By Samantha Goudey
Chris Adorno has found his home at BCArc after years of living a vastly different life.
“It felt natural right away.”
Chris, a Pittsfield native, has been working with BCArc as a habilitation specialist for a year and a half now, and recently received the honorable title of “employee of the quarter.” Despite his undeniable success, this career came to him later in life as he once worked in the ministry as a pastor. 
After feeling burnt out, Chris was looking for more and stumbled upon BCArc’s residential relief position, where he not only developed real and genuine friendships through this position, but also found a passion. When a full-time position became available, he eagerly took it. There he worked for seven months, ultimately deciding to apply for the position of habilitation specialist at the CFD (Center for Development) as the hours were more suitable for his family.
Working as a habilitation specialist allowed Chris to further help individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities reach their “little victories,” which he claims is one of the most rewarding things to be a part of.
Chris now works full-time in his position, though he also aids in outreach and picks up occasional shifts as relief staff. When asked what keeps him at BCArc, he smiled and mentioned the people he helps first. The friendships he developed felt genuine, and the sense of community that came from them was beyond rewarding.
“I have so many favorite memories, I mean really, there’s a lot!”
“Genuine” was a word Chris used often. From describing the individuals he works with, the staff, and even BCArc as an organization, he described the feeling of genuineness. As a staff member, he feels as if he is not merely just a number, but rather a person. While enduring difficult times or illness in his family life, BCArc prioritized his well-being.
Now entering the summer months, Chris looks forward to helping with the continuation of an arts program that was previously discontinued throughout the summer months. The administration at BCArc allowed him to grow in his position as he is going into his second summer with an 8-week program he created. Last year, it was a sensory storytelling program and now this summer, he looks forward to doing a sock puppet theater program where the individuals are encouraged to find themselves by creating their own stories through the life of a sock puppet, one they get to design– all of which is possible due to the encouragement and freedom this position enables him, mutually benefitting both our individuals and Chris.
“It felt natural right away.”
When asked about his favorite memory, he was unable to answer beyond saying, “I have so many favorite memories, I mean really, there’s a lot!”
Chris looks forward to these next few weeks as he will be carrying out his project, and is simultaneously always looking forward to those next “little victories.”
Click here to read more Staff Stories.
