Greetings Everyone!
It is hard to believe November and the onset of the Holiday Season is upon us! I do hope that each of you is enjoying this beautiful fall weather we’ve been having. With multiple trips to apple orchards, pumpkin farms, corn mazes, and more, we sure have been here at ACHIEVE!
I am pleased to share with you that ACHIEVE is relocating some its administrative, human resources and training divisions to 4733 Vestal Parkway East. As our lease is expiring at our 47 Riverside Drive location, we were able to evaluate the financial impacts of renewing the lease and determined that it made better financial sense for our agency to identify a forever home for these operations. Our new Vestal Parkway East location is conveniently located near an emerging workforce and we believe that the visibility, easy access, and other factors make it the perfect location! We anticipate a move in mid-winter, so more to come.
I am also excited to discuss the growth we continue to see in our programs in Chenango, Tioga, and Broome Counties. Most notably, we are realizing a true transformation from site based vocational services to community based vocational and employment supports. With assistance from our ever expanding network of business partners, more and more opportunities are becoming available for individuals to explore the world of work in actual business settings. As many know, workshop transformation has been a challenging issue for our organization, staff, and the individuals supported in our programs. I am pleased with the outcomes I am seeing and envision a rapid and continued growth in these vocational and employment service areas in 2020!
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Finally, I can’t express my regard enough for the Wings for All initiative that our agency was able to bring to the Binghamton Airport on October 26
th
. In partnership with Delta Airlines, Greater Binghamton Airport, and the Arc US, many individuals with developmental and other disabilities were able to prepare for and practice air travel. There are more details in the article below, but I will say that witnessing this event and speaking with the families about the impacts, has left me confident and sure that we will offer air travel and other similar experiences and opportunities, in the days ahead. That said, if you ever have an idea for innovation or would like to partner to bring a new initiative that would benefit individuals with disabilities to our community, please feel free to reach out to me directly for a conversation. I truly believe there is so much we can accomplish in partnership and together.
As always, I thank you for your support of ACHIEVE and wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving.
Warm Regards,
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Amy Howard
Chief Executive Officer
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ACHIEVE was excited to co-host Wings for All, which landed at the Greater Binghamton Airport on October 26th! Wings for All® is an airport rehearsal program designed specifically for individuals with Autism or other intellectual disabilities. Families are given the opportunity to practice all steps involved in air travel including entering the airport, obtaining a boarding card, going through TSA security, and boarding a real plane (that does not take off).
WBNG generously stayed with us throughout the event and put together the great feature story below, if you'd like to learn more about this amazing event.
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Company helping ease first time on airline by simulating ...
Traveling can be nerve-wracking for anyone, and Saturday, ACHIEVE, calmed those nerves down a bit, hosting the Wings for All event which gives passengers of all ages with autism spectrum disorder education on airline travel.
Read more
wbng.com
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Food-Tek Inc. - Edible Slime Kits
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Food-Tek Inc. manufactures dry food mixes, primarily for the toy and specialty food industries. In July, CWS was contacted by Victor Davila, President of Food-Tek Inc., for a packaging project assembling their kits for Edible Slime.
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Craft City founder Karina Garcia, also known as “The Queen of Slime” (for the YouTube viewers out there), created Edible Slime and the fun kits to make the slime. At this time, there are two separate kits and each kit contains two flavors: Cherry and Blue Raspberry, and Tropical Punch and Grape. These flavor packets, along with confetti packets and the slime mix, are what CWS packs into each kit. They are then sealed and ready for shipping to Target and Walmart stores throughout the US.
CWS’ commitment to quality and service paid off, as Food-Tek has asked for additional quotes on several more items for CWS to package for them.
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CWS takes pride in the ability to fulfill a vast number of business’ kitting and packaging needs. If you’re in need of packaging services with a high priority towards quality, learn more at
www.CWSPackaging.com
.
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Jenny Kellogg has proven that she can do anything that she sets her mind to. Jenny had previously worked at CVI Tioga from 2007, until she obtained her position at the Walmart in Ithaca in 2013. This was a very big change for Jenny, but she pulled through and has succeeded. Jenny has worked at the Ithaca Walmart now for almost six years, and she loves it.
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She began her journey in the grocery section and has since moved over to the apparel department. Jenny has learned many new skills and has conquered her fear of answering the phone. It's still not her favorite task to do, but she knows that it comes with the territory. Jenny has also become such a valuable asset to her department that she now spends much of her time training the new staff and helping management set up displays.
Jenny enjoys making new friends while at work, and states that her friends make her laugh and make work a happy place. Jenny also enjoys earning her own money. Her managers give her great reviews and love to give her new tasks to complete. Jenny’s journey shows how ACHIEVE strives to bring the best out of the individuals that we serve, and also assist them with continuing to maintain successful and meaningful employment.
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We'd like to thank Walmart for providing meaningful employment to five individuals served at ACHIEVE!
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Attention area business owners: Are you interested in
diversifying your workforce?
Are you seeking
dependable
,
quality
employees? Please consider a partnership with ACHIEVE as we look to place individuals of varying abilities into meaningful employment positions. We currently have a pool of 54 available applicants ready to meet your business needs. For additional information please contact Jason Harriott, VP Community Based Services at
jharriott@achieveny.org
or 607-231-5259.
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November 2019
Shawnta Smith
Day Habilitation Specialist
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On behalf of the Executive Management Team and the Staff Appreciation Committee, we are honored to award Shawnta Smith, Day Habilitation Specialist in Broome, with ACHIEVE's November Employee of the Month!
To read more about Shawnta and why she was selected as employee of the month, visit our website by
clicking here!
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Developmental Disability Awareness Shirts
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October is the month where many disabilities are celebrated (Down Syndrome, ADHD, Spina Bifida, etc.), so our individuals designed their very own Cause Ribbon to bring awareness to developmental disabilities. Staff and individuals wore shirts with the ribbon designs on October 24th to show support for those with disabilities and to educate those around us. Each shirt has a simple message:
#DontDisMyAbility
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Scarecrow Contest
We wanted to give a big shout out to #TeamTioga, Amy Pello, and Rachel Gardner for submitting scarecrows to Otsiningo Park's Scarecrow Contest! They came out great!
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Mark Your Calendars, ACHIEVE will proudly be joining thousands of nonprofits worldwide and participating in #GivingTuesday again this year on December 3
rd
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Promotions
Congratulations to the following employee for receiving a promotion in September!
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- Lacey Lorimer - Day Habilitation Specialist
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One Year Anniversary
On the Pond ~ At Cutler celebrated their one-year anniversary on October 1st! On the Pond is a unique, integrated setting for both disabled and non-disabled individuals, where retirees and others can socialize and participate in activities of their choosing. The program offers art, music, exercise, computer skills, recreation and daily activities that can be selected by the participants. Attendees spend 4-7 hours a day at the program, with flexibility offered to meet the scheduling needs of the individuals enrolled and their families, many of whom work during the day and rely on ACHIEVE’s new program for a safe, fun place for their loved ones.
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No fall is complete without a trip to the Cider Mill in Endicott! Many of our individuals have taken multiple trips to see how the cider and donuts are made, and, of course, to sample some of these sweet fall treats!
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Group Community Habilitation
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Community Habilitation has started a new program at ACHIEVE for those who currently receive services, called Group Community Habilitation. Rather than going out into the community one-on-one, individuals have the option to sign up with a small group, encouraging socialization. This new program, which started in July, gets a group of 2-5 individuals to go into the community and learn new skills together, all while having a great time! In October, the Group Community Habilitation went to brunch at Apple Hills, roamed around Iron Kettle Farm, had a blast at Boo at the Zoo, and went to GiGi's Playhouse Costume Party, hosted by Traditions at the Glenn!
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We always make the best of these fall days, even when it is raining outside. Our individuals decided to make some Halloween Cookies together while it poured outside!
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Bobby and Tammy didn't want to go to Trunk or Treat, so they decided to have a shopping night! Bobby was so excited that he kept saying "We are gonna shop 'til we drop!". At the end of the night, they both expressed how much fun they had and that they couldn't wait to do it again. We're all so excited to see housemates going out and living life together!
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On October 25th, ACHIEVE threw a huge Halloween Party for individuals, as October is the last Party Night of the year! It was a record breaking event, with 130 participants and 40 supportive staff in attendance! Individuals danced the night away wearing awesome costumes, enjoyed some donuts and drinks, and had the opportunity to win some door prizes! Stay tuned for the 2020 Party Night Calendar!
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When individuals planted tiny seeds in spring, they certainly weren't expecting them to grow so big, so fast! They decided it was best to create a little jungle with their plants and invite everyone to come watch them continue to grow.
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This year, the individuals in Core Room 1 wanted to decorate their pumpkins differently - and they certainly did! They got a big pot full of colors and began dipping their pumpkins, and they came out GREAT!
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Recreation Respite had a blast at Boo at the Zoo! They even came across a Wild "Pio" Bear!
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October is Fire Prevention Awareness Month, so we called our buddies from the Campville Fire Department to come and talk to us again this year. We loved having Brad teach us about fire safety! In addition to learning, we were able to climb inside the truck, see just how high the ladder went and watched the flashing lights. This is an experience we all look forward to every year. Thank you to the members of the community who strive to keep us safe!
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Pumpkin Decorating Contest
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Every year, ACHIEVE's Cutler Pond location holds a pumpkin decorating contest, and they get VERY competitive! This year, it was really difficult to pick a winner, since they were all so amazing! In the end, first place went to Oscar the Grouch, and second place went to Ride or Die!
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Recreation Respite enjoyed the cool fall weather and visited many pumpkin farms and festivals, including the Iron Kettle Farm and Cortland Pumpkin Festival!
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It's always fun to visit Iron Kettle Farms in the fall, and many of our individuals made special trips this year!
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Our Chapin Street house had the opportunity to all get together and visit whichever restaurant they chose, and they all agreed that Red Robin was the perfect place for a family meal!
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Kathy is one of ACHIEVE's hardest workers, and you can always tell where she is because of her beautiful singing voice! Head Chef Donna decided to make a huge card and get everyone in Cutler Pond to sign it as a way to thank Kathy for her janitorial work.
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The last few years, ACHIEVE's Staff Appreciation Committee has hosted Trunk or Treats at our Cutler Pond location in Broome and Day Habilitation location in Chenango. This is a great event that staff can bring their friends and family too! It is also the perfect opportunity for houses and staff to create their own trunks and, dance away while enjoying cider and donuts! The best part is that many community members join us and Trunk or Treat alongside the individuals we serve.
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Get your ACHIEVE Swag Now!
ACHIEVE’s Apparel Store is now open for a limited time! Offering a wide variety of ACHIEVE merchandise, including the always popular ACHIEVE hoodie, and some cool new items! Check out the all new ACHIEVE socks!
ACHIEVE’s Apparel Store is a great way to get your Christmas shopping done and show you’re #ACHIEVEProud!
Orders due November 6, 2019
so HURRY! Click the link below to start shopping!
Please note, merchandise cannot be shipped directly, but can be picked up at one of our convenient locations! Please select pickup site when you place your orders.
For questions contact, Shari Caudell, Community Relations Coordinator at
scaudell@achieveny.org
, or by phone at 607-231-5217.
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Coming to Mailboxes Soon:
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Thank you to our 2019 Sponsors!
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Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up-to-date with all that ACHIEVE is doing!
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