- HOME
- ABOUT US
- OUR PROGRAMS
- NEWS & EVENTS
- HOW TO HELP
- CAREERS
- RESOURCES
- CONTACT US
HeartShare assists individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities and provides vital services to children and families.
Everyday Heroes: InSights Profiles
The following HeartShare staff members have been profiled in InSights, HeartShare's semi-annual publication to the community.
- Debbie Tolson, Winter 2007
- Melissa Hoskey, Summer 2007
- Joseph McCrae, Winter 2008
- Cathy Figuccio, Summer 2008
- Thomas Hayes, Winter 2009
- Kathleen Knight, Summer 2009
- Tatiana Easter, Winter 2010
- Gabriel Webber, Winter 2011
- Daine Paguage, Summer 2011
Debbie Tolson, Winter 2007
Deborah Tolson quickly became the community inclusion specialist at HeartShare's Clermont Residence. For nearly four years, Debbie has made a positive impact on the residents' lives. For example, Lucinda refused to go anywhere unless it involved a van ride. Walking in the community was inconceivable. However, Debbie created a plan around Lucinda's love of coffee. After taking the van to a coffee shop several times, Lucinda began to enjoy herself and share special moments with the staff. Now, Lucinda happily walks to the coffee shop and waves to the neighbors.
HeartShare recognizes Debbie for her outstanding work at the Clermont Residence. She is truly an Everyday Hero.
Melissa Hoskey, Summer 2007
When HeartShare's 60th Street Residence opened one year ago, Melissa Hoskey immediately began training Susan and Evalin how to navigate the subway system to reach HeartShare's Wellness Clinic and their families' homes. The training began in small steps-showing them where the subway station was and how to buy a Metrocard. Next, Melissa taught them which train to take, which stop to get off at, how to transfer trains, and how to return home. Neither Susan nor Evalin was doing this before working with Melissa. Through her patience and hard work, both ladies are able to travel in the community without her assistance.
HeartShare salutes Melissa's efforts as she is an Everyday Hero!
Joseph McCrae, Winter 2008
Joseph McCrae began working with Gregory two years ago as his one-to-one staff person at HeartShare's Hagerty Residence. Joseph supports Greg in a wide array of community activities, including shopping at local stores, taking walks in the neighborhood, getting his haircut and enjoying recreational and cultural activities.
Greg has come to rely on Joseph for many community explorations and suggests activities he would like to do, such as going to the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens. Each day is a new adventure, and Greg is learning a lot from the many activities they experience together.
In August, Greg moved to the Calderhead-DeSola Residence in Midwood, where he is making new friends in his new neighborhood. This year, Joseph plans to take Greg to his first Broadway show, and Joseph is also working with the residence's manager to realize one of Gregory's biggest dreams-going to California!
Joseph truly demonstrates what it means to be an Everyday Hero to Greg. HeartShare salutes his dedication and the positive impact he is having on Greg's life!
Cathy Figuccio, Summer 2008
When HeartShare's Helen and John Sharkey Residence opened six years ago, Cathy Figuccio began assisting Mary Ellen. Together they go to church, go shopping, and have coffee and donuts at a local eatery.
Cathy helped Mary Ellen to improve her skills in her everyday life, including how to order food and get the correct change at stores. Perhaps one of the most important things that Cathy did for Mary Ellen was to introduce her to Bingo, which she now enjoys going to every Tuesday night. Mary Ellen has made lots of new firends in the community from her weekly Bingo nights.
Mary Ellen feels more confident and enjoys going out every day by herself in the neighborhood. Everyone in the community knows and loves Mary Ellen!
For Cathy's role in supporting Mary Ellen in learning and trying new things, and for introducing Mary Ellen to many new community experiences, HeartShare acknowledges Cathy as a real Everyday Hero to Mary Ellen. Bravo, Cathy, for your outstanding efforts!
Thomas Hayes, Winter 2009
Thomas Hayes started working with Joseph seven years ago at HeartShare's Ferraro Residence. They became very close and Joseph now waits impatiently every night to see Thomas. They do many things together: bowling, going to the movies, neighborhood walks, and shopping. However, the ultimate goal for Joseph, says Thomas, "is to buy ties!"
Joseph enjoys going out every day with Thomas; this is why everyone in the community knows Joseph and says "Hello Joe!" each time they meet him.
Thomas has greatly helped Joseph to improve his language skills and to express himself. "When I met Joseph, he didn't have a vast vocabulary, and now sometimes he talks too much!" explains Thomas.
Over the years that Thomas has supported Joseph, they have both learned from each other. Joseph is more talkative and social and Thomas is more receptive of Joseph's choices regarding his personal clothing style. "Joseph loves to change his clothes several times each day," says Thomas, "and sometimes his clothes look quirky." But after many years of teaching Joseph how to get dressed, Thomas realized that he needed to let Joseph express his own taste, whatever the combination.
Thomas is a real Everyday Hero in Joseph's life! All of HeartShare would like to congratulate him for his outstanding efforts!
Kathleen Knight, Summer 2009
Less than one year ago, Kathleen Knight started working with Kadijatul at HeartShare's newly opened Union Turnpike Day Habilitation Program. While theirs has not been a long-term relationship, Kathleen and Kadijatul together make a great team!
One of the Kadijatul's wishes is "to never become a housewife but be outside working." Here are just a few of the activities she found at HeartShare with Kathleen: going into the community, shopping, going to the park, and learning many new things. Kathleen says that Kadijatul has changed over time to become a more outgoing and friendly person. In the community she acknowledges people with a smile and a greeting, and she is welcomed no matter where she goes.
One of the most important things that Kathleen did for Kadijatul is to find her a volunteer position as a Teacher Assistant at one of the HeartShare's First Step Early Childhood Centers. "She comes to the program every day looking forward to going to work. She loves being around the kids and, reciprocally, they love being around her too," explains Kathleen. The other assistants love working with Kadijatul. Kathleen is now working with her co-workers to realize Kadijatul's biggest dream-becoming a Paraprofessional. Kadijatul loves the children so much that she would like to work with them all the time.
Kathleen is clearly an Everyday Hero to Kadijatul! HeartShare would like to congratulate Kathleen supporting Kadijatul to grow and achieve in so many new ways.
Tatiana Easter, Winter 2010
For nearly two years Tatiana has been an extraordinary support to Ruben and they now act as a real team. When they first began working together, Ruben had two volunteer positions but wanted a paying job.
Ruben used to be very isolated and not very talkative but with Tatiana's help, he became very social. He now enjoys speaking to everyone, especially to all the ladies, and shaking everyone's hand. Tatiana says that Ruben has changed over time to become a more outgoing and friendly person; he is no longer isolated. She clearly saw his progress at the program because he is more engaged in activities and with other participants.
As a result of Ruben's progress, he has obtained paid employment at a local retail store in Brooklyn and still maintains his volunteer positions. Tatiana continues to help Ruben with getting ready for work, accompanying him to the store or volunteer site, engaging in conversations with his co-workers, and more.
Even though Ruben is more social, don't be surprised if you meet him walking alone in the community because he really likes to buy the newspaper or purchase his MTA card on his own.
"Ruben uses his job to be better and to improve himself everyday," explains Tatiana. His co-workers love working with him. Thanks to his jobs, he can now initiate conversations with people. Tatiana and Ruben work together everyday to improve his speech and pronunciation so he can be understood by everyone.
Tatiana Easter is truly an everyday hero. Her belief in and support to Ruben have made a huge difference in his life.
Gabriel Webber, Winter 2011
It is amazing what progress can be made with the right combination of energy and openness. Working towards the goals of a person who is diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability isn't always easy. Often times it takes a lot of patience, understanding and creativity to help encourage progress.
Just over a year ago, Saeed, an adult with autism, entered HeartShare's Partnering with Autistic CiTizens (PACT) Day Habilitation Program in Brooklyn. One initiative of the PACT Program is to have all their participants be an active part of the community. This was particularly difficult for Saeed as he preferred to stay inside the program and not venture into the community.
Gabriel, a Day Hab Specialist at the PACT Program, was determined to help Saeed explore all the benefits of community involvement. Once Gabriel was able to encourage Saeed to step outside with him, Gabriel opened his life to Saeed by trying different activities in an effort to find mutual interests. Gabriel is a baseball fan, so he brought Saeed to a park where he often watches baseball games. Saeed showed interest in baseball, which then allowed Gabriel to bring Saeed onto the field and teach Saeed how to play the game. Soon after, Gabriel was able to give Saeed the opportunity to enjoy the excitement of a professional baseball game.
Their mutual interest in baseball has provided a strong bond between Saeed and Gabriel, which has opened the door for Saeed to meet his goals in other areas as well. Saeed has begun volunteering at a day care center, where he is responsible for loading the food cart and distributing breakfast and lunch to the classrooms. Gabriel's willingness to open up and share his life interests with Saeed has provided great results-illustrated with the smile and excitement Saeed expresses after his day out in the community.
Diane Paguaga, Summer 2011
When Diane Paguaga began working at The HeartShare School more than one and a half years ago, she met Jonathan, then 9 years old. Jonathan, who is autistic, was not eager to work with Diane as he liked his own order and routine.
Initially, Jonathan would become very frustrated with Diane, but after some time, he became more relaxed with their routine and they formed a close bond. One of the first tasks Diane worked on with Jonathan was teaching him to identify letters and their sounds. At the time, he could only recognize his own name. Jonathan also had difficulty socializing with his peers which is typical of children with autism spectrum disorders.
Diane spent three months teaching Jonathan how to identify and write each letter. Once that was completed, she taught him the sounds they made and he mastered that in even less time. From there, Diane and Jonathan worked together to learn how sounds go together to make words. He is now able to read and write over 100 words, and the list grows every day!
In addition to improving his reading skills, Diane helped Jonathan improve his socialization skills. She observed that Jonathan and another student, Philip, often finished their work faster than the other students. The boys would do puzzles, draw or play with a toy, but not engage each other. One day, she sat the boys together but they did not speak to each other. The next day she asked them questions about things she knew they had in common, such as liking dinosaurs.
Diane continued sitting with the boys and engaging them in conversation for two weeks. She slowly began decreasing her involvement in the conversation because they were able to have conversations on their own. Jonathan now calls Philip his best friend!
Diane has helped Jonathan build a strong foundation for learning and develop relationships with his peers, both improving his life in countless ways.
