Imagine 2016: Health & Wellness Edition

www.arcwestchester.org

Featured

Stories...

Page 1 A Holistic Approach to Health Page 2 The Doctor is In Page 3 Not Your Mother’s Clinic Page 4 Recreation and Respite Page 5 Label Jars, Not People Page 6 Technology Supports

Promoting the Whole Person

A Holistic Approach to Health

S

everal years ago, Arc of Westchester recognized the need for a robust wellness initiative that supports both the physical and emotional health of our community.

Our objectives not only address weight, diabetes and smoking, but extend to living a healthy life with friendships, spirituality and strong self-esteem. The ultimate goal is to improve the overall well-being of the people and families we serve.

As a result, the Health and Wellness Steering Committee was formed to guide our agency-wide commitment to a healthy life. Led by co-chairs Dr. Claudia Sickinger, Medical Director, and Ellen Lamonoff, Nursing Director, the committee includes employees, board members and self-advocates, all of whom share a deep commitment to holistic health that permeates their daily lives.

The guiding principle of our health and wellness initiative is self-direction.

We believe that an individual must commit to wanting to change his or her life — we don’t impose that change on a person. Our role is to support personal goals and help create lasting change.

This latest edition of imagine showcases the many ways in which Arc of Westchester is committed to the holistic health of those we support. From our Wellness Center, which serves the unique physical and mental health needs of our community, to our continuing partnership with Mercy College, which explores the use of technology to improve healthy living, to the vast array of recreational and social activities for people of every age — Arc of Westchester is dedicated to supporting healthy, well-rounded lives.

Yes, blood pressure and body mass index are important. But the true success of our health and wellness initiative will be measured through the positive balance of the minds, bodies and souls of the thousands of individuals Arc of Westchester serves.

Through your friendship and generosity, we are able to go the extra mile to offer services that are enriching, engaging and unique for each and every person we support, throughout the entire arc of their life.

Thank you,

Arc of Westchester community garden at the Ann Manzi Center, Mt. Kisco.

Richard P. Swierat Executive Director

Ric puts the mission in motion.

For information about Arc of Westchester services, please contact us at info@arcwestchester.org.

© Eric Vitale Photography

imagine Special Health & Wellness Edition

The Doctor is In: A conversation with Dr. Claudia Sickinger, MD r. Claudia Sickinger is the Medical Director of Arc of Westchester. Trained in psychiatry at Mount Sinai Hospital, Dr. Sickinger leads a team of professionals who provide medical and psychological services to individuals throughout the county with autism and other developmental disabilities.

D

Q: Do you have a personal relationship with the work you do?

A: Yes, my brother lives with autism and other

disabilities, and my family has been very involved with advocacy for years. When he was a young child, educational opportunities and support for people like him were extremely limited. As a result of this experience, I have a special appreciation for the things that matter most to individuals with disabilities and their families.

Q: What is your education and professional history?

A: I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a

medical doctor and psychiatrist. This interest initially grew from wanting to be more helpful to people like my brother. During medical school and my residency at Mount Sinai Hospital, I became increasingly interested in making sure that people with chronic mental illness (CMI) and intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) received high-quality health care.

I continued my training at Columbia University in the area of addressing the needs of people who are often underserved by our health-care system, including people with CMI and I/DD. Unfortunately, it is very common for people who have these problems to receive less understanding from health-care and social-service professionals — which can lead to poorer outcomes for them and our communities as a whole.

Q: What appeals to you about working at Arc of Westchester?

A: I have been fortunate to call Arc of Westchester

my professional home for over 15 years, where I have the privilege of working with the best patients. The sense of community and dedication of our staff is also something that makes me feel lucky to come to work every day.

2

Q: Can you

describe the philosophy of The Wellness Center?

Dr. Claudia Sickinger, Medical Director of Arc of Westchester.

A: The philosophy of The

Wellness Center is to see each individual who has a disability as a whole person, with needs and goals that include — but also extend beyond — his or her disability.

Q: Do people with developmental disabilities have health care issues that are unique to them?

A: People with developmental disabilities experience

certain unique health concerns due to neurodevelopmental, sensory and motor issues. However, they also experience many typical health issues that can be frequently missed or overlooked due to their disability. This is a phenomenon known as “diagnostic overshadowing,” when someone’s disability can make it difficult to recognize underlying medical or mental health problems they may be suffering from.

Q: Can you give us some examples of how The Wellness Center serves families?

A: We provide as much support and information as

possible to families of the people we serve. Very often, The Wellness Center is the first place a family turns to receive services outside of the school system.

Q: What brings you the greatest joy on the job?

A: Getting the chance to see someone’s life positively

impacted by the work we do. It happens frequently in this kind of work.

To learn more about The Wellness Center, contact Christine Baric, Director of Clinic Services, at (914) 495-4500, or email cbaric@arcwestchester.org.

We’re dedicated to supporting healthy,

Not Your Mother’s Clinic: The Wellness Center

A

rc of Westchester’s Wellness Center is no ordinary clinic. Classified as an Article 16 Clinic by the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), The Wellness Center is a diagnostic and therapeutic center that supports health issues unique to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Center’s team of licensed professionals provides comprehensive evaluations of both physical and emotional issues and delivers long-term solutions that allow people to lead happier, more successful lives.

“Most clinics have limited time to diagnose and assess a condition and have to quickly treat it. As specialists in helping people with developmental disabilities, we provide long-term treatments and solutions tailored to the person’s unique needs,” said Tibi Guzmán, Arc of Westchester Associate Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer.

can to prescribe a course of treatment and a combination of services, such as psychiatry, speech and occupational therapies.”

Patients are often referred to The Wellness Center through Arc of Westchester’s staff who keenly observe any physical or emotional changes impacting the individuals we support.

Other patients are referred by OPWDD or by a family member who may suspect a disability exists and requests an evaluation and diagnosis.

As with every initiative at Arc of Westchester, The Wellness Center is here to support individuals throughout the arc of their lives.

The Wellness Center provides therapy for its patients.

The Wellness Center places an emphasis on holistic health—both a person’s physical and emotional well-being.

Patients are examined from every angle, including nutrition regimens, sleeping behavior and emotional relationships.

They meet with staff at length, as do their caregivers.

“If an individual is limited in expressing themselves it could have a severe impact on their performance on a job or their ability to find work,” says Tibi. “Dr. Claudia Sickinger and her team do a lot of in-depth assessments to learn all they

To learn more about The Wellness Center, contact Christine Baric, Director of Clinic Services, at (914) 495-4500, or email cbaric@arcwestchester.org.

The Wellness Center Services The Wellness Center offers a host of health-care services to help individuals with developmental disabilities adapt to daily life, including difficulty with daily routines, eating disorders, mobility, speech and language delay, bereavement, stress and aging.

Our services include: • Nutrition Assessments and Counseling • Psychotherapy/Counseling • Psychiatric, Psychological and Psychosocial Evaluations and Services • Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy • Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling

A New Approach to Managed Care There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to health care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Partners Health Plan (PHP) is a not-for-profit managed-care organization that understands the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities.

Established by five NYSARC Chapters, including Arc of Westchester, the group provides long-term support and works closely with local providers and community groups.

What also sets PHP apart is its commitment to allowing men and women the ability to be involved with their care planning and direct their own service plan and team. This mission parallels Arc of Westchester’s person-centered work enabling all individuals the ability to live the life they want.

PHP is available for adults 21 years of age and older who are eligible for services provided by the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). To learn more, call (844) 343-2433, or visit arcwestchester.org/partners-health-plan.

3

www.arcwestchester.org

well-rounded lives.

Recreation and Respite Services: Healthy Bodies, Strong Friendships

A

fter 32 years, Arc of Westchester’s Director of Recreation and Respite Services David Gasparri is passing the baton to his successor, Mindy Cohen. During his tenure, David built a robust, multi-tiered department that supports both the individual and the family through enriching programs, fun events and essential At the end of respite time for caregivers.

the day, everyone

During the summer months, wants to be treated Arc of Westchester offers a equally and have sleepaway camp located on the fun with their Manhattanville College campus friends. for young adults who live at home. Activities include swimming, music therapy, dance and outdoor sports.

Other offerings throughout the year include social clubs, theater groups, day and overnight getaways, and respite services — as well as the super popular Gateway Gala and Spring Ball events, which attract hundreds of people to festive nights of dinner and dancing.

“At the end of the day, everyone wants to be treated equally and have fun with their friends,” said David.

Tennis, Anyone?

T

ennis is for everybody,” says Coach Pat Rogers of the Yonkers Tennis Center.

The veteran coach has been volunteering his time to teach the sport to young people from Arc of Westchester’s Yonkers Day Center.

Many participants were new to the sport – but that didn’t stop these budding athletes from being engaged and excited.

“There’s no better feeling for a coach than watching someone pick up a tennis racket for the first time and begin to get the hang of the game,” says Pat.

Tennis offered as part of Day Services.

The tennis lessons provide more than just fun exercise: they also instill confidence, teamwork and persistence.

And for individuals who are especially adept, the sport gives them an opportunity to showcase their previously untapped talents.

Weekly lessons will continue at the Yonkers Tennis Center into the fall.

In addition to the activities provided, respite services are available on the weekends free of charge to families with an adult child living at home. Many of these services are supported through private donations.

“My plan is to maintain the excellent programs currently in place while expanding opportunities for recreation, socialization and independent living in the community, for teens and young adults,” said Mindy.

For more information, contact Mindy Cohen, Director of Recreation and Respite Services, at (914) 495-4521, or email mcohen@arcwestchester.org.

Teens and young adults stayed active this summer with programs offered by Recreation and Respite Services.

A Night with Friends

O

ver 500 people attended Arc of Westchester’s 29th Annual Spring Ball, held on May 6 at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown. Each year, adults with disabilities from throughout the county come together to celebrate a night of dancing, dinner and mingling with their friends. The event was hosted

by Arc of Westchester’s Board of Directors and the Recreation and Respite Services department.

4

Label Jars, Not People: The Road to CQL Accreditation

T

here’s a quiet revolution happening on the front lines of Arc of Westchester. In September, Arc of Westchester will receive accreditation from The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL), an organization that promotes excellence in person-centered services.

“The CQL process is about getting to know a person and not assuming you know what they want,” says Lolli Ross, Assistant Executive Director of Quality Improvement and Staff Development. “We are not doing anything for or to someone, but we are doing it with them.”

For the hundreds of Direct Support Professionals at Arc of Westchester, this means new training to enhance the high-quality support services they currently provide. Support staff is transitioning away from classic caregiving toward providing professional supports that are person-centered and person-directed.

Antoine exemplifies the CQL practice. He identifies as an artist, and Arc of Westchester supports his passion.

CQL aims to empower individuals with choice, self-motivation and a connection to the community. This means having a genuine relationship with society at large, beyond the walls of Arc of Westchester.

Antoine is a gentleman who exemplifies the CQL practice. He identifies as an artist, not as a person with a developmental disability, and Arc of Westchester supports his passion and goals. He is a featured artist at Arc of Westchester’s gallery265, and his work is currently on display at the 2016 Statewide Creative Art Show at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts.

Read more personal stories and articles online at arcwestchester.org/our-success-stories.

To learn more about CQL, contact Lolli Ross at (914) 495-4589, or email lross@arcwestchester.org.

What’s your quality of life? Take the quiz!

Quiz

What is quality of life, how do we know we have it and how do we make it better? These are the questions The Council on Quality and Leadership seeks to answer. Many of us take for granted the choices we have in life. Take a look at this short quiz to understand how Arc of Westchester is supporting people on their own terms.

4 Did you choose where and with whom you live?

4 Do you select the food items you eat daily from among various appealing alternatives?

4 Are you a member of, or can you join, a club, social organization or civic group if you wish?

4 Do you decide how to spend your money?

4 Do you shop in stores in the community and use services such as banks, the post office, hair stylists 4

and doctors to meet your needs?

Do you have a job in a typical work setting that pays at least minimum wage?

A Garden for the Community

5

Arc of Westchester teamed up with several other local organizations to produce fresh food for the Food Bank for Westchester. The garden at the Ann Manzi Center in Mt. Kisco provides an opportunity for men and women to spend time outdoors learning gardening skills while giving back to their community.

Technology Supports for a Healthier Life

T

he first annual Tech Supports for Cognition & Learning conference took place at Mercy College on March 31. The conference, which was a collaboration between Arc of Westchester and Mercy College, was the first of its kind focusing on technology solutions for people with disabilities to help with tasks for independence in everyday life.

Sue Swenson, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Education, Office on Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, was the keynote speaker at the 2016 Tech Supports for Cognition & Learning conference. (Left) Tibi Guzmán, Arc of Westchester Associate Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, with Sue Swenson.

For more information on the Tech Supports for Cognition & Learning conference, contact Regina Moore, Marketing Manager, at (914) 495-4573, or email rmoore@arcwestchester.org.

Health in Action

A

s co-chair of the Health and Wellness Steering Committee and Director of Nursing, Ellen Lamonoff is committed to promoting an organizational culture that encourages physical and emotional well-being for everyone. And every day, in various capacities, she sees this new awareness of healthy choices unfolding throughout Arc of Westchester.

Several day-habilitation centers, for instance, have invited nursing students from Mercy College to work alongside the adults who are in their care to share information about better nutrition, gardening, fitness and eating healthy, so they can explore for themselves what interests them.

Arc of Westchester’s self-advocates recently voiced their concerns over unhealthy food available in the vending machines, which the agency is now addressing. A group home in Croton invested in Fitbits, electronic activity monitors that track steps, and they can now take long walks with a therapy dog who visits weekly.

“All of this work is interconnected,” says Ellen. “It’s about putting into action the overarching goal, which is to promote health and wellness in every facet of life.”

To learn more, contact Ellen Lamonoff, Director of Nursing, at elamonoff@arcwestchester.org.

Luna the therapy dog visits Arc of Westchester’s Croton residence every week. She helps make exercise fun by going on long walks with the men and women there, and brightens everyone’s day. Lee, pictured right, loves spending time with her.

6

Why You Should be a Member our support matters! Your generosity helps to foster independence, productivity and participation in our community. Stand up for the more than 2,000 people with autism and other developmental disabilities by becoming a member today. All it takes is $15. Thank you!

Y

To become a member, complete and return the enclosed envelope, or donate online at www.arcwestchester.org.

Stay Connected Join us online at www.arcwestchester.org Like us on Facebook Email us at info@arcwestchester.org

The Gleeson-Israel Gateway Center • 265 Saw Mill River Road • Hawthorne, NY 10532 • 914-949-9300 • www.arcwestchester.org