Staff Spotlight: Mary Donahue

Mary Donahue, Ph.D., BCBA-D, is the Director of Psychological Services for AHRC New York City’s Educational Services Department and Adult Day Services Department. When Mary was 13 years old, she began working with kids at Catholic Charities Day Camp, where she had her first exposure to working with people with disabilities.   At age 16 she began working with AHRC’s Camp Catskill, where she worked as a Camp Counselor for 7 consecutive summers. She then completed an undergraduate degree in Education. Although Mary loved education, the field of Psychology appealed to her because it provided a means to interact with people one to one. After completing graduate school, Mary began to provide Direct Support for the Adult Day Services Department. Over the years, she filled various roles at AHRC, including Program Supervisor, Assistant Director, and periodically, Acting Director. After obtaining her doctorate, Mary’s career at AHRC moved in the clinical direction. Since the early 90′s Mary has acted as the Director of Psychological Services. Outside of AHRC, Mary teaches Applied Behavioral Analysis (also known as ABA,) in the Graduate School of Education at St. John’s University .

 

Based out of Cyril Weinberg Adult Day Center in Queens, Mary often travels between facilities, working on short-term projects, such as developing staff trainings and presentations, meeting with families and staff across departments to develop person-specific strategies and supports as needs arise. In her more than 25 years at AHRC, Mary has witnessed many changes in individuals that one can only see over a period of time. “[It] is really lovely because you form these bonds and long-term relationships. You can see tremendous progress! In one case we had an individual who, when she came to us, was so physically aggressive and self injurious – banging her head into walls. More of her day was spent having outbursts than not. And now, she might have a bad moment like that a couple of days out of the year, so you see a lot of those really great outcomes, which is nice. .Sometimes you see the sadder side of it. I’ve seen people who were really very vibrant who now have dementia, or others who I have known over the years who pass away,” says Mary.

Mary also chairs the Human Rights Committee, which is a group of AHRC professionals including the Medical Director, advocates, and parents who meet once per month to discuss issues specific to individuals served by AHRC New York City programs. “It’s a committee of people who share ideas when we’re working with folks who have really challenging behaviors,” says Mary. “Whenever there’s a behavioral question or a behavioral crisis, I am involved in either trying to consult and help, or to review behavioral plans and policies.” The committee reviews individual behavioral plans with the goal of providing care, while maintaining services in the least restrictive manner possible, mindful of the individual rights of people receiving services.

AHRC New York City has become a leader in the provision of services for individuals who fall on the autism spectrum. Mary Donahue and professionals across AHRC departments are working toward new goals in this area, with the goal of attaining the status as a center of excellence in the field of autism services.In order to achieve these goals, AHRC continues to implement the use of alternative communication devices and the Picture Exchange Communication System, (PECS), the use of visual supports and TEACCH while increasing staff training initiatives and assisting staff in obtaining higher level credentials. “As the population of people with autism has grown, and as the level of expectations has risen among families, we’re looking to expand the programs, especially for the adult population,” says Mary.”We’re always looking to see what we can improve.”

AHRC New York City thanks Mary Donahue for sharing her expertise, and for her years of dedication to improving the lives of people with disabilities.