Tapping into talents
New center helps developmentally disabled with technology skills to function in society
WHEATFIELD — Ron Carter, who pushes shopping carts at Tops, is learning digital photography.
Heather Sharp and Rod Crockett Jr. have difficulty speaking, but they tap away at computer keyboards like professionals.
They are among a group of adults who are learning technology skills at a new training site in Wheatfield operated by Heritage Christian Services, a Western New York organization that helps developmentally disabled people function in society and the workplace.
The new center at 2140 Cayuga Drive is the first of more than 20 Heritage Christian programs to focus on technology, Samantha Gosch, development associate, said Thursday.
It is the first facility in Niagara County for the organization, which operates three in Erie County.
“This is a transitional program between school and the workplace,” said Charles Barber, regional director of operations for Western New York. “This is where they learn skills to go into paid employment.”
Some of the people who go through Heritage Christian programs may not make it that far, but, judging by the enthusiasm in the Wheatfield center, their lives are richer for the effort.
Speech comes hard for Matthew Sliwowski, who communicates through sign language and a little binder in which he has compiled words, phrases and photos of family, friends and teachers.
The young man, who lives with his parents in Niagara Falls, works closely with Donna Golder, a speech therapist, who drives in every day from Lancaster.
When he successfully spelled his name for a reporter, his face lit up with triumph and joy.
“This is what my work here is all about,” Golder said, sharing his good feeling.
The agency works closely with area schools, notably the Board of Cooperative Educational Services, in recruiting people for the programs.
“We’ve been developing a lot of new ideas, projects that will carry them into the future,” said Anna Skinner of Buffalo, who manages the Wheatfield site.
The center was up and running and ready to open last October, but the state put the state-funded facility on hold until Monday. An official opening will be held at an open house later this month, Gosch said.
Heritage Christian Services was founded in 1980 by parents of children with developmental disabilities.
It operates 54 residences in the Buffalo and Rochester areas, several community and health services programs, and more than a dozen habilitation programs, including a riding school and bakery on a 200-acre farm in Spencerport, near Rochester.
The state-funded human services agency — not to be confused with
Heritage Centers, a similar organization — helps more than 1,400 children and adults.
The new single-story building on Cayuga Drive contains banks of computers, a video production room, lounge area, kitchen and dining room.
The cook is none other than Ron Carter, the Tops employee.
He’s already looking ahead.
“Next Thanksgiving,” he said with an ambitious grin, “I’m going to cook a turkey.”
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments