Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR), working with the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) and the New York State Department of Special Education is hosting a workshop “Transition Planning: Life After High School”.  

Designed for the young people living in Genesee or Orleans County between the ages of 13 and 21 with a disability or special health care need and their parents, it will take place from 9 - 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 30 at the ILGR office, 319 West Main Street at the Crickler Executive Business Center in Batavia.

Attendees will gain information on how to plan for life after high school. Learn what questions to ask, ideas for Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), options, supports, and services that are available for them. A light breakfast will be provided.

Seating is limited and pre-registration is required by calling April Fearby, Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Program Specialist at 585-815-8501, extension 401, or emailing her at afearby@wnyil.org.

“This event is funded by the New York State Department of Health using federal Health Resources and Services Administration Title V funding. The opinions, results, findings, and/or interpretations of content contained therein are the responsibility of the Contractor and do not necessarily represent the opinions, interpretations, or policy of the State or Federal funding agency.”

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR), working in cooperation with the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments, has opened a Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Family Resource Library.  Relatives of young people with disabilities from Genesee and Orleans Counties can make appointments to investigate adaptive devices and other equipment before investing in them, and perhaps arrange a short-term loan of an item.

About the Resource Library: The CYSHCN Resource Library is for children and their families to be able to test and identify tools and supports that will help their child/ youth in areas such as development, emotional regulation, support with health conditions or disabilities, sensory processing, communication, learning disabilities, advocacy, and more. This is a great way to try items for FREE, to see what works or doesn’t work before buying.  

Supportive Equipment and Assistive Technology: Equipment is expensive, so this is a great way to try different items to see what works, or what does not, with no out-of-pocket expense. Some equipment available includes sensory toys, busy books, balance seats, tools that can support occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), speech goals, communication tools, and much more.  

Books: We have a variety of books and workbooks that support parents, children, and youth of all ages.  

For more information, contact April Fearby, CYSHCN Program Specialist at ILGR, at afearby@wnyil.org, or by calling 585-815-8501, extension 401.  

The highly anticipated Employment Fair for People with Disabilities will take place from 1 - 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at the Genesee County Office For The Aging, 2 Bank Street in Batavia.  

The event presents an opportunity for job seekers to connect with leading companies, organizations, and not-for-profits to explore a wide range of career options. Don’t miss out on this fantastic chance to kick-start your professional journey!  

Take the first steps towards a fulfilling career!  It's best if you prepare your resume ahead of time, dress professionally, and bring your true self to impress potential employers.

This event is proudly supported by members of the Genesee Region Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities including the Genesee County Office for The Aging, Ace Employment, Genesee County Career Center, Genesee County Mental Health, and Independent Living of the Genesee Region.

Inclusivity and accessibility are our top priorities. Coverage for childcare costs and transportation may be available. We are here to assist with any accommodations you may need.

Please Pre-Register with Ashley Dunham from Independent Living of the Genesee Region in advance at 585-815-8501, ext. 414 or adunham@wnyil.org. 

Schedule:

• 1 - 2:15 p.m. - Learning Time: Instructions in civil service testing, practice interviews, job searching, and instruction in reasonable accommodations.
• 2:15 - 2:30 p.m. - Break Time
• 2:30 - 4 p.m. - Meet the Employers: This is your opportunity to meet with employers who are hiring!

Description automatically generatedIndependent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) welcomes Karina Treleaven to work with the Homeless Alliance of Western New York (HAWNY) to coordinate the Continuum of Care (COC) for people with disabilities of the Genesee Orleans and Wyoming County (GOW) Region as a HAWNY Program Specialist to maximize their community participation.

Ms. Treleaven brings to her new experience in various positions: she was a Bilingual Caseworker with the Genesee County Department of Social Services; a seventh and eighth-grade Spanish teacher at Notre Dame High School in Batavia; a Family and Community/ERSEA (Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance) Specialist and Health/Nutrition Specialist at Early Head Start at Community Action of Orleans and Genesee Counties; Bilingual Employment Coordinator and Job Coach at Catholic Charities Community Services; Family and Community Services Coordinator at Agri-Business Child Development; Spanish debt collector who helps debtors improve their credit at Pioneer Credit Recovery; Interpreter-translator for the teachers and the children at Rainbow Preschool-ABCD Building; and she taught Spanish-English to youth and adults from impoverished communities at Nuestra Señora De la Merced High School.

Among her responsibilities are conducting monthly COC meetings; maintaining and increasing participation in Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) for service providers; analyzing data from HMIS to guide housing programs; communicating with HAWNY to help coordinate services and comply with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) expectations; regularly meeting with Warming Shelters, Schools, Jails, Hospitals, Employment Providers, Mental Health Providers or other organizations and providing resource information to their direct service staff; increasing organizational participation in the COC; networking with Landlords to educate and engage their participation in housing programs; and increasing homeless services in general, including prevention, shelter and permanent housing.

ILGR is delighted that Karina Treleaven is bringing her vast experience to serve the GOW region in her new capacity.

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is a member of the Western New York Independent Living, Inc. family of agencies that offers an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) is holding a FREE “MEET THE CANDIDATES” DAY to enable local residents with disabilities, or anyone from the community, to hear and discuss issues with some of those who are on the ballot in the November General Election.  

While it is an “off-year election” our Chief Policy Officer Todd Vaarwerk points out that those who achieve local positions now may be the State and National leaders of tomorrow!  So, whatever your political views, this is YOUR year to get involved!

The event is to take place on Tuesday, Oct. 24, from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in ILGR’s Conference Room at 319 West Main Street in the Crickler Executive Business Center, Batavia.  As seating is limited, people can also attend over the Zoom Meeting platform online.  

To get the Zoom link, RSVP with Cathy DeMare at 585-815-8501, extension 400. She can also answer questions about the event.  It will be also accessible via a live stream on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ILGR14020 and WNYIL’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/user/WNYIL.

If an attendee wishes to be familiar with the “hot” disability issues, sheets of suggested questions will be provided; but participants are encouraged to ask about public concerns that are close to them.  The building is fully disability accessible.

The Western New York Independent Living, Inc. family of agencies offers an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

The ARTiculations Exhibition at Independent Living is featuring the paintings of Peter Langden from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 at the Independent Living Center located at 319 West Main St., Batavia. An Artist Reception is being held from 4 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 16. Light refreshments provided.

Artist statement:

As a young boy, I always wanted to be an artist when I grew up. I spent time drawing whenever I could, I found a new outlet for my restless energies. While I did not take to formal schooling too much I did graduate high school with an art major in 1988, and from there making art continued to hold my interest. In 1995 I took up painting after I had finished up years of making metal sculpture. Through the years afterwards I went through difficult times but my art was always there for me. It was back in 2018 when I bought my first easel and by that time I was well committed to the idea that I was working on what I considered my life’s work. I still like to draw but it seems that people like my paintings.

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) will be closed on Monday, October 9 in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This holiday is celebrated on the second Monday of October to honor Native American peoples and commemorate their histories and cultures.

Monday, October 11, 2021 marked what many consider as a major milestone in New York State’s History.  For the first time ever, this date was recognized as Indigenous Peoples’ Day by Governor Kathy Hochul by issuing a Proclamation recognizing the Indigenous Peoples's sovereignty and place in history.

Independent Living of the Genesee Region believes that this is an important step to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. We celebrate the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples as we seek to build trust and goodwill.

The celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day took root at an international conference on discrimination sponsored by the United Nations in 1977. In 2021, President Biden was the first U.S. President to formally recognize the day as a national holiday.

Historically, the day is known as Columbus Day, but in recent years the explorer’s legacy is now considered controversial and is questioned due to the atrocities committed against the Indigenous Peoples. President Biden’s Proclamation makes reference to this. 

“Our country was conceived on a promise of equality and opportunity for all people — a promise that, despite the extraordinary progress we have made through the years, we have never fully lived up to.  That is especially true when it comes to upholding the rights and dignity of the Indigenous people who were here long before the colonization of the Americas began.”

Let the process of healing and belonging continue by our celebration of the tremendous contributions of the Indigenous People who originally inhabited our diverse nation before it was established and declared the United States of America.

Independent Living of the Genesee Region is a member of the Western New York Independent Living, Inc. family of agencies that offer an expanding array of services to aid individuals with disabilities to take control of their own lives.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990, is the single most comprehensive and far-reaching piece of legislation protecting the rights of people with disabilities from discrimination ever enacted, eclipsing the handful of laws that had existed. 

Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) will be celebrating the ADA at its Annual Picnic. It will place from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26, at Kiwanis Park at 3808 West Main Street Road in Batavia. There will be free food and games including a Scavenger Hunt. 

When the ADA was signed 33 years ago people envisioned curb cuts and accessible building entrances. Today, the ADA is helping people live independently, get an education, find housing, and build a career.

If you need additional information please call Catherine DeMare at 585-815-8501, extension 400, or email her at cdemare@wnyil.org.

More than a year ago, Gina Schelemanow went through a bit of a rough patch and decide to take a more positive turn with life.

 Schelemanow started creating art with linoleum cut prints.

"t was just kind of nice, like a nice release for me," the budding artist said. "A lot of them are like animals or books or just things that I enjoy in life that make me happy."

The ARTiculations Ability Exhibition -- a forum for artists with disabilities in Genesee, Wyoming, and Orleans counties to display their work publicly -- will open at Independent Living of the Genesee Region (ILGR) in their office at 319 West Main Street in the Crickler Executive Business Center in Batavia on Thursday, June 1. Titled “Back of Beyond,” it features the work of Gina Schelemanow, who uses ink, wash, tape, and markers.

A self-described “non-binary neurodivergent goofball that lives in Genesee County, they (the preferred pronoun) are passionate about social justice, community building, and being a silly goose. They started printmaking and painting last year, after a rough mental health spell. Their art is meant to bring joy and oddness to all who enjoy it.”

A reception with light refreshments will be held for the artist at the ILGR office from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 8.  A product of a partnership between ILGR and the University Heights Arts Association (UHAA), the Exhibit will be on display through August 31.

Other artists with disabilities residing in the Genesee, Orleans & Wyoming County areas are encouraged to submit their work to this juried competition, as there will be additional ARTiculations planned quarterly exhibits in the future.

For questions on the event, please call Catherine DeMare at 585-815-8501, ext. 400.