Unity House Tompkins County IRA Contact: Paul Marron 315-258-9531 X213

Unity House Tompkins County IRA Contact: Paul Marron 315-258-9531 X213

Residents Win at Access Athletics

ITHACA – When it comes to building confidence and self-esteem and enhancing one’s integrity, participating can be more important than competing or winning. That certainly was the case for Ed West, Mike Griffin, Darlene Baker, and Craig Prentice.

The four adult residents of Unity House of Cayuga County Inc.’s Individualized Residential Alternative (IRA) on Sheffield Road in the Town of Enfield in Tompkins County traveled to Denison Park in Corning, NY this summer to take part in that city’s annual Marge Lewis Memorial Access Athletics event. One of several programs sponsored by the Southern Tier city’s Parks and Recreation Department, the special-Olympics style event drew about 100 developmentally disabled adults from Tompkins, Steuben, Chemung, and Schuyler counties’ agencies and residences similar to Unity House and its Sheffield Road IRA.

“This is a really great, great event free to agencies like Unity House of Cayuga County Inc. and our IRA residents because it offers us and them a chance to participate regardless of disability,” said Sheffield Road IRA Program Manager Jason Santobianco, overseer of that residence’s programs the past year. “For Ed, Mike, Darlene, and Craig, the event tied in nicely to our focus of teaching our residents the skills necessary to live independently and to build positive social relationships. Participating in the different parts of the event definitely fosters those skills.”

Corning Parks and Recreation Department Manager Chris Pashley said the athletic event is named in honor of Marge Lewis, a Corning physical therapist who worked with developmentally disabled consumers of all ages and who championed an athletic event for disabled adults at a time when such affairs were held only for children and adolescents.

“She was an incredible volunteer who with another woman started the event and then pulled in the parks and recreation department to help organize and run it,” she said. “It became such a good event we eventually assumed all the work associated with staging it and we have it every year now.”

Santobianco, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in marketing with a minor in economics and accounting from Mansfield University in Pennsylvania and who helped enroll the residents in the event and transport them to and from it, said the day started with a parade of all the resident athletes holding their residence and/or agency banners. The competition was then kicked off with track events, including the 25, 50, and 100-yard dashes that featured several separate heats for each race to accommodate individuals who can run on their own; who need to use adaptive devices or receive staff help; and who use self-propelled wheelchairs or powered wheelchairs. Following a lunch break, field games were held throughout the afternoon, he said.

“Our residents took part in the morning track races and all of the afternoon games, from fly casting to long jumping to the bean bag toss to tennis to basketball hoop shooting to hockey and lacrosse shooting,” Santobianco declared. “They even participated in the soccer distance and accuracy shooting, golf, softball throw, and Frisbee toss. It was truly Olympic-style in that there were many, many events that held everybody’s interest and attention.”

He added that Corning’s Parks and Recreation Department staff assisted at each and every event, to ensure every one had a chance to participate.

“Our residents were super,” said Santobianco, who spent nine years as a city of Corning recreation leader and youth hockey director before joining the Unity House staff. “All six of our Sheffield Road residents like to participate in community events, and our staff provides them with plenty of opportunities, such as frequent attendance at local concerts here in Ithaca. We also try and have a barbecue once a week at the residence or an area park where we cook for them.

“The Access Athletics proved to be as great an experience for Ed, Mike, Darlene, and Craig as any they’ve had so far. They were just beaming all day at being able to take part and be recognized for their efforts. They are part of our great group of residents at Sheffield Road. Experiencing their happiness at the event is just another reason why the staff and I enjoy helping these terrific people.”

Unity House of Cayuga County Inc.

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