Windmill specializes in developing and implementing innovative supports and services that allow everyone to be a part of their community
-
I have been in the field of promoting inclusive supports for over 30 years developing and implementing innovative programs that promote the full inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. My work has been published both in books and in industry journals and was recognized by the Borough President of Queens, NY as a best practice. Additionally my programs have been promoted by NY OPWDD and MA DDS as a model of how things should be done. I have spent my career promoting the crazy idea that communities are meant for everyone, and that everyone is entitled to have the life they want, and not what someone else prescribes for them.
I hold a Masters Degree from NYU in Special Education, and done everything from being a para professional all the way to the Director of Innovative Day Services for large non profit agencies. Having a wide range of experiences has allowed me to see the world for a variety of points of view, and to design programs that meet people where they are, and to support everyone. I have expertise in New York and Massachusetts adult service rules and regulations, as well as educational regulations in both states, and am certified in the provision of Customized Employment.
As a child, typically developing children are all asked what they want to be when they grow up, and no one laughs no matter what they say. For the record I wanted to be either Carlton Fisk or Tom Seaver. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are not given that opportunity. They are told where to live, who to live with, and not only where to work, but IF they can work. Windmill aims to change that so that All truly means ALL!
-
Windmill came about as a response to years of fighting the system to be more inclusive. Over the past 30 years, I have held positions in traditional agencies that were supposed to lead to more innovative and inclusive supports, but ended up being forced to conform to a system that is predicated on segregating the people they support. Instead of encouraging friendships with the people who they work with, go to religious services with, etc., they actively discouraged this stating that it was dangerous. If you loved sports, instead of going to the local sports bar to hang out with people with the same passion, they were told that it wasn’t safe, and they could watch the big game with friends in his home. Instead of having a co-worker over for dinner, they were told to invite someone else from their residential program. In addition to discouraging friendships with typically developing peers, people were told that they couldn’t work because of the need for longer terms supports. People were actively discouraged from engaging in hobbies within their local communities. All of this came within a wrapper of safety and protection. This sounded eerily familiar to how people were historically segregated throughout history.
Post the pandemic, this became significantly more prevalent. Along with systemically working to support segregated services, everything became about regulatory compliance rather than assisting people to have the life they wished for. Being person-centered, human rights, and inclusion all became just a box to tick and not something to actively support. The system knew better what someone needed. Meetings regarding the person’s life were being held without the individual being present, let alone listened to. After decades of beating my head against the wall, and getting bloodied, I decided to do something different. If I was going to tilt against windmills, I wanted to do this in support of truly humanistic and inclusive supports and services. The consequence of this is Windmill Services. It is time to encourage people to dream the impossible dream and strive to make it a reality.
Examples of What Windmill Does
Strategic Planning
Transition Planning
Life Planning