DOVETALES - Arc of Greater New Orleans

THE ARC OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS
DOVETALES
ARC AWARDS BANQUET 2005
T
he Arc of Greater New Orleans recently held it’s annual Awards Meeting in
the Education Building in Audubon Park. Employees, employers, Board
members, consumers, volunteers and friends all shared a wonderful evening
reminiscing about the events and success of our 52nd year of service. Outstanding
individuals were honored for their achievements and members of the community
received appreciation awards for their work for The Arc. Long time employees
received cherished Arc gifts in recognition of their service to the organization.
Our thanks to Director of Administrative Supports, Michelle Chaisson, and her
staff for organizing the festive event and to Chef Bruce Holland and the Vintage Garden
Café for providing the delicious buffet dinner.
5 Years
Anne Baker
Bris Campbell
Cheryl Cook
J’Val Dapremont
Sonya Gaines
Elnora Green
Sandra Hall
Cynthia Jones
10 Years
Yvette Balser
Gladys Butler
Deidre Chapman
Shelia Murphy
Donna Stall
Joyce Williams
Ne’Take Wolfe
EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH
Thomas Gaffney
Shirley Blanche
Deidre Melancon
Deidre Beslin
Marie Singleton
Taryn Taylor
Milton Batiste
Jane Wilson
Toni Smith
Doretha Brumfield
ARC SERVICE AWARDS
15 Years
Lisa Phillips
Tom Weckwerth
20 Years
Harold Lacoste
25 Years
Gladys Stewart
30 Years
Tom Barnes
Linda Marshall
Professional of the Year, Milton Batiste, with
Operations Director Bris Campbell.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Officers:
Duane Superneau
President
John Rigney
Secretary
Directors:
Charline Baudier
Bill Boustead
Daryl Childress
Maura Hawkins
Dale Higgins
Marlene Laboureur
Jennifer Lenz
James Maguire
James Wilson, Jr.*
*Board Intern
Ernest Cook, Emeritus
Cliff Doescher
Executive Director
S UMMER 2005
1953-2005
Celebrating
52 years of service
to people with
mental retardation.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Community Awards 2
In The Spotlight 3
Articles 4
Ask The Expert 5
Donations 6
Members 7
Golf Tournament 8
Board President
Marlene
Laboureur
presents 30 year
awards to Tom
Barnes, Director
of Employment
Services and
Linda Marshall,
Direct Support
Professional
Marie Singleton,
Employee of the Year,
accepts her award
from
Cliff Doescher,
Arc Executive
Director.

P AGE 2
SUMMER 2005
AWARDS BANQUET 2005 (CONTINUED)
Vital Service Award
Project H.E.L.P. Evacuation Team
Professional of the Year
Milton Batiste
Employers of the Year
Delta Administrative Services
Ye Olde College Inn
Employee of the Year
Maria Singleton
Project H.E.L.P.
Presidential Award
Lydia Cassio
Lifetime Achievement Award
Parent’s Co-Op
Past President’s Award
Marlene Laboureur
Recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Parent’s Co-Op
representatives Gloria Blum and Charline Baudier accept their award
from Cliff Doescher, Arc Executive Director.
David Lawrence from
Delta Administrative Services
accepts an Employer of the Year Award
from Bris Campbell, Operations Director
and Cliff Doescher, Executive Director.
Cliff Doescher, Arc Executive Director and
Tom Barnes, Director of Employment Services,
present the Employer of the Year Award to
John Blancher (center) of Ye Olde College Inn.
Jana Maurice and Patricia Maurice, members of the
Project H.E.L.P. Evacuation Team, accept the Vital Service Award
from Cliff Doescher
Community
Appreciation Awards
Brent Barrier
Toni Tanner Castillo
Causeway Police Charitable Foundation
Chalmette Medical Center Auxillary
Crown Buick GMC Pontiac
Eustis Risk Management Resources
Goldring Family Foundation
Kehoe France Student Body
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
New Orleans Group of the Sierra Club
Northrop Grumman Ship Systems -
Avondale Operations
Adriane Spencer
UPS
Dr. Patricia Ventura

DOVET ALES
P AGE 3
IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT THE ARC
S TEPHEN
TRICK
Sometimes
patience is
a virtue,
w h i l e
o t h e r
times it
can simply
lead to
delays. In
this case,
Stephen learned that if he was patient,
and persistent, that he could
achieve his dreams. He learned
persistence with regular visits to
apply for a job at Lee’s Hamburgers.
He learned patience while waiting
for an opening. Most importantly
this lead to his success, a job
offer. He applied these same qualities
when he decided that he
wanted his own home. In the last
four years, Steven has moved from
unemployed to securing his job,
renting his apartment, to finally
purchasing his home. He completed
a required Home Buyer Education
class and received his certificate.
He moved into his new 2 bedroom,
2 bath condominium in June of
2004. Stephen is an inspiration to
others.
ALAN CASTLE –A few years ago,
Alan seemed to have little idea
what he wanted to do and appeared
to be unhappy much of the time. As
community activities were developed,
Alan began
to get involved
and began
to try new
things. He tried
bowling, horseback
riding and
canoeing. He
began to take it
to heart when he
heard us say he had a choice. He
started telling us what he wanted to
do and asked if we could change
his schedule. Alan has developed
into a man who knows what he
likes and is able to speak up for
himself to achieve it. Now he
works 3 days per week and still
has time for bowling and basketball.
Alan is now reaching a higher lever
of enjoyment in his life.
COREY WILLIAMS-Corey has
worked on The Vintage Garden
Farm since October of 2000. During
this time, he has mastered many
of the planting, feeding and harvesting
skills, and has proven himself to
be an excellent and capable employee.
He is a consistent and hard
worker, and a terrific person to be
around. He not only does his job
independently, he also notices when
someone else is having trouble doing
something and will jump in to
help or teach them how to do it. He
notices things that need attention
and will notify supervisor of them.
He is someone that we count on to
be there and to do things right. Not
only is Corey’s approach to his
work excellent, he is kind, funny
and a truly valued member of the
Farm team.
RICKEY MATAYA- Rickey has
achieved much in the three years he
has been with us. Work and making
a paycheck are very important to
him. However, our crews weren’t
suitable for Rickey so he settled into
doing a variety of our contract work.
He did this work well, but was never
satisfied. Over time, Rickey became
aware of the
kitchen crew and
began to talk to
them to learn
about their jobs.
He asked if he
could work in the
kitchen and was
given the opportunity
to be a
substitute worker. Because of his
hard work and initiative, Rickey became
a regular scheduled employee in
the kitchen. He is described as a role
model for his co-workers. Rickey had
a clear idea of what he wanted and
found a way for himself to achieve it.
JOAN FAGOT–Joan comes from our
Schindler Center in St. Bernard Parish.
She is a very
active person
who likes to participate
in all
sorts of activities.
Joan is on the
Schindler Advisory
Committee
and is active with
The Arc’s Aktion Club. Joan enjoys
reading the newspaper, watching the
news and sharing this information with
her friends at Schindler. Joan spends
between 30 and 40 hours per month
doing volunteer work in the community.
She especially likes volunteering
at two different senior centers. Because
of her many achievements, her
welcoming personality, and her willingness
to undertake any project, Joan
is truly deserving of an Achievement
Award.
KEVIN DAIGLE– Kevin has been employed
on an Arc janitorial crew since
1990. His attendance
has been
nearly perfect
during this time.
Kevin is always
cheerful and is
always willing to
help. Many new
employees have
noted that if Kevin were able to drive,
he could manage the crew himself! He
knows what is supposed to be done at
each site and makes sure it’s done
correctly. Kevin is an asset to The
Arc’s janitorial business. He is a
model of dedication, loyalty and commitment
to his job.
All of the individuals featured in this
article were honored at
The Arc’s Awards Banquet
and received a
Certificate of Achievement
and a small monetary award.

P AGE 4 SUMMER 2005
COUNCIL OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES CONFERENCE
By Dr. Carol A. Jeandron
Director of the Office of Service Learning,
Loyola University, New Orleans
Jane Wilson, Associate Director
of The Arc’s Individual Options
Program, recently attended the
Engaging Communities and
Campuses Conference at Mount
St. Mary’s University in Maryland
at the invitation of the Council
of Independent Colleges
(CIC). Representatives from 20
colleges nationwide that had expertise
in service learning, internships,
teacher education, science
research, or nursing were invited
to participate including myself,
Carol Jeandron, director of
Loyola University New Orleans’
Office of Service Learning. In
addition, CIC requested Loyola
select a community partner to
attend. Loyola’s Service Learning
Advisory Committee selected
Jane Wilson as the ideal participant.
Loyola’s Office of Service
Learning was established in August
2001. The program connected
with The Arc of Greater
New Orleans immediately. Service
learning combines community
service with classroom instruction,
focusing on critical,
reflective thinking as well as
civic and personal responsibility.
While meeting actual community
needs and addressing issues of
social justice, students gain valuable
hands-on experience that
enhances their educational goals.
Jane and other members of the
staff thus serve as co-educators.
Jane also currently serves as an
active member of the university’s
Advisory Committee.
The topics discussed at the
two day conference, which was
funded by Atlantic Philanthropies,
included the strengths of
experiential education, institutional
capacities, student capacities
and using the community as
text. Jane’s perspective and experiences
and those of the other 4
community partners were extremely
important in these discussions.
Congratulations to Jane Wilson
for being selected to attend
this prestigious event and for representing
The Arc so well.
IRS OFFERS DEDUCTIONS GUIDANCE FOR SPECIAL-ED EXPENSES
By Tom Herman,
Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal
A recent ruling by the Internal Revenue Service may
help ease the financial pain of families who shell out
large amounts to pay for a child’s special education.
The so-called private-letter ruling helps clarify the
IRS view on a murky area:when special-education
costs, such as tuition, means and lodging, may qualify
as deductible medical expenses. A private-letter ruling
applies only to the taxpayer who requested it and isn’t
supposed to be cited as precedent. Even so, tax advisors
say it is a useful illustration of the IRS’s thinking-and
could come as a pleasant surprise to some parents.
The ruling involved payment on behalf of two children
diagnosed as having “disabilities caused by medical
conditions, including dyslexia, that handicapped
their ability to learn.” The school offered the children a
program of special education designed to help them
deal with their “medical handicaps” and move on to
study in “regular school.”
The taxpayers had asked the IRS to agree that they
could deduct their tuition because the school is a
“special school”. The IRS replied that isn’t the standard
under the law. Instead, it said: “Deductibility of tuition
depends on exactly what the school provides an individual
because a school can have a normal education program
for most students, and a special education program
for those who need it. Thus, a school can be
“special” for one student and not another”.
The IRS concluded that both children were attending
School X “principally to receive medical care in the form of
special education”-and that their tuition was, indeed, deductible
as a medical expense. That is an important nuance,
tax specialists say. “The gist is that a school doesn't have to
be attended exclusively by children with learning disabilities
in order for tuition to be deductible,” says Martin Nissenbaum,
national director of personal income-tax planning
at Ernst & Young. Instead, tuition and other costs may be
deductible “for just those learning-disabled children who
participate in a special program in a regular school-as long
as participation in that program is their principal reason for
attending school.”
The IRS ruling emphasized several other points. For example,
a physician or some other “qualified professional”
must diagnose a “medical condition requiring special education
to correct the condition” in order for the education to be
considered medical care. While the school itself doesn’t
have to employ physicians to provide the special education,
it must have “professional staff competent to design and
supervise a curriculum providing medical care.” Furthermore,
conquering the learning disabilities “must be a principal
reason for attending the school, and any ordinary education
received must be incidental to the special education
provided.”
The IRS offers general tips in its Publication 502 on
medical expenses.
Reminder: Medical expenses generally are deductible
only to the extent they exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross
income.

DOVET ALES PAGE 5
ASK THE EXPERT
By Dr. Duane W. Superneau,
Director, Genetics Services of Louisiana, LLC
and member of The Arc since 1982, currently serving as
President. This column is a special feature in each issue
of DoveTales.
Why Ask Why?
Whenever an infant is born with a defect or is
found to have mental retardation, a natural reaction is to
ask , “Why has this occurred?” A thorough search for
the cause should be made. At least half of the time a
specific cause is identified. However, for the remainder
a specific cause is not found. In this latter instance, parents
can be left unsatisfied because they do not know
why their child was afflicted. It remains important to
continue to ask “Why?”.
There are three reasons to pursue an answer:
1. If a specific cause cannot be found, information
can be given as to what can reasonably be excluded
from having caused the problems. After doctors thoroughly
search for the cause and obtain a complete understanding
of the nature and type of defect(s), certain
conclusions can be reached.
2. A thorough search for causation is likely to
show that no additional abnormalities are present that
require care and attention. By excluding certain specific
disorders, other concerns that can accompany those specific
disorders can also be ruled out. Families and individuals
can be reassured that problems are not necessarily expected
beyond those problems identified. (If a specific
cause were found, then appropriate health management can
be planned, and any associated problems can be identified
and treated.)
3. Scientific advances give us answers to problems
that we may not have in the past. Continuing to ask
“Why?”, allows opportunity to apply new techniques and
procedures to attempt a specific diagnosis. Advances in
genetic studies and in understanding the mechanisms that
result in congenital defects and mental retardation allow a
greater number of disorders to be diagnosed and understood.
There is a final note. Individuals with developmental
disabilities, whether the disability is physical or
functional, may hold the key to unlocking some of the
mysteries of nature. By attempting to understand why defects
occur, scientists are in a better position to offer care
and treatment to everyone. Who knows what benefits may
derive when we seek to explain and understand “Why”?
The contributions to humanity by those families and individuals
undertaking such efforts may remain unknown,
unappreciated, but nonetheless, significant!
D r. Superneau welcomes your questions.
Please send your questions to Dr. D. Superneau,
The Arc of Greater New Orleans,
5700 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70115
Parent’s Co-Op Names
Phillips Award Winner
Individual Options staff member, Shirley Blanche,
received the Parent’s Co-Op Raymond C. Phillips
Memorial Award. Pictured with her is Paul Mesch,
Director of Individual Options.
At the recent Parent’s Co-Op awards luncheon, Shirley
Blanche received the prestigious Raymond C. Phillips Memorial
Award.
Ms. Blanche was selected for this honor because of her
commitment and dedication to providing quality services to
individuals with disabilities as well as her commitment to her
own family. After putting in a full 8 hour day at The Arc, caring
for and transporting consumers, Ms. Blanche goes home
to care for a 106 year old aunt, 2 grandchildren and her husband
before going on to her night job where she provides care
through the night for another person with a disability.
“Despite this arduous schedule, Shirley always appears to
be cheerful, has a smile on her face with kind and encouraging
words for all. She has an amazing positive outlook on life. We
are proud and honored to have Shirley as an employee.” said
Paul Meche, Director of Individual Options.
Congratulations to Shirley Blanche for a well deserved
honor.

P AGE 6
SUMMER 2005
Donations (through June 30, 2005)
Our thanks to all those who were kind enough to remember The Arc in their United Way donation.
Emile J. Babin, Jr.
Ralston S. Barnes
Kathryn Laborde Bell
Billie N. Blessey
Dominic J. Cammarata
Donations were received in memory of:
Michael J. Casteix
Gus Chabaud
Rosemary V. Douglass
Anna Felix
Nicholas Hazlaris
Thomas J. Heier, Jr.
Charles Lanaux
Commodore T. J. Lupo
Thedore Mace
Archubald L. Melcher
Donations were received from:
William V. Redmann
Ruth Ann Stevens
E. Bruce Street
George Stringer
Aurelin B. Villarrubia
Ms. Jane Apffel
ASAP Foundation
Ms. Ana Maria Boada
Kathy Bullinger
Ms. Vanessa Burst
Anthony Caprera
Causeway Police Charitable Foundation,
Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Coleman
Bea Cottingham
Crane Rehab
Ms. Phyllis Ditta
Ms. Kim Ducote
Ms. Angela Edgerson
English Turn Homeowner's Assn.
Vickie Fernandes
Knights of Columbus
Fr. Francis X. Seelos Council 2878
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Gaffney
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Gambino
Ms. Susan Gauthier
Mr. Frank Giovingo
Ms. Mary C. Greenlee
James Gsell
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Higgins
Mike Ippolito
Arlene Jones
Ann Kallauner
Kehoe France Student Body
Ms. Lisa Kellar
Kelly Temps
Mr. Byron Kives
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
LA/SPCA
Renee Labadie
Joy Lewis
Mrs. Rina Lobo
Loyola Riverboat Committee
Mr. Kenneth Mangum
Geneva Marney
Ms. Peggy Martin
Ms. Dorothy Martin
Mrs. Mary Maynard
Marie Mischler
Jules Montegue
Peter Monteyne
Mr. David Morantez
Mr. and Mrs. Jan Andrus
Mr. Brent Barrier
Mrs. Lois Adams
Jack Neelis
New Orleans Hornets
Ms. Julie Periou
Ms. Sandra Phillips
Jimmy Reese
Roger Rodriguez
William A. Schultz
Mr. & Mrs.Raymond J. Scioneaux
Serria Club New Orleans Group
Sisters of Mount Carmel
Southern Electronics Company
Splash Land Corportation
James Thompson
Darnelle Toups
Vickie Tran
Trinity Episcopal School
Mr. Thomas Vaccaro
Mr. & Mrs. George Wax
Mrs. Edward Wegmann
Ms. Leslie Dodd Weiler
Stephanie and Thad Westholz
Mr. and Mrs. John Wolfe
Stephanie Zitler
Be sure to check out our web site www.arcgno.org
For up to the minute information on events at The Arc,
join our Yahoo Group at infoarcgno@yahoo.com
OUR MISSION
The Arc of Greater New Orleans
is committed to securing for all people with mental retardation
the opportunity to develop, function and live
to their fullest potential.

DOVET ALES P AGE 7
New and Renewing Arc Members (through June 30, 2005)
Mr. Bruce P. Adams
Mr. George Alexander
Mr. Raymond Balser
Brian & Michelle Barkemeyer
Mrs. Christine D. Bass
The Becnel Family
The Bene Family
Mrs. Ellen Bennett
Mrs. Deborah S. Berry
The Bertucci Family
Mr.and Mrs. Daniel Bourgeois
Mr. Mitchell Brady
Mr. Andre M. Brooks
Ms. Abigail Burton
Mrs. Lydia Cascio
Mr. & Mrs. Melvin J. Coleman
The Coleman Family
Ms. Maureen E. Conolly
The Cornay Family
Mr. Robert Curran
Mr. Edmond Daigle
The Delgado Family
The Dey Family
Mr. Albert Dickinson III
Mr. Bernard Dolbear
Mr. Edward J. Dozier, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Emile J. Fallo
Ms. Mary B. Fuchs
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Gambino
Mr. Frank Giovingo
Mrs. Linda Gonzalez
Mrs. Mary Lou Gonazales
Ms. Mary C. Greenlee
Mr. Ronald Gremillion
Mrs. Bonnie Griffin
The Groetsch Family
Mr.and Mrs. Gerald Hack
Mr. John Haynes
Mrs. Sandra Hill
Mr. Donald R. Hotard, Jr.
Mrs. Evelyn Huber
Mrs. Julie Hurt
Ms. Eunice Hutchison
Ms. Angele E. James
Mrs. Beverly Jay
The Johnson Family
Ms. Janice R. Jones
Ms. Gwendolyn T. Joseph
The Keenan Family
Mrs. Josephine Koch
Ms. Kristen Labat
Mr. and Mrs. Kirby Lacour
Rep. Charles Lancaster Jr.
Mr. Norbert J. Lewis
Mrs. Rina Lobo
The Lonergan Family
Mr.Richard Louis
The Lovecchio Family
The Lowe Family
Mr.and Mrs. Charles Luke
Ms. Jocelyn D. Mack
The Maclies Family
Mr. Marshall Magee, Jr.
Mrs. Roxanne Manale
Mrs. Joyce Martin
Ms. Kathi P. McDonald
Mr. Marcio A. Mladenoff, Sr.
Mr. David N. Morantez
Ms. Verlinda A. Narcisse
Ms. Lori A. Neuport
Ms. Linda G. Nunez
Mr. Alex R. Pate
Mr. & Mrs. Leon H. Periou
Ms. Nancy G. Perret
Mrs. Darleene Peters
Mr. Robert E. Peyton
Ms. Sandra Jo Phillips
Mr. And Mrs. Joseph Provenzano
Mr. Art Ramos
The Reed Family
Mr. Mark A Ricks
Mr. Gerald L. Schroeder, Jr.
Ms. Mary Schulte
Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Scioneaux
Ms. Carolyn C. Seely
Ms. Jurene Smith
Mrs. Quantina Smith-Ruffin
Ms. Sandy Stauffer
Ms. Cindy G. Streva
Josh Tillotson
The Unkauf Family
Ms. Joy Van Buskirk
Mr. Charles Vincent, Jr.
Mrs. Kathy Walsh
Mr. James F. Walsh
Ms. Patricia D. Wax
Ms. Leslie Dodd Weiler
Ms. Patti F. Westgate
Mr. Joseph C. Wink III
Make A Difference...Join The Arc
Please mail to: The Arc of Greater New Orleans, Attention: Membership
5700 Loyola Ave., New Orleans, LA 70115
Name_____________________________________ Phone (H) __________________ Phone (W)________________
Address__________________________________________ City___________________ State/Zip_______________
The Arc is a 501( C ) (3) non-profit organization. Your donation is tax deductible.
Annual Dues
Self Advocate-$5.00____ Individual-$12.50____ Family-$15.00 ____ Saint-$50.00 ____ Lifetime-$200.00____
Please accept my donation of $________________

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
NEW ORLEANS, LA
PERMIT NO. 45
The Arc
of
Greater New Orleans
5700 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70115
Phone: 504-897-0134
Fax: 504-895-6496
an association serving people
affected by mental retardation
We’re on the Web!
www.arcgno.org
The Arc-GNO is a United Way Agency
The Arc-GNO is a member of
The Arc-GNO
Early Intervention Program
Employment Services
Individual Options
Supported Living
Personal Care Assistant
and Respite Services
are accredited by
THE ARC/UPS GOLF TOURNAMENT
O
ur
third annual golf tournament sponsored by our dear friends at
United Parcel Service will be held Monday, October 3, 2005 on
the beautiful greens of Bayou Oaks Golf Club West course.
Registration begins at noon with a shotgun start at 1pm. A box
lunch will be provided as well as an Awards Dinner following 18 holes of
golf. Refreshments and prizes are all included.
We will also feature an exciting raffle of golf
related items and much more.
Cost for the tournament is $100 per golfer.
Tournament sponsorships and hole sponsorships
are available. For more information or to register
contact Tom Barnes at 837-5105 or Lee Gaffney
at 897-0134. You can also contact us by email at
arcgnolee@bellsouth.net.
Hope to see you on October 3rd!
The Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission