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Better Community Living, Inc. (BCL) provides homes to those with disabilities. However, there’s a unique level of compassion for those served by BCL. This mission is so important that accomplishing it often means doing whatever it takes – such as gutting a building and completely renovating it to meet an individual’s comfort, desires, and needs. Here is just one of BCL’s stories.

In 1996, both Kim and Faith were being served by BCL. They lived together in a home with two other individuals. However, the situation wasn’t always ideal. “Kim is very verbal,” says manager Leslie Lopes. “Some of the clients weren’t happy. She’d get bullied. Kim’s mother wanted her to be able to roam around the house and be who she is.” Leslie says that Kim’s mother then reached out to Tom Riley, BCL’s Executive Director. She sought approval for a new home and that was it.

The effort began to locate a new property and make it Kim’s new home. Even better, the home would include provisions to also bring her roommate Faith, whom she’d developed an easy friendship with. BCL quickly discovered a dentist’s office that was listed for sale. The agency bought it and renovated the entire building over the course of the next year.

“They knocked down everything,” Leslie said, noting that the entire house wasn’t just renovated, but also fully customized to both women’s needs. “We had a specialist come in to make the house more vision friendly,” said Leslie. “Kim has low vision and Faith is legally blind.” This impacted decisions like choosing certain colors to make objects more visible. Light walls allowed the women to see entrances better. The dark furniture also stands out stronger. In Faith’s bedroom, there’s a perfectly styled purple paint line, that you would think is a decoration. It allows her to find her way into her room easier.

Of course, Kim and Faith’s families were involved too. Kim’s mom and Faith’s guardian helped select all of the furniture – from the living room to each bedroom set. Eventually, the home was complete, both women moved in, and they have been living there ever since.

The renovations continue as BCL pledges to stay committed to the ladies’ needs. “Both of them are not very mobile, and Tom has done so much to help us with the mobility issues. He makes sure we have all the tools that they need to be very comfortable,” Leslie says as she points out high-tech lift systems in the bathroom and bedrooms. “Every need and want… he’s right there to make it happen.”

Today, the home remains bright and spacious. The furniture is modern. Everything is pristine. There’s plenty of room to roam, and the house is as cozy as any home one might want to move into. Plus, the women grow and learn there too. Beneath a flat screen TV in their living room is a long built-in desk. Two keyboards are hooked up so that both women can play music – a hobby they both greatly enjoy. The ladies live in a home that truly suits their needs and enhances their ability to grow. In fact, Kim and Faith have now been roommates for 30 years.

“BCL definitely takes care of them,” Leslie says with an air of gratitude. “Tom always makes sure they get what they need. All I have to do is say Hey, I need this…. and it appears like magic,” she says. Today, Leslie has been with the agency for decades. When she first started, she had just returned from military service and was simply looking for work. “I never expected to be here this long, but I ended up loving it. It’s knowing that we are making a difference in their lives. I’ve been a constant person for them,” she says. Finally, Leslie adds that she has grown too, in addition to helping both women to grow. “I was a person that kind of shied away from conversation. This job has taught me to be an advocate, to learn the needs of other people – to learn, and understand, and really advocate for them.”

This explains what Positive Behavior Support (PBS) is and describes each level in the PBS pyramid. It also lists the Universal Positive Behavior Support strategies that Better Community Living, Inc. has adopted as an agency.

Positive Behavior Support is a systematic, person centered approach to understanding the reasons for behavior and applying evidence based practices for prevention, proactive intervention, teaching and responding to behavior, with the goal of achieving  meaningful social outcomes, increasing learning and enhancing the quality of life across the lifespan.

Universal Positive Behavior Support strategies are things that we do for all individuals we support. The vast majority (about 80%) of individuals are successful with just these strategies.

Better Community Living’s Universal Positive Behavior Supports:

Choice Making Opportunities

 Relationship Enhancement

Community Integration

Opportunities to Learn New Skills

Positive and Encouraging Interaction Style

Targeted Positive Behavior Support strategies are person specific procedures designed to address particular behavioral issues that may put the person at risk for reduced quality of life. About 15% of the people supported may require these types of interventions.

Intensive Positive Behavior Support strategies are also person-specific and may be utilized to help remediate dangerous or significantly interfering behavior. Individuals requiring these types of interventions represent only about 5% of the people supported.

At Better Community Living we believe that people who feel in control of their lives, who feel valued, who feel their lives are meaningful and who have things to look forward to are far less likely to engage in problem behavior.

Relationships, a sense of community, and a feeling of belonging… these are qualities many of us enjoy on a daily basis, but rarely fully appreciate. For persons with disabilities, the chance to meet new friends and attend social engagements is often limited. This is why Better Community Living, Inc. (BCL) is committed to supporting relationship-building opportunities for the adults with disabilities that we serve.

Among numerous initiatives is BCL’s new, recurring monthly “friendship” dinner which started simply as an idea and quickly became an overnight success. “We help people meet their dreams and needs… that’s the inspiration. That’s where this all started,” says Jacqueline Brum, dinner coordinator.

Jacqueline says that through her work with the agency, she has been able to learn the needs and desires of the individuals she assists. “I was starting to think that there was a lack of getting together in groups, for a chance to meet others. There’s a common issue of lacking relationships, knowing how to make relationships, or even just having unpaid friends who aren’t staff and a chance to meet new people.”

With this, Jacqueline had an idea and informed her colleagues. The idea of hosting monthly dinner gatherings was born, and now, more than 80 individuals consistently attend each month. This includes BCL’s consumers – adults with disabilities – as well as their family members, friends, and numerous BCL staff and their families who equally enjoy the event.

One of the unique approaches to the dinners however, is that BCL’s consumers serve as the event organizers, planners, and even the chefs. “It’s totally self-run,” Jacqueline says. “One of my consumers, his name is Carol, he is actually the DJ for the event! His staff Mary is one of the coordinators for the buffet decorations. We also have other individuals, Cristiano, Jordan, Ashley… they are our maintenance crew. They help set up, organize, and break down the event,” she says.

Jacqueline calls the event a ‘friendship potluck dinner.’ The entire menu is pre-planned with each guest choosing which item they will make and bring. “Every individual that attends brings a plate of food they made at home. We provide a menu. They have to go to the store, buy their items, and plan for their preparations,” Jacqueline says. This provides a sense of responsibility and involvement, and it has also taught many individuals new skills. “Actually cooking for a large party, and not just making enough for their housemates, is something new. They are learning to make huge, family-sized event platters of food,” Jacqueline says.

Jacqueline is extremely happy with the success of the program since it started in August. “We actually grew so large from the first dinner that we had to rent space the following month. Now, we are using the event room at the Fairhaven Senior Center,” she says.

Of course, the true success is in the impact that the dinners are making for all who attend. Jacqueline points out that the dinners bring together people that may not meet otherwise. Attendees range from individuals in BCL’s homes, to individuals with families in the community. “There’s a lot of new friendships that are made because the people that live in the community, they don’t know people in our homes. Even people in our homes don’t know people in the other homes. They make friends. Then, they’re calling each other and making plans to see each other the next month. They’re now able to plan for new friendships and create new events for themselves. People they wouldn’t even have known had they not had the chance of doing so at this event,” Jacqueline says.

The events are fun too. Each month bears its own theme. “They get excited about decorating for that theme and dressing for the theme. These have included holiday themes, Team Spirit night for Touchdown Tuesday, and upcoming themes like the December Christmas Sweater Party, the New Year’s Ball, and Valentine’s Sweetheart dinner. Balloons, tablecloths, table toppers, plates, and even music are catered to the theme – and after dinner, everyone dances.

When asked why Jacqueline made the decision to go above and beyond in her work, and to organize something with her colleagues that no one had asked her to do, she replied, “We love the people we support, and we really like to see them as happy as possible. It’s about being a part of their support and their happiness, and helping them to fulfill their needs and their dreams. There’s a common goal. We all have a different idea of how to make this happen. This was my idea…”

The monthly friendship dinners occur within the third week of each month, from 5-7pm at the Fairhaven Senior Center, unless otherwise stated. For more information, contact Jacqueline Brum at 774-992-4756 or jacqueline_brum@nullbettercommunity.com.

Our consumers show us time and again that ‘disability’ is merely a term, and not one that limits them from achieving their full potential. Here, we highlight two very special young women who receive services from BCL and also work for us in our main office. Both of them received medals at the Special Olympics this year, in addition to their many other talents and accomplishments.

Ashley

Meet Ashley, 25 years old, driven, enthusiastic, and one of the most caring young ladies you’ll meet at BCL. Recognize her? It’s because she’s the friendly face greeting people at the 5 Ventura Drive front desk.

“I’ve worked here for about three years now. I’ve always done reception work,” Ashley says, who notes that when she first started, she offered to help with anything that was needed. “I was doing basic phone calls, shredding, whatever they needed help with in the office.”

Ashley, who lives in Dartmouth, is full of energy and life. When she’s not enjoying her work at BCL, or at her second job over at Anytime Fitness, she loves going out with her staff, hitting up the beach, and listening to music. Her favorite? Rap! Ashley’s lucky too. She enjoys every chance she has to visit her family in East Wareham. “I like to visit my parents as they’re getting a little bit older,” she says.

Ashley has resided within a BCL home for several years, and enjoys living with her current roommate. “We pretty much get along good together. We go out and we do things on the weekends. I like to be more active, and like them fitting me with someone else that’s perfect to get along with.”

While Ashley has countless admirable traits, perhaps her most recent inspiring moment was her ‘win’ at this year’s Special Olympics. She says she’s always been kind of active, enjoying going for walks and sports. “I love to play basketball,” she adds, “And I’m a big Patriots fan.”

“I never thought I’d do the Special Olympics,” Ashley says, “but I put myself to a challenge and I got two bronze medals. One was for the javelin throw and one for the shotput throw.” Not only did Ashley love competing, she loved the entire experience.

“We stayed at Boston University, at a dorm room, and we went to a restaurant and had chicken. Then the busses would shuttle us to Harvard University where the Special Olympics were held. And actually, my staff took me, and me and my staff had a good time.”

Staying with her staff chaperone, Aisha, Ashley says, “She helped me and supported me through everything, through the whole thing… and she cheered me on when I was throwing.” Ashley also enjoyed seeing a couple of her friends from other local agencies.

When asked where the idea to compete came from, Ashley said, “It came from my heart. I’m a very caring person. When I decide to do something, I strive to do it.” And of course, when she heard her name called, she was overjoyed. “I felt very happy, excited that I got two bronze medals… “I told everybody!”

Ashley loves interacting with people, and says she hopes that someday she’ll find a job in the mall in retail work. She’s also constantly excited about her future. “My life goal is to live with my staff doing the program that they have, Shared Living.”

Ashley describes herself as this. “I push myself beyond limits. That’s what I do.

Until then, however, Ashley enjoys her life and loves the opportunity she’s been given to work for BCL. “I care for a lot of people at BCL. It’s been good. I’ve been able to get along with everybody here. I’ve been here for three years and absolutely love it. When I earn my money, I spend it wisely. I don’t spend on foolish things. I save up for things I want,” she says.

“I do whatever it takes,” Ashley adds. “I work the front desk, and I do the Children’s Program with Cathy Tremblay. All the children that I work with are very nice to me. I help them out. Whatever Cathy needs me to do. I’m in the BCL day hab every month…. BCL got me this job, so I thank all the people here who have gotten me strong. I consider them all like family to me. They keep me on my feet.”

Sarah

Meet Sarah, 31 years old, dedicated, responsible, soft-spoken, genuine, warm, loving, happy… Her list of amazing qualities goes on!

Sarah has worked for two years over at the front desk of BCL’s 5 Ventura Drive office. When asked what her work is like, she responds, “I just love it.” It’s clear Sarah is very good at her job. She manages numerous tasks all at once, from answering phone calls to letting in visitors, filing papers, and assisting the staff with their various projects. She even helps with the Human Rights Trainings with Marina. “I help her with the training for the staff… I just love it,” Sarah remarks.

However, what stands out most is her ear-to-ear smile that lights up the room when anyone walks in. A visitor, coming back on a return visit to BCL, was immediately recognized by Sarah who said, “Oh! You’re back!,” to which she quickly made small talk with him.

Outside of her work at BCL, Sarah’s had big goals and ambitions to excel in another arena – the Special Olympics. “I’ve been doing it for a couple years now. I like the running,” Sarah says. Discussing this year’s Special Olympics, she modestly adds, “I did track and field and actually did good. I got two medals.”

That’s right! Sarah was awarded with two medals in this year’s Special Olympics, earning Bronze and Gold medals in the shotput and turbo javelin competitions.” While showing admiration for her medal accomplishments, Sarah amazes with, “I’ve had a couple!”

Success comes from hard work though. There’s training involved, Sarah says. “We usually practice at UMass Dartmouth with our coach Jenna. She’s very nice. We practice every Sunday through the summer.” When asked if she’ll keep competing, Sarah says she will. It’s a lot of hard work and practice, she says adding, “I just love it.”

Sarah also talked about enjoying the experience, like staying at Boston University and being away for the entire weekend. “The last two years, we’ve been going to a chicken place in Boston.” (Someone else once mentioned this chicken too!)

When Sarah isn’t working at BCL, or training to win Gold medals, she lives in New Bedford with a roommate. “She’s very nice and friendly,” Sarah says, “I’ve been there just about a year.” She also has another job over at Anytime Fitness. “I clean. I love it. People are friendly. The lady I work for, Michaela, is so friendly,” Sarah says.

In her spare time, Sarah loves shopping and “just getting out,” as she puts it. She also loves listening to music, noting that NSYNC is what’s playing on her Pandora right now. Oh, and she also likes history. “I went to King Richard’s Faire with my roommate, and my manager and my staff. I loved it,” she says.

Sarah adds, “I wouldn’t be able to do it without my manager. Her name is Anita Coelho. We’re really close. She helps me with everything, managing my money, appointments. We’ve become good friends too.”

When asking Sarah to describe herself, the answer is no surprise after talking with her. “I’m a friendly person,” she says. “It’s just a natural quality.” Sarah hugs friends, even brand new ones, who visit BCL and greets everyone with a smile. Her joy, enthusiasm, and commitment to her goals is inspiring, and she can’t thank BCL enough for all its support.

If you loved this story, consider a donation to our agency. It’s people like YOU that help make these stories come true.  Make a secure donation online HERE. 

Better Community Living, Inc. is thrilled to share its latest newsletter. In an effort to reduce costs and be eco-friendly, our newsletters will now be delivered virtually only!

In our Fall 2017 issue, you will find heartwarming success stories, event photos, and updates on what we have been doing. Please read, enjoy, and share on social media and within your networks!

CLICK HERE TO READ THE NEWSLETTER IN FULL!!

Source: Chamber Focus, SouthCoast Chamber of Commerce
by Joanne Rego

October is National Disability Employment Awareness month.  The National Disability Employment Awareness Month is led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. National Disability Employment Awareness Month has had its origins since 1945. In 1988 President Regan issued Executive Order 12640 which renamed the effort to “President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities”. Employers of all sizes and in all industries are encouraged to participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Our Southcoast Area Chamber of Commerce members can support National Disability Employment Awareness Month,  by visiting the Office of Disability Employment Policy website at www.dol.gov/odep/. They offer many simple suggestions such as putting up a poster to more intricate ideas such as implementing a disability education program within your company. Any and all efforts will play an important part in fostering a more inclusive workforce, one where every person is recognized for his or her abilities. All members of the Southcoast Area Chamber of Commerce are encouraged to participate. The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.

If you have any questions about the Southcoast Chamber of Commerce’s Supported Employment Network or you are interested in hiring a person with disabilities please call Joanne Rego at the Southcoast Area Chamber of Commerce at 508-999-5231 extension 28. You can also call one of our Supported Employment Network member’s job developer directly by calling Mark Jardin at LifeStream, Inc. at 508-991-4840, Cynthia Rapoza at M.O.Life, Inc. at 508-742-8986 or Maurice Charbonneau at Better Community Living, Inc. at 508-999-4300.