In case you’ve missed it, we’ve spent the past few months profiling some of the people who make what we do at Turning Point, Inc. possible. While they don’t do it for applause or accolades, they really do make a difference every day and we think that’s something worth celebrating.
Check out some of our recent employee spotlights that showcase the heart and soul of our organization. Who knows? You might be inspired to join our ranks, make a donation or help spread the word about our programs and services.
As we continue to raise awareness about our mission, we are happy to feature our Program Manager, Deanna Bowen’s personal journey that brought her to Turning Point, Inc.
In her own words…
How it Started
I first worked at TPI back in the mid-late 90’s, while I was still in college. I started off as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) doing overnights before becoming an Assistant Program Manager (APM) and then Program Manager at Locust Street.
I loved that job and stayed in touch with the individuals and life long friends that I met while working there. Fast forward to 2017 and I was asked to come back as a Program Manager at one of the Deaf Group Homes in Amesbury.
I fell in love immediately and was able to learn ASL (American Sign Language) fairly quickly as it was important to me to be able to connect with the individuals and staff.
How it’s Going
Working for Turning Point, Inc. does require somewhat of a selfless spirit and providing services to those most in need can be an uphill battle. This is especially true in the face of persistent nonprofit budget cuts and struggles to secure adequate staffing.
The question then becomes how does someone like Deanna stay motivated on a daily basis? In her words, seeing is believing and that belief is enough to energize her efforts and inspire her to continue inspiring others.
“Seeing the gentlemen succeed and gain independence in their daily lives while assisting them in engaging in activities that are important TO THEM. Seeing the smiles on their faces and joy in their days as evidence of our hard work and dedication; seeing them succeed and not be stifled or told that they are unable to do things.”
Of course, some days stand out more than others…
An Indelible Experience
Back in 2019, one of our deaf individuals who also has Down’s Syndrome, expressed a very strong interest in getting a real tattoo. There was a lot of backlash from others, saying that this is not appropriate for him due to his disability.
We were inundated with remarks like, “He won’t understand how painful it is going to be.” “He doesn’t understand that it’s permanent.”
I could go on and on.
With the assistance of my APM and staff we helped educate JI on tattoos by bringing him to a huge tattoo conference where he could talk to other deaf folks in the community about their experiences getting tattoos, and what it feels like to get one.
JI continued to express interest in getting John Cena’s signature tattooed on his bicep. I was able to locate a deaf tattoo artist in Derry, NH, and we booked an appointment.
Ultimately, JI got his tattoo. The smile on his face during the whole process showed the pride and independence he felt by being able to achieve this. It was one of my greatest days being with him during this and he has since gotten one more tattoo!
While this story is fun and inspiring, it barely scratches the surface of what Deanna and the TPI team make happen for those they serve every single day.
Delivering a Daily Impact
The goal of TPI’s efforts is to help those they serve gain independence and be able to express themselves in ways that they want to express themselves. We encourage independence and equality for all. Our calendar of community outings is planned to suit everyone's different wants and needs. The bottom line is all of our clients want to live the same lives as all of us with as much independence and choice as possible.
While not a tall order in theory, it takes the right support and funds to realize these hopes and wishes in real time.
How Can You Help?
We are working in an extremely underfunded field and that is not getting any better. Donor contributions are central to outings and celebrations for our individuals. Financial support ensures our individuals have everything they need and that they are cared for by dedicated staff who sometimes cannot make their own ends meet, but still come to work everyday because they love what they do.
On that note, we’re always looking for enthusiastic candidates to join our team in a job that truly matters.
Granted, with many people struggling financially right now, we realize not everyone can make a monetary donation and that’s okay! We always welcome donations, whether in the form of goods, time, or effort at any of our community events.
Curious to learn more about Turning Point’s impact on our community? Contact us today!
