Dungarvin New Jersey recently celebrated Charles, who was one of 28 individuals selected for the prestigious New Jersey Association of Community Providers (NJACP) STARS! Awards, nominated by our Area Director Rashida Clegg. This annual event recognizes individuals, particularly those with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, who have made significant improvements in their lives.

Deserving of this honor, Charles received a second nomination from Rancocas Area Manager Consuelo Brown, further highlighting the impact he has made within our community. Charles has become a shining example of determination and growth while attending the Rancocas Day Program at Dungarvin. Over the past year, he has demonstrated remarkable progress, particularly in his ability to be redirected and express his desire to stay “out of trouble.” His motivation to make positive choices is evident in his interactions with both staff and peers, showcasing a cooperative and caring attitude that has endeared him to everyone around him.

One of the most notable aspects of Charles’s journey is his ability to form positive relationships with his peers. He gets along well with others during activities both at the day program and in the community. His enthusiasm for participating in volunteer activities, such as for Meals on Wheels, further highlights his commitment to giving back and contributing to the welfare of others. Charles’s positive attitude and improved behavior are truly inspiring, and his well-earned nominations for the NJACP STARS Award are a testament to the support he has received and the hard work he has put in to achieve these milestones.

The NJACP STARS Awards Dinner was filled with much joy and pride. This special event honored 28 remarkable individuals — including shining stars like Charles — whose contributions, dedication and spirit make a lasting impact every day. This year’s banquet was especially meaningful, as NJACP was thrilled to welcome everyone back in person for the first time in several years. Having our community together in one room again brought a renewed sense of connection and celebration that could be felt throughout the evening.

Dungarvin New Jersey proudly filled a table to support Charles, represented by Dungarvin leaders, friends, colleagues and community leaders, coming together to recognize these outstanding awardees in an atmosphere filled with support and gratitude. The evening featured unforgettable moments that reminded us of the strength and unity within our community.

This week, a Minnesota nonprofit recognized two Dungarvin DSPs for the extraordinary work they do supporting people with disabilities. Allison Eider and Thomas Kelley are two of 13 finalists for the ARRM Cares and Rising Star awards, respectively, and were honored during the organization’s annual conference in Rochester.

ARRM (Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota) is a nonprofit association that advocates for organizations and professionals who support people with disabilities. Presenting the finalists during the conference recognition luncheon was Anna Hegland, President of ARRM’s Board of Directors and a Dungarvin Minnesota Senior Director. She said she’s grateful that ARRM has an annual awards program for support professionals.

I’m always really honored to be able to introduce some of our exceptional DSPs during the ARRM Cares Ceremony. We’re so fortunate to have employees like Allison and Thomas, and so many others, who do amazing things every day to enhance the lives of the people we support,” Hegland said.

Allison Eider has been a DSP for more than 30 years. She began working for Dungarvin in 2018, supporting Emily, a 43-year-old woman with intellectual/developmental disabilities. However, in 2020, Allison was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to stop working. About two years ago, she came back to work, supporting Emily once again.

Allison has developed a strong bond with Emily. In fact, during the years Allison was away, the two women stayed in touch. “She was my rock as much as I was her rock; it was wonderful,” Allison said.

When asked how she feels about being an ARRM Cares finalist, Allison said, “extremely humbled.” Reflecting on her career, she marvels at the opportunities DSPs have to change people’s lives for the better.

“I don’t think you can get that kind of reward anyplace else,” she said. “To see a person who has struggled in many different categories become someone they never thought they could. I think that’s the biggest reason why I’m in this field.”

This Rising Star is a Natural

While Allison is a seasoned professional, her fellow ARRM finalist Thomas Kelley is new to the field. However, he’s already making a huge impact supporting people receiving Dungarvin’s Employment Services, and that’s why he’s an ARRM Rising Star finalist.

“When he first started, one team thought he had been with the company for years,” wrote Dungarvin Program Director Ganesa Paris and Operational Manager Brianna Moolah in Thomas’s nomination form.

“His unwavering commitment to understanding and respecting each individual’s needs and choices empowers them to embrace their autonomy,” Genesa and Brianna wrote.

Thomas works with individuals who are going through Dungarvin’s “Discovery” process. “This is where we help them find out their interests, their likes, their talents and skills, and what kind of accommodations they might need in the workplace, he said.

Before transitioning to this field, Thomas was in education and lived outside the U.S. for 26 years. Part of that time, he lived in Egypt and developed learning materials – including those for people with disabilities. However, in Egypt, they didn’t talk about people as having disabilities. “We referred to them as “people of determination.” And I think that describes them the best – that they are determined to overcome their circumstances and their situations,” he said.

Thomas said he feels surprised and honored to be named an ARRM Rising Star finalist. He said he hopes, someday, people will become more understanding of those with disabilities, and less judgmental. “I think people need to recognize that everyone deserves an opportunity to be productive in the world … some people just need different kinds of help and assistance.”

If you are interested in becoming a Direct Support Professional (DSP), please visit our website to review employment opportunities in which you can make a difference: Employment – Dungarvin.

Jenell Yearwood loves a challenge – especially one in which she can call on crafting skills developed over decades of happy practice. Jennell is a Qualified Professional (QP) Team Lead working with individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD)   in Wilmington, North Carolina. In recent years, as work takes her colleagues around New Hanover county, she has often thought about the old times when she saw her friends/colleagues in the office more regularly.

“So, I decided to plan a luncheon (or even breakfast) in the office once a month,” shares Jenell. “These opportunities give us the chance to connect both professionally and personally … of course, it shouldn’t be all work and no play. It’s nice to have a little down time to be with each other every month.”

Jenell fully concedes that she is the “crafty” one who “loves to do this,” planning a different-themed event each month with Sarah Ferguson, the other QP Team Lead, and inviting the rest of their team lead colleagues from Dungarvin North Carolina into the new Wilmington office. While she enjoys the challenge of mixing up the themes, for June she knew she wanted to focus on Pride.

“It was a no-brainer to celebrate Pride this summer because we do have LGBTQ+ community on our team and we want to celebrate them (and each other) because we really are just one strong community!”

Jenell truly loves the process of getting ready for each month’s gathering. “I come in after hours the day before to decorate. Even though everyone already knows the theme, I like them to be surprised when they walk into the office. You should see their faces – I love to see those looks of surprise!”

June’s event was no different, yet a little more colorful than most. “Everyone was excited to celebrate Pride. We have all been together for so long now … anywhere from 11 to 20 years, working together in this industry. We know each other so well and appreciate one another as well.”

Dungarvin is grateful for people like Jenell, who are a powerful reminder that every person deserves to be seen, supported and celebrated – not just for one part of their identity, but for the sum of who they are. Happy Pride!

If you love and support someone with an intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD), there’s peace of mind in knowing that should an emergency arise when they are alone, there’s backup assistance available.

That’s what Dungarvin Connecticut will begin offering in July with the launch of its Remote Supports. This new service uses technology, such as sensors, video cameras and even robots, to monitor people with I/DD who live independently or in a residential services setting.

Depending on what an individual needs, their residence can be equipped with sensors that monitor home conditions, such as thermostats, smoke and heat detectors, and water-leak detectors. The technology is quite sophisticated. For example, if a water leak is detected, it can immediately shut off the home’s water valve.

Remote Supports are not meant to “spy” on people or infringe on their privacy. They are tools for improving safety for a person with disabilities who lives on their own, or when a Disability Support Professional cannot be present.

The opportunity to develop Remote Supports came by way of a state grant offered in January, said Dungarvin’s Connecticut State Director Robert Gallant. Dungarvin answered the call, and the state awarded the grant in April. The grant funds the project through March 2026.

“Right now, in Connecticut, there’s a movement away from typical congregant residential settings into more independent living,” Gallant said. “There’s also a big push for the incorporation of technology, and we’re on the forefront of that.”

Over the last two years, Dungarvin Connecticut has been identifying individuals who wish to live more independently in the community of their choice, said Area Director Melissa Mascari, who is leading the development of Dungarvin’s Remote Supports Response Center. “We’ve been exploring various types of technology that would assist in removing some of the barriers our individuals face,” she said.

One of the devices they’re considering uses radar technology to monitor a person’s vital signs, such as body temperature, blood pressure and respiration. The data it collects could be integrated with the Therap health-record-keeping software used by Dungarvin staff, Gallant said.

Another device, called the Amazon Astro, is a small, dog-like robot that can follow a person around, monitor their well-being and even be used for two-way video chatting, when necessary.

Dungarvin responded to people’s desire for more independence decades ago, through its launch of Sengistix, LLC, in 2008. The Minnesota-based company provides remote monitoring services, including to some of Dungarvin Connecticut’s residential services sites.

However, this particular state grant requires providers to be based in Connecticut, and Gallant and his team saw the opportunity to fully develop a new service line, reaching more people in more settings. “Sengistix is consulting with us and helping us set things up,” Gallant said, adding that the long-term goal is to expand the business to provide Remote Supports to other agencies in Connecticut.

In July, Dungarvin will participate in the state’s remote supports pilot program involving about 138 new graduates of high school and college. Dungarvin and five other organizations will provide services to these graduates. Gallant estimates his team might start with 20 individuals.

After the pilot, Gallant’s long-term goal is to use some form of Remote Supports with at least 75 percent of the individuals his team supports.

By incorporating technology into to its list of services in Connecticut, Dungarvin continues to find new and innovative ways to fulfill its mission: “respecting and responding to the choices of people in need of supports.

In April, Dungarvin Connecticut added Community Companion Homes to its Residential Services offerings for supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The Connecticut team launched the new service as an alternative for individuals and families who prefer a private home setting to a group home.

In Community Companion Homes (CCH), a state-licensed provider working with Dungarvin welcomes a person with disabilities into their home and provides the support they need to live independently. Each day, they assist and support individuals to learn and develop daily living skills to reach personal goals and lead a safe, healthy and fulfilling life. Depending on the individual, this can include practical skills, such as personal hygiene, cooking, cleaning and transportation; as well as emotional, social and problem-solving skills.

Dungarvin staff train and supervise CCH providers to ensure they – and their homes – adhere to state and/or county regulations. They guide them through the often bureaucratic licensing process and provide ongoing support.

While group homes are the perfect model for many individuals served, some are better supported in a CCH, said Robert Gallant, Dungarvin’s Connecticut State Director. “For some, living in a group home doesn’t give them as much independence or access to the community,” Gallant said, adding that the state of Connecticut is moving away from the group home model for people with I/DD.

Dungarvin Connecticut’s first CCH provider is Peter Pettola, who has been supporting people with I/DD since 1992, beginning with working in group homes. He became a licensed CCH provider in 1996. Currently, Peter lives with and supports three men – ages 60, 64 and 68 — in his East Haven home.

One of the three men has lived with Pettola for 24 years; the others, 19 years and eight years, respectively. All three of the men now use wheelchairs and Pettola, or someone else, must be with them 24-7, he said.

Pettola said he finds working with “his guys” rewarding and has enjoyed becoming part of all of their families. “At this point, their families are like my family. They come over to have dinner, they visit us, they come to cookouts … It’s wonderful,” he said, adding that he prefers the CCH model over group homes because “it’s a real home setting.”

When Rose Musgrave found out ANCOR had selected her as the Direct Support Professional (DSP) of the Year for the state of Indiana, she was stunned. She had no idea she had been nominated, or even that the ANCOR (American Network of Community Options & Resources) DSP of the Year Award existed.

“I still have to pinch myself because it still doesn’t feel real,” Rose said. “I’m very humbled by it, and I’m very honored … I didn’t realize how big of a deal this is.”

Rose is one of seven Dungarvin DSPs to win the ANCOR DSP of the Year Award this year. She and five of the other winners traveled to San Diego in early April to receive their awards at the ANCOR Connect ’25 conference. (See photos below from her time there.) Indeed, the award is a big deal, as ANCOR awards just one DSP from each state.

Working with Dungarvin for 13 years, Rose is known among her Indiana team for consistently going above and beyond to support Charity, age 51, Elizabeth, 52, and Jessica, 42, all who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. They live together in a group home in Valparaiso.

Fortune Ndlovu, a Dungarvin Indiana Area Director, relates that Rose is especially focused on the unique preferences, needs and goals of the individuals she supports.

“She takes the time to deeply understand each person’s desires, advocating fiercely to ensure their voices are heard,” Ndlovu said. “Her ability to empower them to take control of their lives demonstrates her exemplary commitment to person-centered care.”

Examples of this include supporting the women to maintain strong ties to their families, participate in community events and accomplish their personal goals. Rose also organizes special birthday and holiday celebrations for the women.

Rose spends time with “her girls,” as she lovingly calls them, almost every day. “I just love to see that they’re able to get out there and embrace who they are, and continue to live a normal life,” she said.

In addition to the outstanding support she provides for Charity, Elizabeth and Jessica, Rose is a leader and mentor to less experienced Dungarvin DSPs, who are learning about and adjusting to the demands of the position, Ndlovu said. “Rose’s willingness to share insights, offer advice and patiently assist colleagues has led to a more supportive and knowledgeable team environment in the home.”

In her role as DSP,  Rose shows her commitment to Dungarvin’s principles of self-determination, self-actualization and preservation of dignity for people with disabilities, as well as our mission to respect and respond to the choices of people in need of supports. We are grateful for your leadership, Rose, and applaud you for this tremendous honor.

Resilience. It’s a term that gets thrown around often, but Dungarvin Area Director Kitty Burchett experiences resilience among her team daily. Along with Dungarvin’s Eastern Kentucky Operations team, Kitty had the chance to celebrate their collective resilience May 28, during an open house for their new office and day training space in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. In attendance were community partners, agencies, guardians and legislators – all there to build community and welcome Dungarvin to the new neighborhood.

The open house celebration had special significance to the team, due to major challenges they experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the years that followed. The pandemic led to the closing of the Eastern Kentucky day training doors in April 2020.

A year later, a flood caused by spring storms damaged the facility in Wayland. After months of repairs and cleaning, the doors reopened on June 1, 2022, but then were forced closed again three weeks later, due to another COVID outbreak. By July, more devasting floods hit the Eastern Kentucky area.

“The water reached 6 feet up on the walls of the day training center,” Kitty said. “After all this, it was decided that the location needed to be demolished. At that time, we had three offices, in Pikeville, Prestonsburg and Wayland. We made the decision to combine all offices and the day training – and so, the journey began for Bart Mullins (a Maintenance Technician) and me,” Kitty said.

That journey wasn’t an easy one. Geographically, the offices were spread out and the options for a building that needed to combine three offices, as well as two day training spaces, were few and far between. “For over two years, Bart and I had been looking to try to find the perfect location,” Kitty explained. “When we finally found the Oakridge Court location in Prestonsburg and spoke with the owner, we both knew this was our new home. The owner was willing to do what we needed to make the location work for us and, especially, for our day training needs.”

Finally, after several months of behind-the-scenes renovations, the offices and day training space were completed. “This new space will allow everyone to return to day training and enjoy participating in more community and social events,” said Dungarvin Kentucky Senior Director Paula Pulley.

The new location also gave the Eastern Kentucky team with a fresh start, providing a centralized space to enhance collaboration, strengthen its relationship with the community and create even more opportunities for growth and success.

Excitement about the new office led the team to go all out for the open house. Kitty and Area Manager Brittany Caudill sported Dungarvin-green blazers. The office was decorated with a balloon arch, a table was set up to offer Dungarvin-branded swag, and decadent desserts were ready to enjoy.

Attendees included representatives from the Kentucky Department of Guardianship Services, directors of the Big Sandy Area Agency on Aging & Independent Living, case managers and a well-known local physician, Dr. Jeremy Parsons. The event even attracted the attention of Kentucky State Representative Ashley Tackett Laferty and Prestonsburg Mayor Rick Hughes. Many Dungarvin team members also showed up, eager to celebrate this success.

Kitty and her team held a Q&A forum and provided a tour of the new facility. Members of the Floyd County Shriners Club volunteered to prepare lunch for guests, persons served and staff. With an outpouring of support from the community, Dungarvin’s Eastern Kentucky Operations team is now poised to expertly collaborate with support systems to ensure persons served will be able to work on new goals to live their best lives. Kitty and her team are perfect examples of living the Dungarvin mission: “To respect and respond to the choices of people in need of supports.”

Nohely Gomez Cano, a Program Coordinator at Dungarvin Oregon, recently gathered with her colleagues to celebrate 10 years with the company. The group met for a meal and fun at PF Changs in Eugene.

Program Director, and Nohely’s supervisor, Cari Gilliam said Nohely’s drive, work ethic and attention to detail make her a valuable employee and team member.

“She’s a compassionate and caring, understanding and strong-willed individual who puts forth the effort to make sure that her individuals in the program are taken care of and living the life they deserve,” Gilliam said.

Area Director Jennie Glenn said Nohely consistently goes above and beyond in her role and that Dungarvin Oregon is lucky to have her.

“Having had the pleasure of working alongside her for many years, I can say, firsthand, that her dedication, work ethic and positive spirit make her an incredible teammate and a true asset to our company,” Jennie said.

When asked why she has stayed with Dungarvin for a decade now, Nohely replied: “Dungarvin supports some of the most incredible and beautiful humans I have met. Knowing I get to work with such amazing individuals is the reason I enjoy working here.”

When Earlean Rivers was a young girl growing up in Warsaw, North Carolina, she observed the compassion and concern her mother had for her family and beyond. Oftentimes, her mother would go the extra mile to help people.

“I saw my mom being that nurturer, and I was sometimes telling her, ‘Mama, you can’t save the world,’” said Earlean, a Direct Support Professional (DSP) for Dungarvin North Carolina. “But, apparently, whatever she was doing rubbed off on me. I just love to help people, and I love to make a positive difference in their lives.”

That desire to help improve the lives of others, especially the individual she supports, prompted ANCOR (American Network of Community Options & Resources) to name Earlean DSP of the Year for her state. She accepted the award, along with six other Dungarvin peers, during the ANCOR Connect ’25 conference in San Diego, April 7-9.

When asked about her DSP career, Earlean is thoughtful in pointing out that she’s never considered it a “job.” For her, it’s actually a calling.

“For the work that we do to help these individuals, you cannot put a price tag on it,” she said. “If you’re just going into it for a paycheck, it’s the wrong field for you. You got to have a passion for what you’re doing.”

Earlean has supported Lenard, a 37-year-old man with mild intellectual and development disabilities, for 16 years. A big part of her work with Lenard has been to guide him in managing his health issues so he can realize well-being and a happy, fulfilling life, said Earlean’s supervisor Kimberly Morton-Berry, a Service Coordinator in North Carolina.

“Earlean supported him to complete a course that educated him on managing his diabetes, adapting the curriculum to a level that he could understand and remember,” Kimberly said. “She helped him participate in a healthy cooking class and took him shopping for kitchen supplies to keep track of his food intake.”

Kimberly said Earlean has a gift for connecting with people. “While society often builds walls, negatively impacting those with disabilities, Earlean works tirelessly to build bridges,” she said. “One of the most inspiring ways she accomplishes this is by encouraging those she supports to volunteer in their communities.”

In fact, Earlean has encouraged Leonard to volunteer for a nonprofit very dear to her, Diversity Nurtures Achievement Community Youth Center, an after-school program she launched in 2014 in Warsaw. DNA, as it’s known in the area, provides enrichment opportunities and educational support for youth who are struggling in school.

Dungarvin North Carolina is lucky to have Earlean on the team, and all of Dungarvin is very proud of her accomplishments and ongoing dedication to the people we support. Congratulations, Earlean!

In an effort to better support it’s Tacoma community, Dungarvin Washington has been at the forefront of some creative programming for individuals served as well as ongoing staff development and education. “Every quarter, Dungarvin-Tacoma’s Habilitative Skill Building (HSB) and Complex Needs Pilot (CNP) programs put on a social event for participants and staff,” said Emily Nalker, Clinical Services Manager.

“Our last event was held at a local park and we had great turnout from both rosters. We put on a Kite Festival and barbeque, and everyone had a lot of fun!”

Kites, gliders, and bubbles galore were available for individuals to enjoy, along with other large lawn games, such as Connect Four, and even the always favored cornhole! Barbeque chicken, hot dogs and corn were on the menu. “We’re looking forward to our Q3 event, which will be a fall carnival held in late September,” Emily added.

Dungarvin Washington offers a behavior and habilitative support program based in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Positive Behavior Support (PBS) to serve adults with autism and similar developmental disabilities.

Started in January 2021, the program began at Dungarvin’s Tacoma location but has since expanded to Olympia and Vancouver as well. HSB helps transition individuals coming out of restrictive settings, such as residential habilitation centers, diversion programs, hospitals and prisons. The program is meant to fill the gap in community resources that exist for adults with autism.

The behavior and habilitative support program has oversight from a licensed, board-certified behavior analyst and is staffed by a team of clinicians with extensive backgrounds in supporting adults and children with autism. HSB offers individual and group sessions, quarterly social events, behavior analytic assessment/support plans and intensive staff training.

The CNP is a state-funded pilot in Washington focused on serving individuals in the community who are in crisis, experiencing extended hospitalization or transitioning from restrictive settings. Using enhanced daily rates, CNP provides the financial resources for Dungarvin to offer higher staffing wages, funding for clinical programming (i.e., social activities, incentive systems, materials/assessments) and the ability to sustainably fund and retain Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), as well as qualified clinicians, to work under their supervision.

CNP funded more than 30 beds throughout the state last year and Dungarvin Tacoma filled six of those spots, transitioning individuals in need of support between August and October of 2024. Dungarvin and other participating agencies continue to lobby the Washington State Legislature to formalize and expand the service line moving forward into 2026 and beyond.

“The opportunity to provide specialized clinical programs equips us to successfully serve more diverse and complex individuals in a community setting,” said Kendra Ellis, Dungarvin Senior Director. “One of the greatest benefits we’ve realized has been increased engagement in community activities with peers and community members. Events like the Kite Festival demonstrate the success of staff commitment and highlights the progress the people we serve have made.”

If you or a loved one are interested in accessing services provided by Dungarvin, please contact your DDA Case Resource Manager for a referral. We look forward to supporting you how you want to be supported.