Our mission is to empower children and adults with developmental disabilities to achieve their potential based on personal choices, abilities and interests...

For more information about our recreational services contact:

Rosemarie Crisafi
Assistant Executive Director
Residential Services
(914) 681-0650
ext. 3308
rcrisafi
@westchesterarc.org

Westchester Arc
Herbert Katzenberg Center
121 Westmoreland Avenue
White Plains, NY 10606
(914) 949-9300
info@westchesterarc.org

24-hour
Crisis Intervention:
(914) 949-8200

Información en EspañolInformación en Español


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Quilt Symbolizes Personal Potential

At the December 19 board meeting, Dr. Beth Mount presented directors with a quilt symbolizing the Everyday Heroes philosophy on behalf of the agency’s residential direct care staff. Dr Mount has been collaborating with Westchester Arc for five years to recognize the contributions of residential direct care staff and tap into their capacity to promote the agency’s person-centered mission. That work has inspired others throughout the developmental disabilities field, and Everyday Heroes is now a nationwide program. This caring, innovative approach encourages consumers to make personal choices and “realize their dreams.”


The vibrantly colored wall hanging symbolizes the teamwork, creativity and personal commitment of the program’s participants, who spent two years creating it. The quilt is intended to inspire other staff to become Everyday Heroes and to communicate to the world the enormous value of direct care contributions. Entitled “The House of the Radiant Sun,” the work is now displayed in the lobby of the Katzenberg Center and will move to a place of honor at the agency’s “Gateway to the Community,” which is under construction in Hawthorne, New York. “That’s art,” commented one consumer upon seeing the quilt for the first time.

The quilt—like a house—provided an opportunity for the agency’s Everyday Heroes to gather as a community, sharing stories of personal triumph and working towards common goals. The artwork is rich with symbols. A car depicts an individual’s journey from isolation to a fulfilling life in the community, while a slot machine represents the rewards of helping a resident achieve his or her goal. The house’s four levels depict ways in which heroes honor and encourage the uniqueness of each individual by:

  • opening doors to new possibilities
    (such as teaching a resident to use the Internet in order to keep in touch with family)

  • developing imaginative visions
    (such as fostering a resident’s love for music by arranging piano lessons)

  • establishing community relationships
    (such as helping a resident connect with the world by bringing him to church)

  • increasing organizational support
    (such as encouraging other staff members to become Everyday Heroes)

“The Everyday Heroes initiative is a personal and intimate expression of Westchester Arc’s mission,” comments board member Mari Yuro. “It allows for individuals’ passions to be recognized, nurtured and expressed, adding dimension and depth to their lives.

“The program provides a context for a meaningful relationship between consumers and direct care workers beyond attending to an individual’s daily needs. Hearing the Everyday Heroes stories illustrates how limitless the lives of individuals with disabilities can be.”