EMPLOYEE OF THE 2011 SPRING QUARTER
Amy Block has been chosen as the Westview Employee of the Quarter for the spring of 2011. Amy started as a coach at Westview in October 2008 at Hy-Lond Home in
Garden Grove, where she was greatly appreciated for her contagious happy personality, dedication to the service of her clients, and many talents. Being a violinist, it was natural for Amy to incorporate music into the client activities, so she implemented the Synchronized Bell Ringing class, which met with great success. She even organized a Bell Ringing class made up of clients from different programs to participate in the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Sports Fest.
Because of the need to have an extra coach regularly available to fill in at our
Orange
County programs, Amy joined the team of Westview’s Orange County Operations in May 2010 as a floating coach. Amy is available for whatever program needs her, so her daily routine is naturally very diverse. One day she will be working with clients needing assistance in all their activities of daily living and the next day she will be transporting and leading other clients in their scheduled activity of a community-based program. And this suits Amy just fine because she just loves to serve in whatever way she is needed. She has the kind of positive attitude that every program manager loves to see in their staff. This is why she is admired and respected by our managers, coaches, and clients.
Westview salutes Amy for her dedication to our clients and her willingness to do whatever is necessary to make their lives better.
Amy, Westview thanks you for all you do!
Three Westview Nominees Receive RCOC Spotlight Awards
Westview had three of its nominees selected as recipients of the RCOC Spotlight Awards for 2009. These awards are presented annually to individuals or organizations "who stand out as role models of selfless service and dedicated advocacy in working with people with developmental disabilities…”
Virginia Rangel, a client of Westview’s Supported Employment Program, was honored with the Consumer Award. Virginia has distinguished herself as an employee of Home Depot in Huntington Beach since 1992. Virginia was featured on Fox 11 news on September 1 as a part of its Jobshop series. Virginia’s accomplishments extend even beyond the setting of Home Depot. She has been instrumental in working through Home Depot’s Community Service Program to provide special projects for different Westview programs. With Virginia’s help, Home Depot installed a bocce ball court and landscaping at Westview’s Starlyte program in Westminster and provided garden plants for Westview’s Community Arts program in Anaheim, Daystar program in Fullerton, and Starbright program in Santa Ana.
Virginia helped start a new chapter of People First at a Westview location and is its current president. Through People First, she has been a leader in promoting self-advocacy for people with developmental disabilities and has helped instill within them a sense of community and political awareness. She has also helped grow the organization by making other consumers aware of the possibilities within themselves.
Khanh Troung, coach of the Garden Grove program, was the recipient of the Frontline Award, which recognizes an "individual whose direct service to people with developmental disabilities has demonstrated exceptional ability to enhance the life of one or more RCOC consumers.” Mr. Troung has consistently demonstrated his readiness to go above and beyond in serving his clients and Westview, including making hospital visits when his clients were ill, helping his clients and their families on his own time during weekends, serving as a Special Olympics volunteer, and mentoring new coaches.
Home Depot was presented with the Employer Award, which recognizes "exceptional leadership and creativity in expanding integrated employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.” Home Depot employs fifteen Westview clients at its various stores in Orange County and is a forerunner in recognizing that disabilities are not barriers to one’s ability to work productively and conscientiously. Home Depot has also given back to the community by providing plants, landscaping, and a bocce ball court to various Westview Orange County day programs, significantly enhancing the quality of life of Westview’s clients with more severe disabilities.
Westview is honored to have its nominees selected as recipients of the RCOC Spotlight Awards and congratulates them on receiving these most deserving awards. We thank them for all they do in showing us the meaning of selfless service.