Page 26 - MC Top Work 2021

LVCIL tor,thereisnooneunimportant.” SPECIAL AWARDS
Beck, Amelio and others at
from Page 22 LVCILsaythesalariesandbene-
fits are competitive. Full-time
adaptive sports programming, employees can enroll in health These workplaces and individuals received the highest rankings in specific
ADA training and consulting, insurance, with 80% of the categories among those surveyed.
and housing counseling. It has a premium paid by the organiza-
24-hourAmericanSignLanguage tion. The group has a generous ■ Leadership, ■ Meaningfulness
interpreter referral service that policyonpaidtimeoff,including large company Robbins Rehabilitation West
connects interpreters to orga- sick leave, personal and vacation Carlos Rodriguez, ADP LLC
nizations such as hospitals and time, plus holidays and bereave- ■ Values
colleges, serving a good portion ment leave. About half of the ■ Leadership,
ofNortheastPennsylvania. employees have disabilities and midsize company Lehigh Valley Center
Amy Beck, executive director supervisors are understanding for Independent Living
of LVCIL, has seen a sea change when workers are having prob- Paula Margraf, Community
in laws and attitudes regarding lems related to their disabilities, Services For Children ■ Clued in senior
peoplewithdisabilitiessincethe Ameliosaid. management
passage of The Rehabilitation Rosemary Velazquez, an ■ Leadership, OraSure Technologies Inc.
Act of 1973. The act prohibited LVCIL community support small company
discrimination on the basis of coordinator, found that flexibil- Todd Robbins, Robbins
disabilityinfederalprogramsand itywasreallyimportantwhenher Rehabilitation East ■ Communication
practicesandlaidaframeworkfor motherbecameillandVelazquez Lehigh Valley Health Network
CentersforIndependentLiving. wantedtobethereforherasshe
“Wewerereallybornoutofthe wasdying. ■ Direction ■ Appreciation
civil rights movement,” she says. Beck “was super supportive,” Catasauqua Area School Amada Senior Care
“As the civil rights movement she said. “They are pretty gener- District
kindofwounddown,peoplewith ous with time off and also very
disabilities were saying, ‘Excuse flexible.” ■ Managers ■ Work/life flexibility
me,wehavenoserviceshere,we Velazquez helps people find Barry Isett & Associates
havenorights.’” affordable, disability-friendly Hospital Central Services Inc.
Beck,whousesawheelchair,is housingand,whenneeded,hous- & Affiliates ■ Training
undernoillusionsofwhatlifewas ingassistance.
likebeforethegainsmadebythe “Housingcanbeverychalleng- ■ New Ideas Ciocca Subaru
movement. ing,” she said. Most of the time, Buckeye Partners LP
“In1969,ifIhadhadmydisabil- rent in the Lehigh Valley area ■ Benefits
ity then, I would have probably is out of reach for people with ■ Doers Buckno Lisicky & Company PC
lived in an institution because disabilities. She vividly recalls
thecommunitywouldhavebeen helping a woman use her hous- Aldi
closedofftopeoplewithdisabili- ing assistance voucher to rent a
ties,”shesaid. place near the restaurant where
While the mission is central, sheworkedaveryearlymorning
Beck said the employees have shift. Amada game,whereablockofticketshasbeen
greatcamaraderieandfindinter- “Iwasactuallyabletofindher reserved for them to enjoy an evening
esting ways to engage with each an apartment that was across from Page 21 at the ballpark. Before the pandemic,
other. That includes organiz- the street from the restaurant,” awards and get-togethers would come
ing pie fundraisers and, in the Velazquez said. “She was over haveralliedaroundeachother—partic- frequentlyandintheformofbarbeques
winter,collectingpetfoodforthe the moon. She was able to keep ularly when they became front-line at Duborg’s home, holiday gatherings,
Humane Society and putting up thejobthatsheloved.” workersduringthepandemic. individual staff recognition, bonuses
picturesoftheirpetsoutsidetheir Amelio points out that while “We learned that you can put all the andopportunitiesforcaregiverstomeet
offices. the Americans with Disabilities safety measures in place in the world, andsharetipsabouttheirroles.
“There’s just a creativity that Act has been life-changing for and it’s just one little exposure, such as Thosefunctionswentvirtualoverthe
makes things fun,” Beck said. peoplewithdisabilities,manyof a run to the grocery store, and every- lastyear,butthecaregiverssaidtheystill
“We’re always looking for fun theaccommodationsitrequires thing can boomerang. Everybody was appreciated the camaraderie, ability to
thingstodobecausetheworkwe arehelpfultoeveryone. justtryingtodothebestthattheycould share stories and caregiving tips, and
do is serious and important and “Whenyouthinkofagrocery tokeeptheplacerunning,tokeepevery- feeling like they’re part of a team even
ultimately,hard.” store and you think of their one safe,” Director of Operations Kara when they’re all out on the road work-
The staff are “people you can power doors, they’re good for Klusaritzsaid.“Edsetshisexpectations, ingwithindividualclients.
work with and laugh with when everybody,” he said. “They’re and he allowed the staff to all do our Santiagosaidoneofthekeythingsshe
thingsgowrong,”shesaid. good for people pushing a cart, part.Whenweknowthat’sappreciated, loves about her job is how open every-
It’scleartoemployeesthatthey people pushing a stroller, it itallowsustotakeevenmoreownership oneiswitheachother.
matter to the leadership and to just makes it easier. … It’s just inwantingtodoagoodjob.” “Ed attends those meetings and he
thegroup’smission,shesaid.“We becomeastandardthing.” For Duborg, the responsibility of wantsustosharethatinformation,”she
really embrace diversity. I don’t caring for an already vulnerable popu- said. “We tell him if we’re having any
think there are any unimportant Margie Peterson is a freelance lation was at the top of his mind as difficulties with anything, or whether
employees—frommetothejani-
COVID-19 began to affect the Lehigh
the families we are working with are
writer for The Morning Call.
The Morning Call AjaiAnanthan,left, Valleyearlylastyear. having any difficulties with their loved
Likemanybusinesses,hesaid,Amada
one—andhetakescareofboth.”
was“figuringitoutdaybydayandlearn-
“When I first came on board, it
who is part ofthe
ingthroughextremeemotions.”
honestly felt like a family,” Klusaritz
Living Independent
said. “Everyone was helpful from the
“Every single person who works
program at the
always want the caregivers to feel like
and I want them to know how much
LehighValley Center I appreciate it—particularly for those they can communicate with the office
| ForEveryone with us, I can’t thank them enough … moment I walked in the door. And I
Thursday, June 24, 2021 cards and envelopes virus.Wewelcomedherbackwithopen cation is a big part of what we do. We
ForIndependent
like[Santiago],whowereaffectedbythe
and get a response back. Communi-
Living, counts eight
also all know that families are putting
arms, and we’re all really like a family,”
that are then
Duborg said. “We’re going to have a
theirtrustinus. When we’re proactive,
packaged with help
hopefully that gives them some sense
party when everyone is vaccinated and
from LVCILtransition
ofrelief.”
wecanallbetogetheragain.”
services coordinator
One of the first occasions staff
Eliza Morosco.
APRILGAMIZ/THE
personwillbeatanupcomingIronPigs
for The Morning Call.
MORNING CALL members will have to come together in Shannon Sigafoos is a freelance writer
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