To best support people with intellectual disabilities, we believe that...
"We help people with intellectual disabilities find their unique place."
After more than 41 years, Dolores is learning to speak. Diagnosed with profound mental retardation and spastic quadriplegia, Dolores came to Mountain Lake Services in 1985, settling into one of our residential facilities. Since then, a communication device has helped her to speak to her family and friends. Adaptive kitchen equipment enabled her to make a milkshake and many other simple cooking dishes. Between the love she enjoys in her Mountain Lake Services residence, and the specialized therapy she receives through day services, Dolores is flourishing in a way that no one could have imagined.
Such customized services are by no means unique to Dolores. Indeed, we approach each person as an individual. In doing so, we help people with intellectual disabilities find their unique place in their homes, in their work, in their communities, as we strive to help them fulfill their potential.
"People with disabilities are normal like everyone else."
When Josephine wanted to open up choices for her grandson, Mountain Lakes Services' Early Intervention Program was there to help.
Derek was born with a rare condition that kept him from using his leg muscles. Josephine wanted him to be able to walk and attend a regular school with his peers. Before Mountain Lake Services' staff began working with him, Derek had to crawl or use a walker to get around. Now that has changed, thanks to the efforts of Mountain Lake Services staff members like Gail O'Connor.
"Gail's the best there is with kids," said Josephine. "Without Gail, he wouldn't wear his braces. She said, You've got to learn to walk. You've got to be tall." Mountain Lake Services' staff worked with Derek in his home, providing him with physical therapy, counseling, and special education. As a result, he was able to complete a successful year in an integrated Head Start setting. Today, Derek continues to develop and show great progress in public school.
"Respect has unearthed an ability to do the 'impossible'."
By his own insistence, Lance isn't disabled. Lance, who has cerebral palsy, refers to himself as other-abled. And that one word says volumes about the priority we place on respect. Indeed, our respect for diversity -- for people of widely differing abilities, challenges, and talents leads to self-respect and appreciation for one another.
That respect exhibits itself in many ways. At Mountain Lake Services, we show it by listening attentively, by honoring the choices of individuals, by working with them to develop their skills and by supporting them in their search for valued roles in their communities.
As for Lance, our staff respected his hidden talents, and that has caused him to blossom. Once a self-described couch-potato, he now works, swims, bowls and participates in Special Olympics. He enjoys challenging himself with computers. He teaches at Mountain Lakes Services' staff orientation, and he has fulfilled his longtime dream of walking on his own two feet.
In Lance, as in many people who use Mountain Lake Services, respect has unearthed an ability to do the "impossible." But then, few things are impossible to those who are other-abled.
"My life is better here. I'm making it better."
Mention commitment and dependability at Mountain Lake Services, and Bill Bradley's name is sure to come up.
Bill has served as a Global Messenger for Special Olympics, giving speeches and recruiting volunteers. His leading role in the Laurel Run, a celebration to raise awareness of disabilities, brought him into contact with the governor and Bob Dole. He not only works two jobs, but also shovels snow for senior citizens who need help.
Through vocational and volunteer activities, Mountain Lake Services' staff work to foster Bill's brand of commitment and dependability in all people who are assisted by Mountain Lake Services. Our people learn, for instance, through our Supported Employment Services, in which job coaches provide individuals with intensive, on-the-job training in actual work environments. They also learn by working in Essex Industries, a manufacturer of canoe accessories and one of Mountain Lake Services' vocational components.
Commitment and dependability can open opportunities for anyone, of whatever ability. Ask the people who have learned these values from us and used them to determine their own futures.
"Individuals work closely with staff to shape their own independent lives."
Few people overcome their challenges alone. That is why Mountain Lake Services emphasizes mutual support, cooperation and teamwork. The resulting partnerships can be far-reaching indeed, encompassing not only people with disabilities, but our staff, families, friends and businesses, too.
In our Early Childhood Intervention Program, staff members join with families to minimize the impact of disabilities on children from birth to 5 years. Together, they develop an Individual Family Support Plan, through which families can work with Mountain Lake Services staff, occupational therapists, and physical therapists to help their children find success.
Through our Supported Employment Services, the region's businesses employ people with intellectual disabilities, clearing the way for their success in the workplace. In our Community Services Program, individuals work closely with staff to shape their own independent lives in their own communities.
This kind of teamwork brought success to Monica. During her final year of high school, Monica was searching for a way to spend her post-graduate time productively. She, her parents, the school, Mountain Lake Services staff, and the local intellectual Disabilities Service Office joined forces to form a new schedule of services, allowing her to perform volunteer work part-time. Her success clearly demonstrates the possibilities open to people with disabilities and the power of teamwork to help them realize those possibilities.
"Enriching the lives of those who have enriched our lives."
In every phase of our activity, we strive to do the right thing -- for the people we support, for their families, for our communities. That commitment to integrity has borne considerable fruit.
Consider Mountain Lake Services' valued presence in its region, so valued that towns have actively campaigned for homes to open in their neighborhoods. By extending such a warm invitation, our communities have helped us to advance our mission. Now we are helping them.
In several communities, we have formed advisory groups, consisting of residents and businesses, to help us search for new ways of giving back. We've created the Extend-A-Hand Program, through which we volunteer to help local citizens and organizations.
Steve Granger is one of many who help others under this program. He sweeps the steps at the Ticonderoga Armory. He helps a couple of elderly ladies who have no transportation and no family in the area. Steve rakes their yards, runs errands for them and helps in whatever way he can. We have even delivered groceries for people who are shut-in, painted walls at a local nursing home, watered community flowerbeds, and run children's booths at local celebrations.
It is our way of enriching the lives of those who have enriched our lives. It is one example of the initiatives that integrity inspires.
"An ever-changing horizon with almost limitless potential."
How far can our people reach? At least as far as Eric Charlton.
Eric has served on the Mountain Lake Services Board of Directors. He has been president of our Self Advocacy Group, an active member of the New York State Self Advocacy Association and writes articles for the ARC newsletter. He has advocated for access ramps and taught school children how to write poetry.
He has received services from Mountain Lake Services since 1986.
Eric's life, simply put, is about excellence, high quality, enthusiasm, self assessment, innovation -- the qualities that we strive to inspire those who use our services -- the qualities that our staff have pledged to uphold.
Eric describes Mountain Lake Services as having "an ever-changing horizon with almost limitless potential." We feel the same way about Eric. And about everyone who passes through our doors.
