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"Improving the lives of people with disabilities
through housing, employment and community support"

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Agency News and Information EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Ron Bickford By Christy Daskoski, Service Director March 28, 2008 Ron started working for Motivational Services on July 2^nd 1984 (almost 24 years ago!) He has worked in a variety of positions in DD services over the years and is currently a DSP Team Leader supporting two men who live their own apartments without 24 hour support. Ron loves the natural world, hiking and camping in the summer and snowshoeing in the winter. He also likes working with the land -old fields and forests, and he and his wife, Carlene are slowly renovating the farmhouse his father built back in 1935 on 90 acres of land in Oakland. Ron also just became a first time grandfather to William Edwin Bickford (pictured with Ron below) who was born on February 19^th. Imet with Ron and asked him for his perspective on services in our agency based on his long term employment by asking him these questions: Over the past 24 years what positive changes have you seen in Developmental Disabilities Services? The whole attitude toward providing supports has changed. We have learned that restraint chairs and timeout rooms didn’t help people to grow. We now recognize that when people present with challenging behavior, that behavior is communication and we do positive supports now – trying to understand the reason for the behavior instead of trying to control the person. How has Motivational Services changed over the past 24 years? The agency has grown to support more people and has more services. It also has grown in the use of technology. I remember when copies and typing had to be done by a secretary in Augusta and now we have internet and e-mail and do our own work. Also, it has continued to be a good agency to work for. As an employee I have always felt respected, treated fairly and have always gotten my paycheck. What do you think has been the most significant change in DD Services? The closing of Western Avenue Residence – although a very big change, it broke the link with the old patterns of having people with developmental disabilities live their lives in group settings. How has your employment in this field changed you? Before coming to work at Motivational Services, I worked for three years on a large dairy farm that also had orchards and was also in the ministry for ten years. Over the years, I’ve learned that helping others is what I want to do and I’m more confident in my ability to help people make decisions that will improve the quality of their lives. What do you like most about your job? I like having the freedom and support to try new ideas and that we follow the motto “Be fair, take a closer look and make things happen” in our work. Do you have any words of wisdom that you would share with new employees? Yes. If you have questions or are in conflict in your workplace, talk with someone who can help you with resolution – not with people who can’t. About Us Since 1976, Motivational Services has assisted adults recovering from significant mental illness living in the cities and towns of Kennebec County in Central Maine. We help people meet their basic need for improving the quality of their lives by providing opportunities for safe and affordable housing, employment, case management, recreation, and socialization services. We offer interest-free loans, rental subsidies, and payeeships to people in need of financial assistance to cope with the stress of their illness. Motivational Services is a not-for-profit corporation which conforms to the rules and regulations of the IRS Code Section 501(c)(3). For more information contact: Richard M. Weiss, Ph.D. Executive Director Motivational Services, Inc. PO Box 229 14 Glenridge Drive Augusta, Maine 04332-0229 Phone: 207-626-3465, 207-621-2542 TTY Fax: 207-626-3469 Email http://www.mocomaine.com

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