BRIDGING THE GAP
Living Resources’ core purpose is to support and empower individuals with disabilities or other life-challenging conditions to live with dignity, independence, and happiness. Growth and happiness are unique for each person and at Living Resources, we offer a supportive environment that allows individuals to meet and exceed their personal goals.
Our more than 850 Super Hero staff members provide a wide range of services to more than 1,900 families and individuals helping them to reach new levels of independence. Each day is a success here at Living Resources and each one of our individuals’ accomplishments are celebrated and make us proud to be a part of the Living Resources family.
Our services are individualized and offered in a variety of settings from 60+ residential housing arrangements, site-based services, college programs; day opportunities, arts, community volunteering, supported employment, afterschool programs, counseling services, and so much more.
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Total Number of Families and Individuals Served
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1.1 million hours provided annually
1.1 million hours provided annually
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Employees providing for your loved ones
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NEWS & UPDATES
CareerNext Expands Its Reach!
Road to Independence: Bumpy but worth it!
My Job Coach is a Rock Star!
A bend in the road isn’t the end of the road … unless you fail to make the turn. – Helen Keller![]()
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The road to independence is sometimes bumpy, but traveling it is always worth it- just ask College Experience graduate Danielle Passariello. After many years of bumps, bends, and yield signs in the road of life, she has achieved a milestone in her quest for independence – she earned her driver’s license.![]()
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Learning to drive has been one of a variety of goals Danielle was determined to achieve. Along the way, she attended and graduated from Living Resources’ College Experience program (CEP), which took much of her focus for two years. As a part of the CEP curriculum, she learned to navigate the CDTA bus system, allowing her to explore the region independently. The goal of driving was paused since, as she said, “I really didn’t need a license.”![]()
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Since her graduation, Danielle’s journey towards independence has been supported by Living Resources Transitions and Employment Services programs. With their support, she maintains an apartment and holds down a job at Burlington Coat Factory where she works four days a week. With all this going on, you might think that Danielle would not have time to learn to drive, but she was determined.![]()
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In 2021, Danielle’s permit expired, which galvanized her resolve. She said that re-taking her permit test was actually a positive thing since it reminded her of the many rules of the road. She began taking lessons from a local driving school and in September she was ready to take her test. She easily scheduled and took her 5-hour course, but her road test was a different story. The Department of Motor Vehicles was backed up and the first available test wasn’t until December. Frustratingly, she had to wait.![]()
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When Danielle’s testing day arrived, she was understandingly nervous. Her stress only increased when she didn’t get her result immediately after the test, but was told she would have to go online with a code to learn her fate. At long last, she found out that she passed. She recalls, “I was shocked. I passed my road test on the first try! I was jumping in the air! Most people get their license at 17, but I am proud of getting it at 23.”![]()
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Danielle hasn’t driven completely on her own yet, but when she does, she says she will start with short trips first. Just the knowledge that she has a license makes her feel more independent, more adult. She knows she has plenty of other transportation options such as bus, STAR, and Uber. She will use each method strategically, because, as her CEP instructor Dom taught her, “You don’t have to drive the car everywhere. It can be a waste of money to park places.”![]()
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Having an apartment, job, and now a drivers’ license, Danielle knows she has crossed a bridge into independence and that slow and steady always wins the race.![]()
www.livingresources.org/road-to-independence-bumpy-but-worth-it/
Living Resources' The College Experience at The College of Saint Rose is designed to teach students to learn the skills to live independently, and maintain competitive employment while enjoying all that college life has to offer. The College Experience is holding a Virtual Open House on Jan 20, 2022. Register through their website at thecollegeexperience.org! Registrants will be emailed a Zoom link prior to the event.
“The time is always right to do what is right.”- Martin Luther King Jr.![]()
At Living Resources, our Super Hero Direct Support Professionals know that every day holds a new opportunity to do what is right ... supporting and empowering individuals with disabilities or other life challenging conditions to live with dignity, independence, and happiness.
Our College Experience students took a moment to reflect on the best parts of 2021 and what they look forward to in 2022. Give a listen! www.facebook.com/collegeexperience/videos/603046450974722
Reed Grontas, a graduate of our College Experience Program knows the sweet satisfaction of a job well done. After he was furloughed from his previous position due to COVID, Reed, like so many others had to re-think his job goals. With the support of his Living Resources job coach Lori, Reed was able to successfully pivot and find a home at Bountiful Bread in Stuyvesant Plaza, where he now works 3-4 days a week.![]()
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Reed loves working in food preparation and has shown immense improvement in his knife skills, perfecting each task he is asked to complete. It certainly helps that he is surrounded by incredibly supportive coworkers and management.![]()
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Reed recently received a birthday surprise from his Bountiful Bread team ~ a celebration complete with a custom-made birthday cake. The party was posted on Bountiful Bread’s social media with the message, “Wishing Reed, one of our super-star prep cooks, a very happy birthday today!”![]()
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www.livingresources.org/bountiful-birthday-bash/
