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6ARCLIGHTAUTUMNWINTER2015NYSARCLauraJ.KennedyoStatenIslandNYbeganhertermasPresidentoNYSARCinOctober2014.ConcurrentwithherpostasPresidentoNYSARCinJuneothisyearMs.Kennedywillcompletethenalyearoathree-yeartermasPresidentoAHRCtheNewYorkCitychapter.Thenewly-electedNYSARCPresidenthasbeeninvolvedintheeldodevelopmentaldisabilitiesrombothproessionalandpersonalperspectives.SheisDirectorotheStatenIslandEarlyChildhoodDirectionCenteratStatenIslandUniversityHospital.FundedbytheNewYorkStateEducationDepartmenttheCenterisoneo14suchentitiesthroughouttheStateoeringresourcesandreerralstoamiliesochildrenwithdevelopmentaldisabilitiesrombirththoughageveandpeoplewhoworkintheeld.Ms.KennedyandherhusbandHenryaretheparentsoourdaughtersoneowhomhasadevelopmentaldisability.WhenJulianow32wasborntherewasnotmuchinormationoutthererecallsMs.Kennedy.OnethingledtoanotherandIenrolledherinanEarlyInterventionprogram.ThenIoundanAHRCNewYorkCityfyeraboutasiblingprogram.IthoughtThismustbeagreatorganizationtothinkaboutsiblings.TodayJuliaKennedylivesnearheramilyinanAHRCresidenceonStatenIsland.In1993Ms.KennedyjoinedtheBoardoDirectorsoAHRC.ItwasasourceocomorttoknowthatmychapterwasconnectedtootherchaptersthroughouttheState.ByjoiningtheBoardIbecameawareothequalityandextentoservices.In2004Ms.KennedybecameinvolvedinNYSARCwheresheheldavarietyopositionsincludingSeniorVicePresidentandVicePresidentotheSoutheastRegion.TheNYSARCpresidentacknowledgesthatthecurrentuncertaintyregardingundingwithintheeldandthemovetomanagedcareorpeoplewithdevelopmentaldisabilitieshasmadethisascarytime.Thelasttenyearshavebeenveryunsettling.HoweversheaddsItisalsoanexcitingtime.IthinkweallagreethatNewYorkStatehasbeenabletodevelopthemostappropriateandhighestlevelocareorpeoplewithintellectualandotherdevelopmentaldisabilitiesmoresothanmanyotherstateshaveachieved.Thechallengesheexplainsistomaintainandexpandservicesandsupportswhiletighteningbelts.NooneatNYSARCisopposedtobeingmoreecient.NYSARCistheonlyorganizationoitskindinNewYorkStatethathastheabilitytodevelopaqualitymanagedcareprogramthatwillwork.WearelookingatPHPSeestorypage14asamodelomanagedcarethattspeoplewithdevelopmentaldisabilities.Ms.KennedybelievesthatduringthiscriticaltimeinNYSARCshistorycollaborationamongindividualchaptersandregionswillbevital.Itwouldnotsurprisemeisomechaptersmergetobestrongershesays.WhileacknowledgingthechallengesaheadMs.KennedypointstoopportunitiesorwaysinwhichwecanmakeNYSARCmorenimbleagileandecient.Sheemphasizestheimportanceoamilyinvolvementparticularlytheinvolvementoyoungamilies.Wehavetoeducatepeoplehelpthemunderstandthatwhatisavailabletothemtodaywasnotalwayshere.Wedontwanttolosewhatthoseoundingparentsgavetous.Wehaveanobligationasparentsandamilymemberstoensurethatourchildrenhaveaplaceinthecommunitywhentheyareadults.Ouramilymembershavetobethedrivingorceinworkingwiththeproessionalsatourchapterstokeepourservicesintact.Thismustbeanintergenerationaleort.OherroleasPresidentoNYSARCMs.KennedysaysItisaprivilegetoserveinthispositionandcarryoutwhatwasstarted65yearsagobyamiliesoramilies.IntroducingNYSARCPresidentNYSARCInc.iscomprisedof54ChaptersthroughoutNewYork.Theorganizationsupportsmorethan60000peoplewithintellectualanddevelopmentaldisabilitieswithamembershipofmorethan100000.