Community Experience visits K-9 Unit

The Community Experience has been given a great opportunity to learn more about the K9 units for the Ontario County Sheriffs Office by making dog treats and getting to know each dog and their handler. We attended the Sheriff Deputies Road Patrol roll call on December 16th where we handed out our first batch of bacon flavored dog treats. The individuals had a great time shopping for the ingredients, mixing and rolling out the dough and cutting them out in the shapes of bells and hearts. We also got to meet with Sgt. Greg Schaffer, Officer Brian Lazarus and Daphne a 3 year old German Shepard from the Czech Republic. We learned about how the dogs are trained and what exactly they are used for such as finding people or illegal substances. Daphne is used for both. The K-9 Unit will be coming to our room to demonstrate different techniques and obedience commands after the New Year. We are all eager to see the Officers and dogs again.

Fitness Fair with the HWS Students

As part of a final research project for the disability class, wtih Mary Kelly, the HWS college students and our College Experience group worked together to host a Fitness Fair at the Field House.

Everyone was very excited to have other Ontario ARC Community Learning Centers, The FLCC College Experience, and programs from the Steuben ARC all attend.

There were different sessions everyone could attend, these included Zumba, Basketball, Tennis, Soccer, make your own water bottles, a raffle table and a snack table.

It was a great success! The best part was seeing so much inclusion!

FLCC College Experience helps HWS student

Recently, we met a college student named Hannah Stoll from HWS College. Hannah is a senior this year and is majoring in Sociology. Hannah had heard about our work we have done through the Creative Expression program out of Eberhardt Center and asked us if we would be interested in talking about our passion for the arts for a research project she is doing for her education, Disability and Transition class.
Hannah came out to our site recently and interviewed us on camera about how we feel when given the opportunity to express ourselves through music and art. Her project is called Self Advocacy through Art. We really enjoyed helping her and look forward to seeing the film she did.

Gift wrapping and galore!

Volunteers from the West Bloomfield Congregational Church
wrap gifts during their shift last week.

As you probably already know, the agency's annual Holiday Gift Wrappnig Booth is in full swing at Eastview Mall in Victor.  More than 400 volunteers have already or will donate their time to help Ontario ARC raise money for its new Autism Center and ongoing autism initiative for children, teens and adults with autism spectrum disorders.

This month-long fundraiser -- which ends at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve -- is alot of hard work.  Thank you to all of our volunteers and sponsors, who make the event so successful.

And if you haven't stopped by, come visit us!  We are located next to J. Crew!

News Round Up

• CNN.com's The Chart -- How do I give my autistic child vitamins?
• Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington, KY -- Lewis Matherly, an inspirational story
• NYSARC, Inc, Ontario ARC's parent organization -- OPWDD launches new IBR Website

Respect is more than just as word

Ontario ARC has seven Values words that shape everything we do.  From developing new programs, to teaching our staff, and even how we interact with not only each other but the people we serve.  We even have a Values Committee to help promote and encourage the values.

Respect just happens to one of the seven words.  It helps guides the agency in several areas -- most importantly, in the form of people-first language.  People with any kind of disability are just that -- people.  And while agencies like Ontario ARC and others of our kind have made more than just strides over the past fifty years, there is still work to be done.  We've featured a lot content and information about the "R-Word" on the blog and how hurtful the word can be.   This morning, The Arc of The US's Facebook page featured a video about the R-Word from The Arc of NJ.  







How does the R-Word make you feel? And what do you do when people say it? Feel free to share in the comment section.

New ARC Life features autism, new board members

The hunt for the perfect present...

Tis' the season!  Christmas shopping is one of my favorite things about the holiday season.  I love the "hunt" of finding the perfect present for each one of my friends and family.  But, sometimes it can be a little difficult to find that gift.  Fortunately lots of stores on fancy schmancy InterWeb offer wish lists as well as gift guides and suggestions.

Each year, Toys R Us offers a gift guide for Differently-Abled Kids -- designed to help parents, family members and friends find the perfect gift for children who have a cognitive, physical or developmental disability.  The toy store breaks it down into different categories to help a child enhance specific skills, including auditory, gross motor, social, tactile, creative, and language.  Each category breaks it down further, so Web visitors can look at gifts based on age, gender, price and brand.  It is a great way to find that perfect present or get ideas to find it. 

And, when you have your gift picked out and paid for, don't forget to stop by the agency's Holiday Gift Wrapping Booth!

HWS College Experience featured in Finger Lakes Times

Recently, Finger Lakes Times reporter Heather Swanson visit the HWS College Experience Group to learn more about a new class they are all taking called, "Transition & Disability: Life After High School."  Taught by associate professor -- and very good friend of the agency -- Mary Kelly, the class addresses the needs of students with disabilities as they transition out of high school and into adult life.  Read it and let us know what you think!

Volunteering is vital to our community

Volunteers are vital to Ontario County -- there are many places their skills, time and talent are needed.  I know on our part, the agency is fortunate to have a strong base of neighbors and friends that give their time to raise funds, wrap gifts and improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities.  But, we don't take their commitment for granted.  Our staff and participants also give back through volunteering throughout the county.  Our Community Learning Centers are no exception.

Recently, Thompson Hospital hosted its annual banquet to thank its many volunteers.  Brenda Covell (right) was honored with a pin commemorating 100 hours of volunteering at the hospital.  Brenda works at the agency's community learning center located in the First Congregational Church.  She takes several of the center's participants -- including Christine Stewart (left) -- to help with seniors during Bingo every Tuesday.  She is dedicated and committed to not only improving her volunteer work, but to sharing their passion with both staff and participants at the agency.

"She is a hard working and dedicated staff member and we are grateful to have her on our team," Christin Lersch added when she was telling me about the award.

Congratulations, Brenda!!!