In AIM news: Maple Avenue ribbon cutting, healthy living workshops, dollhouse raffle

Connection

December 2018

Ribbon cut to open new
Maple Avenue Apartments

Jacqueline and Terry Smallwood, some of the first residents of the new
Maple Avenue Apartments in Elmira, cut the ribbon at Tuesday's opening celebration.


	AIM Executive Director Rene Snyder speaks at the opening ceremony.

The ribbon was cut Tuesday to celebrate the opening of the new Maple Avenue Apartments, an affordable housing complex for seniors in Elmira that also includes apartments for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

AIM is a local partner to the developer, CDS Housing of Webster, and will provide on-site support services, helping residents live independently.

"Affordable, accessible housing is one of the most significant needs facing seniors and people with disabilities in our community," said René Snyder, AIM's executive director. "This beautiful new development begins to fill the void."

There are 40 units for seniors age 55 and older, with rent adjusted based on household income. There are also 10 units for adults (18 and older) with intellectual or developmental disabilities, with a housing subsidy available.

The $11.2 million project received funding from New York State Homes and Community Renewal, the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and the CDS Wolf Foundation.

Many people involved in the project gathered for Tuesday's ribbon cutting, along with elected officials including state Sen. Tom O'Mara and Elmira Mayor Dan Mandell.

The ribbon was cut by Jacqueline and Terry Smallwood of Elmira, who are among the first residents. Terry Smallwood is a double amputee, and the Smallwoods moved into one of five units at Maple Avenue Apartments that have fully accessible bathrooms and kitchens. The other units have universal design features.

For more information about the senior apartments, call Maple Avenue Apartments at 271-5898. For information about the apartments for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, call AIM's Amber Mulhollen at 962-8225, ext. 113.

AIM to offer free workshops
on healthy community living

AIM will offer a free workshop on healthy living for people with disabilities beginning in February.

AIM was recently awarded a $15,000 grant from RTC: Rural to offer the Healthy Community Living program, which consists of two workshops, Living Well in the Community and Community Living Skills.

The first workshop, Living Well in the Community, will begin the first week in February and will be held once a week for 10 weeks. The times, dates and location will be announced at a later date.

Topics will include eating well, physical activity, goal setting and building supports. There will be facilitated discussions, fun activities, informational videos and other useful information. Gift cards will be awarded to participants. Participants must be 18 or older.

The instructors will be Erin Morseman, AIM's director of independent living programs, and Ileya Heins, AIM's transition specialist. For more information or to register, contact Heins at [email protected] or (607) 962-8225, ext. 115.

The second workshop, Community Living Skills, will follow in spring/summer 2019. Topics will include self-care, self-advocacy, housing, transportation and disability identity.

For more information about the Healthy Community Living program, click here.

Dollhouse raffle to benefit
Growing Stronger youth program

AIM is raffling off a dollhouse donated by a local craftsman to benefit one of its programs for youths with developmental disabilities.

Tom Burden of Elmira built the dollhouse, which is large enough for the popular American Girl dolls.

We'll be selling raffle tickets for $10 apiece at the front desk at both the Elmira and Corning offices, as well as online. A maximum of 100 tickets will be sold.

The Elmira AIM office is at 350 W. Church St., Elmira, and the Corning office is at 271 E. First St., Corning. The dollhouse will be on display at the Elmira office.

The drawing will be held Thursday, Dec. 20 so the winner can take home the dollhouse before Christmas.

All proceeds will go toward Growing Stronger, a monthly social and educational group for children ages 9-13. Right now, the group - led by instructor Kelly Sidari - is working on songs for a musical performance in June.

Questions about the raffle may be directed to Amanda Gitchell at [email protected] or (607) 962-8225, ext. 210.

Schedule set for 2019 community
American Sign Language classes

AIM has announced the schedule for its 2019 series of American Sign Language classes, which are open to the community.

AIM offers three levels of American Sign Language courses -- ASL I, ASL II and ASL III -- which build on each other. ASL I is offered twice. The instructor is Sin Yi Ko.

The courses are offered separately and there is no commitment to enroll in the series. The fee is $80 for each course.

The eight-week courses are held from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Corning AIM office, located at 271 E. First St. next to the Alternative School for Math and Science.

The schedule:

ASL I: Jan. 23-March 13

ASL I: March 27-May 15

ASL II: July 10-Aug. 28

ASL III: Sept. 11-Oct. 30

For more information, contact Cindy Hamilton at [email protected] or (607) 962-8225, ext. 130.

Alana Strope, who provides support to consumers in AIM's
Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program, was selected as Employee of the Month.

CDPAS Specialist Alana Strope
chosen as Employee of the Month

Congratulations to Alana Strope, who was chosen as AIM's Employee of the Month for December.

Strope is a specialist for our Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Services.

"Alana is very knowledgeable about her program, so she is a staunch advocate for her consumers and a resource for staff," one person who nominated Strope wrote.

New hires

- Erin Olmsted, CDPAS Specialist

New positions

- Abi Hodges is the NY Connects Independent Living Coordinator.
- Valerie Tobbe is an OPWDD Care Manager.

Current job openings

- OPWDD Community Habilitation Coordinator

- Long-Term Care Ombudsman Specialist
- Supported Employment Specialist

- Human Resources Generalist

- OPWDD Fiscal Intermediary Specialist

- OPWDD Self-Hired Staff

- OPWDD Direct Support Professionals

- NHTD/TBI Community Integration Counselor