From the Desk of the CEO

Dear AHRC Families and Friends,

Address Local Food Insecurity Wheatley Farms Harvest Festival Remembering Nanette Muzante AHRC’s Day Services Picnic Returns

Ron Burglass Celebrates His First Work Anniversary at BJ’s Wholesale Club Pursuing New Connections, Opportunities at Hempstead Works Job Fair Maryann and Jeffrey Witt Celebrate 27 Years of Love, Travel and Movies Building Awareness for Autism Acceptance Month at Home

Rose Ball 2023

Staff Spotlight

Volunteer Spotlight

Volunteers, including Purolator International, Girl Scout Mia Bacani, and The Giving Tree Family President Amber Sun

4 Mission

AHRC Nassau empowers people to live fulfilling lives. Together with Family – Friends – Community

Vision:

A world where people of all abilities are valued.

Value Statements

At AHRC, we believe that…

All people must be treated with dignity and respect – Partnering with people, families and communities creates the best opportunities – A competent and compassionate workforce is vital

Commitment to diversity and cultural sensitivity is essential

Editor: Nicole Zerillo

Community Resources, AHRC Nassau inspire@ahrc.org

516.626.1000 | 189 Wheatley Rd. Brookville, NY 11545

The spring/summer months have brought many successes. It is a privilege to share that we have once again been recognized as a Compass agency by New York State’s Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), this past May. Together with our affiliate, Citizens Options Unlimited, we remain two of only four agencies in New York State to hold this prestigious designation. We remain committed to providing exceptional services and supports to people with developmental disabilities.

Such recognition is a result of our community —people supported, families, staff, members and people like you. It is through the collective efforts of this diverse and dedicated community that we work toward a world where people of all abilities are genuinely valued.

This magazine highlights many moments of joyful achievement and advocacy, from AHRC being named a “Diversity Champion” finalist by Crain’s New York Business for their 2023 Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Awards to the many inclusive activities at the Thomas S. Gulotta Wheatley Farms & Arts Center.

For the first time since the pandemic, we were able to come together for our much beloved Day Services Picnic at Eisenhower Park and our Volunteer Recognition Dinner held at the Brookville mansion. We look forward to many more opportunities in the coming months. I invite you to mark your calendar for the “Fall for All” Festival on Sept. 30; AHRC Foundation Walk on October 29; and ongoing educational activities at Wheatley Farms. Learn more at ahrc.org/calendar and ahrc.org/communityworkshops.

Together, we can create a more equitable future by continuing to celebrate our successes while sharing the importance of funding for Medicaid, a DSP Wage Enhancement and home- and community-based services. In this magazine, I hope you enjoy the stories and meaningful moments portraying how we bring to life our vision across our community.

Best regards,

Stanfort J. Perry CEO, AHRC Nassau

AHRC Re-Designated a Compass Agency by New York State

With missions firmly planted in person-centered supports, AHRC Nassau and partner agency Citizens Options Unlimited again were re-designated Compass agencies by New York State's Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).

This designation is held by only four agencies in New York State and affirms our commitment to engaging all stakeholders in working together in a person-centered environment with the goal of promoting and achieving valued outcomes for the people we support.

Tuesday, May 9, marked the beginning of Compass Validation Week, an eventful three-day visit welcoming auditors from the Bureau of Certification and Continuous Quality Improvement in New York State’s Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).

An engaging and empowering process, the audit team visited program sites and met with stakeholders across AHRC’s community evaluating how people supported, families, staff and volunteers come together to achieve person-centered outcomes.

Celebrating Successes in the NADSP E-Badge Academy

Please join us in congratulating AHRC’s over 60 enrolled learners who are actively engaged in the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) E-Badge Academy. Made possible by a grant from NY State’s Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), this national certification program offers direct support professionals (DSPs) and frontline supervisors (FLS) the opportunity to earn stackable electronic badges leading to credentialing and a bonus

Last week, Alison Pingelski, Acting Associate Commissioner, OPWDD; Ryan Cox, Director of Workforce Development & Talent Acquisition, OPWDD; and Kathy Brown, NYS E-Badge Academy Administrator, NADSP, joined agency leadership to celebrate the nearly 90 E-Badge learners across AHRC’s family of organizations, including Citizens Options Unlimited and Brookville Center for Children’s Services. Learners were commended for their commitment to professional development and excellence in supporting people to receive the best possible supports and achieve their personal outcomes.

Crain’s New York Names AHRC Nassau “Diversity Champion” Finalist

AHRC was recently named a “Diversity Champion” finalist by Crain’s New York Business for their 2023 Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Awards. The agency was recognized alongside exceptional “large” organizations with more than 250 employees, including Union Square Hospitality Group, LiveOnNY, CliftonLarsonAllen, and Greenspoon Marder LLP. Congratulations to Greenspoon Marder LLP for being named the Diversity Champion 2023 – Large Category and to our fellow nominees. Together, we are creating a more equitable future for all to share.

AHRC Nassau Receives Grants From NYSARC Trust Services

AHRC Nassau was awarded $201,050 in grants from the Trustee Management Board of NYSARC Trust Services to support AHRC Nassau’s guardianship and recreation programs.

NYSARC Trust Services administers supplemental needs trusts (SNT) and pooled trusts that can make dramatic improvements to the lives of people with disabilities by enabling individuals to maintain eligibility for Medicaid and other means-tested government benefit programs. For 2023, NYSARC Trust Services is proud to fulfill its commitment to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities by awarding a total of $2,697,980 to The Arc New York Chapters statewide.

This year, AHRC Nassau is grateful to have received $184,050 from the Trustee Management Board of NYSARC Trust Services to provide guardianship services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who would not otherwise have a legal guardian or advocate. Supported by Chapter staff and volunteer members of the Guardianship Committee, AHRC Nassau currently provides guardianship supports and services to 30 men and women and is ready to assist 43 more as a Standby or Alternate Standby guardian.

NYSARC Trust Services also awarded AHRC Nassau $17,000 to support new recreational opportunities and enrich the lives of men and women supported through AHRC Nassau’s services.