Deneen

“When you give joy to other people, you get more joy in return.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt Emily Durkin began her journey with Living Resources seven years ago as a College Experience student. Of all the lessons she learned in the two-year certificate program hosted at The College of Saint Rose, Emily came away with a strong sense of independence. She said, “At first it was hard to leave home but it was necessary for me to be more independent. They taught us how to interact together and with other people while doing fun activities.” The program gave her the tools to [...]

Isn’t it amazing when your passion becomes your profession? Luke has always had a love for animals. When he attended our College Experience program, he chose to focus on the different aspects of pet care for his internships. He started at Grrreendog Grooming and Spa where he learned about canine behavior and the importance of body language and confidence when directing the dogs. His second internship focused on the retail side of pet care while working at Pet Supplies Plus. There he learned the products, stocked the shelves, and assisted customers. These internships prepared him for graduation (June of 2022) and [...]

Alicia R. has been working with the Capital District YMCA’s After School program for over three years. She is proud of her role as activities assistant for the Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten room in both the morning and afterschool programs. In her role, Alicia is responsible for keeping the children engaged and focused using many social and educational activities, such as story time, outside play, crafts, and themed activities. The Director of Childcare for the YMCA, who is also named Alicia, shared that “they adore Alicia. She has grown immensely in her role over the last three years. She is now more confident in the [...]

Chris H. explored a few careers when he began his employment journey. He started in athletics and worked in a hotel, but then it hit him, his real passion is cooking, and he wanted to become a chef. He expressed his desire to his job coach and they were off to find Chris a position that would allow him to learn the ropes and challenge him on to his next steps in becoming a chef. Since April 2018, Chris has been working at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center, St. Peter’s Health Partners. Chris’ Manager Heidi shared that “Chris is a [...]

Molly F. began her VENT Fitness career as an intern in their Latham branch while attending Living Resources College Experience Program. As part of her position, Molly was responsible for helping to keep the equipment sanitized and cleaned. Since the pandemic, this position is extremely valuable in helping to maintain the health of everyone at the gym. Molly’s internship ended recently when she was hired as a VENT Fitness employee. Molly’s manager Kim shared that “after COVID, it was really difficult to find staff. I reflected back on family members with disabilities and thought about how I would like them to [...]

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and we would like to send a special thank you to each and every one of our employment partners for providing skill assessment locations, internships, and employment opportunities. Each of our partners recognizes the crucial role individuals with disabilities play in a diverse and inclusive workforce. Thank you for being part of our family and empowering individuals with disabilities or other life-challenging conditions to live with dignity, independence, and happiness.