Dear Members, families, and friends,

As the temperatures are warming up and the sun is shining again, we are pleased to bring you the latest edition of The Connection Newsletter. This newsletter features information on fire safety, the OPWDD Ombudsman Program, the results of our Provider Satisfaction Survey, and more!

We hope this newsletter provides you with new ideas and insight for you and your loved ones. Wishing you a fun and safe summer!

Sincerely,

Jess and Carey 

Left: Dauna and Sarah

Right: Christine

Dauna, Christine, and Sarah’s story is one of true community.

Dauna, a kind and caring woman with a sometimes spitfire personality, was married to Dennis, the love of her life, for 35 years. Dennis cared for Dauna, always doing his best to provide what she needed. When Dennis passed away in 2024, Dauna was devastated.

Christine, Dauna’s care coordination manager, has worked with Dauna for over a year and supported her through many of life’s transitions, including mourning Dennis.

Most recently, Christine helped Dauna find a new apartment to call home. Previously, Dauna’s living conditions were not always safe and clean. Her new space is comfortable and suited exactly to Dauna’s needs, providing Dauna with the perfect place to enjoy this new phase of life...Click here or the button below to read the full story on our website.

Have a story you wish to share?

Do you have something you'd like to share with us? A story, rights, or disability-related news item you've heard. Is there something you'd like to see in the upcoming newsletters? Connect with us at the link below or send an email to info@southerntierconnect.org!

Meet the Family Advisory Board (FAB)!

At Southern Tier Connect, we value the members who choose our services, and we want your voice to be heard! We are looking for members to join the Family Advisory Board. The Family Advisory Board (FAB) meets quarterly via Zoom from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. This is a space where members, family members, and self-advocates meet with the leadership of STC to help make decisions about agency goals and priorities. This is where we ask you to help the agency understand areas for improvement and give input on your experiences to drive agency decision-making. If you would like more information or would like to join the Family Advisory Board, please email us at info@southerntierconnect.org.



Kristen French

Kristen is a retired special education teacher. She has an adult son who is autistic. She has advocated for him to receive services since he was two years old, when he began receiving services from Springbrook. 

Karen Koch

Karen is a retired high school graphics teacher who often worked with students with disabilities. Her and her husband, Tommy, are advocates for Patrick, Tommy’s cousin. She joined FAB to learn more about advocating for Patrick. Now, she is happy to bring her experiences and the many resources she has used along the way to support others. 

Katie Mace

Katie is the parent of Leo, who receives services through STC. She is a psychiatric nurse practitioner and a strong advocate for mental health access. 

Bonnie Martin



Bonnie’s son, Sam, receives services through STC. She is involved as an advocate and volunteer in several community organizations such as the Springbrook Foundation Board, The ARC of Delaware County Board of Directors, and the NYSARC Board of Governors. Bonnie is passionate about advocating for the I/DD community. 

Ted Martin



Ted serves alongside his wife, Bonnie, on the FAB. He advocates for his son Sam, who is supported by STC and Springbrook. Ted is a retired builder and teaches Construction Technology Management at SUNY Delhi. 

Chris Morris



Chris is a member with Southern Tier Connect. He works with The ARC of Delaware County. Chris is determined to succeed and has a great memory for dates and details. He will provide an invaluable perspective as someone receiving services with STC. 

Kathy Szabelski

Kathy has been an advocate for her 26-year-old son, Michael, since he began receiving services as a child. She has coached Special Olympics teams for over 10 years. She is involved in her community through volunteering at her local fire department and organizing community events. Kathy is passionate about sharing her experience navigating everything from school, to job placement, to receiving services after graduation. 

Have you heard of the new Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Ombudsman (IDDO) program? 

Ombudssam is a Swedish word for "representative" and this new program provides independent, conflict-free, services to assist people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) to preserve their rights. The mission of the Ombudsman is to act as a resource and advocate for people with I/DD and families navigating the OPWDD service delivery system. It is important to note that the Ombudsman Program does not replace your care coordination manager (CCM) or a Care Coordination Organization (CCO). We urge all members to contact their CCM for support prior to reaching out to the Ombudsman Program.

The Ombudsman Program is being operated by Community Services Society of New York (CSS) and has a helpline that is open Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. They can be reached by phone 1-800-762-9290 or by email iddo@cssny.org.

At Southern Tier Connect, we are committed to ensuring safe, inclusive housing for all members. As part of our ongoing commitment to health and safety, our agency conducts an annual housing survey to assess home environments across the communities we serve. While we are still gathering baseline data, early trends are emerging—and they are too important to ignore.

The top two safety concerns we’ve identified are:

• Missing carbon monoxide detectors
• Lack of fire extinguishers and/or fire blankets

These are essential items that can significantly reduce the risk of injury or death during an emergency. People with I/DD may face additional challenges in emergency situations, such as difficulty processing instructions quickly or mobility impairments. Having the proper safety equipment in place isn't just a precaution—it's a necessity.

Why This Matters?

Fire extinguishers and fire blankets provide critical first-response tools to suppress small fires before they grow. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly. Detectors are the only reliable way to know if there’s a buildup in the home. Without these tools readily available, members in our community are at a greater risk of harm. Ensuring every home has the basic fire safety tools is a small step that can make a big difference.

Local Resources to Help

We understand that acquiring fire safety equipment may be a financial or logistical challenge for some. Fortunately, there are local programs and agencies that can help:

• Your County Office of Emergency Services – Many counties provide free or low-cost detectors and fire extinguishers through public safety grant programs.
• Local Fire Departments – Contact your town or city fire department to ask about community fire safety programs or equipment donation initiatives.
• American Red Cross – Offers programs such as Sound the Alarm, which may provide free smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Department of Social Services (DSS) – DSS offices in counties like Broome, Cortland, and Oneida may have emergency safety assistance funds.
• Independent Living Centers and ARC Chapters – These organizations often support members with I/DD and may assist with accessing home safety equipment.

If you have any questions or need support and are unsure where to begin, we encourage you to reach out to your care coordination manager. They can help connect you to the appropriate resources and support services.

Together, we can make our community safer for everyone. Let’s ensure every home has the tools needed to prevent tragedy and protect lives.

We recently completed our annual Provider Satisfaction Survey and would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who participated. Your feedback is essential in helping us understand what’s working well—and where there’s room to grow.

The results revealed a mix of encouraging trends and opportunities for improvement. While many providers reported positive experiences in areas such as invitations to Life Plan meetings, responses also highlighted a need for continued attention to timely responsiveness from STC staff.

At this time, we are in the process of evaluating the data and considering the best ways to respond. Rather than implementing changes without further input, we’d like to hear directly from you:

What would help strengthen our relationship and improve your experience as a provider?

Please share your suggestions by emailing us directly at info@southerntierconnect.org . Your insights will directly inform the next steps we take to enhance our partnership.

Thank you again for your continued commitment and collaboration.

OPWDD is proud to partner with NYS State Parks, DEC, the Office of the Chief Disability Officer, the Department of Veterans Services, the Office of Mental Health and the Justice Center on Get Outdoors & Get Together Day which is happening on Saturday, June 14. Fun and accessible outdoor events will be held at select parks and DEC sites across the state!

At DEC sites, attendees can discover new skills and enjoy a range of introductory-level outdoor recreation activities such as fishing, nature walks and hikes, birding, archery, camping, paddling, and more. Activities will vary at State Parks and range from lawn games to accessible hikes to arts and crafts. Most events will run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

For more information and a full list of participating locations, select the button below.

Your Rights in 10, continues with Your Right to Refuse. You can watch the latest video below or click the button to access all of the videos in the series.

We are looking for someone like you to share your voice for our Your Rights in 10 series. If you are interested in reading for an episode in this series, please email us at: info@southerntierconnect.org.

We hope you enjoyed this edition of The Connection e-newsletter. Did you know that you can now read all of our past newsletters archived on our website? Please be aware that we are currently updating our archive. Stay tuned for more!

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