Text Box: From the Executive Director Kenneth W. Singer

   I would like to dedicate my article in this edition of VISIONS to outgoing Commissioner of the Department of Mental Retardation Gerry Morrissey.  It has been a great privilege over the past ten years to work with Gerry and to see the great gains that were made to the individuals that we serve.  As Commissioner, every day Gerry had to make many hard decisions which had a direct effect on provider agencies like Berkshire County Arc.  Naturally, there was not always 100% agreement on every issue.  Nonetheless, Gerry constantly worked to pull people together and provide a working relationship that brought about respect between the Department of Mental Retardation and the provider community.

   I had the privilege of working directly with Gerry in numerous capacities.  When I was president of the Association of

Developmental Disabilities Providers, we met regularly to talk about the key issues facing the provider community and the department.  In that role, I learned to have a great respect not only for the openness shown by Gerry, but by his clear commitment to protecting individuals with disabilities and providing every opportunity possible for them to reach their personal goals.  Later as Co-Chair of the DMR Provider Partnership Committee, we again worked together on solving the daily operational problems and issues confronting us. We respected each other’s view points as we worked to find outcomes that were acceptable to all involved.

   Gerry’s greatest strength has been his ability to lead in a manner that brought people together.  He developed a great working relationship with the

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state legislature and gained their respect also leading to raising funding for individuals with disabilities.  His understanding of the federal system helped to bring in millions of dollars to the state budget.

   We are very grateful to Gerry for all of his hard work and efforts, and we offer him our thanks, gratitude and appreciation for his dedication, hard work and support to those that we serve.

   We wish him the best of luck and are confident that we will see great things from him in the future.

 

 

Ken Singer

Executive Director
Text Box: Ken Singer Speaks at YAI National Institute for People With Disabilities Annual Conference Executive Director Ken Singer shared his experiences of working with people with disabilities at the 2007 YAI National Institute for People With Disabilities Annual conference in New York City. The conference is one of the largest of its kind in the United States and is attended annually by thousands of people. This year’s conference, entitled “Charting the Future”, featured speakers from throughout the country. Ken spoke about the Quest for Quality, how it is measured, and whether or not measures should be focused on individualized outcomes or activity results. Ken has established a strong, independent Quality Assurance Department to oversee the many programs that Berkshire County Arc provides for people with disabilities. The program, as well as BCARC, is “...committed to assisting and supporting individuals in their quest to identify and realize their chosen lifestyles.” Ken spoke at the conference as a representative of this mission and the strong dedication that BCARC has to supporting individuals with disabilities.