What kind of event features an ice cream truck and crowds of people in matching sweatshirts? Widmy Leveille-Orion thought just that when she stumbled upon Springbrook’s Direct Support Professional (DSP) Appreciation Week in September 2023. Widmy had just dropped off her friend after church, as she did every week when the event caught her attention. Curious, she decided to investigate and spoke with some of the employees there including Michael Basso, Director of Marketing and Public Relations. Michael explained, “We told her about Springbrook and the work we do, encouraged her to apply, and, of course, made sure she got some ice cream!”
Widmy has always found opportunities to care for others, such as most recently working toward her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification. In the past, she enjoyed her work as a nursing assistant working closely with patients and deepening her understanding of practicing medicine. Now, she plans to continue her schooling and earn certifications to become an LPN.
Widmy applied for the position at Springbrook, and a few days later, she received an interview request at Blackstone Community Home in Binghamton, New York. The moment she arrived at Blackstone, she knew she wanted to work at Springbrook. “Dale Simmons, Day Habilitation Coordinator in Binghamton, opened the door and said ‘Hi, thank you for coming early, thank you!’ That, right there, just warmed my heart, and I thought, ‘I have to get this job.’” The rest, as they say, is history.
Once Widmy began orientation, her interest in Springbrook grew. She identified with Springbrook’s message of “putting people first.” Widmy’s warmth and dedication to leading with care and compassion are evident to anyone who spends time with her. During orientation, she learned about the importance of word choice and disability activism through various exercises and informational sessions. By the end, she felt informed and prepared to provide the best care possible to the people she would soon work with.
On Widmy’s first day at Blackstone, she kept busy. “I’m not someone who likes to sit still,” she said. She jumped into any work that needed to be done while learning as much as she could about the home and the people who live there. At Blackstone, they joked that she was always asking questions, “But how am I going to get to know people without asking questions?” she explained. Widmy is honored to be welcomed into the homes of the people she supports. She values learning about each person she works with because for her, “The best way to know how to support someone is to know them individually.”
This year, Widmy celebrated Direct Support Professional (DSP) Appreciation Week as an employee! The week holds special meaning for her because she explains, “It reminds me that people are thinking about the work that we are doing.” When she has a hard day at work, it helps to know how much her work is appreciated. By a stroke of serendipity, Widmy found Springbrook and she continues to use her gifts of kindness and care to exemplify the best attributes of a DSP. She hopes that everyone knows that, “Springbrook is a great place to work. The people we support deserve to have people who care about them beyond a diagnosis.”
Widmy’s story reminds us to be curious: you never know when you might find your next career or even free ice cream!