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The Resource Center honors direct support professionals

In conjunction with National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week, The Resource Center took time recently to pay tribute to its direct-support workforce and honor some employees for the ways in which they enhance the lives of people with disabilities.

The Resource Center held its annual Everyday Hero Celebration recently in TRC’s administrative offices on Dunham Avenue in Celoron. A total of 34 people were recognized for outstanding job performance during the past year. Ten employees received Everyday Hero recognition:

Kelly Edwards Edwards, a DSP in TRC’s Day Program on Jones & Gifford Avenue in Jamestown, was honored for her hard work and willingness to help wherever needed. She enjoys coming up with different projects for people with disabilities to work on, such as making items out of papier mache, tie dying T-shirts and baking. Edwards has spent 10 years working for The Resource Center, but she actually first became involved with the agency when she was 2 and would accompany her mother, a TRC employee, to work on non-school days.

Joshua Johnson Johnson, an activity leader in the Day Program on Jones & Gifford Avenue, was honored because of the ways in which he supports not only the people with disabilities in his program, but also his co-workers. He treats people with intellectual disabilities as equals and makes them feel important. This marks the second year in a row that Johnson, who has worked for TRC since 1999, was named an Everyday Hero.

Brandi Mercado Mercado, an activity leader in the Day Program on Jones & Gifford Avenue, was nominated because of her strong work ethic and caring demeanor. She is well liked by the participants in her program room, who greet her with a smile, a high-five or a handshake. Her co-workers applaud Mercado’s ability to deal well with diverse personalities and make her team a hard-working, functional group. She has worked for TRC since 2002.

Aliza Neal Neal is a job coach who establishes strong rapport with the people she coaches, as well as her co-workers. She has good communication skills, works well in a team setting and thinks creatively when faced with a problem. Neal is described as bubbly, enthusiastic, positive, and respectful. She has worked for The Resource Center for three years.

Corrie Orange Orange is a self-determination assistant who has worked as a DSP in TRC day programs in Dunkirk and Jamestown, and in TRC homes in Dunkirk, Jamestown and Celoron. Wherever she works, Orange makes an effort to get to know the people for whom she cares, taking time to discover what makes each person laugh and what works (or does not work) with that person. She communicates effectively with everyone she supports, regardless of their communication preferences or abilities. Orange is described as a strong advocate for people with disabilities if she believes that a routine or activity is not working well or may be causing an increase in challenging behaviors, she will speak up and discuss possible changes. She has worked for TRC since 2011.

Lisa Roland Roland, an activity leader at the day program on Lake Shore Drive in Dunkirk, has a positive attitude and calm demeanor that enable her to be trusted by the people she supports. When she was asked to assist in a day program room until new staff could be hired, Roland took charge and first helped to lead the other employees who had offered to work in that room, and later was instrumental in training the new staff. She has worked at TRC for three years.

Resa Rosen-Murray Rosen-Murray is an activity leader at TRC’s day program on Harris Avenue in Jamestown, and her role is to organize and enhance services for seniors with disabilities to identify activities that are meaningful and tie in with each person’s valued outcomes. She discovers what interests they have and then coordinates with co-workers to find opportunities for community inclusion. Rosen-Murray has worked for TRC since 1980, and her supervisor describes her as being a good role model for other employees.

Andrea Shierling Shierling is a pre-vocational skills instructor. She was chosen to be an Everyday Hero for her efforts in working with a person who has significant behavioral challenges. Shierling demonstrates patience, perseverance and creativity to find new approaches for interacting with this person. Shierling communicates well with the other members of her team, and this is beneficial for all of the people with disabilities who she supports. She has worked at TRC for two-and-a-half years.

Jeffrey Shriver Shriver is a DSP in TRC’s home on Pardee Avenue in Jamestown. Courteous, friendly and dependable, he cares for and treats each of the home’s residents as if each were a member of his family. Shriver willingly takes on new responsibilities, and he supports new employees by offering suggestions on how to handle situations involving the home’s residents. He has worked at TRC for three years.

Cindy Summerford Summerford, a DSP in the day program on Harris Avenue, was lauded as a person whose work ethic makes others work harder. She displays compassion toward people with disabilities and co-workers. In addressing program participants’ needs, she uses a person-centered approach not because it is required by regulations, but because she believes it is the proper way to treat everyone.

Twenty-four other employees nominated for Everyday Hero designation received honorable mention: Lea Benedetto, Mickey Berlin, Brian Burch, Jennifer Clark, Rochelle Coone, Nicholas Couse, Lisa Covey, Holly Lange, Darlene Lascola, Jessica LaSpada, Jodie Linamen, Jason Lutgen, Jill Marsh, Alberta Monagle, Lyn Osgood, Kelly Patterson, Jill Quigley, Sunn Ryder, Dawn Sell, Jeanne Slade, Cheryl Stow, Elizabeth Swanson, Nicole Tarr, and Patricia Wunder. These employees received a TRC shirt and a certificate commending them for their work.

Opening remarks were given by Denise Jones, TRC’s executive director. She had managers come to the front of the room and sing a song praising The Resource Center’s staff. The song, sung to the tune of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, was written by TRC employee Lela Berry.

Remarks also were given by Mark Morton, assistant executive director for employee relations; Joanne Bevan, assistant executive director for intellectual and developmental disability operations; Mary Jo Hamilton, director of intellectual and developmental disability services; and Terri Johnson, director of employment and community-based services.

In addition to the Everyday Hero Celebration, The Resource Center honored its direct-support workforce in other ways during Direct Support Professional Recognition Week. Supervisors and administrators visited work sites to personally thank DSPs for their efforts and to present DSPs with a folding lawn chair. Prize drawings also were held throughout the week.

The Resource Center has been supporting people with disabilities and their families in Chautauqua County since 1958. If interested in learning more about TRC or becoming a direct support professional, phone 483-2344 or visit www.resourcecenter.org.

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