Bottling Bad Dog™ Shampoo

You've heard about Bad Dog™ Shampoo, but do you want to know more?

Innovative and groundbreaking, Pet Connections™ offers a variety of animal assisted programs, community engagement and employment opportunities for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.  Items in the Bad Dog™ retail line are made by people in the Pet Connections™ program.

Bad Dog™ Shampoo is a ph balanced shampoo for pets.  The ingredients are gentle and healthy, and will leave your furry friend smelling fresh, feeling clean and looking fantastic.  It is also bottled with care by people in Pet Connections™.

Stay up to date with all things Pet Connections™, including the Bad Dog™ retail line and follow the Pet Connections™ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PetConnectionsatOntarioARC.

Members of the Pet Connections™ program get ready to bottle Bad Dog™ Shampoo

Pathways Receives Flag From United States Army

As mentioned in the September 22nd post "Pathways Gives Back" participants in the Pathways program create hand-made items that they sell, and then use the money from the sales to purchase items to put together care packages for the Adopt-a-Platoon program..  In August, the group received a note from the Platoon, the 10th Mountain Division, thanking them for their continued support.

This week, the 10th Mountain Division shared their thanks again with an official flag and plaque dedicated to "The Men and Women in the Pathways program."  The flag was flown over the Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF-10) Headquarters at the Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan on September 11, 2014.

From everyone in the Pathways program and from all of us here at Ontario ARC, we are truly humbled by this honor.  Thank you to the men and women who served, and to those who continue to serve and protect our country.  We are truly grateful for your dedication!

Members of the Pathways program stand with the flag and plaque.

Creative Expressions November Art Gallery

Active Academy Open House

The Active Academy after school program is heading into it's 3rd year of providing children with Autism a welcoming, safe and fun environment in the Victor Central School District and Canandaigua Central School District.  The focus of the program is on academics, reading, comprehension and social skill development.  

A Special Education Teacher provides daily homework assistance, and a Behavioral Specialist provides group activities that are geared towards improving behavior, social skills and sensory processing.  The Pet Connection's Tales for Tails reading program makes weekly visits to the students, allowing children to develop their read aloud skills in a non-judgmental environment and encourage a life-long love of reading.

If you'd like to learn more about the Active Academy program in Victor and Canandaigua, visit the upcoming Open House Events!  

Canandaigua School District

Active Academy Open House - Monday, October 20th from 5-6 PM

Canandaigua Elementary Building, Room 315 (Multimedia Room)

Victor School District

Active Academy Open House - Tuesday, October 21st from 5-6 PM

Victor Primary Building, Room 111

Creative Expressions October Art Gallery

Pathways Gives Back

The Pathways program is always finding new ways to give back to the community, both locally and across the globe.  One of the great ways that Pathways gives back is with the Adopt-a-Platoon program.  Throughout the year the participants create hand-made items that they sell, and then use the money from the sales to purchase items for donation.

 In August, the group sent along a care package and received a note from the Platoon thanking them for their continued support.

"Thanks for all the goodies.  The soldiers enjoy receiving these.  You may not be tracking but, we will begin our preparations to head back to the good o'USA soon.  We truly do appreciate all your folks kindness in preparing the boxes.

We are all doing well and in good spirits.  We are constantly busy so time is always passing us by.  I work every day by a quote from Muhamad Ali, 'Don't count the days; make the days count.'  We just always believe we have to make a difference every day.

.... Once again just want to say thank you very much for your support."

Out & About

The Autism Center at Ontario ARC recently launched a new social skills group focused on building communication skills in community settings.  "Out & About" will be a unique opportunity for children to work on social skills in a group setting and then put those skills into practice in the community at local events and group-chosen activities.

The most recent "Out & About" outing was at Roseland Bowl in Canandaigua, where the group was able to bowl and play laser tag.  Two moms also joined in on the fun as chaperones, and even participated in laser tag!  The fun energy of the evening helped all of the stress and worry of normal social interactions and community outings fly away and everyone had a blast!  

Photo credit: https://plus.google.com/117069235441810848466/about

We would like to send a big THANK YOU to the parents who continue to support children with specific needs - your job never ends and sometimes seems endless.  We hope that this opportunity, and future "Out & About" events will provide more opportunities to let go, laugh and have fun!

- The Autism Center staff

Thank You Direct Support Professionals!

This is a wonderful week to thank our Direct Support Professionals for all they do. I have said many times that our Direct Support staff are the backbone of the organization and I say that with sincerity.
We are fortunate that our Direct Support staff rise to the challenge every day and assist the individuals we support overcome challenges and reach their full potential. DSP’s are the front line in providing for health and safety. There is no more important job and they deserve our respect every day!!!

Enjoy the day, Ann Scheetz

Creative Expressions: September Art Gallery

CRUISIN' for a CAUSE landed ashore - and raised over $70,000 for Ontario ARC!

FREE WHEEL'N

Victor Parks and Recreation invited us to be a part of their Annual Bike Rodeo in July.  In addition to the community races and activities, Victor Parks and Recreation offered the ice rink (no ice included) to Ontario ARC for FREE WHEEL'N - an opportunity for children who need some extra attention and training to learn to ride a bike!

Several stations, some with adapted equipment, were set up around the rink allowing children to work on various skills such as peddling, balance, and motor planning.  The goal of the day was not just to ride a bike without training wheels, but to learn new skills to and gain confidence to come closer to riding a bike on their own.

A BIG THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who helped with the event - over 25 volunteers came out to assist 20 children learn how to ride a bike independently!  Thank you to Rochester Rehab SportsNet for providing the adapted equipment, R Community Bikes for providing bikes and scooters, and to Victor Parks and Recreation for allowing us to have such a fantastic event during their Bike Rodeo!

Congratulations to all of the riders!

Fitness Center Update

In May, the Fitness Center at Ontario ARC opened its doors to staff and participants as a part of the agency's OWN It! wellness initiative.  In the eight weeks since opening, over 130 ARC staff have completed orientation training to be able to utilize the facility.

The Fitness Center, which includes a private shower/bathroom, features equipment focused on resistance training and cardio training.  The space has been designed to be fully wheel-chair accessible.

The state-of-the-art reservation and appointment system located in the Fitness Center

Currently, the space has averaged about 60 reservation blocks per week.  The reservations are kept on the web-based appointment and check-in application that can be found right as you walk in the door to the center.  To date, over a dozen direct-support professional staff have been trained as "Fitness Coaches" to allow greater opportunity for participants to safely access the exercise equipment in the Fitness Center.

Over a dozen direct-support professional staff have been trained as "Fitness Coaches" 

The OWN It! wellness initiative is a pivotal cornerstone of the agency, and the Fitness Center is an exciting part of the plan.  Look for more fitness initiatives through the Fitness Center in the coming months!

Promoting Wellness One Fruit or Vegetable At A Time

Ontario ARC's Pathways program has created a unique wellness opportunity for the food offerings at Ontario ARC.  Each month, participants from the program choose a seasonal fruit or vegetable to research and develop a flyer to promote the health benefits of incorporating fresh produce into a diet.  The chosen fruit or vegetable is also featured in the Sully's monthly menu to highlight different ways to use the produce while promoting a healthy diet at the agency.

Please Join Us As Ontario ARC Celebrates 60 Years!

More than anything else people with intellectual and developmental disabilities want to show they have value, and celebrate their achievements just like you and me.  At Ontario ARC, we take pride in celebrating accomplishments of both our remarkable staff and the amazing individuals we support.

The environment at Ontario ARC starts with actions and attitudes of the people we employ.  Staff who think first about what they can do, rather than about their disability; staff who use "people first" language to show respect, and not identify a person by their disability.  It is this respectful and humble culture that empowers the individuals we support to succeed.

As we enter our 60th year of providing supports to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, I am proud to say that the quality of services we provide remains strong and the innovative, proactive spirit that makes Ontario ARC unique is thriving.

On June 7th, we will be hosting an agency-wide open house and celebration.  Please join us and help us celebrate the past, present and future at Ontario ARC.

Enjoy the day,
Ann Scheetz

To RSVP for the 60th Anniversary Celebration & Open House, please contact us via email at mpost@ontarioarc.org by May 28th.

Happy Birthday Hank!

Tales for Tails offers a unique opportunity for students who participate in Ontario ARC's Active Academy after school programs in Canandaigua and Victor to read with volunteer dogs from the Pet ConnectionsTM program.  The bonds formed between the students and  dogs help encourage growth in reading and social skills, and offer a fun atmosphere for learning!

We recently had the opportunity to celebrate a birthday with volunteer team Kathy & Hank.   Happy Birthday Hank!  Thank you for letting us celebrate with you!

New York Bird Dog Series helps send children to Camp!

Starting in 2011, the New York Bird Dog Series has donated $10,000 to the Autism Center at Ontario ARC.  The donation is used to help send children at Ontario ARC to a Summer Day Camp at 4H Camp Bristol Hills in Bristol, New York.

The Autism Center partners with 4H Camp Bristol Hills to bring the summer camp experience to children with autism and other developmental disabilities.  The collaboration gives children with special needs the support and opportunity to create lasting memories and build new friendships, with trained staff from Ontario ARC on-site.

Thank you New York Bird Dog Series for your continued support of this great opportunity!

Tom and Julie Glynn join Diane Van Derwater, clinical services manager
and Ann Scheetz, executive director at Ontario ARC

Pathways Happy Tails Donation!

Throughout the year, members of the Pathways program at Ontario ARC purchase items to donate to the local animal shelter, Happy Tails in Canandaigua.

Members of the donation team at Pathways!

Members of the Pathways program raise the money, purchase the items and deliver the items to Happy Tails.  To raise the money for the donated items, people supported by the Pathways program work very hard to create various items,  including several upcycled items that they are incredibly proud to sell to support this cause.  It's a great way to give back to the local community and visit some of our favorite animals at the same time!  To learn more about the Happy Tails animal shelter, visit their website.

Items that were donated to Happy Tails

Happy to see the animals!

Teamwork! 

Getting ready for the tour!

OWN It! in 2014

Over the past several months, we have been preparing for the roll out of our expanded wellness initiative for our staff and the individuals we support.  OWN It! is about empowering people to make changes in their daily lives to enhance their overall quality of life.

Ontario ARC has recently created a full time Wellness Coordinator position, to serve as an agency wide resource person and lead this new initiative.  The Wellness Coordinator, along with our Physical Therapist and Aging Services Manager, have researched fitness equipment which will offer the greatest range of workout options and be accessible to everyone we support.

We are excited to announce that the grand opening of our new Fitness Center, based at our Main Facility, is just a few weeks away!  A well-rounded selection of equipment will meet the needs of all of our staff the and individuals we support.  Our state-of-the-art equipment can be used either standing or seated.  We will offer instructional sessions in the Fitness Center so everyone has confidence using the equipment and taking the next steps towards improved health.

We welcome any fitness volunteers from the community to share their talents, whether they offer a one-time exercise or dance class, or help out an hour or two per week, to offer exercise guidance, develop work out routines, or just offer encouragement!  

- Brenda Estey, Senior Associate Executive Director, Ontario ARC

Creative Expressions Open House

Christin Lersch, art specialist, is ready to answer questions!

On Friday, February 14 our Creative Expressions team hosted an Open House at the main facility to showcase the Creative Expressions program at Ontario ARC.  Our staff and volunteers joined in on the fun, and even participated in some of the activities!  Check out some of the pictures from the event! For more information on the Creative Expressions program at Ontario ARC, visit our website or read the blog post on Creative Expressions written by day services manager, Michelle Jungermann!

Plants from our green house

Bell choir performance

Breezing through the agility course

Pet Connections volunteers before the dog dance!

Art work on display

Stay tuned for more pictures and information on the great things happening at Ontario ARC!

Values = Strength

Every day, employees at Ontario ARC are focused on our core values: Integrity, Respect, Teamwork, Quality, Commitment, Person-Centered, Quality of Life.  As I look back on 2013, I believe we have grown stronger as an agency because of this strategy and in 2014 this strategy will not be different; Values = Strength!

This past year we added new and innovative services to meet the needs of our growing community.  For families who have children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and those diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, we introduced programs like Feel the Beat and Ryuu.  We increased our community partnerships to encourage greater opportunities for people in our Community Experience and Employment programs.  Our College Experience program had four graduates!

One of our newest programs, Project SEARCH, was a huge success.  To culminate the year, the individuals in the program presented at an international conference and four have gained employment!  I am excited to say that the plan for Year Two includes an expanded program. 

In residential, four individuals made life changing decisions to move into the community with the support of caring staff and families.  We are on the cusp of new changes in our residential program, putting a greater focus on the community and working on the specialization of our homes in the coming year.

As an agency we faced a challenging year as we saw significant uncertainties in funding at the state level.  I am proud to say throughout it all, our staff never missed a beat!  They continued to provide quality services on a daily basis and kept the best interest of the people we support first and foremost.  I have no doubt that in 2014 Ontario ARC will continue to be strong as an organization because of our dedicated staff and the values they uphold.

Enjoy the day!
Ann Scheetz
Executive Director, Ontario ARC

Creative Expressions at Ontario ARC

Our Creative Expressions Team has been busy!  In December we were able to enhance our annual board dinner by having our Creative Expressions group involved with making the centerpieces, displaying artwork, and our bell choir performed!  We will also have an art show at the upcoming Spelling Bee for Literacy Volunteers.

Our Art and Music program has been combining to create large masterpieces on canvas….look for them to be displayed throughout the agency soon!

The Horticulture program had a very successful wreath and centerpiece sale this holiday season.  Now we are is busy getting our brand new, state of the art, hydroponics system up and running.  We are looking forward to a bountiful growing season again this year!

Michelle Jungermann, Director, Day Services at Ontario ARC

Save the date for Open Our Bottle Night 2014!

Join us on April 26 for Open Our Bottle Night 2014!  Experience a wonderful evening at the New York Wine & Culinary Center with Ontario ARC!

Stay tuned for more information on ticket sales, entertainment and so much more!  We look forward to seeing you in April!

Open Our Bottle Night is a fun filled night of great entertainment, great food and great company ... all for a great cause!

Check out some photos from past years and mark your calendar for Open Our Bottle Night 2014 on Saturday, April 26!

Gift Wrap Results!

We are thrilled to announce that this year's Gift Wrapping Booth fundraiser at Eastview Mall raised over $30,000 for Ontario ARC!  The proceeds from the Gift Wrapping Booth will support our growing menu of innovative programs and supports in Ontario County.

All of us at Ontario ARC would like to say a very big thank you to the 600 volunteers who gave their time to help this holiday season.  We wrapped close to 5,000 gifts, and we couldn't have done it without you!

We look forward to spreading more holiday cheer in 2014!  We hope you had a pleasant holiday season and a very happy new year!