Dear Staff,
June is here, and finally, summer is right around the corner. As the weather continues to improve, we are looking forward to the summer activities, outings and celebrations we have planned in our various programs.
June is an important month; Today, we will join the rest of the country in celebrating Juneteenth, which commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. It represents a crucial milestone in the ongoing journey toward equality and justice for all. By observing Juneteenth, we aim to deepen our understanding of the struggles faced by African Americans and commemorate their resilience and contributions to our society. In this edition of Limelight, you will hear from some of your colleagues about what Juneteenth means to them.
In June, we also celebrate Pride Month, when we celebrate and commemorate the LGTBQ+ Community. In this edition of Limelight, you will hear from one of your colleagues about what Pride Month means to him.
As an agency, we are incredibly proud to be offering a new English as a Second Language (ESL) Cohort class in partnership with Suffolk Community College. You can find further information on this opportunity below.
Earlier this week, you should have received an email from Energage Survey with a survey requesting your honest thoughts about our workplace. We encourage all staff to take five minutes to complete this confidential survey no later than June 23 at 10:00 AM.
In this edition of Limelight, you will see some very special staff spotlights as well as other news and highlights from across the agency.
Sincerely,
Rob, Gerard, Anne Marie and Kim
Robert Ciatto, President/CEO
Gerard DiMuro, Vice President, Administration
Anne Marie Sime, Vice President, Adult Services
Kim Leonard, Chief Financial Officer
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Julio Moran Rodriguez shares what PRIDE means to him
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While it’s easy to think Pride month is all about rainbows & parades, to me, Pride is about acknowledging and remembering those who fought for Queer & Trans people’s place at the table; people like Marsha P. Johnson, Frida Kahlo, & James Baldwin, etc. and those who were there at the Stonewall Rebellion in 1969, which is the reason we celebrate Pride during the month of June - may their strive and passionate fight never go unseen.
Pride means loving yourself more than others might love you, continuing to fight for equal rights for all members of the LGBTQ+ community across the country, allowing everyone in and outside of the closet to feel safe, feeling free, and for someone to have a community they can relate to; PRIDE IS BEING AUTHENTIC TO YOURSELF DURING YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE.
There is still a long way to go in the strive for the LGBTQ+ community & we acknowledge those who may be in very difficult situations & perhaps may not be able to feel the Pride in themselves yet all year round, but may this month, in particular, represent a light to them and be a reminder that it will be okay; there is light and warmth at the end of your journey.
And most importantly, regardless of pronouns, sexual orientation, or any other kind of background, all of our birthplaces are Earth, our race is human, we all deserve to be free, and we all deserve love.
Julio Moran Rodriguez (He/Him)
Children's Services
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What does Juneteenth mean to you? |
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Juneteenth National Independence Day is important to me because of what it symbolizes. When we celebrate African American Culture and being liberated from beliefs and systems that supported slavery, we avoid reverting back to the historical practices that were so degrading and detrimental to African Americans for so many years. Juneteenth symbolizes progression towards a more caring society that recognizes that all life has value.
Tonya Seaton
HR Generalist
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Juneteenth, to me, is our July 4, the day we celebrate our freedom. It is a celebration of our journey, how far we came, and how much it took. It is a reminder that our greatness comes from great struggle but that we are powerful, beautiful, strong, and determined. Juneteenth is an acknowledgment of our blackness, origin and culture.
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-Marcia Gedeon
Residential Manager
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Wear Green for Mental Health Awareness Day! |
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May was Mental Health Awareness Month, which we celebrated across our agency by wearing green to show our support!
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Spiegel Children's Center |
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Clinician's Day Celebration |
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On May 11, we had the opportunity to celebrate the amazing clinician staff from our nursing and psychology departments for residential and day services, who, day in and day out, provide essential services to those who turn to us for support. We are grateful for each and every one of you!
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Tina Brown
Assistant Director of Nursing
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"Tina has been an employee of ACLD for 20+ years. She has been overseeing the department during a time of significant change. Her dedication to the people supported, the clinical teams, and ACLD is unmatched.
We often say employees 'go above and beyond,' which is a statement that can sometimes be over-utilized. However, Ms. Brown has been managing telephone triage for multiple ACLD sites that do not have Residential Nurses, coordinating nursing audits throughout the department, and overseeing day programming, all while achieving deficiency-free audits in many of ACLD's residential programs. She sometimes works until 2:00 am - 3:00 am to ensure all the people supported receive, and are receiving, the highest quality of care.
Ms. Brown has been told by others that 'if [they] needed medical attention and [they] opened my eyes and saw you as [their] nurse, at that moment, [they] would know that everything is going to be okay...'
The Nursing, Residential Staff and the entire agency are incredibly lucky to have Tina on board."
-Matthew Fayda
Director, Residential Services
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Linda Eisen
Assistant Principal, Children's Services
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After 36 years with ACLD's Children's Services, Assistant Principal Linda Eisen is retiring. There is no question that Linda has made an indelible mark on not only Children's Services, but on our agency as a hole.
Linda, we thank you for your many years of service, and wish you the best in this next chapter of your life!
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Linda (left) with George Singfield (right) dressed as Santa for the Children's Services holiday parties in 2014. |
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Linda with the staff of the Alan and Ellen Spiegel Children's Center, 2022-2023 school year. |
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Linda (second from left) at the Splashes of Hope Unveiling at the Spiegel Children's Center in 2017. |
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Linda at the 2019 Spiegel Children's Center Graduation Ceremony. |
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The Hawthorne Residence whipped up some Spanakopita, or Greek Spinach Pies recently with Nutritionist Gerasimoula, or 'Mema' as they call her!
Gina, Helen and Jefferey helped in mixing the spinach and feta cheese inside, as well as making the pie crust, which consisted of yogurt, eggs, flour and baking powder.
Both Mema and Helen are Greek, so this activity was a wonderful opportunity to learn a little about the Greek culture.
They enjoyed their pies and even helped themselves to seconds and thirds!
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Speech Language Pathologist Recognition Day |
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May was Better Hearing and Speech Month! On May 18, 2023, ACLD's Speech Department celebrated Speech Language Pathologist Recognition Day, with a get together for therapists from the Spiegel Children's Center, Kramer Learning Center and our new class that recently opened in the Bay Shore UPK Center.
Congratulations and thank you to all in our Department for your efforts throughout the year.
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English as a Second Language Cohort Opportunity |
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ACLD is proud to announce another educational opportunity in partnership with Suffolk Community College. We are looking for employees who are interested in improving their ability to comprehend, speak and write in the English language. Employees will have the opportunity to enroll in a English As A Second Language (ESL) Cohort class. Please see information below for the ESL class.
- Suffolk Community College Professor will host ESL Cohort class at ACLD’s Bethpage Campus.
- The ESL class is expected to start in Summer/Fall 2023.
- The ESL class will be a 10 week session.
- The session will be 4 hours a week and offered in the evening (schedule details to follow).
- ACLD will cover the cost of the session for each eligible employee.
- There may be future ESL classes after this first session is completed.
There are only a limited number of seats!!
If interested in joining the ESL Cohort class, please contact Poonam Rampal at [email protected] or 516-822-0028 ext.194 for additional details.
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Milestones
Congratulations to Nicole Haas, Speech Language Pathologist, on the birth of her baby girl in May. Congratulations to Nicole and her family!
Congratulations to Michelle Collica, who completed the requirements for her Clinical Fellowship Year, and was recently notified that she has been awarded her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Hearing and Speech Association. Keep up the great work, Michelle!
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Anniversary Milestones - June 2023 |
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5 Years
Sabrina Carter Direct Support Professional, Residential, Straight Path
Thea Gauss Direct Support Professional, Community Habilitation, Bethpage 857
Michelle McJunkin Direct Support Professional, Residential, Bethpage 857
Dessire Ponce Direct Support Professional, Residential, Bethpage 857
10 Years
Rodney Cook Behavioral Intervention Assistant, Connections-Psychologist, Bethpage 837
Robert Signor Maintenance Supervisor, Maintenance, Kramer Learning Center
15 Years
Dawn Mahoney Director of Financial Reporting, Finance, Bethpage 807
20 Years
Valerie Azic Recruitment Manager, Human Resources, Bethpage 807
Siobhan Callahan Direct Support Professional, SLF, Bethpage 857
Jill Gonzalez Clerk/Reception, Vocational Services, Bethpage 857
25 Years
Arline Moore Assistant Manager, Residential, Oceanside
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Welcome May New Hires!
Silas Baskerville Jr. Maintenance Worker, Bethpage 857
Maniela Benoit Direct Support Professional, Phelps
Johnathan Bostrom Day Habilitation Specialist Hauppauge
Brian Cabezas Direct Support Professional, Bethpage 857
Karen Cheeseboro Day Habilitation Specialist, Hauppauge
Wenbo Chen Direct Support Professional, Blake Ave .
Jamesky Choisi Day Habilitation Specialist, B.L.U.E.
Jenifer Clemente Registered Nurse, Bethpage 857
Adriena Crespo Teacher Aide, Kramer Learning Center
Jessica Cullen Teacher Aide Kramer Learning Center
Tamika Cunningham Direct Support Professional, West Hempstead
Geydi Diaz Mendoza Direct Support Professional, Sejon
Laticia Dock Direct Support Professional, Oceanside
Cynthya Dominguez Aguilar Teacher Aide, Kramer Learning Center
Bikson Exavier Day Habilitation Specialist, Bethpage 837
Lucile Gaston Direct Support Professional, Bethpage 857
David Golding Day Habilitation Specialist, Hauppauge
Eddy Jean Direct Support Professional, Bethpage 857
Nicolette Kenney Teacher Aide, Kramer Learning Center
Katherine Korwal Curriculum Coordinator, Kramer Learning Center
Laisha Lapierre Teacher Aide, Kramer Learning Center
Lianni Lorenzo Day Habilitation Specialist, Hauppauge
Diamond Morton Day Habilitation Specialist, Hauppauge
Jenna Olcott Respite Counselor - In Home Waiver, Bethpage 807
Gina Pitaro Day Habilitation Specialist, Program Without Walls - Commack
Kameney Ramsamooj Direct Support Professional, Nesconset
Diana L Rizzo Residential Administrator, Bethpage 857
Sharon Rome Director of Nursing, Bethpage 857
Nikkia Snell Direct Support Professional, Oaklake Ln.
Kiannah Sobers Teacher Aide, Kramer Learning Center
Cheyanne Stewart Direct Support Professional, Autumn
Allison Teepe Job Coach, Bethpage 857
Shantelle Tomlin Day Habilitation Specialist, Hauppauge
Cerena Valmont Direct Support Professional, Autumn
Shaquille Williams Direct Support Professional, Oaklake Ln.
Sherley Woolley Direct Support Professional, Lynbrook
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Employee Referral Program
Don't forget about the EMPLOYEE REFERRAL PROGRAM! You can now earn up to $6,750 when you refer people to work at ACLD. See the flyer below for details.
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Discounts for ACLD Employees |
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Did you know that by being an employee of ACLD, you can take advantage of exclusive discounts at different businesses such as Splish Splash, Verizon, P.C. Richard, Six Flags and a lot more?
You can also register as an ACLD employee on PlumBenefits.com to get even more discounts on vacations, entertainment, online shopping and other services. Use company code ac0825520 to register.
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Shout Out Board
Don't forget to give a SHOUT OUT to recognize someone at your location for something special they did for you, your department or a person we support.
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Submit YOUR stories to Limelight
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Each month we include stories in The Limelight, ACLD's digital employee newsletter, about YOU and all the amazing staff here at ACLD!
BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP to find out about these stories. Please send us anything to include, such as:
· A story about how you or someone else went above and beyond to help the people we support, organized any fun or educational activity, or did anything to further our mission in any way.
· A few sentences on any staff member or team who should be spotlighted for their consistent, exceptional work.
· Information or news that is useful for staff across the agency.
· Proud moments for you or your family (personal or professional milestones, awards, weddings, educational degrees or works in the community.)
· Employee Engagement day photos of you and your team.
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"The Limelight" is produced by the
Development and Community Relations Department.
Thank you to all who have submitted information
and photos. Keep them coming!
We welcome your comments and suggestions.
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Adults and Children with Learning
and Developmental Disabilities, Inc.
807 South Oyster Bay Road, Bethpage, NY 11714
Newsletter contact: Sarah Klaum
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