they have seen as struggles and what they have seen as accomplishments. A
video will be shown with interviews of staff, individuals and parents. There will be time at the
end for questions to the panel.
B. Community Gardening Project: Angela Cignarale, Keon Center. The Community Garden rovides
a great platform to learn more about horticultures. Consumers have the opportunity to work
alongside their fellow community members while also receiving gardening tips from them, thus
further immersing them into the community. Consumers learn that there is a lot of physical
labor involved with gardening, which provide an opportunity to develop better work stamina.
Some individuals discover they have a green thumb and would like to get a job working with the
plants. Through our experience, you will be able to replicate this activity in your community
C. NYS Balancing Incentives Program (BIP): Kate Marlay, OPWDD. NYS is giving
providers the opportunity to transform existing services and supports for individuals with
developmental disabilities through the Transformation Fund RFA. Many agencies have
submitted proposals for grants. The presentation will discuss the Balancing Incentives Program,
the history, goals, progress toward implementation December 1, 2014 and how it positions us
for moving NYS's Transformational agenda forward.
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D. Some Apps to Address the Functional Learning Needs of Adults with Developmental
Disabilities: Jordan Jankus, WARC There are now over a 1.2 million apps on the Apple
iTunes web site and hundreds more are posted each day! How can you deal with this flood of
information? Learn how Arc of Westchester is taking a Functional Learning Needs approach
in selecting apps, focusing on categories of needs including scheduling, self-exploration, job
skills, health and wellness, travel, and emergency preparedness.
Please Note: In the Vendor’s Exhibit…
A. Shooting Stars: Kelly Byrne/Rob Melnick – Family Residence and Essential Enterprises. The
Shooting Stars have been mastering photography, and their photography will be displayed
during this session. As described by one participant “this is a true artistic expression club.”
The photographers from FREE attend our day habilitation and PW/W opportunities have
traveled across the local communities of Long Island capturing the landscape with
outstanding results! By observing and appreciating the subjects of their photographs, they
share their vision of the community around them. This display is their interpretation and
representation of what Long Island means to them.