News & Updates

 Have you noticed that hot chocolate is more than just a hot beverage? As you imbibe the warm, creamy, chocolatey potion do you not feel a sense of joy and contentment? Those who live in one of our local residences certainly thought so. They recently enjoyed a hot chocolate party in which they relished their drinks while creating festive crafts and listening to Christmas Carols.  At first the carols were just there to help to mood, but slowly the magic of the season took over the room. Folks dropped their inhibitions and began to sing along. To quote Dr. Seuss’ seasonal favorite, [...]

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

It was a sunny, chilly day in Albany, and the energy in the air was palpable. People from all walks of life flocked to the War Room in the New York State Capital building, all with one specific goal: have their voices heard by Governor Kathy Hochul. The words, “Invest in me, invest in US” echoed throughout the room, a plea to legislators to support New Yorkers with I/DD by advocating for a 7.8% Medicaid rate increase, adequate wages for human service workers, and enhanced capital funding to ensure quality care. In addition to the chants, rally attendees wore orange [...]

It’s been a while since we checked in with our community living folks, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been busy. Intrada has been bustling with activity! From participating in this year’s election, learning about preparing healthy meals, and meeting horse jockeys, it has been a fun-filled season for the individuals at Intrada! Let’s see what they’ve been up to: Michael, a big horse racing fan, looks forward to Saratoga Race Track season every year and always grabs a season pass. Recently, while picking up his favorite Dunkin treat, he had an unforgettable encounter – he met his all-time [...]

In a democracy, every voice matters. This fundamental principle should extend to all citizens, regardless of their abilities. Individuals with developmental disabilities are often overlooked or marginalized, but their right to vote is just as important as anyone else’s. We are incredibly proud of the individuals who have voted for the very first time this year. For example, 18 individuals in The College Experience Program registered and voted for the first time ever. Al, who is 75 years old exercised his right to vote for the very first time this year. Breaking Down Barriers Historically, individuals with developmental disabilities have [...]

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

Molly graduated from Hudson Valley Community College in December 2022 with a degree in Liberal Arts. She continued working at a grocery store where she had been employed part-time since 2019. She wanted to try something new, but needed a gentle push to consider a more professional job. With the support of her job coach here at Living Resources, Frank Padula, she was willing to consider a part-time administrative job at Capital Care Family practice in Rotterdam. Molly has excelled at the medical office, where she has learned many knew skills and has flourished under her new responsibilities. She assists with many administrative tasks, [...]

Austin Johnsen recently passed his five year employment anniversary benchmark at Price Chopper on Albany Shaker Road. He is a maintenance associate and has been working there since 2019. Austin works four shifts per week, four hours a day. His maintenance title allows him to work in several capacities, and he enjoys them all. On any given day he can be found gathering carts in the parking lot, cleaning and organizing the bottle room along with servicing the machines when they need new bags, or become jammed with plastic or glass bottles. Austin maintains the customer bathrooms if [...]

What happens when you realize the job you have, isn’t the job you want for the rest of your life? Maybe you’ll send out your resume and try to get a foot in the door in a new industry. But change is hard, and can sometimes be scary and overwhelming for anybody. For those with developmental disabilities, these changes can be daunting. Just ask Tor, a graduate of The College Experience Program at Living Resources. Tor worked in retail for years, then he went on to work at a local market. While he was happy in his independence, he [...]

Bill is a graduate of Living Resources’ College Experience Program. When he graduated the program, it was time for him to enter the employment world. Bill worked with his job coach Leslye and found a job as a cashier at Market32. When Bill first started, he was nervous and you could tell he didn’t have a lot of confidence. Now, Bill’s confidence in his work is strong and he interacts and connects with people very well each time he’s at work. Bill’s supervisor “absolutely loves him” according to Leslye. Bill loves working at Market32 and says “it’s really inclusive, you [...]