May, 2024

We want to inform and connect with the entire Job Path community

 so we are all on this path together.

JP participants expand the world at NYU

Jack C. one of the Job Path participants who contributes to the NYU class.

For the past four months, several Job Path participants have been part of a unique class at New York University’s prestigious Tandon School of Engineering. 

Experiential Disability Studies, taught by Dr. Allan Goldstein, covered topics including universal design and disability history, activism and advocacy, and brings together traditional students and participants from disability social service agencies.

While other agencies have taken part in the class since its inception in 2013, this was the first year for Job Path’s involvement.

“The goal of the class is to expand the world of people living with disabilities, but also to expand the world of Tandon students to see that living with differences is natural,” says Goldstein, a longtime disability rights activist and author of the book Fred and Me, A Willowbrook Survivor’s Story.

In the course’s final project, groups of NYU students paired with one of the disabled participants to create a mini documentary on that person’s life, as the syllabus puts it “to make the invisible, visible.” 

“People learn about other people by working with them, and that’s where the bonding is,” says Goldstein. The group project with Job Path’s Jack C. centered around a routine day in his life, including footage of him - taken at wheelchair height - attending his poetry class and running other errands. When an early version of the footage was aired during a recent class, Jack said he has enjoyed the process.

“I got to meet a lot of people,” he said. Rusty H., another Job Path participant, says he has enjoyed learning more about disability history and adaptive technologies.  

“What I liked about the class is to get to meet people and see interesting presentations,” he says. His group’s project centered around his Arabic language skills. 

During the class, NYU students also gave solo presentations, including one by Anna Fridman on accessibility in museums. 

“It’s been an amazing class,” says Fridman, who is majoring in game design. “Reading about differing perspectives, activism, and history about the disabled community has definitely led me to a deeper understanding of both others and myself.”

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Now that it’s May it’s safe to say we are fully into Spring! It warms my heart every year when the cold and gray of winter is replaced by the return of flowers, warmer breezes, and longer days.

At our recent Spring Benefit we celebrated the past as we acknowledged our 45 year history but we also looked toward our bright, sunny future, and in that spirit I’m also happy to share with you the highlight reel video we created. I hope you enjoy it! 

Our Board of Directors are professionals - both within the world of disability services and from other fields - who provide Job Path with oversight, guidance, and expertise on issues of finance, programs, governance, planning, policies, and staffing.

Matthew Heintz

* Joined the board in March, 2024

What type of work do you do?

I am the Head of Strategy for Wealth Management Solutions at JPMorgan. Wealth Management Solutions creates and manages all the products, services, and platforms that are sold through the wealth management channel across the wealth spectrum, such as investments, deposits, lending, retirement, mortgages, insurance, brokerage, and trusts & estates. As head of strategy, I focus on four things: growth strategy, cost efficiency, M&A / strategic partnerships, and client meetings

Do you serve on any other boards, or give back in any other ways to other groups, causes or charities?

At work, I am a leader on the DEI council, focusing on the retention pillar. I view that building and maintaining a diverse workforce is both a moral imperative, and is necessary for the success of the business, as diverse teams have been shown to lead to superior business results. I also do several related initiatives, such as mentoring junior staff members and leading trainings.

Outside the organizational sphere, I also volunteer as an admissions interviewer for my business school alma mater, where I not only reset my career trajectory but also forged enduring bonds of friendship that continue to enrich my life to this day.

What do you feel is your greatest strength that you bring to the board?

Strategic Leadership - where I can help Job Path leadership formulate and execute long-term strategic plans and visions. Financial Acumen - given my background in financial services, I can help bring this knowledge to budgeting, financial planning, etc. My network and connections can be leveraged for fundraising and partnerships

What things about JP's mission and work do you find most compelling?

The convergence of autism and employment resonated deeply with me. My wife and I both have family members on the autism spectrum, and we’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges they face in securing meaningful employment. In addition, we’ve also observed the transformative impact that gainful employment can have on their overall quality of life.

Upon meeting Carly Teichman, other members of Job Path’s leadership, and fellow board members, my excitement grew even further. Their friendliness, passion, and the substantial impact they’ve had on the community convinced me this was an organization I needed to join.

* A previous version of the newsletter did not include Mr. Heintz's name.

As part of our efforts to highlight and celebrate the great diversity within our Job Path community, we will be featuring racial, ethnic, cultural, and identity pride commemorations here each month.

May

Haitian Heritage Month: Haitian Culture Day May 11, Flatbush Junction @ Hillel Plaza. Click here for details.

Jewish-American Heritage Month: Click here for the Mishpachah Festival at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, May 12.

Mental Health Awareness Month: NAMI walk and street fest, May 19 @ South Street Seaport. Info here.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: On Saturday May 25 check out historic Chinatown parks and monuments. Info here.

Staff Spotlight

Carl Fetus

Job Title: Supported Living Residential Coordinator 

Years at JP: New Staff

Favorite things about JP: My favorite thing is this sense of "Intelligent Kindness." By that I mean the willingness to mentor, the commitment to responsibility, and the invitation to be yourself, all harmonizing into a work culture. I have yet to make it into a definite and comprehensive picture, but I am sure when I do, it will continue to motivate me to give Job Path the best of myself whenever possible.

Things no one knows about you: I love boxing and penmanship. I used to spar with friends in high school when I should have been hitting the books. It's a part of my transition into adulthood I carry quietly with me for reflection. The weird thing is I don't really care to watch matches. As for penmanship, I love scrolling through penmanship accounts and envying the sheer determination of some hobbyists to improve something that most would find uninteresting, or at the least temporarily interesting. I am sure my internalization of Eastern philosophy on flow, and Western philosophy on eudaimonia contributes to these.

Something you are reading right now: Currently, I am reading Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford. I just finished One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and after Genghis Khan, I am going to read Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle. Holla at me if you've got some good reads! 

Skills that helped you while working at JP: I studied Communication Design for undergrad and really spent my time honing in on UX/Product Design. I also did design bootcamp afterward and I would say the skill I have to implement the most is "Problem Identification/ Definition." It can be tricky to identify what is wrong and just as difficult to put it into words, so it helps you understand it in such a natural way that the solution becomes just as organic. I've been flexing the identification/definition part of my brain a lot since I've been here, which feels nice.

Staff Anniversaries

Special recognition to staff who celebrated their anniversary at Job Path in April. Thank you for all of the contributions that you have made over the years in making Job Path successful.

Yvette Williamson - 16 years

Margot Berson - 14 years

Karen Waltuck - 12 years

David Chen - 10 years

Anton Krupa - 3 years

Michele Borg - 2 years

Erin Vlasak - 2 years

Arissa Whittaker-Ramdehal - 2 years

Brian Godshall - 1 year

Alden Welles - 1 year

Job Path supports people with autism and other developmental disabilities as they find jobs, live in their own homes, and become involved in community life. To learn more, visit our website.

We created this video for our 2024 Benefit, but it's a perfect celebration of what we do!