Attention Montgomery County residents in Canajoharie, Fort Plain, and St. Johnsville: Are you looking for a rewarding career, making a difference in your community every day? Are you looking for a job with great benefits that’s closer to home?

Liberty ARC is hiring in our upcounty region, and we want to meet you! Apply here TODAY.

• Meaningful work helping people with disabilities in your community
• Flexibility with a variety of schedules – day, night, weekends
• Great co-workers and people we support
• Generous time off
• Paid training

Liberty ARC's DSPs: I'll Be There For You

In September, Liberty ARC celebrated National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week and our direct support workforce for the pivotal role they play in the lives of people with disabilities.

To coincide with the life changing work DSPs perform daily, Liberty ARC’s theme for the week of recognition was, “I’ll Be There For You,” based on the hit television show, Friends. Special ways in which the agency thanked DSPs in Montgomery County included a lunch with subs, a coffee bar, free ice cream, scavenger hunts, giveaways, surprise awards, and t-shirts. 

Liberty ARC's Inclusive Art Show Returns!

For the first time since 2019, Liberty ARC held their 5^th Annual Creative Expressions Art Show to celebrate and recognize over 150 participating artists from across New York State, who submitted 125 works of art in total. 

The juried art show was held at the Century Club in Amsterdam this month, gave artists of all abilities and ages the unique opportunity to showcase their inspiring talent in an inclusive community setting. 

Artwork from Liberty ARC’s Liberty Through the Arts program, and six other agencies that support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Autism Services in Buffalo, The Center for Discovery in Harris, The Arc Lexington in Gloversville, and The Arc of Oneida-Lewis in Utica was included in the show. Members of the local artistic community were invited to enter pieces in the show.

1^st Place: “Deer is the Forest Princess,” by April Welke-Rinaldi

2^nd Place: “Love Birds,” by Lexse Carsno

3^rd Place: “Bacon Barn,” by Liberty ARC’s Helping Hands Day Hab Program

People’s Choice Award: “Snowy Day,” by April Welke-Rinaldi

Let's Go on Stay-Cation!

Recently, Liberty ARC’s day hab program, Community Connections, took a week-long hiatus from their volunteer work for a chance to unwind - and what fun everyone had!

Community Connections is a community-based program where people who receive supports from Liberty ARC volunteer in their community, while also learning skills in order to gain employment in the future.

“With having a job, comes responsibility. We recognize that having employment may also present the opportunity for time off to relax,” said Elaine Nalli, a Senior Hab Coordinator at Liberty ARC, who oversees Community Connections. “We wanted to teach the people we support that having a job is not all work, that there can be play time too. We also wanted to thank them all for their hard work and to let them know that it has not gone unnoticed. It was nice to see staff and the people we support enjoying the day together, socially versus under a routine volunteer day with expectations, deadlines, schedules, and other various moving parts that make the day so structured.”

A new activity was planned for each day of the week, including a picnic, mini golfing, visiting the animals at the Utica Zoo, a trip to the Farmer’s Museum, and a day at the beach. Both Joey Candido and Susan Roberts, participants in Community Connections, enjoyed the week off and appreciated staff coordinating all the activities. 

“I really liked it, especially the miniature golf,” Susan said.

For Joey, mini golf was also his favorite.

“I really like Liberty and what the staff did for us,” Joey said. “I was happy.”

Susan Rinehart, an Assistant Hab Specialist for Community Connections, said not only did the vacation bring a time to relax, but staff and participants also benefited from the learning experiences each day’s agenda brought.

“I was excited about the vacation for myself and the people I support because I looked at it as a learning experience to show them how the people lived back in the time era at the Farmer’s Museum,” Susan said. “We all enjoyed visiting there. The people we support loved going to different places for the week because it was a chance to get out, do something different, and being all at the same place having fun with their peers.”

Thankful For Our Public Safety Community Partners

We, at Liberty ARC, are extremely grateful for all the wonderful community partnerships that have been built over the years. These special relationships show how dedicate our community to ensuring people with disabilities are living their best lives.

When members of law enforcement and public safety visit Liberty ARC, they are not only giving the people supported a fun experience, but the opportunity get to know those who respond to emergency events and obtain safety tips to use in their daily lives.

Deputy Warner with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office surprised Elijah Knox on his birthday. Elijah is a dedicated supporter of law enforcement and public safety. At day program he can be found, patrolling the hallways daily. The visit made Elijah’s birthday extra special.

Sergeant Zyzes with K9 Niko and Officer Fiorillo with K9 Bruno from the Amsterdam Police Department visited staff and participants in Liberty ARC's day hab programs. During the visit, everyone learned about the K9s job with the police department, watched demonstrations of what they are trained to do, and saving the best for last petting Bruno and Niko.

The Town of Mohawk Fire Department also opened the doors to the people we support for a tour of the station, including the firetrucks. Chief DJ Thum also took the time to lead the tour and talk about fire prevention and safety tip that can be used at home and in the community in case of an emergency.

My Best Life is…Sailing the Seas and Visiting Different Countries!

For the past several years, Traci Czelusniak has wanted to go on a cruise and explore different countries. In September, Traci and Heather Greene, a staff member at Liberty ARC, boarded a plane to Miami and hopped on a cruise ship traveling to Mexico, the Bahamas, and Honduras. 

Traci works at Hannaford Supermarket and has been saving her money for the trip, which Amy Sanchez, Liberty ARC’s Purchasing Agent, helped book.

During the week long adventure Traci experienced many firsts and new experiences. These firsts included her first plane ride, the cruise in general, a performance of Grease the Musical, an ice skating performance, a belly flopping contest, a bird sanctuary, dipping her toes in the sand in the Caribbean, and even taking a submarine ride to the bottom of the Caribbean!

“On the submarine ride, we saw all the different fishes and even a sunken ship,” Traci said. “It was really fun. Even though it was hot, it was nice to put my feet in the sand too. At the bird sanctuary we also saw dolphins. That was really cool.”

To pick the activities for the week when they boarded the ship, Heather showed Traci what was offered and Traci picked what she wanted to do based on her preferences and budget. She was also willing to try anything and everything.

Traci also gave the chefs “a 1,000 points” for all the delicious food he made, and she made new friends with other vacationers.

Traci was also able to pick the staff that she wanted to go with her, which was Heather. The two have worked together since December and immediately formed a bond.

“I always have fun with Heather,” Traci said. “She’s a blast to be around and it really meant a lot that she came with me.”

For Heather, she was thrilled to go with Traci and share these once in a lifetime experiences.

“I was so happy that I was able to go with Traci and we really had a blast,” Heather said. “The smile on her face the whole trip warmed my heart and this is my I love my job. I was given the opportunity to share in these firsts for her and support Traci in living her best life, which is really special.”

“I wasn’t ready to come home because it was such a blast,” Traci said. “I would like to go on another cruise one day because it was a great time and experience. I told Heather that even before we left the ship.”

Oh My Gourd It's Fall!

Celebrating Advancing Access and Equity in the Workplace

October is recognized as National Disability Employment Awareness Month highlighting people with disabilities. Our workforce helps keep the nation’s economy strong and to inform on disability employment issues, practices, and policies. This year's theme is, “Advancing Access and Equity," which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the passing of the first federal legislation, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, that addressed access and equity for people with disabilities in the workforce.

At the beginning of the month, Liberty ARC's Career & Employment Network (CEN) held their luncheon, sponsored by New York State Industries for the Disabled (NYSID). The special event recognizes and celebrates the people we support, who are employed within the community, and our committed employment partners.

Those who received awards:

• Employer of the Year - St. Mary's Healthcare
• Dedication to Employment Award - Mark Bentz
• Dedication and Longevity to Employment Award - Traci Czelusniak
• Achievement of Work Goals Award - Yaritza Estrada
• Improved Growth in Employment Award - Jessica Hernandez-Almonte
• Outstanding Performance in the Workplace Award - Harold Isabel
• Dedication to Employer Award - Lee Orton
• Outstanding Performance in the Workplace - Marisol Pietri
• Excellent Work Ethic Award - Matthew Summerfield
• Outstanding Performance in the Workplace Award - Emmanuel Vazquez

Congratulations to all who celebrated a CEN employment anniversaries at the luncheon and for the outstanding qualities you bring to your place of work each and every day!

Come join us for some "spooktacular" Halloween fun during Liberty ARC’s Trunk or Treat event on Friday, October 27 from 6-8 p.m. at 91 West Main Street in Canajoharie.

For more information and if you would like to participate, please contact Jessica Ferguson at (518) 673-1013 or [email protected].

Another Year of Successful Fundraising at Liberty Foundation's 7th Annual Denim and Diamonds BBQ & Country Concert.

THANK YOU to our generous sponsors, in-kind donors, volunteers, and those who attended Liberty Foundation’s Denim and Diamonds BBQ & Country Concert featuring Skeeter Creek in September. It was a memorable night and a success with 335 guests and over $45,000 raised.

Check out to see if you were "SEEN" in the event's gallery featured in the Times Union Center here!

Save The Date:

November 28, 2023

Giving Tuesday

Please join us on November 28 for Giving Tuesday consider making a gift this year to Liberty Foundation.

No matter the size of your gift, your donation will make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities supported by Liberty ARC. Funds raised by Liberty Foundation help provide essential programs and life-enhancing services at Liberty ARC that otherwise would not be possible.

Come on Barbie & Ken!