The event included service awards for twenty one current employees with five or more years of service, and six special recognition awards in several categories. Gretchen Thomas, an Employment Counselor for Arcadia Employment Services, was the recipient of the George A. Crosby Memorial Award. Greg Bascom, Home Life Support Counselor, received the Armand Quintal Award and James Cowell, a person receiving services from BFAIR, won the Edward Frampton Self-Determination Award. The Northern Berkshire YMCA received the Employer of the Year Award for its impressive record of providing job opportunities for people with disabilities. Carol Fox, Executive Assistant received the Board of Directors Award

BFAIR staff receiving service awards, grouped by years of service, included:

• 5-Years of Service: Christine Allard, Susan Begin, Joseph Cantoni, Al Castro, Gloria Darling, Robert Goodno, Jessica Lemaire, Jamie Liporace, Kenneth Morin, Mark Patenaude, Maureen Strype, Tina Suess and Amber Tracy
• 10-Years of Service: Theresa Biagini, Paul Boateng, Deanna Burdick, Marie Goodermote
• 15-Years of Service: Susan Darling, Patricia Goodell
• 20-Years of Service: Donna Rinaldi
• 25 Years of Service: Gail LaBonte

Staff receiving Direct Care Level II Certificates included: Greg Bascom, Hope Bourdon, Steve Casuscelli, Susan Darling, Marie Goodermote, Brenda Hawkins, Melissa Larabee, Jessica Lindner, Kevin Nicolli.

Dr. Joseph Wronka, Professor of Social Work, Springfield College and permanent Representative to the United Nations for the International Association of Schools of Social Work presented the keynote address “Creating a Human Rights Culture: Towards Ratification of the United Nations Convention on Peoples with Disabilities (CPD).”

A member agency of the Northern Berkshire United Way, BFAIR is an established provider of support services for adults, adolescents and children with developmental disabilities, autism and acquired brain injury. For more information regarding BFAIR’s programs or services call (413) 664-9382.

(North Adams, MA – April 24, 2012) – On Saturday, April 28th and Sunday April 29th, Carr Hardware, North Adams will be holding their Grand Opening celebration of its new, expanded, full-line hardware store located at 179 State Road in North Adams, MA. In conjunction with the Grand Opening Carr Hardware will be giving back to the community. Carr Hardware has teamed up with BFAIR, Berkshire Family and Individual Resources and Vincent St. DePaul by offering part of their Grand Opening proceeds to these Northern Berkshire organizations. Customers will be given the opportunity to purchase a five gallon Carr Hardware Agway bucket for $4.00 and at check-out they will receive 25% off of all the items they can fit in their bucket. All proceeds from the bucket sales and all food and drink proceeds are being donated to BFAIR, Berkshire Family and Individual Resources and Vincent St. DePaul. The bucket sale happens on Saturday 4/28 only and will run from 7:30AM – 5:00PM.

The Grand Opening Celebration will feature local country band Whiskey City, a ribbon cutting with Mayor Richard Alcombright and State Representative Gailanne Cariddi, D-North Adams, a bouncy house for children, prizes, sales and food & refreshments.

The new store, located on the former Scarafoni Ford site, has been remodeled and filled with over 30,000 new items. The store features 3 complete paint lines, as well as a full line of hand & power tools, plumbing, electrical and includes an equipment and party rentals store. With its new partnership with Agway, the North Adams store brings back a full line of pet, agricultural and lawn & garden supplies to the northern Berkshire community.
The new Carr Hardware location will feature a 10,000-square-foot building at least triple the size of the previous location and will feature 30,000 new items. The location is the former Carbone Auto Sales building and was remodeled. For more details please visit http://carrhardware.com

Since 1994, BFAIR has been providing full program services to Berkshire County, MA residents, including day habilitation, residential, individual & family supports, employment, adult family care, recreation and clinical services for adults, adolescents and children with developmental disabilities, autism and acquired brain injury. For more information about BFAIR’s programs and services visit http://bfair.org.

Read the full article at New York Times here: Scientists Link Gene Mutation to Autism Risk

Pre-registration is required, please contact Rich Weisenflue at (413) 664-9382 ext. 26. The fee is $8.50 which includes a continental breakfast.

(Williamstown, MA – March 26, 2012) – On April 27, 2012, BFAIR, Berkshire Family And Individual Resources will hold its Annual Meeting on Friday, April 27, 2012 from 7:30-9:00 a.m. at The Williams Inn in Williamstown, MA.

The breakfast meeting will feature a keynote address on Human Rights by Joseph Wronka, Ph.D., Springfield College of Social Work. Dr. Wronka is a Professor at Springfield College School of Social Work and received his Ph.D. from Brandeis University, Heller School. He is a permanent Representative to the United Nations for the Inter-Association of School of Social Work (IASSSW). He is a Fulbright Scholar in Social Justice, Poverty, Human Rights, Psychology and Phenomenology and author of Human Rights and Social Justice (Sage 2008). Dr. Joseph Wronka has thirty years of teaching and practical experience in the Helping and Health professions.

The meeting will also feature BFAIR’s Annual Awards including; George A. Crosby Memorial Award, Armand Quintal Memorial Award, Ed Frampton Self-Determination Award and the Employer of the Year Award.

To register for the meeting email Carol Fox at cfox@bfair.org or call 413-664-9382.

The meeting is sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union.

Since 1994, BFAIR has been providing full program services to Berkshire County, MA residents, including day habilitation, residential, individual & family supports, employment, adult family care, recreation and clinical services for adults, adolescents and children with developmental disabilities, autism and acquired brain injury.

For more information about BFAIR’s programs and services visit www.bfair.org or call 413-664-9382.

For more details and to register online please visit: BFAIR Annual Meeting Registration

From:
Title: ‘Parent training’ may help kids with autism behave better‘

From: The Salem News
Title: ‘New MRI Reveals Mysteries of Brain Injuries‘

From: Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Title: Multi-National Clinical Trial Shows Effectiveness of Amantadine in Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury

Please mark your calendars.

GREATER BOSTON CHAPTER PRESENTS A SCIENCE PANEL LECTURE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2012 FROM 7:00 – 9:00 PM, RABB LECTURE HALL, BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Greater Boston Chapter of Autism Speaks is proud to be hosting the first ever Autism Science Panel Lecture at the Rabb Lecture Hall in the Boston Public Library on Wednesday, March 14th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. This event will allow anyone who attends direct access to some of the brightest minds in autism research and treatment. The Lecture will include scientist in the fields of genetics, treatment, translational research, and alternative interventions. This Lecture is specifically geared towards attendees with no medical or research back ground. There is no charge to attend and everyone who does is encouraged to ask as many questions as there is time to answer.

The Greater Boston Chapter was founded in 2001 and has since its inception been committed to promoting the mission of Autism Speaks within the local community. This has always meant a focus on Advocacy, Awareness Science and Family Services. The Chapter works hard to find outside funding sources to be able to support quality programming with no cost to the community. Autism Speaks is dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder.

To reserve your seat please be sure to RSVP by visiting http://events.autismspeaks.org/sciencepanel

WHAT: Science Panel Lecture

WHO: The panel will consist of the following researchers who are all leaders in their field:

• Dr. Randy Carpenter – Seaside Therapeutics speaking on Translational Research
• Dr. Guoping Feng – MIT speaking on Genetics
• Dr. Chris McDougle – Lurie Center for Autism speaking on treatment in autism

The moderator will be Dr. Martha Herbert of MGH who also sits on the Autism Speaks Scientific Advisory Council.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 7:00 – 9:00 pm

WHERE: Rabb Lecture Hall, Boston Public Library Boston, MA