In an era where people generally want to be more respectful and inclusive of different populations, it's sometimes hard to determine what the "right" thing to say is. To be quite honest, before I started working at The Arc Wayne, I struggled with deciding what I should and shouldn't say or ask to someone with a disability. I want to let all of you know the most important thing that I learned when talking with the individuals we support – they are just that: individuals. No two of them are the same, and they most definitely have their own personalities, interests, hobbies, and skills. 

Just because someone has different abilities, their importance in society is not diminished. I've met some of the most hard-working, kind-hearted people down in our Key Industries Workshop, in our IRA's, and out in the community. They want the same basic things we all want: a decent home, friends, family, a marriage, a good job, and the ability to take fun vacations. 

I'm hoping this advice regarding people-first language will be a launching pad for positive interactions between you and the individuals you interact with. If you take one thing away from this, let it be that someone's disability does not define who they are as a person and does not always prohibit him or her from accomplishing goals and reaching dreams.

So, what is people-first language? The Arc defines it this way: "People First Language puts the person before the disability, and describes what a person has, not who a person is. Using a diagnosis as a defining characteristic reflects prejudice, and also robs the person of the opportunity to define him/herself."

For example, if someone is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, it would inappropriate to label him or her as "autistic." It would be better to say, "He or She has Autism." This emphasizes the person rather than the disorder. It's something that is a part of the person, not the person as a whole.

Almost 1 in 5 Americans has a disability – making it the largest minority population. It is also one of the most diverse minority populations because it is made up people from all cultures, backgrounds, races, and ethnicities. Disabilities don't discriminate, and neither should we. Individuals with disabilities are friends, coworkers, moms, dads, neighbors, daughters, sons, teachers, students, brothers, and sisters. All it takes is a genuine smile and an understanding that a disability does not define someone.

At The Arc Wayne, we are dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities feel welcomed and included in our communities. Thank you for your help and support with this goal. 

We are so excited at how much positive feedback the #SeeMe campaign has received over the last week. It's reassuring to know that we are nestled in such a supportive, inclusive community and that we are surrounded by people who want to make this a better place to live, work, and play for individuals with disabilities. We couldn't do what we do every day without our community's support. Thank you.

If you're wondering what the deal is with all of these #SeeMe posts, you're probably not alone. To explain properly, let me first explain the rebranding efforts that made a huge impact on the campaign. 

As you probably know, Wayne ARC is now The Arc Wayne. This is an effort to join hundreds of state and local chapters across the United States who have branded with The Arc – the largest national community-based organization advocating for and supporting individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families. 
 
The Arc Wayne decided to align with The Arc to strengthen our voice as we continue to find alternative financial support and create innovative programs and services for the individuals The Arc supports.

That being said, we wanted to make sure we weren't just saying that, but actually showing it in our communities. This was the genesis of the #SeeMe campaign. We wanted people to see and accept individuals with disabilities in all areas of our villages, towns, and businesses. We wanted everyone to know how special we think each and every individual we serve is.

In addition to the social media posts, we have also partnered with local businesses across Wayne County to show our support. Check out our billboards on Rt. 104 in Williamson and Rt. 31 between Newark and Lyons for a photo of our beloved David thanks in part to Lamar Advertising. Love coffee? Visit ​Imprint Coffee Roasters, Firewall Coffee Hall, or Mi Cafe Con  Leche Coffee Shop to find The Arc Wayne coffee sleeves. Need something stronger? Visit Parker's or Twisted Rail Brewing Company to find The Arc Wayne coasters under a drink. Have kids? Load up the car and visit Chill & Grill, Mr. Coolee's, or Orbaker's for orange and yellow sprinkles on an ice cream cone – even the big kids will enjoy this one. 

Whether you know someone personally, or you've just seen a photo on Facebook, we can all show respect for individuals with disabilities. Please share your stories with us on social media or in the comments of this blog! We love to see how you're making a difference in your community. Thank you for following along with us and helping create a more inclusive environment for what we believe is an amazing population of people. 

Click on the icons below to see more from the #SeeMe campaign. 

Wayne ARC has changed its name to The Arc Wayne to join hundreds of state and local chapters across the United States who have branded with The Arc – the largest national community-based organization advocating for and supporting individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families. The new logo includes The Arc “catalyst” icon, which represents a burst of energy and is symbolic of forward motion, optimism and independence.

The Arc Wayne decided to align with The Arc to strengthen our voice as we continue to find alternative financial support and create innovative programs and services for the individuals The Arc supports.

The agency will continue to advocate for and support the more than 1,700 individuals served by The Arc Wayne in Wayne and surrounding counties with compassion, understanding and support. While our name is changing, our services will remain as we continue to improve each of them: residential services, employment services, Roosevelt Children’s Center, respite and recreational opportunities, Key Industries workshop, and more.
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We look forward to this transition as an organization as we continue to promote community inclusion and integration of individuals with and without developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Please contact us with any questions or comments! 

Thank you to Lisa and Deb from Lyons National Bank for volunteering in our Key Industries workshop and Day Hab programs today for the United Way's Day of Caring! We hope you had a great time working with the individuals we support and seeing first-hand what we do every day. 

1. You can come to work every day knowing that you are making a real and meaningful difference in your community. Helping people with and without disabilities in Wayne and surrounding counties is our core mission, and we believe that is a mission you can be part of too, no matter what department you join!

2. We offer excellent benefits. With great 403b retirement options, paid holidays and time off, tuition reimbursement, flexible scheduling, medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as agency-paid life insurance, our benefits package is something we are proud to offer our staff.

3. We hire people of all backgrounds and skill levels. Because we oversee more than two dozen programs, we have many job options from business and accounting to transportation and residential to criminal justice and technology. Not all jobs require a college degree, and our programs span across 8 counties. Contact us to find out about options that may be right for you!

4. You have the opportunity to form meaningful, life-long connections with the people we support. The individuals we serve at Wayne ARC are some of the nicest, most positive people in Wayne County, and you are able to do what they love with them! For example, direct support professionals go to concerts, ball games, and restaurants; day habilitation coordinators paint and play music; and job coaches travel to local businesses to help individuals find off-site employment at places such as Parker's Grill and Tap House, del Lago Resort and Casino, and Crosman. 

5. We are always evolving! At Wayne ARC, we always want to improve what we are doing to better support the individuals we serve. Our new street of shops, Erie Shore Landing, is our latest proof of that. We also want our employees to be able to grow with us. As new jobs are created or open up, we always encourage employees to apply within the agency to move up the ladder to the job they want. 

​Apply today! We would love to have you join our team.

Wayne ARC is so grateful to be part of a community that celebrates inclusion through sports. Newark's Unified Basketball team integrates students with and without disabilities to give everyone an opportunity to play basketball with their friends and have a sense of school pride. 

Both the modified and varsity teams create opportunities for students of ALL abilities and travel to other schools throughout the season. Check out the schedule below to find a game you can attend! We would love to fill the stands and show support for these athletes. 

Wayne ARC employees had the pleasure of attending the 2018 Wayne County Legislative Breakfast at the Palmyra V.F.W. to listen to local elected officials and business owners speak about the great projects happening around our county and how we can work to improve our communities. 

Former Rochester mayor, Bob Duffy, Senator Pamela Helming, Assemblyman Bob Oaks, Congressman John Katko, and others shared how they are working in government to improve the lives of people who live, work, and play in Wayne County. 

After the breakfast, we had the privilege of showing Congressman Katko around the agency and speaking with him about legislation effecting the individuals we serve. He was impressed with our workshop, programs, Erie Shore Landing project, and other aspects of the agency throughout his tour. We are thankful he is working in Washington to bring more economic opportunities to our region. 

Construction for Erie Shore Landing, our new street of shops, has begun! About six months from now, Wayne ARC's headquarters building in Newark along the Erie Canal will have a new face and new shops – an ice cream shop, deli, cafe, and an updated printshop. 

With the help of grants from The Golisano Foundation, Canal Corporation, and Empire State Development as well as support from the Village of Newark, Wayne ARC was able to secure funding for this innovative project.

The goal of this project is to provide meaningful retail jobs for more people in our community both with and without disabilities. With a training facility behind each of the shops, individuals with disabilities will be able to train and learn essential retail skills such as money counting, food preparation, and customer service. 

As the Village of Newark strives to create a more vibrant downtown, Wayne ARC strives to assist in that effort. Utilizing our beautiful canal-front property to provide retail shops for tourists, boaters, and community members, we hope, will make Newark a more desired destination to live, work, and visit.

We are so excited to share this development with our community, and we invite you to follow along with the progress we are making each week. Contact us with any questions you may have about the project!