Two People Inc. Nurses Given High Honors During National Nurses Week

By working diligently every day to protect and promote the health and abilities of the people we support, nurses are essential to the care provided at People Inc. The agency joined the nation in celebrating its many dedicated nurses during National Nurses Week, and two People Inc. RNs were recognized with top honors for their exceptional work in the field. 

A Night of Celebration to Remember

More than 300 People Inc. supporters attended “A Night of Celebration” on April 30 to celebrate a year of achievement and the far-reaching impact of People Inc.’s programs and services. The event helped the People Inc. Foundation raise $85,000 to support our mission. 

Celebrating Autism Acceptance

In recognition of Autism Acceptance Month, People Inc.'s Katie Radecki, program director and Todd Lesmeister, teaching artist, were guests on News 4 WIVB Buffalo's Daytime Buffalo on April 3, 2025. Along with host Chelsea Lovell, they discussed the intersection of arts and autism and how People Inc.'s new ArtsWork program is enhancing creativity and empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. You can watch the segment  here . An important aspect of Autism Acceptance Month is a focus on learning how to communicate and understand people. Katie pointed out that there is no "one" profile for people on the autism spectrum and that the experience is different for each person. Therefore, the services that are provided are individualized. Todd shared how the artistic process allows people to process their thoughts and ideas, create something, and bring it into the world. To promote an understanding of some often-misunderstood activities common for people on the autism spectrum, we’ve created a video series about Stimming, short for Self-Stimulatory Behavior. It can provide comfort, help with focus, or offer a sense of calm in overwhelming situations. Watch "Stimming Looks Like This: The Power of Stims" here .

Advocacy's Mission Highlighted on WGRZ-TV

People Inc.'s Advocacy Department is dedicated to amplifying the voices of people with disabilities, ensuring they have a say in policies and decisions that impact their lives. Outreach, community education, and training future medical professionals are all part of advocacy in action. WGRZ - Channel 2, Buffalo, featured their efforts in a recent segment, which included interviews with People Inc.’s Israel Cruz, advocacy support professional, and Bradford Watts, associate vice president. Access the full story  here . More information about the People Inc. Advocacy Department is available  here and in our blog .

Buffalo Bills Player DeWayne Carter Visits People Inc. Day Program

People Inc.'s Orchard Park Day Habilitation Program hosted Buffalo Bills rookie Defensive Tackle DeWayne Carter recently.  People Inc. CEO Anne McCaffrey, staff, and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who attend the program enthusiastically greeted him. Many people were wearing Bills colors, including Bills shirts, sweatpants, hoodies, etc. As DeWayne posed with everyone for photos, he was serenaded with a Bills cheer: "Heyyyy...Let's Go Buffalo" and even joined in! A group of the program attendees presented DeWayne with a red, white, and blue wreath that they made. Eager to become more involved in the community, DeWayne promised to return and bring some of his football friends next time! Learn more about Day Programs

Training Psychology Doctoral Students to Support People with Disabilities

Faced with a dire need for clinicians and a nationwide lack of those trained to help answer the unique behavioral health needs of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the agency’s Behavioral Health Department got creative. Dr. Elizabeth Randall, PsyD, LMHC, a psychologist at People Inc., sought membership with the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers to create a training program . The national organization pairs psychology doctoral students with organizations and training programs. People Inc. has the only program in Western New York specializing in supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Joining People Inc. in late summer, doctoral students Robia Robert Vedhanayakam and Michael Retallick each bring a wealth of experience to the agency and have quickly become an integral part of the clinical team. They are joined by Tara D. Howard, PsyD, NCSP, a Post-Doctoral Fellow, who is gaining experience toward her licensure, while offering her expertise to the clinical staff as well. Retallick has relocated for the year from the state of Washington, while Robert Vedhanayakam and Dr. Howard are from Western New York. The program’s primary purpose is to develop skilled practitioners competent in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities, with specific skills that include providing evidence-based services, accurate diagnosis, and appropriate support and treatment planning. The fellows work within a treatment team to provide clinical support that promotes independence and person-centered care. The fellows bring original ideas and creative problem-solving to the clinical team. Robert Vedhanayakam has introduced using the Uno card game to encourage conversations related to emotions and feelings assigned to colors on the cards. She said that in her time at People Inc., she has tried to unlearn her own biases in working with people with developmental disabilities. Robert Vedhanayakam said she tries to get to know people and their life experiences and is focused on helping them reach their full potential and building meaningful relationships. “My experience here has taught me that being heard and seen is the therapeutic change,” she said. People with developmental disabilities experience many barriers to accessing clinical services, including insurance limitations and limited access to providers who are competent in providing clinical support to this population, Dr. Randall said. The fellows assist with complex evaluations and assessments, bridging the accessibility gap for counseling services by providing in-house counseling to those who have experienced barriers in connecting with a community provider. They provide clinical supervision of practicum students, develop training programs for agency staff, and try to bolster utilization of the agency’s Social Skill Program. The group is already helping to meet the clinical needs of people applying for and/or receiving services from People Inc., creating a win-win for the students and the agency. Retallick brought to the team the use of tabletop role-playing games in social skill training. As a certified therapeutic game master, he uses the collaborative storytelling experience within the framework of the game to encourage relating to the characters, discovering how the characters relate to each other and how the players learn to relate to each other. He shared that the internship program is helping expand and develop his abilities as a clinician. “I have been learning many new assessments and aspects of capacity that I had never been shown in my doctoral studies,” he said. In addition to all the clinical responsibilities, the fellows will undertake at People Inc., Dr. Randall is enthusiastic about the opportunity to build relationships and collaborations within the health-care field, and to create advocates who will take the experience of their fellowship to other health-related entities. She hoped that doors can be opened to educate community providers, helping to remove barriers and increase health outcomes.

Will You Help Us Make a Transformational Impact?

A message from Anne McCaffrey, President & CEO, People Inc. Every day, I have the privilege of witnessing the profound impact of compassionate, high-quality care on the people we serve. The knowledge, creativity, and dedication that our staff exhibit, make me incredibly proud of what we do for people receiving services and their families, and the special ways in which we carry out our mission. As the challenging and rewarding work we do grows and evolves, I’m reaching out to share how you can help us continue to expand this vital work. I invite you to consider donating to the People Inc. Foundation. Our donors make a transformational impact on the programs, facilities, and care People Inc. provides.  Click here  to make a gift today. With rising needs in our community and increased medical complexities, People Inc. is committed to innovation and expanding our resources to help more people and families. There are so many stories of how excellence is displayed by our staff every day. One example is Shirley Fernandez, an LPN clinical coordinator at People Inc., who shared how incredibly proud she is of her and her entire team's role in serving the people at their location. “At my work site, we consider ourselves family. We celebrate birthdays and holidays with residents and their loved ones. We mentor, support, and prepare one another for the opportunities and challenges ahead.” Thank you for being a crucial part of our mission today and our future. Your support provides People Inc. with the financial strength and flexibility necessary to drive our new strategic plans forward and ensure excellence in our programs and services.  

Giving Back and Growing Essential Life Skills

People who participate in People Inc.’s Community Active People Program (CAPP) make a meaningful contribution to the community through their volunteer efforts. Starting their days in Buffalo, Depew, Tonawanda and West Seneca, they increase their community independence and build skills to reach personal goals by helping area organizations. These adults learn how to contribute to the well-being of others while learning about teamwork, responsibility, empathy, organization and communication. Each volunteer shift is a chance to build confidence and independence. Recently, we caught up with some of the busy volunteers supporting the efforts of FeedMore WNY and Harvest House. Helping to get ready for the upcoming holiday season, a group of volunteers helped to sort and stock food donations at FeedMore WNY, which aims to fight hunger and provide meals.

Direct Support Staff Celebrated

Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week held this year from September 8 - 14, is a time to celebrate the vitally important efforts and dedication of our frontline staff, who are passionate about their roles and make a lasting impact on thousands of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. This year, we recognized the incredible DSPs across our agency with gift cards and other activities. Whether they are teaching valuable life skills, making a house feel like a home, supporting good health and safety - and much more - DSPs play a crucial role in empowering people to pursue their goals. Our direct support professionals are at the very core of People Inc.'s mission. Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination for the Direct Support Professional of the Year Awards. The submissions told amazing stories of devotion and compassion! To excel in this role and rise to the level of being acknowledged by peers and families, it takes dedication, commitment and talent. The themes that came through in the nominations make that clear. Adjectives such as “motivating,” “passionate,” and “caring” were often repeated. Also, “Being a Team Player” and “Always compassionate.”   Congratulations to our 2024 Direct Support Professionals of the Year: JESSICA LAREN CARLESHA AMBER NICHOLAS CHRISTINE CAMREN RACHEAL WILLIE DEBORAH LISA PANDORA ROSA EMALEE NAKIA TAMARA MATTHEW DEBORAH MUBARAK KATHLEEN KENNETH JASON KASHIF DANIEL JOYCE LORI NOEL TIFFANY JAMES AINSWORTH BARNES BIVENS BOONE CACCIOTTI CHAMBERS CHENEY DICKERSON FAULKNER FERELLA GARRETT GIBSON GONZALEZ HOUSEMAN JONES KEEM KNOTT MCGINLEY MOHAMED MONZ MUNROE MYERS NEWBERN NOONAN REED RICKERT SCHMITT SIMMONS WILLIAMS