Eleversity

Padraic Collins-Bohrer serves as a Faith Community Inclusion Specialist at Heritage Christian Services, an Agency that supports people living with developmental disabilities in Rochester NY. He helps to connect people served by the Agency with faith communities of their choice, offers prayer, builds relationships, and provides support during times of grief, illness, and at the end-of-life. He is also a priest in The Episcopal Diocese of Rochester leading worship at Episcopal Churches across the Rochester area. Padraic earned his Master of Divinity Degree from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester and Diploma in Anglican Studies from Bexley-Seabury Episcopal Seminary in Chicago.

Sara Corona, ATR-BC, LCAT is a board-certified, licensed Art Therapist who has specialized in providing Art Therapy to adults with various disabilities including intellectual and developmental disabilities, dementia and traumatic brain injuries. Sara appreciates using the unique approaches of Art Therapy to help people overcome life challenges.

Amanda Dimino, MS, MT-BC, LCAT is a board-certified Music Therapist and a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist in New York State. Amanda has vast experience working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as with adults with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Amanda approaches music therapy with a person-centered focus, where strengths and unique abilities are highlighted and embraced.

Lauren Faggiano, MS, MT-BC, LCAT has been working as a board-certified music therapist for over 20 years. The majority of her time as an MT-BC, Lauren has worked with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Other clinical experiences include working with people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and adolescents with mental health diagnoses. Lauren has also worked as an adjunct professor at Nazareth College and coaches with the Roc Star Academy. Lauren has recorded and released 4 music albums over the last 20 years, all of which have been with her husband. Lauren and her husband play out with their band Lauren and The Good Souls, and often get their 2 children on stage with them.

Sherry is dedicated to supporting what means the most to people in their lives. Her career began as a direct support staff when she was 19 years old supporting individuals, their families and service providers of people with developmental disabilities. She is a passionate advocate for all areas of someone’s life and often heard saying ‘Remember the little things- are the big things’ when referring to interactions, personal care and relationships. Sherry understands that when supporting people with life’s joys and sorrows it involves collaborations with families/friends, faith communities and other supports. Now at 55 she continues to train staff members in Positive Support and Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention, welcomes new hires into Heritage Christian Services and shares the agency mission with teams throughout the WNY region.

With a Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology, Stephanie began her career in the schools, providing speech and language therapy to children in grades K-6. She came to Heritage Christian Services in 2005 and found her niche working with adults with developmental disabilities. Stephanie is especially passionate about Deaf advocacy, dementia care, grief support, and teaching. She has taught classes for Heritage employees and the community on topics such as sign language, swallowing disorders, and alternative/augmentative communication. As a member of the HCS Grief Support Team, Stephanie appreciates being able to come around people who are grieving with holistic care and support.

Recently retired from Heritage Christian Services, where she led the Faith Community Inclusion team. She currently serves three churches, as their coordinating pastor, in the United Methodist Church. She delights in the people she serves, and maintains her relationship with the people she supported at Heritage Christian Services. Lida is a very part time consultant advising faith communities and businesses regarding creating inclusive communities.
Lida is a graduate of Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan University and has a Masters of Theology degree. Her most useful class from seminary was spiritual Formation, where she learned to truly listen to people, no matter how they communicate.

Shannon Seddon, MA, BC-DMT, LCAT is a Dance Movement Therapist at Heritage Christian Services where she specializes in working with adults and children with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Other clinical experience includes providing Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) for those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury. Working individually and in groups, she works with a person centered approach recognizing the unique needs of each individual. Shannon is also an adjunct instructor at Nazareth University, Kinections and University of Rochester. She is passionate about the benefits of dance and enjoys seeing how this modality helps people cope with life’s challenges. Shannon received her master’s degree in Dance Movement Therapy and Counseling from Antioch University, New England and received her bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts from Wells College. She lives in Bloomfield with her husband and two children.

In Diane’s over 35 years’ experience of working with Heritage Christian Services she has led adventures to Ireland, and hikes in the Adirondacks. She also is the Artistic Director of “Heart of Dance” that involves people of all ages, ethnic back grounds and abilities who love dance. In her daily work, she has supported people going through health challenges and end of life care. She believes each person has a gift that needs to be shared. Diane loves her family, writing, hiking and dance. Her publications include one book on Friendship “Two are better than one” and a second one
called “Good Grief” helps in sad times to support those before, during and after loss. Both books are available on amazon.

Emilee Wolfe, MA, LMHC is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a Masters in Counseling and Community Psychology from The Sage Graduate School. She currently is a Behavior Intervention Specialist with Heritage Christian Services. In this role, Emilee supports adult individuals within the I/DD community that exhibit behavioral challenges that are associated with their mental health diagnoses. She has previous experience working in mental health settings such as rehabilitation clinics and non-profit organizations over the past 7 years. A major focus in her work has been providing support to individuals and their families dealing with substance use and/or mental health disorders. Emilee became a member of the Grief Support Team within Heritage Christian Services in 2023. Outside of her role as a Behavior Intervention Specialist, Emilee enjoys spending time going to rock concerts, gardening, camping, binge-watching documentaries with her three Shih Tzus she refers to as her “fur babies”, and spending quality time with friends and family.