Kyle is one of our amazing dishwashers at Butera’s Restaurant. He can put a smile on anyone’s face, even if they are having the worst day. He makes sure he says hello to every employee when he comes in, many followed by a hug or high five. When he leaves, he loves to tell everyone he has been “set free” Kyle has become a huge part of our team and we could not be happier with the employee he is. As his shirt states, “Hugs are free, kisses are extra like me”
Written by Lindsay and Jimmy Butera, owners of Butera’s in Hamburg
The fight for an 8.5% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to end critical staffing shortages is far from over! These photos are a glance into last week’s rally in Albany. Direct Support Professionals are the backbone of our industry- without them we would not be able to provide programming and supports to those with I/DD.
Every week, our Pre-Voc students drop off our compost from the Culinary Arts Suite to one of the 34 and More compost drop offs in the city of Buffalo. Composting our food waste weekly helps us leave as small of a footprint as possible when it comes to waste, and educates our students about the importance of food waste. This also encourages our students and the community to think about their food beyond buying and cooking. To learn more, visit buffalorecycles.org/.
Buffalo Community Fridge
Students in all of our classes learned the importance of giving back to our community through food distribution and minimizing waste. Any time the kitchen has extra food or ingredients that would not be used otherwise, they are walked over to our local Buffalo Community Fridge. This is a mutual aid network of fridges with a goal of strengthening communities and addressing food insecurity. We discuss the importance of a healthy balanced diet, and making sure those ingredients are available to all. To get involved or learn more about the fridges, visit www.buffalocommunityfridges.com/
Buffalo Niagara Convention Center
During our Restaurant and Banquet training session, our hospitality students had a unique opportunity to put their banquet training skills to the test! Cory Watson, the Convention Center’s Director of Food and Beverage, prepared an area for the students to practice several tasks that are assigned when setting up for an event. From applying chair covers to folding napkins, our students had so much fun learning and creating a beautiful table arrangement!
Buffalo Niagara Partnership
This past summer, our hospitality students were invited to participate in a bus tour (organized by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership) that highlighted several businesses in the Customer Service industry. Visiting locations such as Univera Health Care, Wegman’s and Independent Health, students were able to meet and chat with industry professionals who pride themselves on going above and beyond for their customers.
Hilton Garden Inn
During our Front Desk Representative training, our hospitality students were able to participate in a 2-day on site learning experience with the Hilton Garden Inn. From decorating the lobby for March Madness to riding along on an airport shuttle pick-up, students had an awesome opportunity to really understand what it means to create next level, personalized, guest service experiences.
Thanksgiving Meals
Continuing with our Thanksgiving tradition, the Culinary Arts Suite partnered with our Hospitality Program to host a sit-down Thanksgiving meal for Community Habilitation. We also were able to serve over 120 packaged meals to families under the auspice of our Specialized Services, Victim Services and Advocacy Programs, and to the Community as a whole. All in all, our kitchen was able to prepare and make 200 meals that offered not only learning opportunities in the kitchen but a way to give back during this time of reflection and gratitude.
Meet Samantha! She receives services in our Supported Employment Program. With the help of a Job Coach, she learned how to use Metro rail transportation, communicate with coworkers and management, follow a shifting schedule, and gain mastery of specific job duties. Sam was hired for her very first job, in 2019, as a glass cleaner at the KeyBank Center, until COVID closed the arena. Sam kept up with her skills and hopeful attitude during this time as a member of our Virtual Job Club. She applied for new positions with the support of her Job Coach.
In July of 2021, Sam accepted a job at the Roswell Park Cancer Center in their Environmental Services Department. Her duties include trash removal and disposal, lab cleaning and sanitizing, replenishing of supplies, sweeping and mopping floors, and moving medical waste bins to the correct areas.
Tracy Curtin, Human Resources Manager at Roswell, says “Sam is a joy to be around, I couldn’t imagine our department without her. Sam works with some very well-respected doctors and scientists in their fields. They all speak very highly of her and the work she does.”
Sam makes a difference every day now with a job well done!
After Kasseem graduated from Bennett High School in Buffalo in 2021, he was referred by ACCES-VR to Community Services, where his employment journey began. Kasseem started working with the Supported Employment Team at our Jefferson Career Exploration Center. Kasseem and his Job Coach worked closely on skills, such as time-management, communication, and problem-solving.
Using technology and firsthand opportunities, Kasseem worked diligently to complete assessment tools to narrow down his interests, explore career choices, and research educational requirements, projected job outlooks and future wages. At the Career Center, he met regularly with his Job Coach and tried out opportunities in both the Culinary and Auto Detail Suites to gauge his abilities, stamina, and motivation to work.
Kasseem applied and was accepted into Houghton College. In his sophomore year, Kasseem’s Job Coach assisted him in securing a paid internship in the Corporate Communications Department at Community Services for Every1. Here he works on a variety of projects, including helping create marketing and promotional materials.
Kasseem describes his dream job as working in the film industry. Community Services is proud of his efforts, abilities, and formidable attitude!
In 2018, Bob decided to take a leap of faith with his long time supportive Care Coordinator, Heather Johnson of Person Centered Services and tried self-directed services. Bob trusted Heather and began working with his Broker, Megan DeRum to determine the supports he needed to continue living alone. Bob had been content with his life and accepting of traditional services for many years but felt empowered to trudge through uncertain waters of self-directed services. Bob quickly gained skills to become a great boss and advocate of his services. Bob’s employees have been consistent and supportive since he started self-direction. He’s had little turn over and dedicated employees who empower him to increase his independence daily.
Bob feels supported by his team, encouraged and motivated to strive for his goals. He started small by gaining financial stability with the support of his life coach. Bob sacrificed internet and cable at times to obtain his goal. Bob became comfortable with his finances and identified another goal for himself, a newer accessible van. Again, being determined, Bob purchased a newer accessible van for himself and began accessing his community more.
On May 28, 2021, a dream came true for Bob he only ever imagined even during a pandemic! He moved into a brand new mobile home. Bob was able to work with his long time landlord to make arrangements to order an accessible home for himself when his old home became unsafe for him. Bob’s Life Coach, Sarah Raiser was a huge support to Bob with planning, coordinating and ensuring Bob had everything he needed to make his transition to a new home. Self-Directed services has given endless opportunities to Bob with his supportive team, increased self-confidence and ability to access his community.
Com. Hab. supports Tyrnell Marks. He is very artistic. Tyrnell’s passion is art. He finds pleasure with working with his hands to demonstrate his gift. Tyrnell can create sculptures made entirely of rubber bands. Tyrnell has a box of different types of sculptures he made. One day, in the future, he would like to be able to sell them. He creates comic books with both animations and story lines. Tyrnell writes stories through his art and will put on display to express his art. Tyrnell has a Facebook page that showcases his art in hopes of linking with other local artists.
James Marino began attending the Abbott Day Hab back in July of 2019, shortly after moving into his own home at the Jennings IRA. With many fears of transition and struggles with change in routine, to our surprise James fit in perfectly with the Abbott team. James is a young man that displays many gifts and talents, but his artistic abilities top them all! James enjoys drawing characters, creating chalk masterpieces and has been gracious enough to design CSE1’s holiday card. James was one of our inspirations of applying for the Foundation Mini-Grant to create “the Abbott Art Studio.” The team was awarded the grant and with the help of James and his friends they created a beautiful abstract wall to emphasize the art studio. James is an extraordinary young man, and we are lucky to be a part of his growth and development.
Colin Brawdy has been a part of CSE1 for many years and has explored many programs in hopes to find one that was a good fit for his personality. When Colin began attending the Abbott day hab, he knew it was the right fit for him. Although he experienced some growing pains, he has become much more independent and is developing some strong meaningful relationships with others. Colin is showing a greater interest in exploring new things and has been extremely fond of volunteering in his community through the Meals on Wheels program. He is learning the benefits of how his hard work is supporting others in his local community. Colin has recently joined cooking class and participates in weekly social group to share each other’s thoughts and ideas. Colin continues to be a great addition to the Abbott Day Hab and we look forward to supporting him with exploring new things.
Samer, a resident at one our Northtowns sites, recently achieved a huge milestone. Samer graduated from Autism Services Inc. (ASI) in late June, a goal he has been working for a long time.
To celebrate this moment, ASI hosted a drive-up graduation ceremony for each graduate. Teachers and staff from ASI were there with signs to welcome Samer and his staff when they arrived. Samer wore his cap and gown and was presented with his diploma. He was able to pose for graduation pictures in a specially decorated tent. Our staff also made congratulatory signs and decorated their van to celebrate Samer on his special day.
We are so proud of Samer’s hard work and all that he has achieved. Congratulations, Samer!
Community Services LOVES celebrating every1 for who they are and where they are at all months of the year, but July is special to us! We welcome any chance to celebrate our wonderfully diverse disability community.
So in July, we celebrate people of ALL abilities! And we bring attention to the progress made for equality and accessibility and the work that still needs to be done. While we celebrate the 31st anniversary of the passage of the ADA this year, we also remember that we have work to do to make the world accessible to all.
Despite a little rain, our 8th Annual Chipping in for Community Services Golf Tournament was another success this year! We were thrilled to welcome golfers back to the beautiful Wanakah Country Club to hit the links and enjoy a nice dinner in the evening.
We would like to thank our Platinum Sponsor Parkview Health Services; our Gold Sponsor USI; our Silver Sponsor M&T Bank; and our Bronze Sponsors Allied Mechanical, Carmina Wood Morris DPC, Edgemere Development, Inc., Independent Health, KeyBank, and Rusiniak’s. We would also like to thank our wonderful volunteers for helping to make this a successful event!
Funds raised during the event will go directly to our programs to provide enhanced supports and new opportunities for the people we serve. Thank you to everyone for their generosity and support of our mission and the people we serve!
