Beyond Inclusion: Hiring People with I/DD & the Flourishing Work Environment

Wilfred has been a resident of Colorado Springs since June 2001. He has 30 years of experience leading non-profit organizations that provide services to individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Wilfred holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management in Human Resources and an Master’s Level Certificate in Disabilities Studies from the City University of New York.

In Wilfred’s previous position with Booz Allen Hamilton, he provided training and technical assistance to non-profit agencies’ management teams as a Grantee Specialist. Wilfred’s area of expertise is program Design and Management.
Wilfred considers one his greatest achievements to be the opening of a Boys & Girls Club of Cheyenne in the low-income neighborhood where he grew up. The Boys & Girls Club of Cheyenne now serves over 3,000 youth members in Cheyenne, WY.
As the Executive Director of The Arc PPR, Wilfred is honored to be leading The Arc PPR to new heights, as the Building for Change Inclusive Personal Development Center becomes a reality.

Tonia is a Colorado native who is very inspired by beauty, especially when it is captured in writing, dance, nature, or relationships. After studying communications and Spanish at Colorado State University, she moved to Colorado Springs with her husband, Daniel; they have one little boy – Logan. Tonia enjoys using creative, strategic thought to enhance The Arc Pikes Peak Region’s communications and day-to-day operations, benefiting those with I/DD and their families. Tonia recently earned a degree in dance in ministry and community outreach, and she had the opportunity travel to India to present a paper and teach. When she is not working, you can find Tonia spending time outdoors with her family, reading and writing in a great coffee shop, or sweating it out in a ballet class.

Andy Kwiatkowski is a junior at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) majoring in Communication-Digital Film/Media Arts and minoring in Business-Information Systems. At 18 years-old, he directed the award-winning documentary, Lonely Highway, under the guidance of the Youth Documentary Academy (YDA). This short film is an intimate portrayal about growing up with an autistic disorder, as Andy, his parents, and his sister reveal deeply personal accounts. Andy volunteers at The Arc Pikes Peak Region creating marketing videos, and emcees The Arc of Larimer County’s annual film festivals. He recently completed an internship with Wish of a Lifetime, establishing a virtual art show to showcase various forms of art created by seniors in Colorado. In his spare time, Andy enjoys watching movies, drawing comic strips, collecting Hot Wheels, and exploring the Colorado mountains.