Today at Living Resources

Recently, individuals in our Acquired Brain Injury Advocacy Group wrote letters to their legislators urging them to reject cuts to Medicaid programs. Self-Advocacy is an important topic, and learning how to adequately advocate for yourself and loved ones is a paramount life skill. Members of the ABI Advocacy group shared their stories with legislators, and told them how cuts to Medicaid would impact their lives. We are grateful to the members of the group for sharing and for being staunch advocates for the brain injury and disabled community. Congress continues to consider legislation that could [...]

Are you a DSP looking to further their career, or maybe looking to sharpen your skills? You may want to look into earning a Direct Support Professional Microcredential! A microcredential is a short, industry-focused credential designed to provide in-demand skills in a particular sector. The Direct Support Professional Microcredential courses help enrolled students with skills, education, and training for work with individuals with disabilities. We recently caught up with Dion Williams, Regional House Manager (RHM) here in Living Resources’ Residential Program. Dion just finished two microcredential courses, DSP 1 and DSP 2, and was recently promoted to RHM following his [...]

Advocates, organizations, legislators, and individuals with disabilities from all over New York State came together in the War Room of the NYS Capitol, with one objective: to be heard. There were speeches, chants, and stories from advocates across the state all in hopes that the Governor will hear our plea to include a 7.8% Medicaid rate increase! A number of Assemblymembers and Senators were in attendance, including Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara and Senator Patricia Fahy, speaking their support to the fired-up crowd. One special speech was given by Living Resources’ Residential Habilitation Manager, Damarise Mann. In her speech, she [...]

February is Black History Month, and the Living Resources Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee honored this powerful legacy with a celebration of culinary evolution, culture, and community. The event was a feast for the senses, a menu of delicious food filled with rich aromas, fun games, and Michelle Bynoe, delivered a stirring poem that resonated with all who listened. Staff members also participated in a trivia event to test their knowledge of Black History, which showcased the depth and significance of Black contributions throughout history. At Living Resources, our primary goal is to ensure that everyone – regardless of [...]

For decades, New York State has not made adequate investments to sustain the essential programs and services people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) rely on. This systemic underfunding has driven us into a critical staffing crisis and eroded the core of New York's system of supports for its citizens with I/DD. Recently, members of our leadership team met with a number of legislators to discuss the needs of the I/DD community. Individuals in our Day Community Opportunities Program and The College Experience Program were also given the chance to speak with legislative members about issues facing the I/DD [...]

January is a time for the three F’s: Friends, Food, and Football! There’s nothing better than getting together with friends, enjoying some delicious food, and watching your favorite team play. Well, maybe one thing is better than that, and that’s seeing your favorite team play live from the front row! Frederick is a die-hard Buffalo Bills fan. He can talk for days and days about different stats, players, and games, right down to the team’s very first playoff game. However, he’s never seen a game in person. When the chance came for him to see his team showdown against [...]

With the roaring L.A. wildfires, fire safety is at the top of everyone’s mind. While our hearts go out to those affected, we here in New York wanted to use this opportunity as a teaching moment for our individuals. Last week, a group of our individuals visited the Catskill Firehouse to learn about fire safety and see some pretty cool trucks. The fire fighters at Catskill Firehouse were incredibly welcoming, showing the individuals around the station and giving an in-depth tour of the different fire trucks that they use to fight fires and assist the community each day. When talking [...]

Is there anything more magical than the holidays in New York City? The smell of roasted nuts on a chilly December day, the lights twinkling on the Rockefeller Center tree, holiday shoppers bustling in and out of stores – there’s nothing quite like it. But nothing can compare to seeing the Rockettes perform at Radio City Music Hall for the very first time. That’s just what a few ladies did this past week! It was early in the morning (and really chilly!) when they boarded the Wade Tours bus with other travelers ready for some holiday cheer. Before the [...]

Thanksgiving is a time for the three F’s: food, family, and friends. What better way to bring all three together than by hosting a ‘Friendsgiving’ celebration? That’s exactly what our folks at Oregon and Longmeadow houses did this past weekend! Individuals came together with their Living Resources family and friends to celebrate, and boy was it a party! There were crafts, LOTS of food, and the cherry on top was the wonderful individuals and staff who came together to make it happen. Individuals at Oregon celebrated in style, making festive turkey hats to don for the occasion. The individuals [...]

Since graduating from the College Experience Program in 2019, Zahin’s goal has been to work in an office. In 2022, he was hired at Living Resources to assist with office tasks, including filing, scanning, and keeping the office tidy and well-stocked. He excelled in his new role, with his supervisor commenting, “Zahin is an outstanding employee of our Admin Department mainly because of his eagerness to learn new tasks and his willingness to explore ways to improve productiveness. He is truly a pleasure to have on the team and gets along very well with his coworkers.” While he was [...]