The panel, seated from left: Sen. Hinds, Rep. Pignatelli, Rep. Farley-Bouvier, and Rep. Mark. The issues of staffing challenges and low wages were front and center at the 19th Annual Berkshire Legislative Breakfast, where nearly 300 people filled the room, along with the full legislative delegation [...]
Loneliness shortens lives, research shows. The Berkshire County Arc is one of two central-western Massachusetts regions participating in the year-long Al Condeluci Pilot Project to create opportunities for isolated individuals to build social engagements. “The initiative will create opportunity to be [...]
Karen Drosehn has worked with her three-person staff at Zip 'N Sort for the past 25 years. “But watching them work still amazes me,” she said. One of the workers, she explained, cannot get out of her chair, so the other two individuals keep an eye on her work. “When she is finished with the s [...]
Tia Shepard's seven-year-old son will often ask his mom to take him to work, particularly when they have special events. “He likes to play baseball with Eric,” she said, referring to one of the individuals in the house, who has a photo of her son on his record player cover. “They consider each other [...]
Brice Atte came from the Ivory Coast, Africa, 12 years ago to join his wife and two children. Ten years ago he started working for the Berkshire County Arc, in the position of residential support. He earned several promotions, moving from assistant manager of a house in Pittsfield to his current spot [...]
Assumptions, stereotypes, and mislabels are some of the issues the 12th Sprout Film Festival tackles in its 10 selected short films starting at noon on March 31, in the Robert Boland Theater at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, Mass. Presented by the Berkshire County Arc Down Syndrome Family [...]
When Tanya Balsamo was promoted to site manager, placing her in charge of a home, she felt nervous. “I felt a huge responsibility on my shoulders,” she recalled. “BCArc has very high standards—it’s up to me to make sure that the five individuals in my house have a high quality of life.” The transitio [...]
Giana Daley started working for the Berkshire County Arc as a senior in high school, working weekday shifts after school. For six months she served as a relief worker– subbing in for full-time workers at numerous different residences. Now she works full time at one house, calling it her favorite hou [...]