From the Editor

Changing bodies, environments, and expectations - the teen and young adult years are a time of transition. It can be a challenging time for many young people, including those with disabilities. This may be the first time they are taking responsibility for their health and relationships, and most likely the time they are looking for their first jobs.


In this issue, we take a look at physical and emotional/social health of teens and young adults with the help of a young adult. And we asked two Starbridge Directors for their take on employment, given that October is National Disability Employment Month.



Best to you and yours,


Maria Schaertel

Meet Patrick

"The most empowering thing that I have done as a young adult is living on my own."


This is Pat's fifth year of living independently in a townhouse in the community. Previously, he lived with a friend in an apartment for four years. They both had Com Hab (Community Habilitation) to help with shopping, cooking, and keeping the apartment clean.


"I have developed relationships through work (two part time jobs), my years at Roberts Wesleyan (social activities and intramurals), Unified Basketball (Special Olympics), and the Clubhouse at my condo.” He is currently taking Flying Trapeze classes at Roc City Circus and has made friends there and working out at the JCC (Jewish Community Center).


"I stay healthy by getting lots of physical activity." Pat has a mowing business, plays golf, swims, and bowls. "I also wash my hands frequently, look at expiration dates on food, only have fast food once a week, and take my medication each night." He also keeps track of his weight, using a scale in his bathroom.


Patrick is a regular guest speaker for Starbridge’s Creating a Life after High School program, explaining to transition-aged students how he has integrated learning, living, working, and playing into his life.



And Patrick is a member of the Special Olympics Leadership Council for the Genesee region..

Starbridge Employment Tips

Starbridge Director of Employment Services, Ursula Nicholson, offers her tips for young people searching for a job.



One of the most important things we've found when working with teens and young adults on securing internships or employment is the value of exploration and trusting the process. It’s common for parents and their teen or young adult to have different ideas about career goals and employment interests.



We often encourage parents to take a step back and allow their child to take the lead, putting in the effort themselves. The more actively involved they are in the process, the greater their chances of success—even if it means they eventually realize a particular job isn’t for them. This discovery is all part of their growth and learning experience.


Through our Employment programs, we are committed to helping participants explore job opportunities that align with their interests. We provide support in developing essential job skills, interview preparation, and offering job task analysis and instruction to ensure success in the workplace. Every participant is unique, and our approach is always person-centered, adapting to each individual's preferred style of support.



This could include on-site assistance, where we provide feedback from supervisors and help navigate workplace social dynamics, or, if preferred, off-site support. We pride ourselves on the relationships we’ve built with both large and small businesses in the community, offering a wide range of internship and employment options. As our network continues to grow, we are excited to offer participants even more opportunities to connect with potential employers. 



Starbridge Director of Employment Equity, Christina Eisenberg, offers her thoughts on the unique challenges faced by teens and young adults.


Employment equity is a challenge for individuals with disabilities of all ages. There are unique challenges for youth and young adults with disabilities. Acquiring the work experience needed to build skills in the workplace is a huge barrier. The lack of opportunities creates a barrier for career exploration, skill-building, and advancement opportunities to grow within an organization/career. If youth and young adults with disabilities are not provided with opportunities, this greatly impacts their career path, self-confidence, and overall growth.


Widening the Circle

The Complex Care Center, University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC),

includes medical and dental care for adults with developmental disabilities, among many other conditions. Take a virtual tour of the center.


According to Heather Fico, Practice Manager, Division of Transitional Medicine, “We are currently accepting new patients and there are a few different ways that can be done. One is the patient or family can call the office at 585-276-7900 and place a self -referral. Or a patient’s current PCP (Primary Care Physician) can place a referral in our internal system of E-records, or a good old-fashioned paper referral via fax (585-288-1381) can also be sent over.


Once we receive the referral it does go to review with the medical director and nurse manager which can take up to 6-8 weeks to process. Then the office referral coordinator will reach out to the patient.” 



The Complex Care Center is located at 905 Culver Road, Rochester, NY 14609. 

Go Monroe - Transportation

School meetings, community & recreational events, even just going out as a family for fun…Go Monroe can help!


Click on Go Monroe for further info and Eligibility Requirements.


Contact us today to learn more or to apply! Contact Maritza Cubi at (585) 435-5481 or mcubi@starbridgeinc.org OR Jessy May at

(585) 224-7250 or jmay@starbridgeinc.org.

Additional Resources


Transitional Care Medicine – URMC - “dedicated to improving the care of persons with chronic medical or developmental conditions as they progress through adolescence into adulthood and beyond.


Brighter Days Pediatric Mental Health Urgent Care Center – for those up to age 18


Mental Health and Crisis Intervention in People with Developmental Disabilities - YouTube - The Center for START Services



For additional resources, please call the Starbridge Intake Line at (585) 546-1700.

STARBRIDGE | starbridgeinc.org

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