November, 2024

We want to inform and connect with the entire Job Path community

 so we are all on this path together.

Direct Support Workers gather for community, recognition & learning

Job Path held its annual Support Workers University (SWU) last week as a chance to celebrate our Direct Support Professionals, Live-in Caregivers, and Job Coaches with workshops, community building exercises, and awards recognizing excellence and years of service. 

There were seminars on manifesting your goals through vision boards, yoga and meditation, improv as a window on self-expression and examination, and "DSP: Dauntless Self-assured Powerhouse" - a workshop on how Direct Support Professionals can be more creative, prepared, and resourced.

The improv workshop was led by Anson Chan, who leads an improv group for participants. There was a wide range of exercises, including one where two people faced each other and had a conversation, one pretending to be a superhero and one taking on the persona of the villain. Afterwards, they switched roles. Following the exercise, workshop goers said it sparked empathy, creativity, and understanding.

“You don’t know how the situation will go.” 

“You have to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.”

“You have to meet the other person in the middle.” 



“You learn how to adapt to different situations.” 

DSPs Of The Year

For Supported Living - Douglas Hornan and Edna Paradise

For Self Direction - Frank Zagottis

For Employment - Fatumata Bah 

For Community Connections - Anson Chan and Camden Nasoff

Longevity Awards 

5 years: Edna Paradise, Kyle Campbell, Amerie Vega, Marta Haberlin, Susan Ladrick, Demitris Marcano, Chris Henriquez

10 years - Sabrina Bastien, Daniel Wu, Tamesha Coleman, Phyllis Schinz-Devico, Nicole Nathani

20 years - Crecida Norris

From L-R back row: Fatumata Bah, Marta Haberlin, Tamesha Coleman, Edna Paradise, Crecida Norris, Douglas Hornan. From L-R front row: Anson Chan* and Camden Nasoff*

Making Fall memories

with Community Connections

(Left) Members of the New Path group celebrated Halloween with a dance party, food, and fun.

(Above) Jordan W. and Amanda M. attended the epic celebration Comic Con NYC. Photo Kelly Deegan.

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When Gabriella Badaracco addressed Job Path staff at the recent Support Workers University gathering, she talked about fighting a system that isn’t designed for people with disabilities. 

“But we show up each and every day and center them,” she says. “To give them autonomy by listening to their voices and amplifying them.” 

After 7 years supporting participants in her roles in Community Connections at Job Path, Badaracco is excited to support staff as she steps into the newly created position of Training and DEIAB Coordinator in Job Path’s HR department - equipping them with the skills and tools to help amplify participants' voices.  

“I want people to be excited about the trainings we are giving, for them to be fun and engaging, but I also want there to be that element of inclusion,” says Badaracco, who previously worked as a life coach, Lead DSP, disability resource specialist, and staff and community developer. 

 “We need to change what we do to reflect what we want.” 

Her new role covers employee training on a wide array of topics, including trauma-informed care and person-centered support. She’ll also create trainings in multiple formats to increase accessibility for employees and to accommodate different learning styles. 

She will create and present materials to self-direction families to make clear Job Path’s policies. She’ll also coordinate Job Path’s existing DEIAB committee, following up on the group’s action items for the agency as a whole. 

“Having a dedicated Training and DEIAB Coordinator will help keep important initiatives on track and give them momentum,” says Carolyn Murphy, Director of HR and Training. Increasing employee retention is an important goal, and better trained staff contributes to that, she says.  

“Staff have come away from those trainings feeling better-oriented and with a clearer sense of what their role is, along with a sense of what their responsibilities are,” she says. “Having a clear sense of duties and impact is what keeps people in their jobs.”

Just as with participants, Badarocco says the strength of Job Path staff comes from its diversity. 

“We all come from different backgrounds and experiences,” she says. “A lot of models we use every day with people in our program, why not have a customized employment approach for staff?” 

Video project shows "the sky's the limit" for neurodiverse employees

National Disability Employment Awareness Month project launched

When it wanted to highlight and celebrate "the value and talent that workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy," Columbia University Irving Medical Center featured three people who found their jobs there with support from the Consortium.

Click here for the full videos featuring Marlon, Clarissa, and Jacob.

"Columbia University Irving Medical Center is dedicated to supporting employees with disabilities and inclusive hiring practices," CUIMC says in their intro to this amazing project. "Our commitment includes the groundbreaking Project PossABILITY initiative, which since 2020 has created 14 jobs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at CUIMC."

“When you apply the same work ethic, the same skillset, the same focus, and keep that focus in whatever you’re doing in life, the sky’s the limit for you. Grab something that you’re passionate about and really want to do, then keep going and never look back.”

-Marlon C.

CCE is a project of Job Path that brings together 14 New York City social service agencies to expand the reach of customized employment to serve even more job seekers.

It was awesome to gather together for Support Workers University! As I said to the group during the event, this year’s theme, “Fall” reminds us of the beauty in change and transformation. Just as the leaves turn into vibrant colors, the efforts of our DSPs bring warmth and richness to the lives of the people they support. 

Each day they guide, encourage, and celebrate every small victory, helping individuals build skills and discover their true selves. Their dedication fosters growth that is as profound and vibrant as the autumn colors around us.

Fall is also a season of gathering, reflection and gratitude, making this the perfect time to step away from our busy schedules and express our deepest thanks to all of our DSPs. Their work enriches lives and strengthens the entire community. I'm grateful to have an opportunity to thank all our DSPs for their dedication, compassion, and the invaluable role they play at Job Path and within our field. 

In case you missed it ...

Coinciding with October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the National Organization on Disability recognized 59 companies with its Leading Disability Employer Seal for 2024. Two of them are Job Path employers, Aramark and Walgreens. 

The companies have the highest performance in disability inclusion practices and policies compared with more than 200 participating organizations. NOD uses its own Employment Tracker assessment tool that examines how business practices lead to improved hiring, retention, and advancement outcomes for people with disabilities. 

From the report: “Areas of assessment include strategy, talent sourcing and metrics, climate and culture, people practices, and workplace tools and accessibility.”

As part of our efforts to highlight and celebrate the great diversity within our Job Path community, we will be featuring racial, ethnic, cultural, and identity pride commemorations here each month.

November

November is Native American Heritage Month, with a variety of events happening at New York City parks and libraries.

Staff Anniversaries

Special recognition to staff who celebrated their anniversary at Job Path in October. Thank you for all of the contributions that you have made over the years in making Job Path successful.

Crecida Norris - 20 years

Carolyn Murphy - 16 years

Rhonda Ndem - 9 years

Cathy Sobers - 6 years

Wendy Banner - 6 years

Kyle Campbell - 6 years

Christopher Henriquez - 5 years

Sean McAuliffe - 4 years

Jonathan Good - 3 years

Ebony Derr - 3 years

Amy Robles - 3 years

Jerome Lissmann - 2 years

Grace Govan - 1 year

Lucas Ayala - 1 year

Nadia Dobel - 1 year

Job Path supports people with autism and other developmental disabilities as they find jobs, live in their own homes, and become involved in community life. To learn more, visit our website.