The language we use to describe ourselves and others has lasting implications. Language preferences are personal, especially as terminology evolves within the disability movement to accurately reflect individuals’ unique strengths and challenges. Recently, some have shifted away from the term ‘nonverbal’ in favor of ‘nonspeaking’ to describe individuals who use modalities other than speech to communicate.

On a cold Wednesday in November, The Guild School’s kitchen is a whirlwind of activity: one student pops a pan of cheesy pigs-in-a-blanket into the oven while another cleans up the countertops. More student chefs are putting the finishing touches on a second tray, taking care to wrap each appetizer just right.

This month, we’d like to congratulate Guild staff member Benji Menard on his recent promotion to Pine House Manager. Benji has been with The Guild for five years, having served as Overnight Residential Staff, Residential Assistant, and Assistant Residential Manager with Dogwood House, and most recently as the Lead Residential Assistant with the Woburn I adult house. We sat down with Benji to learn more about his journey with The Guild:  

In October, The Guild celebrated National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). NDEAM reflects the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement. Throughout the month, the national #NDEAM campaign aimed to educate the public about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.

Whether we’re in the middle of the action, hanging out on the sidelines, or watching from home with friends, sports foster community-building and a healthy sense of competition. The connection between sports and positive life outcomes has been well documented.

On Wednesday, October 13th at 7 p.m. The Guild will be hosting a live book reading event via Zoom featuring authors J.M. Crawford (mother of a Guild adult resident), Choices, and Nicole Donovan, A Life Suspended.

As part of Direct Support Professional Recognition Week, each day last week we highlighted a different DSP and asked them a series of questions. Read on to get to know two more members of our incredible DSP staff!:

Abenaa Kwabena, Residential Assistant - Framingham House

When did you start working at The Guild?

Meet our DSPs!

In honor of Direct Support Professional Recognition Week, we're featuring DSPs throughout the week so you can get to know The Guild’s incredible staff members! Read on to learn more about two of our outstanding DSPs:

Norman Rutinwa, Teaching Assistant

Everyone deserves to trust that their medical providers will treat them with dignity and respect and follow the highest standards of care. Unfortunately, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are chronically underserved and consistently let down within the healthcare system.

Last fall, The Guild posted a practicum project opportunity with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, focusing on gaps in psychiatric services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experiencing mental health crises. Practicum projects help advance the work of the host organization as well as provide a real-world learning experience for a Master's student.