NAQ: A Place to Learn, Connect & Share
Congratulations to our Spotlight Award Winners!
December 2019: Mary Therese Conway
Lina Workman, Director of ICF at Koinonia Homes in Independence, OH, submitted the nomination for Mary Therese: "Mary Therese embraces quality, teamwork, and excellence – when in turn, enhances the performance of her core team. She creates a collaborative environment that empowers and motivates people – staff and people served - to do their best every day. Mary Therese is a shining star and all of us who work with her know how special she is and that she can be counted on, even when the going gets tough. Mary Therese digs her heels in deeper, rolls up her sleeves and just does it!"
November 2019: Kristena Partridge
Stacie Bradley, Program Director at PremierCare in Naperville, IL, submitted the nomination form for Kristena: "Kristena has been a Q for many years. She has brought experience, knowledge and resources to the people we support and their families. She is has been providing presentations to people supported and their families on various beneficial topics such as self-advocacy, community activities, recreation, safety, work and vocational issues, resources and benefit explanations. She wants people supported and their families to know what they can do and offers them the knowledge of resources to give them the help they desperately need."
October 2019: Sandy Weaver
Gena Boyle, Program Center Manager at Annandale Village in Suwanee, GA, submitted the nomination form: "Sandy has been working at Annandale for 30 years in a variety of capacities. In her most recent role as Assessment and Curriculum Coordinator, Sandy provides residents with opportunities to learn new skills in a fun and exciting way, utilizing the Assessment of Functional Living Skills Program. She works hard to ensure that residents have every opportunity to enjoy activities out in the community - whether for religious purposes, volunteer opportunities, skill building or just to have fun."
NAQ would like to thank Mary Therese, Kristena, and Sandy for their dedication, innovation, and positive attitudes. After all, where would we be without outstanding disability professionals like them?
Do you know a QIDP or case manager that consistently goes above and beyond – someone who deserves a little extra recognition for a job well done? If so, please nominate them for NAQs Spotlight Award - an honor given each month to an exceptional disability professional.
Featured Reading
The Sex & Relationship Conversation Cards, produced by CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership
It is often assumed that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are not only incapable of having sexual relationships but also not interested in doing so. This is simply not true – people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the same wants and needs when it comes to sex and relationships as nondisabled people. This tool will help support staff and people receiving services to initiate conversations about sex and relationships. Through interactive card games, people receiving services can learn about sex and relationships, along with the array of rights and responsibilities involved, as well as supports that can help people along the way.
Food for Thought:
“The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot
learn, feel, change, grow or love. Chained by his certitude, he is a slave; he has forfeited his freedom. Only the person who risks is truly free.”
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