Ian Singer has been a LIFEPlan member for 2 years. Ian is 27 years old and works at a grocery store in Westchester County. He knows his Care Manager Valerie cares about his needs. Ian says she calls him to see how he’s doing, especially since the pandemic started in…
Continue ReadingLIFEPlan member Brandy Parker resides in Sydney, NY, and like most of us has had to deal with the impacts of COVID-19. “COVID has changed my life both physically and emotionally. I haven’t been able to go to work, see my…
Continue ReadingLIFEPlan member and Member and Family Advisory Council member, Ed Duryea was recently named the 2020 Self-Advocate of the Year at The Arc of Jefferson-St. Lawrence. Self-Advocacy is learning how to speak up for yourself, making your own decisions about your own life, learning how…
Continue ReadingSharon Jones, Care Manager, Mt Kisco Working with a job coach at Careers Support Solutions in Westchester County, Sharon helped a member to gain confidence and skills in her job at a local grocery store. The improvements were so significant…
Continue ReadingBy LIFEPlan Guest Writer: Stacy Mason, LMSW, Hudson Valley Regional Liaison 2020 is a year that has forced us all to adjust to change in how we do things. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 Pandemic now threatens Thanksgiving and Holiday traditions. Many…
Continue ReadingThe term “essential worker” has become familiar to all of us since COVID-19 took hold of the world. The term is often used to refer to doctors, nurses, first responders, and direct support professionals as these roles are visible to the public. As we have learned though, there are many essential workers who quietly provide critical services and supports,…
Continue ReadingDevelopmental milestones are something that we have never taken for granted having two sons with autism. But we never give up. They are 22 and 20 now, and we have gotten in the habit of regularly setting small goals for…
Continue ReadingWhen Covid-19 started, my son’s IRA was on lock down. We were given a choice to leave him or bring him home. So, we chose to keep him in his IRA, where he was comfortable and better protected from the…
Continue ReadingPeople who support persons with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD), are adaptable, flexible, committed, and capable of stretching in their capacity in many ways. These characteristics come together to provide care for people with needs in the form of a caregiver. First Lady…
Continue ReadingLIFEPlan member and self-advocate on the Member & Family Advisory Council, Brendan Klein, 25, has turned his love for film-making and social media into opportunities for hundreds of other young adults with disabilities to make friends, share their experiences and…
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