This summer I had the opportunity to work with Pathfinder Village, a community that provides support for individuals with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities. Their mission is to promote a healthy, progressive environment that respects the individual and supports a life of value and independence. Originally established in 1922 in Edmeston, NY, Pathfinder Village is now a 300-acre organization, including a private school, summer camp, residential and clinical facilities, and a research center. Pathfinder is a national leader in their community-based services. I worked directly with the Kennedy-Willis Center (KWC), which is Pathfinder’s center for advocacy, research, and education. The KWC serves as an independent advisor for Council Rock, which is a self-advocacy group run by adult men and women who live at Pathfinder. Members of this group meet weekly to discuss equal access, independence, and volunteerism.
My project this summer focused on raising awareness and building community bonds for Council Rock specifically. I worked with Pathfinder Village’s head of marketing to rework the Council Rock website. This included adding photographs that I took at meetings and reorganizing the information to better communicate the message and achievements of the group.
I also compiled a mailing list of 125+ local businesses, civic organizations, and schools. This list was used to send out a Council Rock postcard to spread awareness about the group and encourage future volunteerism. Finally, most of my work this summer centered around planning a community-wide event using grant money awarded from the Community Foundation of Otsego County. I conducted research into the best venues and activities to facilitate building community bonds and stay within the grant budget. I encountered several barriers in the planning process, but eventually executed a rock painting event at a local coffeehouse. This was built around Pathfinder’s existing #DsRocks campaign, a global celebration where people can show support for those with Down syndrome through positive messages on handpainted stones. The event’s ultimate goal is to raise awareness of the abilities of children and adults with Down syndrome and their roles in our communities, while also connecting Council Rock members more personally with their surrounding area.
I hope my work this summer has helped to communicate to the local population about the importance of self-advocacy and Council Rock’s mission. As the group continues to operate, I hope my contributions will serve as a platform for more collaboration, awareness, and support for self-advocacy in the future. I have personally learned and grown a lot from this experience. Primarily, I have learned about Pathfinder's important role in their community. This was my first time working directly with individuals with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities, and I found the experience incredibly fulfilling. As a psychology major, I am in the process of figuring out exactly what I want to do in the future. I used this summer experience to explore different ways of using my Psychology degree to help others. I learned about the importance of inclusivity and self-advocacy and gained valuable skills in effective communication and problem-solving. These skills will be invaluable as I finish my time at ÏãÃÛÓ°ÊÓ and focus on my future career.
Thank you to Pathfinder Village and the Upstate Institute for this incredible opportunity.