Winds of Change

A Message from George Suess, CEO 

I wonder how many of you remember the classic 60's number "Winds of Change" by Eric Bourdon and The Animals?  I'm reminded of their hit as I reflect on the theme of this issue of ARC Good News (paper copy).   People are often intimidated and even frightened by change.  But the winds of change that have been blowing around the dedicated people who comprise our organization are warming because they're filled with hope and otimism.

Although 1 in 10 American families are affected by disabilities, new information, community education and advocacy are making it possible to reach a brighter tomorrow through the prevention and early detection of disabilities and the greater understanding that we should all look at abilities rather than disabilities.  Take this year's Delaware County ARC Achievement Award winners for instance.  Each one of them as well as their families will attest to the fact that disabilities can and are turned into possibilities through caring and perseverance.

As an organization totally committed to the children and adults it serves, it is always exciting for us to share our positive approaches with others in human services.  In addition to the year-round training we do with our own staff and colleagues, we had two extraordinary opportunities this year.  We hosted visitors from the Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical (Teachers) University in Siberia.  Our comrades have already translater our book Shift Happens, Making the Shift to Proactive Behavior Management into Russian!  

We were also invited to participate in the first-ever international symposium for researchers, policy makers, educators and service providers called "Examining the Safety of High-Risk Interventions for Children and Young-People".  This was hosted by Cornell University and attended by guests fro Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand and Nigeria as well as from throughout the USA.  I'm always proud to represent the Delaware County ARC, an organization with 30+ years of providing quality, person-first services to hundreds of local children and adults who have disabilities.  The Delaware County ARC never has and never will subscribe to the use of physical or chemical interventions.

Positive winds of change for people with disabilities are blowing globally and we're taking part.... Thrilling!!

Portions of this article have been removed to save space.  To read the full article, request a paper copy by contacting us (click here).

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