by Brendan J. Lyons, Times Union/TNS | January 26, 2021
ALBANY, N.Y. Thousands of individuals with disabilities who live in group home settings have seen their rate of vaccinations for coronavirus dwindle as the state has shifted doses to mass-vaccination sites and expanded the number of individuals eligible for the shots.
Roughly 30 percent of the Capital Region’s group home population about 11,000 individuals with disabilities and staff members who care for them in a 10-county region have been vaccinated through the first five weeks of the rollout. But when the state shifted to mass-vaccination sites, including one at the University of Albany, those locations were given in some cases 50 percent or more of a region’s doses.
Disabled being elbowed aside as doses shifted to mass-vaccination sites
Many New York group home residents are still waiting for shots
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1of14Buy PhotoRegistered nurse Liz Fitz administers the COVID-19 vaccine into the arm of essential worker Kerry O Connell at the McDonough Sports Complex at Hudson Valley Community College on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 in Troy, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)Lori Van Buren/Albany Times UnionShow MoreShow Less
2of14Buy PhotoA site for people to receive the COVID-19 vaccine is set up at the McDonough Sports Complex at Hudson Valley Community College on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 in Troy, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)Lori Van Buren/Albany Times UnionShow MoreShow Less
Mercury
Mercury’s lobbying and public affairs firm, which is headed by Michael McKeon, boasts more than 30 media relations professionals in its New York office. The growing media relations team is led by former Bloomberg spokesperson John Gallagher, managing director and former National Action Network communications lead Rachel Noerdlinger, former Fox News producer Dan Bank and former Associated Press chief White House correspondent Ben Feller. Mercury, which represents a wide variety of clients, has a national presence that is bolstered by former New York Post reporter Stefan Friedman, who leads the media relations practice on the West Coast.
Other key employees: Beth DeFalco, Karen Mustiga, Kim Winston, John Tomlin, Djenny Passé, Shannan Siemens, Eric Bloom
Dec 27, 2020 Mary Davis holds her Outstanding Performer Award while posing with Denise Jones, The Resource Centerâs executive director. Volunteer of the Year Peter Carlo poses with his wife, Mary Ann.
Mary Davis holds her Outstanding Performer Award while posing with Denise Jones, The Resource Centerâs executive director.
The Resource Center presented its Volunteer of the Year Award and recognized a hard-working employee during a luncheon held as part of the agency’s 32nd annual Ability Awareness Awards.
The Elmer Muench Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Peter Carlo of Jamestown. Because of the pandemic, there haven’t been a lot of opportunities for people to volunteer at The Resource Center. But the pandemic hasn’t stopped Carlo and his one-man mission of spreading the word about TRC.
Developmental disabilities sector grapples with reimbursement cuts
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Maureen O Brien, left, a volunteer with New York State Industries for the Disabled, talks to resident Frank, second from left, and ARC supervisor Sydney Waddell as she and her son Gabe Donovan, right, deliver meals on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, to residents of a group home the Schenectady ARC runs in Schenectady, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)Lori Van Buren/Albany Times UnionShow MoreShow Less
Frank, left, a resident at a group home run by the Schenectady ARC, stands in the doorway with ARC supervisor Sydney Waddell as volunteers deliver meals to the home on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, in Schenectady, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)Lori Van Buren/Albany Times UnionShow MoreShow Less