Up until just a couple of generations ago, many people with developmental disabilities lived exclusively in institutions or hospitals. Today, it’s a much different story, thanks in no small part to the efforts of groups dedicated to giving opportunities to these individuals.
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness month, but for groups like Saratoga Bridges, advocacy is a year-round project. Still, Bridges is using March as a way to highlight its mission.
“Our staff members are always looking for places where we can help out in the community. We’re committed to ensuring that our individuals are in the community and our goal is to have them be productive and respected,” said Bridges communications specialist Pamela Polacsek. “We have people helping in nursing homes, delivering mail for example, and at fire stations and churches doing some cleaning.”
Saratoga Bridges was founded in 1953 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted them to have opportunities within the community to fulfill their goals and dreams. Today, Saratoga Bridges offers services to over 800 individuals and families, including day habilitation, employment opportunities and legislative advocacy, and presents opportunities by networking with businesses and other organizations in Saratoga County, including food pantries, Habitat for Humanity, nursing homes, fire stations and churches – to name only a few.
Raising awareness during March is only part of the Bridges mission.
“The celebration (during March) provides the ability to put a face to those with disabilities. Having a developmental disability is not a deep dark secret anymore. Those days are long gone,” said Polacsek. “We believe in our philosophy that every day is full of possibilities and to enrich each of those individuals’ lives.”
Sarah Baker is 27 years old, and she is developmentally disabled due to injuries from an automobile accident that occurred when she was 17. Before the accident, she was involved in music, taking piano and flute lessons.
She may not remember playing those instruments or her love of music, but the influences of art in her life are still very much present. This affinity she has for art is seen especially when she’s in the art studio at 49 Front St. in Ballston Spa at Creative Endeavors. Her long road to relearning how to walk, talk and move has granted her the ability to participate in many things in an active way.
Creative Endeavors is one of those many services and programs offered by Saratoga Bridges, giving the disabled the chance to partake in the creative arts.
On a sunny Monday morning, Baker and Lena Benvenuto, art coordinator at Creative Endeavors, sat down to talk about Baker’s painting during one of the twice-weekly classes she takes at the center.
“I like the colors and using the paints. It’s a lot of fun,” she said. Her work includes a lot of vibrant colors, swirls, tendrils and movement.
Benvenuto has been with Saratoga Bridges for almost five years, and has been at Creative Endeavors for three. The art is not meant to be as a therapy, she said, though it is therapeutic in and of itself, but rather the goal is for artistic expression and just being creative.
“Seeing people’s development is amazing and it gives them a chance to show off their skills. It’s tremendously rewarding. We also do a lot of shows in public places,” said Benvenuto, adding that exhibitions help in raising awareness of the abilities of disabled individuals to the community.
Baker is a young woman full of character and spirit, and that is very much reflected in what she’s done in the past several years. According to Polacsek, Baker has graduated from Bridges to taking classes at Skidmore College and spends time volunteering with many community businesses and organizations including Meals on Wheels, HOPE (Homes for Orphaned Pests Exist), Saratoga County Animal Shelter and Adopt a Soldier.
“She has a great sense of humor, is one smart cookie and has come a long, long way in her recovery,” said Baker’s Day Program Instructor Jacqueline Reulet.
Baker’s painting “The Mysterious Romance” won her a Voice! Jurors Award in 2011. The show was a juried art exhibition of work celebrating the creative voices of artists with intellectual and/or other developmental disabilities from across New York State.
Saratoga Bridges holds fundraisers and other events all year long. For a list of them, and more information about the services the organization offers, visit saratogaarc.org
One upcoming event is a limited raffle of 300 tickets for $100 each to the first major golf tournament of 2012 at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 4 and 5. The drawing will be held on March 12.