NICOLE OSBORNE
DSP of the Month/ February 2021

Nicole Osborne joined LEAP five years ago after family recommended the organization as a great place to work. Her manager says Nicole is a huge cheerleader for their team when it comes to participating in LEAP activities like the recent Healthy Wellness Challenge and taking individuals to community events like the ‘Haunted Car Wash’ last fall. Her peers describe her as crafty and willing to work above and beyond. They also note her good personal relationship with the individuals.

One of the most memorable experiences Nicole has had while working at LEAP was the trip to Camp Tall Pines a few years ago. She says the trip was enhanced by the level of accessibility the camp offered. One individual who primarily uses a wheelchair was able to take boat rides and do other things that aren’t always an option for them. “It was nice to see everyone truly relax and enjoy themselves in such a beautiful environment,” shared Nicole.

Outside of work, Nicole is very active coaching cheerleading and softball for the local middle school. She’s known for using her crafting skills to provide a warm and inviting environment at the Davis Road home.

 

DEB LECLAIR
DSP of the Month/ March 2021

Deb LeClair joined LEAP four years ago. Her peers describe her as individual-oriented. She makes sure each lady at FARE House is as independent as possible and gets them to try new things like activities and recipes. She enjoys getting the ladies to do crafts, dance, play instruments, exercise downstairs in the gym, go for walks, play basketball and more. Due to Deb’s hard work, FARE House’s tracking documentation improved and met expectations in the quality assurance review this year.

In her early days at FARE, Deb took an individual to the park where they became stuck on the steps of a slide. With her coaching, the individual remained calm and was able to fix the situation. Deb knew that this was a milestone that showed the trust she had earned from that individual.

Deb enjoys working at LEAP and knows she has found her place here. She shared, “I know that LEAP has my back when people need something, and they try really hard to make sure staff are happy.” Outside of work, Deb enjoys crafting, quilting, working with fabric, and just trying to be creative. She likes trying new things, exploring, hiking and other outdoor activities.

SARAH CARROZZA
DSP of the Month/ May 2021

Sarah Carrozza has been a Direct Support Professional at LEAP’s Our House program for four years. She is described by her peers as always going the extra mile. She ensures the house is well cleaned each shift and she stays on top of all the resident care. Sarah is also the med coordinator.

Sarah started working in the healthcare field because she likes caring for people. At LEAP, she knew she’d enjoy the opportunity to work with individuals with higher support needs. She wants to eventually work with children with disabilities.

One of Sarah’s most impactful moments at LEAP was assisting a supported individual through end-of-life care. She realized the importance of being there and providing comfort at times when their family was not able. This experience changed her viewpoint of end-of-life care and how important it is to go through that process with someone.

Outside of work, Sarah enjoys creating art, being outside and spending time with her family. She is really looking forward to attending live music events this summer as well.

VICTORIA GADJUKOW
DSP of the Month / June 2021

In her six years at LEAP, Victoria has worked at two other group homes and is well versed in various care needs and routines. Victoria was exposed to the healthcare field at a young age as her mother worked at nursing homes. She chose LEAP because she has always wanted to work with adults and children with disabilities.

Her manager says she goes above and beyond to support the people she works for – as well as her team members. She takes it upon herself to come up with interesting and varied activities for the people she supports to participate in.
After a very long year of safety precautions and constantly changing COVID-19 guidance, Victoria was able to watch one of her individuals visit with their mother for the first time in a year. This was especially impactful to her because she’s a mother of three young ones, and seeing that first hug was overwhelming. She knew that all the work she and her peers had put in for the past year was worth it. “To see them both happy and healthy is why I do what I do,” said Victoria.

SABRINA KENNEDY
DSP of the Month / July 2021

Sabrina came to LEAP as a walk-in applicant who saw the now hiring” sign as she passed the office five and a half years ago. Now she knows the work is rewarding and finds the most satisfaction when peers come to her for advice or guidance. She is very knowledgeable in ASL (American Sign Language) and can communicate using responsive dialog with the people she supports and other ASL speakers she encounters.

Her peers say Sabrina is always smiling and positive. They appreciate that she has been taking on grocery shopping for three homes during the pandemic. Her teammates say she is a wonderful DSP who works exceptionally hard, is incredibly knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with.

Lately Sabrina has found joy in the people she supports. One woman was recently able to get back to her favorite activities after a long hiatus due to COVID. She used sign language to tell Sabrina, “I’m happy!”.

NINA HAINES
DSP of the Month / August 2021

Nina Haines works for two home support programs and has been with LEAP since 2017, after taking a 20-year break from the human services field.
Nina’s supervisor and peers share with us that she is proactive in seeking out ways she can be helpful to others, and when she comes to work she is ready to dive in. She has a calm demeanor and is fun for the individuals to be around. Some of the activities she has shared with them include painting, gardening, fishing, and quilting (they made a John Deere quilt!).

The person Nina supports primarily is visually impaired and utilizes a braille machine. Nina has taken it upon herself to learn some braille and has helped this individual in making cards and writing letters to family and friends using his braille machine. They also have talking books and braille books that are enjoyed almost daily!

When she is not working, Nina takes time to quilt, do crafts and go out on her side-by-side. Oh, and her 2 cows, 2 horses, over 50 chickens and 18 ducks keep her plenty busy, too!