News & Updates

In these days when stress is high, we all need a little escape. Thanks to a generous grant from CDPHP, Living Resources has purchased a virtual reality platform- software and two headsets- from Psious. Through this technology, we can provide immersive mental health services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disorders. These innovative sessions use virtual reality to create calming settings, called environments, to bring a deeper awareness of the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. For example, one environment showed a three-dimensional tree swaying in the breeze with leaves gently falling. Through the [...]

How do you cope with frustrating situations? Many of us have difficulty, particularly with the increased stressors that are associated with the lingering COVID 19 pandemic. Thanks to a grant from SEFCU, Living Resources has a new tool to support the mental health of our individuals with Intellectual/ Developmental Disorders (ID/D). AVAIL software uses smart devices as a platform to teach life skills through personalized, step-by-step digital prompts. It can be used in a variety of contexts, including independent living, employment, education, and clinical settings. Over the past few months, AVAIL has been used by Living Resources’ Clinical team to help [...]

Check out the October edition of Sharing the Journey View the Oct. Edition of Sharing the Journey Missed previous editions? Check out our Agency News page to see all editions from this past year!

The isolation of COVID 19 helped Kevin look inward and discover that he had more potential than he previously thought and summon the courage to pursue more challenging opportunities. Kevin started working at the Albany Med Warehouse, which provides Albany Med and its practice sites with inventory to restock their locations with needed supplies. There, Kevin does a great job locating and picking out the required items, and is always spot on with his order fulfillment. He is proud that he is helping make sure that people get the medical care they need while earning a paycheck so that he doesn’t [...]

Two of our College Experience classes advocated for equal employment for people with disabilities at a Rally held in the East Capitol Park of the New York State Capitol on October 20. They joined Assembly Members Tom Abinanti, Chris Burdick, Latoya Joyner, Harvey Epstein, and others carrying signs declaring “Believe in the power of work,” “People with disabilities want to work,” “Realize my ability, not just my disability,” Equal Opportunities FOR ALL,” “Remove Barriers to work,” and, “Abled doesn’t mean enabled. Disabled doesn’t mean less abled.” The College Experience Media & Activities Liaison, Mr. Jesse A. Saperstein, who describes himself as [...]

Amy and Max are both graduates of Living Resources’ College Experience Program. Amy, who graduated in 2015, had a steady job working with children in an After School Program until COVID appeared on the scene in early 2020. Her unexpected furlough empowered her to try something completely new. Max, who graduated College Experience as an enhanced senior last year and is still receiving support from the program, is new to the supported employment scene. Both feel fortunate to be working at Sherman Specialties, a warehouse that prints messages on 3-Dimensional objects that are used as party favors and other “swag.” Supported [...]

Check out the September edition of Sharing the Journey View the Sept. Edition of Sharing the Journey Missed previous editions? Check out our Agency News page to see all editions from this past year!

KeyBank volunteers have been “Making a Difference” since 1990 through their annual day of community service. Employee volunteers demonstrated Key’s purpose to help communities thrive by contributing their time and talents to a variety of non-profit community organizations, including Living Resources. During this year’s Neighbors Make the Difference Day on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, their volunteers painted the ramp and porch of one of our residences in Saratoga County. Thank you, KeyBank for making a difference in the lives of individuals we support!

"There is a difference between a dream and a goal. A dream is a gift you want to be given. A goal is something you work to achieve." ~ Brian Knapp, Creative Pursuit Karen Wright has been on a quest to live independently for many years. Her journey began more than 17 years ago when she joined Living Resources’ Albany Supportive Living Program. Within this Supportive Individual Residential Alternative (IRA) she lived in a designated apartment with regular staff support for skills such as apartment maintenance, cooking, cleaning, shopping, money management, and general organization. There, her staff embraced her desire to [...]

Wagon rides are not typically wheelchair-friendly. So when staff member Judi Savacool caught wind of a wagon ride equipped with a wheelchair lift she jumped on it – literally and metaphorically. Among the many roles Judi plays in her Living Resources group home, she is the unofficial “travel agent” for those who reside there. In all the researching and arranging of adventures she has done for her residents, she has found that although many venues claim to be “handicapped accessible,” they typically do not have adequate supports for adults with disabilities who are dependent on wheelchairs. Public restrooms pose particular barriers [...]