WORCESTER’S LINDSEY DEZOTELL PRESENTED CONTINUING EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Employee of Venture Community Services Cited for Outstanding Work From Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers

Worcester’s Lindsey Dezotell from Venture Community Services has won the Continuing Education Scholarship Award from the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers. Dezotell received her award at the ADDP Lead! Conference and Expo on May 4 at the DCU Center in Worcester. The $1,000 grant is given to human service workers dedicated to advancing their education.

Dezotell has advanced from Residential Counselor to her current position as Staff Trainer, where she guides new staff and continues to encourage them in their new roles. Lindsey also is a full-time student at Bay Path University, where she pursuing a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership. She is passionate about investing in families and working with people with disabilities.

“In her entry role, as a 19-year-old, Lindsey quickly demonstrated a hunger to gain more knowledge about bettering the lives of the people around her,” said Walter J. Davenport, Training Coordinator at Venture Community Services. “Because of her willingness to share her own learning disability, Lindsey was able to support me in creating a work environment that allowed team members to become more sensitive to fellow co-workers with disabilities, as well as the disabilities of the people we were supporting”.

“There are hundreds of thousands of people living with disabilities in Massachusetts who rely on support to provide a wide variety of critical services that allow them to live more independent live,” said Gary Blumenthal, the President and Chief Executive Officer of ADDP. “Lindsey’s commitment to affect change in the human services world shows how a little support can be very important to the lives of many.”

The Framingham-based ADDP is committed to ensuring, strengthening and promoting the viability of community-based organizations that support people with developmental disabilities and their families. www.addp.org

Venture Community Services is committed to providing compassionate, person-centered services that assist individuals and families in reaching their goals. What began as an organization with two small group homes has grown into one of the largest human service providers in Massachusetts, and with over 700 employees, one of the largest employers in the Worcester County area. Venture encourages independence through a continuum of support which includes community residential services, day programs, supported employment, transportation, autism supports, adult foster care, and shared living.  www.venturecs.org

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