Arc direct support professional wins state-wide award for care

Photos courtesy of Arc GLOW: Staff and residents of Arc GLOW celebrate Sheila Taylor as one of four state-wide Thomas A. Maul Award winners on Thursday. The award recognizes a Direct Support Professional who consistently demonstrates excellence, creativity, and commitment to people who have intellectual and other developmental disabilities.

Press Release, Arc GLOW

Sheila Taylor, Direct Support Professional, has been selected to receive the Thomas A. Maul Direct Support Professional Excellence Award for the NYSARC, Inc, as a representative of Arc GLOW.

Sheila Taylor

Selected from thousands of nominations, only four in the state can win this prestigious award. The Thomas A. Maul Direct Support Professional Excellence Award is an annual award which recognizes a Direct Support Professional who consistently demonstrates excellence, creativity and commitment to providing supports to people who have intellectual and other developmental disabilities.

Taylor has been at the Turtle Rock IRA in Lakeville, Livingston County since it was built 13 years ago. This particular home houses aging individuals, and she is known for is known for going above and beyond in her position supporting aging people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

Residential Director, Deb Tuckerman, commends Sheila for setting the bar for other staff.

“She sets that bar very high because of her commitment and dedication to the people she supports,” Tuckerman said. “Staff and the people in the home often comment on how they look up to Sheila, and many refer to her as a mother figure. Sheila consistently role model’s kindness, a strong work ethic, person centeredness, and empathy. She is the ideal DSP, who reliably puts her heart into her work every day.”

Working with aging individuals, she is a crucial part in home life supporting their personal care, and helping them get through end of life situations. Tuckerman reflects back on a moment in particular earlier in the year.

“When Shelia found out a housemate passed away, she came directly to the IRA to talk with an individual who she knew would be especially sad,” Tuckerman said. “Sheila demonstrates that The Arc is not just a job for her – it’s an important part of her life.”

Arc GLOW, formerly The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming and Arc of Genesee Orleans, are family-founded agencies dedicated to helping people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities meet their full potential and find fulfillment in learning, personal relationships, employment, volunteerism, recreation, the arts, and more.