OPWDD/NADSP E-Badge Academy Program

MILESTONES OF EXCELLENCE BRUNCH recognizing

National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals / Office for People with Developmental Disabilities

E-Badge Academy Members & 1000th DSP to Receive Certification

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

MILESTONES OF EXCELLENCE BRUNCH Recognizing NADSP/OPWDD E-Badge Academy Members & 1000th DSP to Receive Certification Tuesday, February 6, 2024

PROGRAM EMCEE

Jim Stock, Assistant Director Talent, Development and Engagement

WELCOME

Stanfort J. Perry, Chief Executive Officer AHRC Nassau | Citizens Options Unlimited Brookville Center for Children’s Services

REMARKS

Kerri E. Neifeld, Commissioner NYS Office for People People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) Joseph M. Macbeth, Chief Executive Officer and President National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) Tiajuana Gardner, AHRC Nassau E-Badge Academy 1,000th DSP in New York State to Receive Certification

REMARKS AND RECOGNITION OF ENROLLEES

Vanessa Wright, Learning and Professional Development Specialist

REMARKS

Philip Spohrer, “In My Own Words” on the importance of DSP supports in his life Jim Stock

CLOSING REMARKS

Brunch Catered by Wheatley Farms Catering

TIAJUANA GARDNER

1000TH DSP TO RECIEVE E-BADGE CERTIFICATION Tiajuana Gardner serves as a Direct Support Professional for Day Services at AHRC Nassau. Tiajuana loves this type of work and has remained with Day Services since she started with the agency in 2018. Tiajuana's empathy and compassion made her an excellent fit for the DSP profession and an exceptional team member during the pandemic, picking up extra shifts as a Sub-DSP in her spare time. She has extensive personal experience with autism in her family. Previously, she served in the public school system helping special education students as a teacher’s aide and a senior caregiver at a senior facility.

Tiajuana was thrilled to participate in the NADSP E-Badge program. Tiajuana said, “You can never stop learning; more education only makes you better at caring for the people you support.”

For Tiajuana, the E-Badge program was challenging, but it was worth the effort.

Her perseverance led to her being the 1,000th E-Badge recipient.

Tiajuana is proud of her achievements and brings that sense of pride to completing the DSP III certification.

VANESSA WRIGHT

LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST Vanessa Wright has a longstanding career at AHRC Nassau.

She began her career 24 years ago as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at the Day Services site in Brookville.

Over the years, Vanessa has served as assistant manager at several day service locations as well as lead habilitation services assistant (HSA), one-to-one DSP at the Jericho Hub site, and activity coordinator for people supported and staff. As a well-seasoned DSP, Vanessa was tapped to share her expertise through training and mentoring at many different sites.

In 2021, Vanessa was promoted to Learning and Development Specialist in the Learning and Development Department. She is a highly requested educator who instructs on SKIP, CPR, defensive driving, and other critical staff development coursework. Her education and career experience also led to her expanding her role to include becoming a National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) E-badge Administrator. In this role, she thrives as a teacher, inspirational mentor, and staff developer.

Vanessa is responsible for enrollment and producing a stellar graduation rate, including the 1,000th NADSP E-Badge recipient.

Vanessa’s motto is “Hard work + Commitment = Success.” Her proudest accomplishments are the positive impact she has made on the people we support and the education she provides for staff.

CURRENT LEVEL 1 E-BADGE LEARNERS CITIZENS OPTIONS UNLIMITED Omosoyeven Aigbedo

Keltoum Conklin

Channa Newman

Susan Bailey

Rachelle Demosthene

Tamara Registre

Carolle Baptiste

Dayjohn Fenner

Melody Roberts

Sandra Baret

Krystle Foss

Anthony Sanon

Shameia Brothers

Taisha Mason

Anson Webb

Coretta Brown

Faf Annia Michel

Camille Williams

Blake Buglino

Billy Midi

Latasia Williams

Sabrina Cenite

Kayla Moore

Kalethia Christian

Charlotte Mullings

CURRENT LEVEL 2 E-BADGE LEARNERS CITIZENS OPTIONS UNLIMITED Dapheney Henry

Kia Wright

CURRENT LEVEL 3 E-BADGE LEARNERS CITIZENS OPTIONS UNLIMITED

Hanna Hippner-Wasilewski - Certified

FRONT SUPERVISORS E-BADGE LEARNERS CITIZENS OPTIONS UNLIMITED

Glenda Gould

Michael Hartung

Amanda Legros

CURRENT LEVEL 3 E-BADGE LEARNERS AHRC NASSAU Patricia Andreaci

Sonia Montenegro - Certified

Barbara Valdez

Paula Reinertsen - Certified

Sophia Blackett - Certified

Francois Saint Cyr - Certified

Tiajuana Gardner - Certified

Neshaun Smith - Certified

Dexter Gill - Certified

Agata Wlodarczyk - Certified

Frances Gotterbarn - Certified

Yan-Shu Yeung - Certified

Laurette Holst - Certified

FRONT SUPERVISORS E-BADGE LEARNERS AHRC NASSAU Aracely Baires

Debra Noel

Toi Carter

Nallinee Bacchus - Certified

Elizabeth Franqui

Laurette Holst - Certified

Marelene Frazier

Edgar Vasquez - Certified

Socrate Joseph

Taiwan Verene - Certified

CURRENT LEVEL 1 E-BADGE LEARNERS AHRC NASSAU Lorretta Bailey

Rebecca Faulkner

Aysia Owens

Jaida Beaubrun

Deborah Francois-Ojo

Davaie Prashad

Michelle Bell

Diamond Guirand

Gloria Reyes

Chanele Boone

Moniqua Haynes

Mpho Ross Holifield

Robenson Bosse

Keisha Helm

Sonia Ruiz

Audrey Byrd

Fianna Hosein

Mellissa Rutty

Qiana Carter

April Howard

Sadie Sawyer

Bianca Charles

Karol Izquierdo

Folusho Smith

Myriam Damas

Tyrik Jackson

Chantal Thompson

Steven Daniels

Kristina Malara

Doris Velasquez

Maria Droge

Luz Medina

Kareem Wade

Sophia Edouard

Sunil Naraini

Samuel Wallace

CURRENT LEVEL 2 E-BADGE LEARNERS AHRC NASSAU Jeanette Badger

Shantoya Hamilton

Amanda Darbouze

Ashley Milord

Victoria Diji-Gibson

Samuel Wallace

Marie Francois