It’s all About the Smiles, says Beautiful Lives Co Founder

Coleen Mackin, Compass/QI Trainer at AHRC Nassau, caught a throw then later blocked and made a touchdown on camera during the "Football Field of Dreams" event hosted by The Beautiful Lives Project and LIU Post Football. Newsday TV caught the proud moments and interviewed Coleen about the importance of inclusion. Way to go, Coleen!

Journey Back to Work

May 2023 will mark Ronald “Ron” Burglass’ first work anniversary at BJ’s WholeSale Club in Valley Stream.

AHRC Nassau’s Supported Employment Program (SEMP) has been instrumental in assisting Ron to secure this role.

Ron is an outgoing man, who enjoys being active and staying busy. He works in asset recovery. In this role, Ron is tasked with restocking eligible merchandise for customers. Asset recovery associates take the items customers don’t purchase at checkout and circle them back to their proper place perishable items to the trash and nonperishable items back on shelves.

Ron began his career as a store associate in 1986, starting as a cart attendant at Waldbaum’s, now known as Stop & Shop. There, he garnered 30+ years of experience, working his way up from a cart attendant to taking roles indoors handling logistics making sure items are in stock and available for shoppers.

Ron worked regularly right up until 2020 when the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

His family became concerned with Ron working in what was deemed a high-risk environment and recommended he stay home. However, Ron wanted to continue working, saying he didn’t feel at risk. Due to his family’s concerns, he stopped work in February 2020 using his vacation time to continue receiving paychecks until his time ended in May.

This routine continued for the better part of two years. Ron was sustained financially by economic impact payments he received as part of the (CARES Act) and the American Rescue Plan. That, along with the housing and support he received from AHRC, helped keep him afloat until early 2022 when his funds bottomed out. Conditions turned sour when his mother had to pitch in and started sending personal checks to support him. Ron felt uncomfortable losing the independence he’d cultivated for decades.

At the time, Ron was attended day services in Freeport and would stop by the SEMP office seeking employment opportunities. Through persistence and self-advocacy, the SEMP office assisted Ron apply for the job with BJ’s. Ron showed his eagerness to work by letting his potential employer know that he was flexible and able to work every day if needed.

Ron landed the job and started at BJ’s in May 2022. As a person supported by AHRC SEMP, Ron had the assistance of a job coach when he started work. His coach stayed with him for a couple of weeks, helping with training and liaising with store leadership to make sure Ron was able to complete his tasks and was assigned an appropriate amount of work.

After the initial training period, Ron began working independently, with his job coach checking in periodically to make sure his days were going smoothly.

Ron is more optimistic about the future now and keeps a busy schedule. Ron is loving it. As an asset recovery associate, empties boxes, and restocks eligible items left after checkout.

On his days off, Ron likes shopping and attending events with friends. With his paycheck, Ron has money in the bank to buy his favorite things, like books, candy, and DVDs.

“I feel good about my job, everything’s fine and a lot of people here are really nice. I’m doing really well here,” mentioned Ron. “It’s better for me here at BJ’s, much better.”

Personal Outcome Measures (POM) interviews continue to provide people with the tools to improve their quality of life by identifying what outcomes are most important to each person. To date in 2023, approximately 50 interviews have been conducted by two AHRC-Citizen’s CQL Certified POMs Trainer/Interviewers. In April, a third interviewer was added to the department.

In 2023, the POM Department built upon the existing University of Personal Growth by the creation of the “Discovering You,” series of workshops which focus on the concerns of students transitioning from the high school to the adult world. This year the POM Department has concentrated its efforts in ensuring that each person supported understands that they have the right to choose services. A presentation entitled “A Voice for Choice” was developed to help people understand that they are able to choose their day option, as well as a process for making a change as desired. In this way, the goal for our CQL objective, Approximately 150 people attended this presentation and 81 surveys were completed which detailed the interest service related interests on specific day options expressed by each person. In addition to this, about 800 people were trained in choosing their services through a series of Voice for Choice workshops that encouraged people supported and their staff to access the education necessary to make personal choices. Through this educational piece, people will be able to experience a variety of options and gain invaluable exposure.

In review of the POM interview data, it is noted that for the most part, outcomes and supports revealed a broad downward movement from the 1st to the 2nd quarters. Within the first 2 quarters of 2023, the POM Department had two full time interviewers. Towards the beginning of quarter two, a newly hired third interviewer began her training to assist the department in their critically important work. Although it should be noted that the indicator for “intimacy” moved from 52% in the first quarter to 54% in the second which is encouraging. Those downward trends mentioned generally were not excessive but there are a few indicator to be noted:

Natural Supports- there was a decline in outcomes met from 80% in the first quarter to 65% in the second. This was true of supports shown in this area as well. From 80% in the 1st quarter to 70% in the 2nd. This trend could be attributed to the amount of interviews that were conducted as the numbers were low due to staffing issues with priority given to those with rights restrictions. It may also be indicative of the people interviewed within the 1,2nd quarter, the time and frequency of interacting with family and other natural supports was limited. Therefore, the outcome is considered unmet creating a downward trend.

Abuse and Neglect Here outcomes met in the 1st quarter were at 72% and supports at 88% but showed a decline in the 2nd quarter to 60% outcomes met and 73% supports shown. Upon review of this trend the POM Department determined that more specific and more frequent training may be required to support further understanding of the terms (Neglect, exploitation and mistreatment).

Friends: People have friends went from 48% outcomes met to 39% during Covid many people experienced a loss of connection and relationships were severed. While efforts to reconnect are being made, people are still contenting with social, emotional, and relationship based challenges in reestablishing these relationships.

The POM Departments looks forward to continuing to support people to live their own best lives, their own way!

Discovering You Workshop—How to Create Life You Want By, Susan Gill Orange

On June 6th and 7th, members of the POM Department CQL presented “The Discovering You,” workshop for transition aged students from Brookville Children’s Services program. The presentation was given at the Wheatley Farm and Arts Community Center’s Clubhouse, a newly renovated and beautiful conference area shared by people receiving services as well as community members. As advocates, and educators, we believe that it is essential for students who are ready to graduate to do so with a set of tools and resources for a smooth transition. Entry to the real world is challenging for all young people, and at times even more so, for people with disabilities.

During classes, students had the opportunity to develop self-advocacy skills and learn how to ask for what they want and need to create the life of their own choosing. The key to effective support is for the student to be Educated, Exposed and Experienced, the CQL Three Es, on the choices that exist and to focus on what matters the most to them for the future. People make choices all the time, every single day. When an organization, like ours, provides Education, Experience and Exposure in relation to a personal outcome, that outcome is more likely to be present. It is our mission to meet these objectives in order to improve the quality of life for people and help them to meet their personal goals, dreams and plans for their lives.

The presentation focused on developing a person-centered vision or life plan with the emphasis on person centeredness and future expectations. The POM department provided workable templates where the students could place photographs and pictures of the dreams and desires, they have for their lives. The activity engaged both teachers, parents, and students. The purpose was to provide resources and tools for BCCS students to utilize as they prepare to transition from the school room to community living. On day two the transition aged students had the opportunity to present their vision to their families. Many students shared how they felt that this type of experience helped them to speak up and develop personal self-confidence.

Supporting people to make their own choices and express them at their self-directed student Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings. Encouraging comments at the close of the two-day event stated the content was empowering, engaging and enjoyable! The day ended with students, teachers and families touring our unique one of a kind property at Wheatley Farm and Arts Center

The Discovering You series of workshops will continue to be presented beginning this fall at the Wheatley Farm and Arts Community Center where the theme will continue to be that of developing opportunities for students to speak up for themselves to address specific aspects of the transition to adulthood.

The POM department is devoted to supporting people receiving services with the tools to live quality lives of their choosing. Our commitment to emphasizing support for personal outcomes and for decision making is the hallmark of our presentations and training opportunities. For more information, please contact CQL Trainer, Susan Gill-Orange, sgill@ahrc.org,