BFAIR Speaker Example in Overcoming Challenges
 John Anton has become an advocate for self-determination and legislative adviser for Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. He spoke about his experience in living with Down syndrome at BFAIR's annual breakfast. See more photos here. |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — When John Anton was born in 1965, his mother was told he wouldn't ever throw a ball and probably wouldn't live past his teens.
Anton not only broke those low expectations, he's become a forceful advocate for self-determination for himself and others who have Down syndrome.
"Labels belong on jars, not people," Anton told the Berkshire Family and Individual Resources annual breakfast meeting on Friday morning at the Williams Inn.
The Haverhill native told how he attended a Montessori school but "felt segregated, devalued and found it hard to find my own voice." He later graduated from an agricultural school and was shuttled into fast-food and grocery-bagging jobs.
Those jobs weren't challenging enough, he said. He wanted a job were he could wear a suit and carry a briefcase.
He found his dream job advocating for independence and as a motivational speaker. He works as a legislative intern for state Rep. Tom Sannicandro, D-Framingham, and as legislative specialist with the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. He was the National Down Syndrome Society's 2010 Advocate of the Year and interned at the U.S. Capitol for U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, among a number of other accomplishments.
Anton was particularly proud of his advocacy on behalf of the "Real Lives" bill enacted in Massachusetts last year, and on a national criminal background checks legislation for providers for the developmentally disabled.
Real Lives gives more power to clients to determine and guide services being provided. "I control my own choices and control my own funds and my own staff," Anton said, including hiring a word processing tutor and a physcial trainer.
He was particularly proud of his work getting the Department of Mental Retardation to change its name to Department of Developmental Services.
"This was a long and hard battle but all our voices were finally heard and we were part of history by doing this," Anton said. It wasn't done alone, he said, and looked toward his role models for inspiration.
"I had dreams and goals, with their guidance I'm continuing to move toward my dreams," he said.
For Anton, it was about providing opportunities for success, a mission close to the heart of BFAIR. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, it furnishes a wide range of programs from support groups to rehabilitation to employement for more than 400 people in North and Central County. It operates 11 residences along with its main offices in North Adams.
"The growth has been possible by the diversity of our programs that we offer, the superb staffing that provides those services, a kind and welcoming community in which we all live and generous sponsors like Greylock Federal Credit Union," Board Vice President Antoinette Cariddi said, giving kudos this year's breakfast sponsor.
Cariddi noted that not only had the program grown 167 percent since it started in 1996, it had become one of North County's major employers, jumping from 147 employees in 2007 to 243 last year.
"An interesting statistic, in 2011, the agency processed 694 applicants for employment, in 2014, that number grew to 1,042," she said. "Congratulations to our wonderful HR department for managing such a significant number of applicants for employment. In order to attract the qualified applicant pool, wages increased by 31 percent over the last five years."
Some of those employees were honored with awards on Friday, including Board of Directors Award recipient Robert Lemaire, who maintains all of the agency's properties. Other recognition awards are here.
Executive Director Rich Weisenflue said BFAIR could not make it without the support of individuals and businesses in the community.
"There was a fairly rough patch in the 2000s and we made it through that," he said, looking over the packed dining room. Remarking on "myths of vulnerability" from a recent book he'd read (Renee Brown's "Daring Greatly,") he acknowledged that "we can't go it alone.
"What is extra special to me this morning as we look back at those 20 years, including the rough times, we never did go alone. All of our services, community-based, serving the members of our community ... and when I look out at this audience I see so many people and busineses that played a role in our success."
It was a bittersweet breakfast for the leader of one business, Advanced Flexible Composites of Adams, which is relocating. The company, last year's Employer of the Year, was this year given a special Champion Award for its partnership with BFAIR and its Arcadia Employment Services over the past decade.
"I am honored and overwhelmed but I am not deserving of this ... it's BFAIR and their clients that are deserving of this. All I give is opportunity its you guys who do the real work," said Michael Baker, chief sales and marketing officer, who also credited AFC's owners, the Lewis family of Illinois, for making participation possible.
"Our day-to-day relationship with BFAIR is going to change greatly and that saddens me because the folks at BFAIR have become family to me, they truly have, and I'll miss them dearly."
He urged those in attendance to contact their legislators to ensure that funding for the agency continues, especially after attending last week's legislative breakfast for social service agencies.
"Tell them to support programs like BFAIR," Baker said. "Not because of the things that they do, but because it is the right thing to do."
Years of Service
- 25 years: Brenda Hawkins, Jamie Williams and Bonnie Duprat
- 15 years: James Labonte, Roxanne Morton-Fili and Jean Pecor
- 10 years: Sharon Boyd, Melisa Larabee and Joyce Forth
- 5 years: Stephen Nyamehen, Doug Gumbs, Jess Lindneer, Angie Phienboupha, Brett Goodermote, Adwoa Frimpomaa and Gretchen Thomas.
Level II Staff Certificates: Julia Moreau, Debra O'Neill and Wanda LaFrance
Management Training Program Certificates: Mark Barrette, Julia Phykitt, Angie Phienboupha, Amber Boesse, Stephan Rochefort, Jackie Alderman, Jessica Dunn and Macie Blackwood
Employee Recognition Awards
- Edward Frampton Self-Determination Award: Alice Burda
- Arcadia Employment Services Employer of the Year: North Adams Housing Authority
- Leadership Award: Erin Shea
- Armand Quintal Memorial Award: Mark Barrette
- George A. Crosby Memorial Award: Krystal Beaudreau
- The Champion Award: Michael Baker
- Board of Directors Award: Robert Lemaire
Tags: annual meeting, BFAIR, breakfast,
