Page 19 - Success Story Newsletter Spring 2018

It's a Major Award!

Nicole has had a very challenging year. She received
a medical diagnosis that flipped her life upside down.
It required an intensive surgery and a complete
change in her diet. This meant recovery time and not
being able to eat some of her favorite foods (which
might have helped her feel a little better when she
was feeling down). If anyone has ever tried to change
their diet, you know how difficult it can be. All the
while, she still needed to overcome any challenges
her developmental disability presented. Despite
all the challenges laid before her feet, nothing was
going to stop her from reaching her goals.
Pictured above: Nicole, an Easterseals program participant
alongside an Easterseals staff member

Nicole wanted to take control of her life and make changes that would further her independence like
getting a job and improving her health. Her first step was to make an appointment with the Division
of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) to assist her in entering the workforce. She told staff that she
was interested in getting a job at a retail store. She is now training herself to become an attractive
candidate for employers and is excited to start applying for a new job.

Regarding her health issues, Nicole has also
been tackling those problems one step at a
time. After her surgery, she decided to focus
on her general health and wellness. She
understands the importance of eating healthy
and staying active, so she made remarkable
changes when it comes to preparing meals,
food shopping, and daily exercise.

All this hard work has paid off. Her efforts were
recognized by The New Jersey Association
of Community Providers (NJACP) in the
form of a NJSTARS award presented to her on Pictured above, from left to right: Shelley Samuels, Chief Program Officer at
Easterseals New Jersey, Valerie Sellers, CEO at the New Jersey Association of
May 1st, 2018. She, along with her staff, and Community Providers (NJACP), Nicole, Easterseals program participant
the Easterseals New Jersey’s Chief Program
Officer attended a dinner in honor of all the awardees. In addition to the fancy affair, and the
wonderful award, Nicole even got a chance to meet with New Jersey Senator, Daniel R. Benson. He
congratulated her for her hard work and for making New Jersey proud.

It is our privilege to work with Nicole. She is a wonderful person to know and her success is
inspiring. Congratulations and we can’t wait to see what you achieve next!

- Courtney Percy, Associate Director | Community Living Services Program | Pine Hill