Karen Babik walks through life with blinders on. She can clearly hear dreams and aspirations and even simple preferences, but she cannot see disabilities.
And after 25 years of service to the Frank Olean Center, many of those living with disabilities have realized their dreams because of Karen’s innate blinders.
“We – and by we, I mean society in general – all have to go beyond the disability and learn about the person,” Karen said when asked to discuss her time in the profession and at the Olean Center specifically. “Just ask. Find out why, how come, what’s bothering you, what do you want to do today? Everyone we support is a brother or a son or a daughter so treat them like any family member with respect when it comes to their preferences and needs.”
That concept of blinders to disability comes through in conversations with Karen’s co-workers as well.
“Karen is a strong advocate for honoring human rights and choices,” said Human Resource Director, Tina Cherenzia, who has worked at the Center for 41 years and has watched as all staff have adjusted to changes in the field. “She trains our new employees on choices and rights, and she ingrains in the staff the need for our participants to make their own choices and to allow them to create their own opportunities. Karen wants everyone to be heard and to determine what their life looks like.”
Karen has served in just about every role at the Center, starting as a part-time supervisor in the “workshop,” where individuals were paid on a piecework basis by companies in the area. It was a shocking introduction to the state of affairs in Rhode Island after working for Seabird Enterprises in Connecticut where participants provided food services in the community.
“I was shocked to see a workshop with 60 to 70 people in a room, but after a while I came to appreciate that some enjoyed working there and earning money,” she said, pointing out that self-direction for some can mean being part of a controlled group setting.
She has been a Coordinator for just about every program including Day Services, Senior Supports, STEPS Team, and Employment Team and served as a Direct Support Professional in the Residential Program.
Karen currently oversees daily operations in adult services of the Center but also serves as a Team Coordinator supervising Direct Support Professionals along with her close colleagues, Brenda Burroughs, Gina Blair, and Tabitha Brennan. All four also work directly with participants. In addition, Karen oversees the Olean Center Human Rights Committee, reviewing incident reports as an internal investigator to ensure that state protocols are in place when an incident arises.
In that role, she also trains staff in how to recognize abuse and neglect.
“The participants are the whole reason she’s here – it’s not just a job for her,” Gina said. “She wants to be sure they’re living their best lives. And for all of us, she’s a bright light; she’s always singing and making a song out of anything – when she’s not singing a Bruce Springsteen song!”
As a program director, Karen has proved to be compassionate, professional, and accountable. In the interim between executive directors, Karen was overseeing all operations.
“Before Ruth started, Karen was spearheading everything because she knew so much about the Center’s operations and she handled it very well,” Brenda said. “I have the old paper and pencil mentality, and she’s been patient in teaching me technology. Sometimes I push back, but she takes the time to explain why it’s important and why I need to do it. She’s very professional when it comes to things like that.”
“Karen wears many hats and can handle any situation,” Tabitha said. “I admire the support she gives her team and the agency. She can take on any situation, and we’ve all gone to Karen for different advice over the years.”
That dexterity and support was on full display when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
The Olean Center went from providing day services at the site to closing its doors and going to community-based support and activities. It was a direction that everyone was working toward and supported – and a direction the state was pushing in order for such agencies to be in compliance with their certifications.
This “least restrictive setting” approach has made inclusion and community-based support the norm.
“COVID may have brought this change quicker, but the core beliefs of the Olean Center were always based on a person-centered and person-choice concept, and we continue that today,” Karen said. “We already had a Residential Department and Employment Department, so we had many participants who had already made the choice not to be physically in the Center.
“I think we’re in a good place now, but we can always get better. There’s still growth and education for some of the DSPs and some of the participants to get to that ‘aha’ moment,” Karen said, describing an event or even just a conversation that brings personal choice to the forefront.
“If we just asked the question and learned more about an individual, we might just get to that ‘aha’ moment sooner.”
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