Tom's boss Barry presents him with his gold watch for 20 years of employment.

By Gretchen Dann

Through The Arc’s Supported Employment Services, many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are able to find meaningful and often lasting employment in our community.   Each individual is assigned a job coach, who provides  support throughout the hiring process and helps with any on-the-job issues that may arise.

Among our many employment success stories, the story of Tom Keown shines especially bright!  Tom recently received his gold watch for 20 years of employment with Boscov’s Department Store, where his role is recycling hangers and garbage.

Tom’s job coach, Christian Smith, has worked with him since July of 2011.  Since then, Christian has seen Tom’s appreciation for his work and his role as not only an employee, but a Boscov’s family member, “He can be counted on to give you the latest scoop about the Phillies and have the same passion for his work.”

Maureen Yuhasz, Coordinator of Supported Employment, has worked with Tom for the past 11 years, and has truly seen him blossom in his role at Boscov’s. “Tom is extremely independent and knowledgeable regarding his job duties, and accepts new responsibilities with ease.  He is a success story and he makes us proud to be a part of his life.”

Barry Shaak, Boscov’s store manager, has known Tom since he hired him over 20 years ago, and has nothing but great things to say about him.  “One thing about Tommy- he is very aware.  Sometimes people underestimate his intelligence. He’s a great guy.  Everyone likes Tommy.”

Barry believes that when people with I/DD are matched with the right job, it helps them to have a sense of self worth.  He would recommend hiring someone from The Arc to any employer.  He made sure to remind us that Tommy, as he calls him, is an essential member of the Boscov’s team.  His co-workers look after him, and they are also proud to work for a company that would give someone like Tom a chance.

When given the opportunity to be employed in their community, people with disabilities often become very dedicated and loyal long-term employees just like Tom.  Not only does this experience provide the business with skilled employees and positive community relations, but it provides an unforgettable and rewarding experience for everyone involved.

The Arc is always looking for new employers who are interested in knowing more about our program and are willing to take a chance employing people with disabilities.  Feel free to contact Maureen Yuhasz at: 609-485-0800 x225 or email her at myuhasz@arcatlantic.org.

Today in Absecon, eighth-grade students at Emma C. Attales Middle School received a real-life lesson on the ‘r-word’ from clients and staff of The Arc.  Shereen MacDonald, Sam Bonavita, Ellen Moskowitz and John Franco visited students as part of a disability program coordinated by teacher Barbara Horner.  Shereen MacDonald, a supportive living coordinator for The Arc who runs the agency’s Self Advocacy club, said “It was interesting to hear how they use the word ‘retarded’. They used it to describe  a phone or a TV when it doesn’t work right.  We were able to help them understand the history of the ‘r-word’ and how people with developmental disabilities are affected by the word’s casual use. ” Students were fascinated to learn that we had institutions still in New Jersey.  Many were also surprised to learn that The Arc has group homes in their neighborhoods, which is actually a very good thing.

Ellen Moskowitz and John Franco are Arc service recipients and members of the statewide Self Advocacy group.  Students had the opportunity to ask them questions about their disabilities and further learn about the importance of not using the R-word.  When a teacher from the middle school asked Ellen what people should do when they pass someone with a developmental disability out in public, Ellen replied, “Don’t whisper to your friends about me. Ask me about my disability and I’ll be happy tell you.”  This is an important lesson to teach children, as the R-word often finds its way into their daily vocabulary.  Based on the conversation and reactions from students, The Arc of Atlantic County’s visit seems to have made a lasting impression!

Ellen, John, and the rest of The Arc self-advocates would love the opportunity to speak at other schools and community groups. If you are interested in having The Arc come visit you, contact Shereen MacDonald at (609) 485-0800 x169.

Below is a link to a video made by The Arc of New Jersey about how the use of the R-word makes people with disabilities feel.

Brave walkers and top fundraisers Lisa and Annie Damiano

Saturday, as you’ll recall, was the worst weather day of the season- on the Ventnor boardwalk it was very rainy, very windy, and sleeting. And yet, not surprisingly the Step Up for The Arc walk was great fun! Yes, we at The Arc know how to have a good time under ANY condition. I want to thank just some of the people who helped make our 9th annual walk-a-thon such a fantastic – and fruitful – event. First and foremost, I’d like to thank our sponsors and the more than 200 walkers who raised money, bringing in almost $22,000 to benefit our recreation, family support and case management services that are vital to hundreds of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families right here in Atlantic County.

Next, I want to thank Beth Ann for her enthusiastic emails the days before the walk assuring us that if the weather was bad we’d just have a dance party all morning. And to Kathy, Father Joe, Fred and Richie of Holy Trinity Parish for letting us use the St. James Hall that made the dance party possible and for setting it all up for us.

Team Dina raised more than $5,500 alone! - Photo by Peter Mokover

Team Dina was a big highlight of the day. Not only did they raise more than $5600, but all of them were wearing pink t-shirts with Dina’s picture on them- and if the wearer had a photo with Dina that was the photo on the shirt! The Scoppas and their friends did an awesome job to keep Dina’s memory alive and raise money to help more people have the great Arc experiences that she had.

We got some great pictures thanks to our new friend Peter,a Ventnor resident who volunteered his time and talent to create a whole album of photos for us, which you can see here.

Other thank yous go to Lite Rock 96.9 WFPG and Katie, Marissa and Erin from Tilton Fitness who got us off to a good start, DJ Howard Minnichbach who kept everyone moving all morning and Ginny, our face painter, who accommodated all of the children’s wishes with beautiful designs. (Watch a video of Tilton Fitness’s warm-up to “Electric Avenue” right here)

Our volunteers were great as always and pitched in to make the whole thing look easy by seeing what needed to be done and just doing it.  We appreciate Lynn, Sue, Laura, Carol, Jen, Rose and Annette for helping with registration, and Sheldon Bank for bringing and preparing much of the food, and Mike Thomas of the Galloway Elks Lodge for donating bagels, fruit and juice.

Arc CEO Debbie Davies and Donna Buzby of Capaldi Reynolds walked the entire 3.4 mile walk

And a special thanks to Donna Buzby with team Capaldi Reynolds who peeled off from her team to walk with me, motivating me to walk the whole route!

The energy and the number of people in the room on Saturday despite the bad weather just goes to show how dedicated our friends, staff, volunteers, service recipients and others are to our mission. But this event is about more than The Arc. It’s about celebrating the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and helping to create more opportunities for them to live full lives, with opportunity, dignity and respect.  Whether you are affiliated with The Arc or just a proud friend or family member of someone with special needs, or simply a community member who believes in our mission – we hope you will join us at next year’s walk, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, October 27, 2012 at St. James Hall in Ventnor.  To be sure you’re on our list, please click the link below to subscribe to our emails (we send approximately 3 to 4 emails per month). We hope to see you next year!!

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“Come on in! Follow me – I’ll give you a tour of the whole house,” Steven* said to the group of eager visitors who showed up at the door of his Egg Harbor City group home he shares with five other men.   Steven directed the 11 Arc board members and Arc staff throughout the house, showing off their bedrooms and where they watch TV and eat dinner, and the pool in the backyard.  The group home staff, from the program director to the residential assistants, stood by quietly and let Steve and his housemates introduce themselves and tell a little bit about their lives.

A resident shows off his bedroom

This was one of several stops during The Arc’s annual Board Tour Monday night designed to help reconnect members to the mission of the agency that they guide.  Sometimes they attend dances and other activities, but this year they focused on three of our group homes.  Along the way, they heard about one resident who saved a kitten that became the new pet of one of their staff.  Another resident had everyone laughing when she explained how she’s dressing up as the assistant manager at her group home for Halloween – “with a blonde wig and everything!” she said.  At another house as the group was leaving, a resident had already asked his staff for help writing a letter to invite a board member to his home for a swim next summer.

This event is always so rewarding, both for the people we support and the board members as well.  It gives residents an opportunity to open up the home, describe how they live, and take pride in themselves and their space.  It gives the staff who work in the homes an opportunity to connect with The Arc’s leadership, and to be proud of the hard work they do to support their residents. Board members always leave with a greater understanding and a reminder of why they’re involved in the first place.

Peter Beck, who has volunteered in The Arc’s golf program for seven years, joined the board this summer.  “Tonight was my first look at The Arc from another perspective, and a very rewarding one I might add!  First, the homes fit right into each neighborhood and are well kept and maintained.  The Arc men and women seemed happy to see us and equally happy in their environment,” Beck said.  “I was also very impressed with The Arc employees themselves and the interest they took in their work, and the care they took in the folks living there. Equally impressive was the amount of training that everyone was receiving.  They all looked forward to additional training and learning.”

Audrey Fischer is also relatively new to The Arc’s board. “The interaction with the residents and the way they received us was great.  I feel so proud to be a part of The Arc and so fortunate to meet the residents and the staff,” she said.

Board chair Herb Hummel has been involved with The Arc for many years, but he always looks forward to visiting the group home residents.  “What I notice most about these visits is how much like a family the residents and staff are.  It’s obviously not just a job to the staff.  They know and understand the residents so well, and each resident and staff member fills a specific role in the home,” Hummel said.

Irv Singer, who runs The Arc’s new Northfield thrift shop and chairs the annual Golfing for Good Tournament, now in it’s third year, to benefit the agency, accompanied the tour to get to know a side of The Arc he is not so familiar with.  “Every time you turn around at The Arc there’s something else that you didn’t realize,” Singer said. “The tour heightened my awareness of The Arc and inspired me to do a better job. As the thrift store manager, you sometimes forget that the purpose of what you’re doing is not necessarily to run a good store and make money.  We’re also generating funds that make it possible for people who are very vulnerable to live their lives with dignity. It’s wonderful that there’s an organization like The Arc to help that along,” Singer said.

Would you like to schedule your own tour of an Arc program? We’d be happy to accommodate your small group, and the residents would be thrilled to meet you and show off their homes.  For more information, please contact Chief Development Officer Deborah Jewell at 609-485-0800 ext. 135. 

*Names have been changed

The white light streams down to be broken up by those human prisms into all the colors of the rainbow.  Take your own color in the pattern and be just that.  ~Charles R. Brown

Our dedicated rainbow chasers:

Debby, Traci, Carol and Mark (not pictured, Kim & Beth Ann)

The Arc’s after-school program is held each school day at the Atlantic County Special Services School for children with I/DD whose parents work until 5pm. Arc staff work with the children on activities, crafts, and homework, but every now and then they get to enjoy special visits, like the one they had last week from Samantha, an educator at the Cape May County Zoo.  The kids really enjoyed the 45 minute visit. Samantha wowed the kids with all New Jersey Local animals. They got to see a 32 year old snake (not venomous); a tree frog (who tried to escape and hop around the classroom); a skunk who was so beautiful to look at (they removed the gland that would have made it spray – lucky for us!!); and a beautiful bunny rabbit that they all got to pet – who was very, very soft!

Samantha and the skunk she showed to our After School Program children

Samantha explained to the children and staff the importance of not touching local, wild animals because they might bite. She also showed everyone an ostrich egg, antlers from a reindeer, the skeleton head of an iguana-rhinoceros and a beautiful leopard skin (the leopard had died of natural causes years ago). Samantha also encouraged us to come visit the Cape May County Zoo in the Fall and Winter months. She explained that the animals come out of their cages and are more visible and entertaining when it’s not so hot and humid.

The visit was very educational and some of the children helped to carry the cages that the animals were transported in.  A great time was had by all!!

The after-school program is just one of many Family Support programs that rely on donations to continue, and it’s very important to the families who benefit from it.  Please make a donation in support of this program today!