Hartwood Foundation Staff Recognized

for their Outstanding Work

The Northern Virginia Coalition of Service Providers held its first Annual DSPY (outstanding performance by Direct Support Professionals) awards on the evening of Monday, September 11 at the Fairfax County Government Center.

The “Coalition” consists of 30+ provider agencies supporting individuals with developmental disabilities, mental/behavioral health needs, including brain injury and their families. The Coalition, as an inclusive and collaborative information-sharing and collective problem-solving group has been in existence in one form or another since the early 1990s with the simple mission of furthering meaningful life-enhancing opportunities for the individuals supported by the participating agencies.

The Coalition has long recognized the most valuable resource we all have is our Direct Support Professional (DSP) staff who provide care, support, encouragement, companionship and most importantly a trusting relationship which can serve as the foundation for thriving in home and community life. All participating agencies were asked to canvass for nominees amongst the staff, managers, family members and others for the six DSP awards and one DSP manager award.

Overall, there were hundreds of nominees, including 11 from Hartwood.

Our very own Isata Sheriff of our Shreve Rd. group home being awarded the DSP of the Year (DSPY) in the area of compassion.

The other DSP nominees from Hartwood included:

• Olivia Adu-Gyamfi
• Austina Caramba-Coker
• Tammy Evans
• Vida Johnson
• Neneh Kamara
• Margaret Kanu
• Grace Mantey
• Sylvia Pinto and
• Agartha Sarpong

One of our senior Team Leaders was not eligible, but Karen Harvey was nominated for the Manager of the Year award.

Residents and staff from our Shreve Rd. group home (pictured) attended the event with Isata to celebrate with her. The festive event included hors d’oeuvres, a number of speakers, Jake’s ice cream and the awards ceremony.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR NOMINEES AND ISATA SHERIFF ON YOUR RECOGNITION

AS DSP OF THE YEAR!

Paws-itively Awesome Dog Treats Made By People with Disabilities

Dog lovers around the world are ready to fill your social media feeds with the cutest puppy pictures. That’s because National Dog Day is celebrated each year on August 26th. This happy hound holiday honors all dogs (mixed breed and pure), promotes the importance of animal rescues and the many important roles that dogs have to impact the human race – i.e., personal protection, law enforcement assistance, disability service and health companions, to name a few. AmeriDisability is pleased to spotlight the following businesses, each of which make dog treats; and just so happen to be owned and/or operated by persons with varying disabilities.

1. Doggy Delights by Allison

The kitchen wasn’t always Allison Fogerty’s favorite place to be; nor was food consumption an enjoyable pastime. Allison was born with Down syndrome and Tracheoesophogeal Fistula, a rare condition resulting in an abnormal connection between the esophagus and trachea (windpipe), which required her to have a trach tube to breathe. As a tween, Allison was also diagnosed with a laryngeal cleft, an abnormal opening between the larynx and the esophagus through which food and liquid can pass through the larynx into the lungs; thus Allison relied on a gastrostomy tube (G-tube), a surgically placed device that grants direct access to one’s stomach for feeding. Several surgeries later, Allison’s health has improved; and the health of animals has become her top priority.

Inspired by her complicated food journey, Allison uniquely understands the importance of healthy nutrition for both people and their pets. Now her kitchen, aka the home-base of Doggie Delights by Allison, is her happy place where she whips up treats using all-natural ingredients. And the company motto says it all: “Your Best Friend Deserves the Best Treats!” Doggie Delights’ products are sold frozen or freeze dried to eliminate the need for preservatives. Allison sells these homemade bites at farmers markets in her hometown of Clermont (just west of Orlando, Florida), and also ships to any location via website orders.

Plus, this young female entrepreneur isn’t shy about making connections with fellow Fido owners in high places. Just recently, Allison received a letter from President Joe Biden thanking her for sending treats to his dogs, Major and Champ!

2. Waggies by Maggie & Friends

In 2007, Leigh Corrigan and Mary Ann Nolan of Wilmington, Delaware recognized that employment opportunities for young adults with intellectual disabilities, including their daughters Elizabeth and Maggie, weren’t plentiful in their area. So they cooked up a doggone solution by launching Waggies by Maggie & Friends, a nonprofit dog treat company with a mission to employ persons with disabilities. With direction of an advisory board, Waggies operates with about a dozen bakers who tackle equipment prep, ingredient measuring, additional baking steps, product labeling, kitchen restocking and miscellaneous business-oriented tasks.

The result: Waggies produces vet-approved treats without preservatives. Flavor varieties like peanut butter, chicken and sweet potato are available in both bone-shaped biscuits and “WaggieBits” kibble. These pup-approved goodies are available for purchase at about 45 retail locations throughout Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania; plus treats, clothing and gift items are sold through Waggies online shop.

This article was featured on Ameridisability.com website By Nancy DeVault

August 25, 2023

Ed Department Offers Up to Nearly $199 Million to Improve Outcomes to Students with Disabilities

The federal government is investing big bucks to tackle the needs of young people with disabilities as they transition to adulthood.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration said that it will spend nearly $199 million to fund model demonstration projects in 20 states designed to prepare young people with disabilities for independent living, competitive integrated employment and community integration.

Grant recipients will have five years to pilot, refine and implement their ideas and collect and analyze data on their results.

“The department is committed to providing children and youth with disabilities the supports they need to access self-advocacy training, career pathways and independent living. The Pathways to Partnerships will bridge gaps from school to adult life, independent living and career success,” said Glenna Wright-Gallo, assistant secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which oversees the Rehabilitation Services Administration. “This investment will not only require state and local agencies to improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities by finding innovative ways of working together, but it will also look to unlock post school and career success for those individuals.”



Most of the selected states will get about $10 million each for their projects. Funding is going toward initiatives in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont and Wyoming.

This article was featured in the September 2023 of Disability Scoop

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