VICTORY!! THE STATE OFFICIALLY REVERSED THE DECISION TO CLOSE OUR WORKSHOPS AND OUR PROGRAMS ARE STAYING OPEN!! THANK YOU FOR FIGHTING FOR THESE VITAL SPACES BECAUSE WE SAVED THE FUTURE FOR THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS!! WE WILL KEEP WATCHING TO ENSURE THIS COMMITMENT REMAINS PROTECTED FOREVER!!
April 22, 2015
Final supporters
We all strive for all people with developmental disabilities to live and work in the most inclusive and least restrictive environments. For many people with more severe and profound developmental disabilities, the pre-vocational, sheltered work environment is an important stepping stone to develop the skills that are needed for employment in the competitive work environment. Without this type of program, many people with developmental disabilities will have nowhere to go and nothing to fill their days.
If this option is taken away, we need to ask WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE THE 8,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO CURRENTLY WORK IN EMPLOYMENT CENTERS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE - yes, actual employment centers - not segregated sweat shops, the vision of which uninformed individuals have developed.
We were told that this transformation will cost the state MORE money.
You will hear that "options" are being developed to transform these individuals out of workshops - Pathway to Employment, Community Habilitation, Volunteerism - NONE of these options provide a consistent, long term paid position for the individuals we serve in our employment centers. NONE of them provide the opportunity for some of the most challenged individuals to engage in a daily routine of getting up each day, traveling to work, engaging in constructive employment, socializing with friends, and MAKING A PAYCHECK, which makes the individuals we serve feel valued and INTEGRATED into the community.
We strongly recommend that legislative action be taken to PREVENT CLOSURES OF SHELTERED WORKSHOPS. Why create a more costly and ineffective system that uses more tax dollars to reap less benefit?
PLEASE HELP US TO SUPPORT THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HAPPY AND GAINFULLY EMPLOYED. SIGN OUR PETITION TODAY.
A YouTube Video about the importance of our Sheltered Workshops: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77upfNc1A8c&feature=youtu.be
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
March 29, 2015
Reached 100 supporters
October 18, 2014
522 Comments
Not all people with disablilities are able to work in the general population, I love Wayne Arc they treat my son with respect and understand his needs! He feels good about his job, his co-workers and is not being a burden on society!
Not all disabled people can do meaningful jobs. My brother just sits around at the job site because he uses a walker. He is legally blind and has hand tremors. He will lose the opportunity for camaraderie that the sheltered workshop provides. Please reconsider this.
One size does not fit all! There has to be a wide scope of employment, day activities, and residential options that address the multitude of individuals with tremendously varying degrees and needs within their specific developmental disabilities.
This closing will destroy my daughter's life as well as many other's lives. These are people who need/want to live productive lives and have much needed socialization as others do, but this closing will take all of that away from these individuals. Don't do this !
Closing sheltered work centers without first providing fully funded supported employment programs for all effected individuals will have profound and severe negative impacts on thousands of people with disabilities and their families.
Please help our most vulnerable citizens, they deserve to be a vital part of our community.
These individuals are currently filling important rolls and a disruption in their familiar schedules could be very detrimental to their well being. Additionally, their employers will have to spend resources to fill their positions and train new people. Many of these positions are ones that many non challenged individuals would be unwilling to do. This is a BAD MOVE Governor Cuomo!
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VICTORY!! THE STATE OFFICIALLY REVERSED THE DECISION TO CLOSE OUR WORKSHOPS AND OUR PROGRAMS ARE STAYING OPEN!! THANK YOU FOR FIGHTING FOR THESE VITAL SPACES BECAUSE WE SAVED THE FUTURE FOR THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS!! WE WILL KEEP WATCHING TO ENSURE THIS COMMITMENT REMAINS PROTECTED FOREVER!!
April 22, 2015
Final supporters
We all strive for all people with developmental disabilities to live and work in the most inclusive and least restrictive environments. For many people with more severe and profound developmental disabilities, the pre-vocational, sheltered work environment is an important stepping stone to develop the skills that are needed for employment in the competitive work environment. Without this type of program, many people with developmental disabilities will have nowhere to go and nothing to fill their days.
If this option is taken away, we need to ask WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE THE 8,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO CURRENTLY WORK IN EMPLOYMENT CENTERS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE - yes, actual employment centers - not segregated sweat shops, the vision of which uninformed individuals have developed.
We were told that this transformation will cost the state MORE money.
You will hear that "options" are being developed to transform these individuals out of workshops - Pathway to Employment, Community Habilitation, Volunteerism - NONE of these options provide a consistent, long term paid position for the individuals we serve in our employment centers. NONE of them provide the opportunity for some of the most challenged individuals to engage in a daily routine of getting up each day, traveling to work, engaging in constructive employment, socializing with friends, and MAKING A PAYCHECK, which makes the individuals we serve feel valued and INTEGRATED into the community.
We strongly recommend that legislative action be taken to PREVENT CLOSURES OF SHELTERED WORKSHOPS. Why create a more costly and ineffective system that uses more tax dollars to reap less benefit?
PLEASE HELP US TO SUPPORT THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HAPPY AND GAINFULLY EMPLOYED. SIGN OUR PETITION TODAY.
A YouTube Video about the importance of our Sheltered Workshops: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77upfNc1A8c&feature=youtu.be
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
March 29, 2015
Reached 100 supporters
October 18, 2014
522 Comments
My brother works at ARC, and is VERY happy there. He would not be able to work in the community. PLEASE don't close these sheltered work places. My brother would have NO place to work. Why punish him, and those like him? If it's not broke, don't fix it.
Not all people with disablilities are able to work in the general population, I love Wayne Arc they treat my son with respect and understand his needs! He feels good about his job, his co-workers and is not being a burden on society!
Not all disabled people can do meaningful jobs. My brother just sits around at the job site because he uses a walker. He is legally blind and has hand tremors. He will lose the opportunity for camaraderie that the sheltered workshop provides. Please reconsider this.
One size does not fit all! There has to be a wide scope of employment, day activities, and residential options that address the multitude of individuals with tremendously varying degrees and needs within their specific developmental disabilities.
This closing will destroy my daughter's life as well as many other's lives. These are people who need/want to live productive lives and have much needed socialization as others do, but this closing will take all of that away from these individuals. Don't do this !
Closing sheltered work centers without first providing fully funded supported employment programs for all effected individuals will have profound and severe negative impacts on thousands of people with disabilities and their families.
Please help our most vulnerable citizens, they deserve to be a vital part of our community.
These individuals are currently filling important rolls and a disruption in their familiar schedules could be very detrimental to their well being. Additionally, their employers will have to spend resources to fill their positions and train new people. Many of these positions are ones that many non challenged individuals would be unwilling to do. This is a BAD MOVE Governor Cuomo!
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My brother works at ARC, and is VERY happy there. He would not be able to work in the community. PLEASE don't close these sheltered work places. My brother would have NO place to work. Why punish him, and those like him? If it's not broke, don't fix it.