BFAIR Honors Staff, Talks Collaboration at Annual Meeting

Bobby Sartori, left, and Big Y store manager Haanan Hartman. Big Y was the recipient of the Arcadia Employment Services Employer of the Year Award.
	Left, Suzanne Doswell of the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts was the keynote speaker. With her are Helen Stewart and Scott Doane of the Brain Injury Support Group.
BFAIR staff awarded Level II Certificates.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Collaboration was the key word at the Berkshire Families and Individual Resources annual meeting on Friday morning.

The agency that aids adults and children with developmental challenges, autism and brain injuries recognized the many people that make it successful in its endeavors. Nearly 100 staff, clients and supporters attended the breakfast at the Williams Inn.

Working together is paramount, said keynote speaker Suzanne Doswell, Western Regional manager of the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, pointing to both her own agency's efforts with BFAIR and the actions of others last week at the Boston Marathon bombings.   

"One thing I've learned in the world of brain injuries is that tragedies happen somewhere every minute," she said, adding, "in the Berkshires, there's an unwritten understanding of the need for professionals to work together."

Doswell, who's worked for nonprofits dealing with brain injuries for the past 17 years, said the advocacy for brain injury support and research began when "a few Massachusetts mothers whose children had suffered traumatic brain injury met at a kitchen table shared their needs ... They were determined to give their children the chance to live full and happy lives."

Their efforts resulted in the statewide head injury program and the national and state brain injury foundations.

Brain injury can often be missed in an initial diagnosis, especially if the victim has more obvious physical injuries from falls, accidents or other trauma. But individuals and families may come to notice changes in the patient as time passes - a loss of memory, stumbling for words, difficulties with comprehension, shifts in behavior.

"Those frightening differences demand family and friends to search for answers," Doswell said, and many turn to the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts for names of providers, information, support groups and other services. The association helps survivors work toward acceptance of their brain injuries and learn measures to help them lead full lives. "Our survivors and families learn about collaboration."

The brain injury group in turn collaborates with federal, state and local agencies including hospitals, BFAIR, United Cerbral Palsy and AdLib. It also provides support with BFAIR for the Brain Injury Support Group in North Berkshire, run by BFAIR case manager Scott Doane and BIAM outreach coordinator Helen Stewart, a registered nurse.

"If you ran into us at a social event, would you know we had brain injury?" asked Doswell, as she stood with the two at the podium. Doswell was injured in a car crash 20 years, Doane in a crash as a child and Stewart — "in a split second" — from a fall. "Look around your table for a minute and take a guess how many people do you know who live with brain injury?

"How could you or your organization collaborate with us as we all support North Berksire folks with brain injury?"

Doswell was introduced by board President David Robbins, who noted the absence of Executive Director Richard Weisenflue, who is on leave until May.

"He's taken this angency to the top and always looks for how to do things better," said Robbins. He updated the group on the efforts of the annual campaign drive, which raised just over $13,000, and that its major fundraiser, the Greylock Federal Credit Union's 34th annual Robert W. "Bees" Prendergast Memorial Golf Tournament, raised $25,000 last fall. The 35th tourney will be held Monday, Sept. 9.

Robbins also presented former board member and president Christina Barrett with a memorial plate and gift basket for her seven years of service on the board.
 

Dennis Sartori and Christopher McClendon received the Frampton Award.

Arcadia Employment Services Employer of the Year Award went to D'Amours Big Y for its support and hiring of Arcadia employees, and North Adams in particular in regard to Bobby Sartori, who was hired as a porter 15 years ago.

"Over time, his position has changed, however, what hasn't changed is the natural supports that he receives there," said Terry Blair, Arcadia assistant director. "He's built many friendships, he goes swimming on weekends, he goes to the movies, with nothing from us, they actually built that wonderful natural support."

Store manager Haanan Hartman said the award meant a lot to the store and the D'Amour family was excited to receive it.

"Bobby is a part of the Big Y family as he is a part of your family," he said.

Ethel Altiery, director of programs and acting executive director, presented the staff and client awards.

She said it was difficult this year to select a winner of the Edward Frampton Self-Determination Award; the best they could do was winnow it down to two: Dennis Sartori and Christopher McClendon. The award is in memory of Frampton, who had a disability and would come in an work with staff, and given to someone who has overcome a hurdle or reached a personal goal.

"If it wasn't for these folks we wouldn't be the wonderful agency that we are today," she said.

NAPL: Understanding Artificial Intelligence Presentation