Being ethically-driven is crucial to Kathy Wilmot’s work as a Physical Therapist. From the first clinic service, she asks individuals “who do you come to therapy for?” She works to make them realize that therapy is for them, not their family or staff, and believes that too often individuals with disabilities are underestimated. Letting people experience the satisfaction that comes from hard work being paid off is critical to her work, and she finds that the sense of pride and self-worth that comes from that accomplishment is the best thing about her job.

Outside of the disability community, Kathy believes that all people have the ability to find purpose, value, and something in which they excel. She holds this philosophy as a self-proclaimed fast-pitch softball junkie and coach. When she’s not participating in sports, she enjoys time spent with her husband of 22 years, three children, and two pooches.

The ability to collaborate with the clinic team, no matter the discipline, is what John Camilleri finds to be most important in his role as an Occupational Therapist. This team approach allows each clinic to provide the most comprehensive care possible. With his work at The Arc Madison Cortland clinic, he has discovered his niche in working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. John finds success in treating people with respect and compassion, focusing on their strengths to optimize mobility and function. He also believes that, in the future, this aging population will have an increased need for therapy services.

John was born on the island-nation of Malta in southern Europe before growing up in New York City. Now in upstate, he feels privileged to work with a great group of colleagues and a variety of individuals. When he’s not working, he loves attending rock/heavy metal concerts and maintaining physical fitness.

Being part of a great clinic team and connecting with individuals with disabilities is crucial to Kimberly Maykish. As a Physical Therapist, she believes in a very functional approach to exercise, helping people do as much as they can for themselves. She understands that each person needs a balance of knowledge and encouragement to reach wellness goals. Her methodology lies in discovering what each wants to achieve, taking into consideration likes and dislikes, respecting opinions, and then explaining the plan and asking the individuals to participate.

To Kim, it is important that people never feel as though they are “less than.” As a first-generation American, she loves giving back. She has used her hobbies of crocheting, knitting, and weaving to sew and distribute more than 1,550 masks since the start of the pandemic.

At work and in his personal life, Eric Yarah relishes in “creating happiness” for others by establishing one-on-one connections. As a Physical Therapist, he feels a strong bond with his clients, helping them overcome the adversity of life and aging throughout his tenure. He designs personalized treatment plans that provide attainable goals based on each client’s neurological or orthopedic limitations and concerns. By incorporating fun and joy into PT interventions, Eric stimulates motivation, effort, and skill development for individuals with disabilities.

Eric enjoys the friendly, family atmosphere of the clinic, and has developed many meaningful relationships in the last decade of working. Outside of work, he spends time with his twin teens, Colden and Annaliese. He is an outdoor enthusiast who loves mountain biking and hiking in the Adirondacks, and has completed the 46 highest peaks in New York.

Supporting the disability population in overcoming physical, cognitive, and sensory challenges is what motivates Jennifer Bailey as an Occupational Therapist. To help maximize each client’s functioning, she analyzes the activities he/she would like to be more independent in. She begins by listening to a person’s goals, both verbally and non-verbally, establishing a plan to get there, and then works with them every step of the way. Her advice for building fine motor, sensory, strength, and cognitive abilities is to be kind, consistent, and always hold onto hope.

Jennifer appreciates The Arc Madison Cortland services not only for the people she supports, but also for her youngest son who has an Autism diagnosis and developmental delay. As a highly-caffeinated mother of four, she loves spending outdoor time with family, visiting the Adirondacks, and dabbling in photography.

Communication is a fundamental skill that we all take for granted, but is the foundation of Kim Bush’s career as a Speech-Language Pathologist. She helps individuals with disabilities effectively communicate by the method that works best for each person. She finds that patience and relationship-building are the most important tools she has in supporting those who struggle with communication in their everyday lives. The use of telehealth during the pandemic has also been an amazing asset for Kim, as she has been able to be creative in conducting therapy, while also maintaining meaningful connections.

Kim finds much reward in her career, having established real relationships with clients and staff of all of The Arc Madison Cortland’s Article 16 clinics throughout the last 18 years. Along with her husband and two children, Evelyn and Maren, she also enjoys playtime with her new Golden Retriever puppy.

Using music and games during therapy sessions, Patricia Ehlinger has sought unique ways to motivate her clients. As an Occupational Therapy Assistant, she finds it important to be creative and think outside the box when trying to maintain the strength and skills individuals possess, while working to boost movement and function. Though each day comes with a variety of challenges, she has built a good rapport among the clinic, nursing, and program staff, which has helped her brainstorm ideas for positioning techniques and ways to treat individuals with developmental disabilities.

Prior to joining The Arc Madison Cortland team, Patricia found success working at Upstate Cerebral Palsy for 30 years. Beyond her meaningful work, she loves family time, sunshine, traveling, and concerts, and boasts a memorable meet & greet with musician Bruce Hornsby.

Kindness, respect, and smiling are the cornerstones of Heidi Futia’s approach to being a Physical Therapy Assistant. Often, she finds success in her therapy sessions by sitting and listening to individuals vocalize frustrations. Independence is the common goal, and she works with those with disabilities to improve and maintain their physicality, so that they can do things like walk without a cane. She is an avid believer in the power of music, and plays clients’ favorite requests, which she finds boosts their mood and helps them respond better to treatment.

As a mother to two adult boys and four large-sized furbabies, Heidi knows about building strength inside and outside of work. She is an advocate for personal safety, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t up for adventure. She loves time spent on the water kayaking, or simply taking in the views from her new home on Lake Delta.

Maintaining a calm, friendly demeanor is Hank Terchowitz’s approach to working with individuals with developmental disabilities. As a Physical Therapy Assistant, he believes this brings out the best in his clients. By treating people with dignity, he is able to provide them with confidence in their abilities, while also celebrating what they once thought was impossible. His main goal is that clients leave the clinic a more independent person than when they first sought care, and hopes that the entire healthcare community realizes what a crucial population those with disabilities encompass.

When Hank isn’t providing physical therapy, he can be found doing mechanical work, or partaking in his own sort of musical therapy as an enthusiastic guitar player and Dave Matthews Band fanatic.

Seeing the smiles on her clients’ faces, and laughing with them along with the way, is what Sherry Komnick loves best about being an Occupational Therapy Assistant. She feels a sense of accomplishment in her work by demonstrating respect and treating individuals with disabilities as equals. She consistently tries to stay ahead of the curve by learning new strategies and techniques. This provides clients with increased independence and the tools to be successful in their therapy, and more so in their everyday lives.

Before her work with The Arc Madison Cortland clinics, she worked for several years at the Herkimer ARC. Beyond therapy, she loves cooking and watching her twin teen boys play sports.