Assembly Resolution No. 843

BY: M. of A. Santabarbara

COMMEMORATING the 60th Anniversary of the Liberty
ARC

WHEREAS, It is the custom of the Legislative Body to recognize those
established organizations within our communities that, year after year,
diligently work to improve the quality of life for its citizenry; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Liberty ARC; and

WHEREAS, Liberty ARC is a Chapter of NYSARC, Inc., which is the
largest not-for-profit organization in New York State dedicated to
serving individuals with developmental and other disabilities and their
families; and

WHEREAS, The 48 operating Chapters comprising NYSARC, Inc., such as
the Liberty ARC, support and serve people of all ages with developmental
disabilities, including those with Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy,
autism, and neurological impairments; NYSARC, Inc. supports
approximately 60,000 individuals and employs close to 30,000 people
statewide; and

WHEREAS, NYSARC, Inc. was founded in 1951, when a group of parents
with children with intellectual or other developmental disabilities were
determined to change society's traditional disregard for the needs of
their children, so they banded together to fight for the recognition of
their children's special needs; and

WHEREAS, For more than six decades, NYSARC and its Chapters have
been working to support people with developmental and other
disabilities; and

WHEREAS, The Montgomery County Chapter was founded in 1957, by
parents of children with developmental disabilities who wished to
establish special education programs in the local community; since its
inception, Liberty ARC has grown to include vocational, residential,
day, family support and health-related services; and

WHEREAS, This vital organization truly believes in the concepts of
person-centered supports, choice and self-determination, which offer a
well-defined and recognized path to providing quality supports which are
truly driven by consumer choice; and

WHEREAS, In 2005, the Liberty ARC was accredited by the Council on
Quality and Leadership in Supports for People with Disabilities (CQL);
in 2009, the agency was reaccredited for four years, the longest
accreditation period granted by CQL; and

WHEREAS, Under the luminous leadership of CEO, Jennifer Saunders,
the Liberty ARC offers traditional day, vocational and residential
programs and has made a concerted effort to incorporate best practices
into their daily operations; family services support programs, funded in

part by the Liberty Foundation, offer individuals and families an array
of no cost supports; and

WHEREAS, The Liberty ARC Residential Program is committed to
offering services which promote individualized programming and supports
based on each person's needs; each of Liberty's homes has a unique
character and ambiance which reflects the personalities of the
individuals that live there; and

WHEREAS, Individuals choose the type of home, the area, the people
with whom he or she wishes to live and the staff members who will
provide in-home support; the Liberty ARC offers a variety of residential
options including well-staffed 24-hour supervised homes, supportive
living apartments with staff providing assistance from 15 to 20 hours
each week and family care situations where individuals live with
families in the community; and

WHEREAS, In addition, the Liberty ARC also offers a wide range of
services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their
families in Montgomery County; these services are a vital resource for
families caring for an individual with a disability at home; services
are offered in the community, in family homes, and at certified sites;
and

WHEREAS, The Liberty ARC offers day habilitation programs in towns,
villages and the City of Amsterdam in Montgomery County; each program
has its own distinct character, yet all are focused on helping
individuals gain independence, achieve personal goals and become an
accepted, contributing member of the community; and

WHEREAS, At each program site a variety of activities take place
throughout the day such as personal hygiene skills, training in
activities of daily living such as cooking, money skills, shopping, and
creative activities such as drawing, painting and photography; and

WHEREAS, Individuals in the program are encouraged to be very active
in their community through volunteerism and participation in local
events and fund raising; and

WHEREAS, In 2014, the Liberty ARC opened the Liberty Fresh Market to
teach vital job skills, open doors, and provide new opportunities for
people with disabilities, while providing local, fresh products to the
community; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Liberty ARC; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Jennifer Saunders, CEO, Liberty ARC.