July 22, 2025 • 14 mins
In this powerful episode of the ARISE-EFR podcast, we’re proud to spotlight two incredible voices from our community: Laurie Penny-McGee, a passionate advocate and leader at ARISE-EFR, and Sarah Brittenham, a talented artist and person supported through our services.
🎨 Sarah shares her journey as an artist, what inspires her work, and how creativity empowers her voice and identity.
💬 Laurie reflects on her advocacy work, her commitment to inclusion, and the joy of seeing individuals like Sarah thrive.
Together, their stories shine a light on the impact of meaningful support, self-expression, and community connection.
✨ Listen now to be inspired, uplifted, and reminded of the power in every voice we support.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
This is the Arise Exceptional Family Resources
podcast, with your host, ceo,bruce Drake.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Hi everyone.
I'm Bruce Drake, the CEO atArise and EFR, and I am your
host for today's ExceptionalTalk on Disabilities.
We have a real treat for youtoday and a first for me.
We actually have two gueststhat we're going to be talking
to today.
We're going to be talking toSarah Brittenham and Lori Penny
McGee and they're going to tellus all about their experiences
together and also with OPWDD'sSelf-Direction Services.
(00:37):
Welcome.
Laurie Penney-McGee (00:39):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Thank you.
I'm really excited to talk toyou both and hear your story.
Before we get to that, I'mgoing to ask Laurie to describe
what OPWDD Self-DirectionServices looks like.
So, for those of you who don'tknow Laurie, she's a Director of
Self-Direction Services atArise and EFR and she's also a
support broker.
So, Laurie, before we get toofar into this, why don't you
(01:01):
just give people just a quickbackground on your experiences,
just in the field in general?
Laurie Penney-McGee (01:07):
Okay, so I am actually by trade a
recreation therapist.
I actually started in the fieldas a DSP, as a direct support
professional, and then two weekslater was an assistant manager
and then a manager at a grouphome in New Jersey.
Many years ago I went to schoolat SUNY Cortland where I became
a recreation therapist.
(01:28):
I got hired at ExceptionalFamily Resources.
Like a week after I graduated Istarted EFR as a back in the
day called a residentialhabilitation coordinator.
They realized that I just gotmy master's in recreation
therapy and created a directorof recreation and respite
position for me.
So I was at EFR for seven and ahalf years.
(01:50):
I've also been adjunct facultyat SUNY Cortland for 25 years.
They stole me for a little bitfull time.
I traveled the state andcountry teaching people about
inclusion and accessibility.
The grant ran out and I wentback to EFR.
Because I really did cry allthe way home the day I left EFR
the first time.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
And we're very lucky that you came back.
We're very happy about that.
Laurie Penney-McGee (02:10):
So I've been at Exceptional Family
Resources Arise since 2014 as asupport broker, as a manager and
then as the director ofself-direction services.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Great Thank you for that.
So, Laurie, I knowself-direction services is a
pretty complex service.
We don't have time to go intoall the details today, but do
you think you can give a coupleof minute overview describing
the program for people whoaren't familiar with
Self-Direction, so they canbetter understand what we're
talking about?
Laurie Penney-McGee (02:39):
Sure.
So my elevator spiel.
So basically, the state of NewYork has a variety of services
that people have over time justkind of accessed a la carte.
So things like community haveand respite services and some
goods and services services.
They work with a care managerwho's kind of their social
worker, oversight person oftheir services, who helps them
(03:03):
determine what they want to whatkind of services they want, and
then the state says, okay, youmight get eight hours of this
and you only get $1,000 for that, and so that's the traditional
model of services.
So self-direction itself is notreally a service, it's a model
of delivery.
So instead of having sort of ala carte and having the state
determine how many hours and howmuch money you get to spend on
(03:24):
different things, the statedeveloped self-direction, which
allows people to access thefunding that the state has
dedicated to them and theirservices and use it in a way
that's person-centered andreally meets their wants, needs
and the things that they like todo.
So the amount of money somebodyhas in their budget is based on
(03:45):
an assessment.
It's the same assessment foranybody in the state.
It looks at things like how oldthe person is, are they in
school, what kind of supportsand services do they need?
And then the state pops out anumber from that assessment and
that drives how much moneysomeone has.
So, for example, a kid who'sfour might have a much smaller
budget than somebody who livesindependently and on their own
(04:05):
and, you know, has more supportneeds and has more expenses.
So the team of people that worksto help somebody develop their
budget is they have to identifyan agency, so a fiscal
intermediary agency, and in thiscase it's Arise EFR, and that
agency really serves as the HRfunction and the bank and helps
(04:26):
people with their expenses andtheir budget.
They have a support broker, whois the person who is really
knowledgeable about all the wayssomebody can utilize their
budget and they really help theperson develop their budget and
look at their staffing and theirgoals and their plan.
And they have a fiscalintermediary staff person who
also is involved in that, whooversees their budget and helps
them pay their expenses andthings like that, in addition to
(04:48):
their care manager, and theywork with the person and their
team right.
So people have a circle ofsupport or a planning team that
gets together and really looksat okay, what does this person
want to do?
So that can be their familyOftentimes it is their family,
it could be natural supportswant to do so that can be their
family.
Oftentimes it is their family,it could be natural supports.
And when we start talking aboutSarah a little bit, sarah and I
(05:08):
have known each other for areally long time so I kind of
started talking to her familyabout self-direction and I'm a
member of her circle of supportand you know, just really help
her.
You know kind of learn aboutself-direction and how those
services are accessed thank you.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
So if I could just ask specifically about staffing
so who's responsible for findingthe staff?
Who's responsible for hiringthe staff?
Who's responsible for settingstaff salaries and training and
supervising the staff?
How does that work?
Laurie Penney-McGee (05:38):
Okay, so I'll give a one-minute answer to
a 20-minute question.
So the purpose ofself-direction is that people
really have the ability or thesupport to help really drive and
oversee their services.
Right?
It's called self-direction forthat reason, and so, depending
on what agency you work with inthe state of New York, there's a
real difference in how muchinvolvement that an agency and
(06:01):
the broker might have.
So at Arise EFR, the broker, thefiscal intermediary we really
support people in trying to helpthem identify their staff in
terms of we put ads on ourwebsite and on Indeed, and we
can help them write an ad.
And we can help them identifytheir staff in terms of we put
ads on our website and on indeed, and we can help them write an
ad and we can help theminterview their staff.
We can help identify theirstaff.
The individual with their teamdetermines how much money
(06:23):
someone can be paid to be theirsupport staff, right?
So in community have that canbe as much as $32 an hour.
In respite it could be as highas $22.50.
Those amounts are capped thereonly because the state has some
caps in funding how that works.
But the broker and their teamwork together to set those
salary rates and determine howall those different dollars will
(06:46):
be spent in a way that makessense for them.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Great, thank you.
So now that we know a littlebit, we know the tip of the
iceberg about self-direction.
Let's learn a little bit aboutSarah.
So, sarah, why don't you tellus a little bit about yourself?
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Well, I'm an artist and I play guitar.
I have my own business with myparents.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Well, let's hit those one at a time.
So first of all.
So what type of art do you liketo do?
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Well, I'm currently working on a diamond art, one of
those big things that take likehalf a year.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Okay, and you are learning to play guitar, or you
know how to play guitar.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Well, I'm kind of like in the middle.
I know how to pick thebeginning of Blackbird.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Okay, that's fantastic.
And then you said you own abusiness with your parents.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
What business is that ?
Speaker 4 (07:45):
It's called Reclaimed Wood and it's basically stuff
made out of wood.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
And I like them color mandalas and I basically like
them, color them in and stuffand I go to two different stores
.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
One is in Long Island .
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Really.
So you're selling some of yourstuff in Long Island.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
That's fantastic.
There's the only reason to goto Long Island right there.
I can say that because I'm fromLong Island.
And where's your other store?
Speaker 4 (08:19):
It's in Skaneateles.
It's called the Artisans.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
The Artisans oh, I've been in there.
I'll have to look for yourstuff the next time I'm there.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
That's great.
And how are sales going?
Sales are booming, oh,fantastic.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Especially in Long Island, because they want 100.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
100?
Men dollars.
Okay, fantastic,congratulations, thanks.
So we know that you are anartist, we know that you play
guitar, we know that you own abusiness with your family.
What are some of the thingsthat you like to do, some of the
hobbies that you have?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
One of my favorite hobbies is taking a camera and
walking around Skinny Atlastaking pictures.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Oh, that's great.
More towards the art stuff.
Right, You're very artistic.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Excellent.
So how did you two meet?
Speaker 4 (09:04):
Me and Laurie.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Oh, she got me one of my jobs actually Okay.
Laurie Penney-McGee (09:10):
On accident .
Speaker 2 (09:11):
On accident.
So how do you get a job byaccident?
I'd love to hear this.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Well, it's a story about a T-shirt.
Laurie walked in with a T-shirtand let's see if I can remember
the story.
Laurie Penney-McGee (09:22):
You want me to fill in?
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Yes.
Laurie Penney-McGee (09:24):
Okay.
So I was working at SUNYCortland Inclusive Recreation
Resource Center.
Shout out there, and I had myjacket on, which has a symbol on
it of somebody using awheelchair.
And so the pharmacist it's thislittle tiny, it's not there
anymore.
Little pharmacy really in themiddle of the boondocks, as
Sarah would say, halfway betweenScandia, atlas and Cortland.
There's really nothing outthere.
And the pharmacist said oh, Ithought you know I might want to
(09:50):
hire a person with a disability.
I understand there's like aprogram and that would be a
great thing to do.
Sarah happened to live like amile from that pharmacy.
We actually met first time atthe afterschool program.
So you were in the afterschoolprogram and I knew you and your
mom.
I go, I have the person.
And then Sarah had the jobwithin like the week.
So we say we just sort ofaccidentally got her job there
and you were there for a longtime until they closed that
(10:11):
business.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
Yeah, I can't remember when they closed.
Laurie Penney-McGee (10:13):
Yeah, and then we would just run into each
other.
So Scanny Atlas has beencompared to a college campus
After a while.
Everyone looks familiar, and soSarah and I would run into each
other.
Downtown.
You take the bus.
You like to take the bus intothe city?
Yeah, and a lot of times you'dbe at the corner, so I would
stop and say, hey, you'd be atthe bus stop.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
Yeah, I go to another program called Launch.
It's to help me become moreindependent and doing stuff on
my own.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Okay, so how did you first hear about self-direction?
Laurie Penney-McGee (11:02):
Well, Laurie, music Sarah said that
Joe Whiting is the Bob Dylan ofour time, and so then we started
doing some of Joe's concertslocally together.
And then I teach Zumba.
So we started talking one dayabout Zumba and you've been in
my class for like eight yearsever since.
So I scoop you up right and wego to Zumba together.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
Yeah, and I think I know the routines like a little
too well.
I think I know the routineslike a little too well.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
So, Sarah, since you've been enrolled in, so how
long ago did you enroll in theself-direction programs?
Do we know?
Laurie Penney-McGee (11:34):
About six months.
Right yeah, six months.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
All right.
So how has your life changedsince you've started being
self-directional?
What has it meant for you sofar?
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Well, it's always been a blast for me.
I'm still kind of a newbie.
I'm getting to know people.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Okay.
Are there things that you'reable to do now with your
self-direction budget that youweren't able to do before?
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Well, when I go to the mall, I'm always in search
of a Josh Allen jersey.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Okay, so you're a Bills fan.
Yeah, we won't hold thatagainst you, tara, it's okay Now
.
Do you go to the mall on yourown?
Do you have staff who work withyou?
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Yeah, I have staff who work with me and whenever I
want to do something, it's likeokay, let's jump in the car and
do it.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Well, that's great to have a staff person that you've
hired.
Did you know them before or didyou meet them for the first
time when they interviewed towork with you?
Speaker 4 (12:31):
When they interviewed to work with me.
I just had an instantconnection with this person.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Oh, that's great.
That's what it's all about,right?
Is that instant connection?
So how much time do you spendwith them and do we want to
recognize who is this person?
Her name's Nancy, all right.
So how often do you spend withthem and do we want to recognize
who is this person?
Her name's Nancy.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
All right.
So how often do you see Nancyeach week?
I see her every Monday andTuesday, and I'm going to be
part of a talent show with heron Friday.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Oh, fantastic Playing the guitar.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
Yep playing guitar and doing a song that I've
written.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Oh, fantastic.
Maybe sometime we can have youcome and play it for us.
Laurie Penney-McGee (13:09):
It isn't the EFR talent, shall we?
Speaker 2 (13:11):
So what would you tell someone who doesn't have
self-direction?
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Well, for me it's always been a blast.
I'm kind of making friends here, there and everywhere and just
come on down.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Excellent, excellent.
I can't believe we're almostout of time.
I know I think I could sit andtalk to you two all day long,
but I do want to thank bothSarah and Lori for spending some
time with us.
Ladies and gentlemen, that wasSarah Brittenham and Laurie
Penney-McGee, sharing theirexperiences with self-direction.
Thank you all for joining usand we hope you'll join us the
(13:47):
next time as we continue toexplore the vast array of
services provided by Arise andEFR.
Thank you both.
Laurie Penney-McGee (13:53):
Been a pleasure, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
This has been the Arise Exceptional Family
Resources Podcast with CEO BruceDrake, recorded and produced at
the WCNY Public BroadcastingStudios.
For more information, visit ourwebsite at contactefrorg.
You can also follow us onFacebook.
Thank you for listening.
This is the Arise Exceptional Family Resources
podcast, with your host, ceo,bruce Drake.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Hi everyone.
I'm Bruce Drake, the CEO atArise and EFR, and I am your
host for today's ExceptionalTalk on Disabilities.
We have a real treat for youtoday and a first for me.
We actually have two gueststhat we're going to be talking
to today.
We're going to be talking toSarah Brittenham and Lori Penny
McGee and they're going to tellus all about their experiences
together and also with OPWDD'sSelf-Direction Services.
(00:37):
Welcome.
Laurie Penney-McGee (00:39):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Thank you.
I'm really excited to talk toyou both and hear your story.
Before we get to that, I'mgoing to ask Laurie to describe
what OPWDD Self-DirectionServices looks like.
So, for those of you who don'tknow Laurie, she's a Director of
Self-Direction Services atArise and EFR and she's also a
support broker.
So, Laurie, before we get toofar into this, why don't you
(01:01):
just give people just a quickbackground on your experiences,
just in the field in general?
Laurie Penney-McGee (01:07):
Okay, so I am actually by trade a
recreation therapist.
I actually started in the fieldas a DSP, as a direct support
professional, and then two weekslater was an assistant manager
and then a manager at a grouphome in New Jersey.
Many years ago I went to schoolat SUNY Cortland where I became
a recreation therapist.
(01:28):
I got hired at ExceptionalFamily Resources.
Like a week after I graduated Istarted EFR as a back in the
day called a residentialhabilitation coordinator.
They realized that I just gotmy master's in recreation
therapy and created a directorof recreation and respite
position for me.
So I was at EFR for seven and ahalf years.
(01:50):
I've also been adjunct facultyat SUNY Cortland for 25 years.
They stole me for a little bitfull time.
I traveled the state andcountry teaching people about
inclusion and accessibility.
The grant ran out and I wentback to EFR.
Because I really did cry allthe way home the day I left EFR
the first time.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
And we're very lucky that you came back.
We're very happy about that.
Laurie Penney-McGee (02:10):
So I've been at Exceptional Family
Resources Arise since 2014 as asupport broker, as a manager and
then as the director ofself-direction services.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Great Thank you for that.
So, Laurie, I knowself-direction services is a
pretty complex service.
We don't have time to go intoall the details today, but do
you think you can give a coupleof minute overview describing
the program for people whoaren't familiar with
Self-Direction, so they canbetter understand what we're
talking about?
Laurie Penney-McGee (02:39):
Sure.
So my elevator spiel.
So basically, the state of NewYork has a variety of services
that people have over time justkind of accessed a la carte.
So things like community haveand respite services and some
goods and services services.
They work with a care managerwho's kind of their social
worker, oversight person oftheir services, who helps them
(03:03):
determine what they want to whatkind of services they want, and
then the state says, okay, youmight get eight hours of this
and you only get $1,000 for that, and so that's the traditional
model of services.
So self-direction itself is notreally a service, it's a model
of delivery.
So instead of having sort of ala carte and having the state
determine how many hours and howmuch money you get to spend on
(03:24):
different things, the statedeveloped self-direction, which
allows people to access thefunding that the state has
dedicated to them and theirservices and use it in a way
that's person-centered andreally meets their wants, needs
and the things that they like todo.
So the amount of money somebodyhas in their budget is based on
(03:45):
an assessment.
It's the same assessment foranybody in the state.
It looks at things like how oldthe person is, are they in
school, what kind of supportsand services do they need?
And then the state pops out anumber from that assessment and
that drives how much moneysomeone has.
So, for example, a kid who'sfour might have a much smaller
budget than somebody who livesindependently and on their own
(04:05):
and, you know, has more supportneeds and has more expenses.
So the team of people that worksto help somebody develop their
budget is they have to identifyan agency, so a fiscal
intermediary agency, and in thiscase it's Arise EFR, and that
agency really serves as the HRfunction and the bank and helps
(04:26):
people with their expenses andtheir budget.
They have a support broker, whois the person who is really
knowledgeable about all the wayssomebody can utilize their
budget and they really help theperson develop their budget and
look at their staffing and theirgoals and their plan.
And they have a fiscalintermediary staff person who
also is involved in that, whooversees their budget and helps
them pay their expenses andthings like that, in addition to
(04:48):
their care manager, and theywork with the person and their
team right.
So people have a circle ofsupport or a planning team that
gets together and really looksat okay, what does this person
want to do?
So that can be their familyOftentimes it is their family,
it could be natural supportswant to do so that can be their
family.
Oftentimes it is their family,it could be natural supports.
And when we start talking aboutSarah a little bit, sarah and I
(05:08):
have known each other for areally long time so I kind of
started talking to her familyabout self-direction and I'm a
member of her circle of supportand you know, just really help
her.
You know kind of learn aboutself-direction and how those
services are accessed thank you.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
So if I could just ask specifically about staffing
so who's responsible for findingthe staff?
Who's responsible for hiringthe staff?
Who's responsible for settingstaff salaries and training and
supervising the staff?
How does that work?
Laurie Penney-McGee (05:38):
Okay, so I'll give a one-minute answer to
a 20-minute question.
So the purpose ofself-direction is that people
really have the ability or thesupport to help really drive and
oversee their services.
Right?
It's called self-direction forthat reason, and so, depending
on what agency you work with inthe state of New York, there's a
real difference in how muchinvolvement that an agency and
(06:01):
the broker might have.
So at Arise EFR, the broker, thefiscal intermediary we really
support people in trying to helpthem identify their staff in
terms of we put ads on ourwebsite and on Indeed, and we
can help them write an ad.
And we can help them identifytheir staff in terms of we put
ads on our website and on indeed, and we can help them write an
ad and we can help theminterview their staff.
We can help identify theirstaff.
The individual with their teamdetermines how much money
(06:23):
someone can be paid to be theirsupport staff, right?
So in community have that canbe as much as $32 an hour.
In respite it could be as highas $22.50.
Those amounts are capped thereonly because the state has some
caps in funding how that works.
But the broker and their teamwork together to set those
salary rates and determine howall those different dollars will
(06:46):
be spent in a way that makessense for them.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Great, thank you.
So now that we know a littlebit, we know the tip of the
iceberg about self-direction.
Let's learn a little bit aboutSarah.
So, sarah, why don't you tellus a little bit about yourself?
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Well, I'm an artist and I play guitar.
I have my own business with myparents.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Well, let's hit those one at a time.
So first of all.
So what type of art do you liketo do?
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Well, I'm currently working on a diamond art, one of
those big things that take likehalf a year.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Okay, and you are learning to play guitar, or you
know how to play guitar.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Well, I'm kind of like in the middle.
I know how to pick thebeginning of Blackbird.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Okay, that's fantastic.
And then you said you own abusiness with your parents.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
What business is that ?
Speaker 4 (07:45):
It's called Reclaimed Wood and it's basically stuff
made out of wood.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
And I like them color mandalas and I basically like
them, color them in and stuffand I go to two different stores
.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
One is in Long Island .
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Really.
So you're selling some of yourstuff in Long Island.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
That's fantastic.
There's the only reason to goto Long Island right there.
I can say that because I'm fromLong Island.
And where's your other store?
Speaker 4 (08:19):
It's in Skaneateles.
It's called the Artisans.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
The Artisans oh, I've been in there.
I'll have to look for yourstuff the next time I'm there.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
That's great.
And how are sales going?
Sales are booming, oh,fantastic.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
Especially in Long Island, because they want 100.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
100?
Men dollars.
Okay, fantastic,congratulations, thanks.
So we know that you are anartist, we know that you play
guitar, we know that you own abusiness with your family.
What are some of the thingsthat you like to do, some of the
hobbies that you have?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
One of my favorite hobbies is taking a camera and
walking around Skinny Atlastaking pictures.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Oh, that's great.
More towards the art stuff.
Right, You're very artistic.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Excellent.
So how did you two meet?
Speaker 4 (09:04):
Me and Laurie.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Oh, she got me one of my jobs actually Okay.
Laurie Penney-McGee (09:10):
On accident .
Speaker 2 (09:11):
On accident.
So how do you get a job byaccident?
I'd love to hear this.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Well, it's a story about a T-shirt.
Laurie walked in with a T-shirtand let's see if I can remember
the story.
Laurie Penney-McGee (09:22):
You want me to fill in?
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Yes.
Laurie Penney-McGee (09:24):
Okay.
So I was working at SUNYCortland Inclusive Recreation
Resource Center.
Shout out there, and I had myjacket on, which has a symbol on
it of somebody using awheelchair.
And so the pharmacist it's thislittle tiny, it's not there
anymore.
Little pharmacy really in themiddle of the boondocks, as
Sarah would say, halfway betweenScandia, atlas and Cortland.
There's really nothing outthere.
And the pharmacist said oh, Ithought you know I might want to
(09:50):
hire a person with a disability.
I understand there's like aprogram and that would be a
great thing to do.
Sarah happened to live like amile from that pharmacy.
We actually met first time atthe afterschool program.
So you were in the afterschoolprogram and I knew you and your
mom.
I go, I have the person.
And then Sarah had the jobwithin like the week.
So we say we just sort ofaccidentally got her job there
and you were there for a longtime until they closed that
(10:11):
business.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
Yeah, I can't remember when they closed.
Laurie Penney-McGee (10:13):
Yeah, and then we would just run into each
other.
So Scanny Atlas has beencompared to a college campus
After a while.
Everyone looks familiar, and soSarah and I would run into each
other.
Downtown.
You take the bus.
You like to take the bus intothe city?
Yeah, and a lot of times you'dbe at the corner, so I would
stop and say, hey, you'd be atthe bus stop.
Speaker 4 (10:32):
Yeah, I go to another program called Launch.
It's to help me become moreindependent and doing stuff on
my own.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Okay, so how did you first hear about self-direction?
Laurie Penney-McGee (11:02):
Well, Laurie, music Sarah said that
Joe Whiting is the Bob Dylan ofour time, and so then we started
doing some of Joe's concertslocally together.
And then I teach Zumba.
So we started talking one dayabout Zumba and you've been in
my class for like eight yearsever since.
So I scoop you up right and wego to Zumba together.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
Yeah, and I think I know the routines like a little
too well.
I think I know the routineslike a little too well.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
So, Sarah, since you've been enrolled in, so how
long ago did you enroll in theself-direction programs?
Do we know?
Laurie Penney-McGee (11:34):
About six months.
Right yeah, six months.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
All right.
So how has your life changedsince you've started being
self-directional?
What has it meant for you sofar?
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Well, it's always been a blast for me.
I'm still kind of a newbie.
I'm getting to know people.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Okay.
Are there things that you'reable to do now with your
self-direction budget that youweren't able to do before?
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Well, when I go to the mall, I'm always in search
of a Josh Allen jersey.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Okay, so you're a Bills fan.
Yeah, we won't hold thatagainst you, tara, it's okay Now
.
Do you go to the mall on yourown?
Do you have staff who work withyou?
Speaker 4 (12:15):
Yeah, I have staff who work with me and whenever I
want to do something, it's likeokay, let's jump in the car and
do it.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Well, that's great to have a staff person that you've
hired.
Did you know them before or didyou meet them for the first
time when they interviewed towork with you?
Speaker 4 (12:31):
When they interviewed to work with me.
I just had an instantconnection with this person.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Oh, that's great.
That's what it's all about,right?
Is that instant connection?
So how much time do you spendwith them and do we want to
recognize who is this person?
Her name's Nancy, all right.
So how often do you spend withthem and do we want to recognize
who is this person?
Her name's Nancy.
Speaker 4 (12:55):
All right.
So how often do you see Nancyeach week?
I see her every Monday andTuesday, and I'm going to be
part of a talent show with heron Friday.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Oh, fantastic Playing the guitar.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
Yep playing guitar and doing a song that I've
written.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Oh, fantastic.
Maybe sometime we can have youcome and play it for us.
Laurie Penney-McGee (13:09):
It isn't the EFR talent, shall we?
Speaker 2 (13:11):
So what would you tell someone who doesn't have
self-direction?
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Well, for me it's always been a blast.
I'm kind of making friends here, there and everywhere and just
come on down.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Excellent, excellent.
I can't believe we're almostout of time.
I know I think I could sit andtalk to you two all day long,
but I do want to thank bothSarah and Lori for spending some
time with us.
Ladies and gentlemen, that wasSarah Brittenham and Laurie
Penney-McGee, sharing theirexperiences with self-direction.
Thank you all for joining usand we hope you'll join us the
(13:47):
next time as we continue toexplore the vast array of
services provided by Arise andEFR.
Thank you both.
Laurie Penney-McGee (13:53):
Been a pleasure, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
This has been the Arise Exceptional Family
Resources Podcast with CEO BruceDrake, recorded and produced at
the WCNY Public BroadcastingStudios.
For more information, visit ourwebsite at contactefrorg.
You can also follow us onFacebook.
Thank you for listening.
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