EVERYDAY PEOPLE,
EVERYDAY LIVES
WINTER 2009
Travelin’ Man By Ben Przepiora
Some may think the vintage Allman Brothers Band song, “Ramblin‟ Man” refers to
the life that Roman John Patane has lived. And they wouldn‟t be wrong! After living in a
“supervised” apartment for four years, John took a giant step and moved into a
wonderful, less-restrictive, two-bedroom apartment in Rome. Along with the transition of
moving into a new apartment came a new part-time staff person in John‟s life. Enter Deb
Beddia, DA, who in no time made a swift impression which John took to his liking.
The first move the newly acquainted duo made was to plan out city bus routes that
got John to his job at the Rome Department of Public Works, AmeriCu, and his pharmacy.
Deb has also helped John with grocery shopping and cooking healthy meals, which he
became quickly accustomed to. She also constructed a plan to manage his budget,
involving independent banking, transactions with the DSO Business Office, and personal spending.
Deb uses her flexible work schedule to help John enjoy the highest quality of life. It‟s been a habit to
come in early on Saturdays to make a big breakfast before John starts out on his adventure through the
city -- trips to Denny‟s for coffee, shopping, the Ukrainian Club for lunch, and the American Legion for
supper. With Deb‟s help, John can now independently call a taxi if he needs a ride after all of the busses
have stopped running.
Deb and John have a lot of fun on their trips together. She has taken John to a variety of restaurants,
Rome Free Academy football games, Syracuse Chiefs baseball games, line dancing at the Polish home,
and also sightseeing. Sparked by these trips around Central New York, John has developed a love for
traveling. With the help of Tulip Travel and Sprout Travel, John has traveled to various places throughout
North America. In 2006, John went to watch Spring Training baseball in Florida, and also to Branson,
Missouri, which is home to Gilley‟s Place where he listened to his favorite singers, Brooks „n Dunn.
The following year, John traveled to Nashville, TN, where he line danced at the Wild Horse Saloon and
visited the Loretta Lynn Dude Ranch. Later that year, he took his first cruise to Bermuda, where John made
many new friends and spent his time dancing at the ship‟s nightclub. In 2008, John ventured to San Antonio,
Texas, where he spent his time at rodeo shows. But more recently, John was on a Caribbean cruise to the
Bahamas, which stopped in Mexico for more memories of yet another successful trip.
And where is Deb in all of this? Right there, of course, helping John in planning the excursions and
packing the necessities, including his camera, so he can take great photos that Deb then transfers onto CDs.
As for what‟s next for John, possible destinations include Hawaii, or a Yankee baseball game in New York
City. The next decision is sure to be as spontaneous as past trips, and every bit as memorable, thanks to the
support of Deb Beddia, travel consultant, organizer, mentor, and friend!
No Holding Him Back By Olivia Kelly
Richard Darling has always loved books, and it was his interest in books that helped him to
find his new love, ATV riding! One day at Sabill IRA where Richard lives, his advocate for 4 years,
Kathy Brady was reading a book about ATVs to him. Kathy, who rides ATVs herself, thought that
Richard may like this and asked if he too would like to ride an ATV. With enthusiasm, Richard
said yes! There is only one thing that could have held Richard back: That is his wheelchair. Rich-
ard uses a wheelchair to get around, but that did not stop him from becoming a member of the
ATV club!
With the help of Inclusionary funds, Mary Murphy, Richard‟s Service Coordinator; Ronnie
Kobuszewski from Central New York Friends; and Laurie Elliott, Oswego County Team Leader,
Richard was able to get pegs on an ATV that belonged to Kathy so he would be able to stay on
without falling. Everyone at Sabill IRA is proud of Richard because he is able to participate in
something that may have not seemed possible. He now rides a custom-made ATV that Steve
Davis, his OT/PT has made sure is safe to ride.
Richard is planning on joining the ATV club for his second year this spring and hopes to participate in
the annual Pulaski and Sandy Creek parades once again. The parades are one of Richard‟s favorite parts
about being in the ATV club, along with participating in the annual ATV Rodeo in Williamstown. Everyone at
the ATV club loves Richard and is so happy he is able to participate in their various events. “He loves the
group, and he‟s always voting,” says Kathy about Richards‟s participation in the ATV club. Riding ATVs has
given Richard the motivation to work hard and keep up his strength. Richard has found something that he
loves, that keeps him in the community despite his wheelchair! We all wish Richard the best of luck!
Moving Out By Ben Przepiora
Self determination is a process that generally takes place over a longer course of time, rather
than a short duration. The road that one takes in order to accomplish a task will be filled with road-
blocks, bumps, twists, and turns, but one who is self determined is able to maneuver the pseudo-
obstacle course to achieve his or her goal.
Sadie Levensailor is someone who has successfully traveled that road to reach her ultimate
goal. Sadie has lived in multiple places, including a family care home and a ten-bed certified IRA.
One summer day, however, she decided that she would like to move out on her own. In steps Ser-
vice Coordinator Beth Kirch! Together, Sadie and Beth set up the beginning steps for Sadie to be-
gin her journey to move out of the IRA. Since the self-determination process was still relatively new
to Lewis County, Beth assumed the role of the “start-up broker,” and helped Sadie to chart her
course.
Although they almost gave up a few times, Beth reminded Sadie to stay hopeful and encour-
aged her to fulfill her dream. Sadie‟s ultimate goal was to move in with her friend Sheri Warner and
Sheri‟s daughter, Stephanie. Sadie had met Sheri through their church and the two quickly became
friends. With the help of Sheri, Beth, and Consolidated Support Services, Sadie saw she could turn
her dream into a reality. In the photo, Sheri (right) and Beth (left) offer much encouragement and
friendship to Sadie (center).
Since they began to live together, Sadie learned many things from her friend Sheri. Sadie is
now cooking, cleaning, and even shopping on her own. The bills are split within the household, and
Sadie is able to pay her portion of the rent. Of all the new chores and feelings that come along with
living on your own, Sadie enjoys the independence the most. Making her own doctor‟s appoint-
ments provides a challenge for Sadie, but with support from Sheri and others around her, Sadie is
able to handle this task, too.
Sadie continues to volunteer in her community, participate in Upstate Cerebral Palsy‟s Day
Hab Without Walls, and wants to get more involved with the Self Advocacy Association in Syracuse
where she can help others. She truly is a self advocate, managing her finances more independ-
ently, and controlling much more of her daily activities alongside Sheri and her daughter. Sadie is
an example that dreams can become realities if you stay true to your course.
A Phone-Call Away
Sometimes the easiest solutions to puz-
zles lie right before our eyes. Lucky for us, Patrick
Traynor, service coordinator in Madison County, had
the foresight to make what turned out to be a very
important phone call. Here‟s the story . . .
Patrick supports a gentleman, James
Rosato, who lives in a state-operated residence in
Chittenango, NY. James, or Jimmy as he prefers to
be called, needed a routine medical test. Our re-
cords indicated that Jimmy had no family who ac-
tively participated in his life, so Patrick needed to
complete an application for the Surrogate Decision
Making Committee. As he set about doing so, Pat-
rick came across an application that was filed years
ago, and was surprised to find a telephone number
listed for Jimmy‟s grandmother and, on a whim, he dialed that number.
Patrick was ecstatic when Jimmy‟s grandmother answered the phone. After Patrick explained
to her his desire to reunite Jimmy with family members, Jimmy‟s grandmother promised to pass along
Patrick‟s phone number to Jimmy‟s mother. Happily to Patrick‟s amazement, Jimmy‟s mother returned
the call within a half hour. Two days later, Patrick drove Jimmy to Syracuse to reunite him with his
mother and brother.
The lines of communication have stayed open. Jimmy regularly sends cards and flowers to his
mother. In turn, his mom calls Patrick frequently for updates. Patrick has contacted Jimmy‟s father who
also wants to stay informed about James. Patrick plans to pick up Jimmy‟s mom so that she can have
lunch at Jimmy‟s home. He is also working on plans for a reunion lunch with Jimmy‟s father, sister, and
brother, who also live in Syracuse. From one phone call came a life-changing reunion. Thank you, Pat-
rick, for taking that all-important step that made a difference in so many lives.
EVERYDAY PEOPLE, EVERYDAY LIVES
Free-Wheeling, 4-Wheeling Submitted by Craig Curneau
Imagine a person with autism driving a four wheeler! Not only does Mo-
hawk resident John Carzo drive a 4–wheeler, but he also helps clear away
timber with the use of a winch as he and Direct Care Professional, Paul Netti,
ramble across 200 acres of land.
In the nine years that Paul has worked with John, he has learned to un-
derstand John‟s unique way of communicating, and has come to realize just
how much it has meant to John to learn how to drive the ATV. Having spent
those years helping John learn how to perform daily-living skills, Paul felt
confident that he could teach him how to drive a 4–wheeler. Paul patiently
taught John how to use the throttle as the two sat side by side with the ATV in
neutral. Paul admits that it took John “quite a while to learn how to drive;”
however, John has an interest and fascination in machines and was defi-
nitely not about to give up….nor was Paul! Paul considers John and his
housemates as family, and looked forward to the day when John would be able to safely take off and the
two could roam the countryside together. At first, hand-over-hand, with his hand securely placed on the
kill switch, Paul gradually turned the steering wheel over to John, and one day off they went.
Paul estimates that he has taken John – or should we say that John has taken Paul – out at least
ten times. John likes to help haul timber, and it‟s perfect because Paul‟s ATV travels at a walking speed
and is “made for work.” John takes great pride in hauling the wood and frequently asks Paul if he has
any “jobs” lined up.
Paul Netti is an unsung hero in John Carzo‟s life. The full-time direct support professional makes
these excursions with John in his own vehicle and on his own time – Saturday mornings for an hour to
90 minutes. Paul has also taken John to the Woodsman Field Days in Boonville, where they watch wood-
cutting and tree climbing competitions with a great deal of excitement. Paul explains that he enjoys the
time that he spends with John, that he loves to “make Johnny happy” and, in turn, Paul says that John‟s
undeniable enjoyment of the experience “makes me very happy”. Instead of looking for praise, recogni-
tion and compensation for his unsolicited efforts, Paul prefers to point out that he is grateful that Resi-
dential Manager Andy Davis and other support staff have helped make this endeavor possible.
Simple Gestures, Lasting Relationships By Paulette Pierce
Is there anything more comforting than a warm hat lovingly knitted by someone who
cares? Well, Debbie Macco and Sherry Wall (right), from the Catherine Street IRA in Oneida, have
taken on the task of delivering hundreds of hats to children with cancer (below on right), the
Rescue Mission, and to members of our military.
Sherry, a developmental aide who is an avid knitter, enlisted Debbie in her mission to
keep providing hats for those who need them. Debbie accompanies Sherry to purchase the yarn
(Debbie‟s with the yarn shop owner below) and deliver the finished product to the designated
recipients. Debbie has developed relationships with the nurses at St. Luke‟s Hospital in Utica,
Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Rochester, and the staff of the Rescue Mission where she
makes deliveries. She has received very personal thank you notes from several of the agencies.
This year, Debbie was also acknowledged by Doug‟s Fish Fry when she received their “Nice Per-
son” award and a free dinner.
Debbie‟s eye for color and texture makes her the perfect person to pick out the yarn.
She lets Sherry know which are her preferences, and by
the looks of the finished products, her choices are impec-
cable. Since October 2007, Debbie and Sherry have dis-
tributed 588 hats and four baby blankets. An incredible
amount of work and effort have gone into creating a
warm bond between these two friends and the contacts
they have made.
Sherry began this project with contacts through St.
Luke‟s and Roswell Park. Then she saw an article in the
newspaper calling all knitters to make 10,000 hats for
the military personnel stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Sherry and Debbie were up to the challenge, and do-
nated 149 hats for the cause. Sherry recently reestablished contact between Debbie and her entire
family when she invited them all to Debbie‟s birthday party. Soon Sherry and Debbie encouraged Mom
to join them in making and delivering hats!
As long as there is a need, these good Samaritans will continue to shop, knit, deliver, and care!
For more information about Everyday Heroes, contact Laurie Elliot at (315) 598-6120 or Gil Palladino at (315) 339-0110.
THEMES THAT SUPPORT COMMUNITY
I. Deepen Relationships With Friends, Family, and Neighbors
II. Create Opportunities For Contributions Through Work and Volunteering
III. Build Connections With Your Neighbors
IV. Build Memberships Through Associations
Broadway
Bound
By Ben Przepiora
The Christmas Spectacular
at Radio City Music Hall is one of
the most prestigious and globally
renowned performances which star the highly famed Rockettes.
It‟s no wonder that after her discussion about the trip with staff
member Virginia Jones that Cathy Connor would‟ve been ecstatic
to make a trip to New York City to see the extravagant show. Dan Flanagan, of the Self Advocacy Association of NYS, and Bill
And so the planning began. Virginia and Cathy began by pick- Palmer, both on the left, congratulate David Liscomb, second from
ing out showtunes, musical CDs at the local Walmart. right, on receiving the NYS Senate Achiever’s Award. Friend Mark
Cathy would then attend Richardson joins the group in celebrating the honor.
the musical “Guys and Dolls,”
performed by the Beaver River
High School drama program. Everyday People... Everyday Lives!
During the summer, Cathy and
Virginia attended the My name is David Liscomb. My journey began when I
“Concerts in the Park,” a com- was born on September 6, 1946, in Watertown, NY. It was at
munity concert (see right) that age six, when I was placed in a state institution. I entered the
features local musical groups. New York State School for the Blind in Batavia, NY. I was
Next, it was off to the Blue- there for nearly 20 years. I didn‟t have the family supports
grass Express at the Open that other people had. I was very lonely. It was very difficult
Door café. Then they headed for Watertown, where they attended
for me.
the Huey Lewis and News concert, a very popular and well-
I tried to do what I could. I was in three State psychiatric
attended event that benefitted the Disabled Persons Action Organi-
zation (DPAO) hospitals and a special school for people with learning dis-
Virginia introduced Cathy to abilities.
the personalities at WRBV radio Finally, in 1975, I got a break. I entered the JRC‟s Resi-
station who presented her with a dential Work Program. I moved to a community residence at
t-shirt and a stuffed moose, the 308 Winslow Street in Watertown. Things were starting to
character that represents the look better now. I met my roommate, Mark. I felt much more
radio station and serves as its confident. I had a job, and I was earning money.
mascot/logo shown at left. Cathy Then in 1980 I met the key person who made a differ-
was able to witness how the sta- ence in my life. His name is Bill Palmer. Bill became my Di-
tion puts the music out on the rect Care Staff. He believed in me even when others didn‟t.
airwaves and how a radio pro- He left in 1986. That year my dad, meaning my godfather,
gram is broadcast to the community. became very involved in my life. It was great.
After being seasoned with a year of experience in broadway Bill returned once again in 1989. I moved into a suppor-
and musical performances, off to Broadway Cathy went as she tive apartment. Bill stuck by me and I was very happy. Then
joined others from the Dodge-Pratt-Northam Art and Community in April 1995, I founded Watertown‟s first Self Advocacy
Center of Boonville on December 13. Virginia and Cathy were typi- Group. We call it the North Country Self Advocates.
cal Big Apple tourists, as they spent a lot time of seeing the sights On April 30, 2002, I received a special honor. I received
and exploring places such as Rockefeller Center, Madison Square
the New York State Senate Achiever‟s Award from my State
Garden, and lunch at Macy‟s Bar and Grill. The main event, the
Senator, James W. Wright. Bill went to Albany, NY with me to
Christmas Spectacular, did not disappoint and provided the two
women with an experience they will not soon forget. So ladies, accept the award. He also helped me when my moves were
when‟s the next show? real difficult. He is my Health Care Proxy. I am very proud to
call Bill Palmer my Everyday Hero.