MAKING A DIFFERENCE
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BLUE DOT COMMUNITY’S BIG HEART
BY RUTH CRAWFORD
C hrissy D’Amico grew up in Spring Lake and loved the tight-knit community at her fingertips. At seventeen, she interned at Family Resource Associates, a nonprofit supporting adults with disabilities, carving her path as she became an Occupational Therapist with the sole mission of returning to work with the adults there who so positively impacted her life. AN IDEA Blue Dot Community started as an idea during D’Amico’s time in graduate school. She saw the significant need to provide services for adults with disabilities after they graduate high school and to improve community connections. She wanted to create a space for community- based therapeutic services so everyone can access the close community she was surrounded by growing up. IT TAKES A VILLAGE D’Amico was joined by Lauren Payer and Kaylin Torres, both Special Educators. Their expertise combined with unwavering belief and dedication has helped develop an organization that is making strides towards a more aware, inclusive, and productive community. Blue Dot’s progress is measured by members achieving a goal, a local business owner providing an opportunity for inclusion, a smile caused by an act of kindness, and the organic connections happening in our wider community. A COMMUNITY The Blue Dot Community uses opportunities, such as volunteering, to connect with and give back to
Photo by Chris Atwood
“We want to embody the meaning of that. To help promote a world where our Community Members not only feel like they belong, but that they feel celebrated and supported.” D’Amico expresses. YOU CAN HELP Businesses, individuals, or families can become Social Sponsors. Follow Blue Dot Community on IG and other socials at @blue_dot_community. Reach out and get involved!
In addition, they partner with local businesses to better help the community understand and embrace Blue Dot members that are so heavily involved in the organization’s endeavors. BLUE DOT The organization’s name, Blue Dot: Social and Community Wellness, came from a Carl Sagan passage, “Look again at that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us. On it, everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you’ve ever heard of lived out their lives.”
A NEW SPOT This spring, Blue Dot celebrated their one year anniversary and opened a second location on Main Street in Belmar to continue increasing therapeutic services and community connection. “To bring services into the community, and for the community to have so positively embraced us has been the greatest blessing,” says D’Amico. The Belmar location includes a market with handmade items with all sales going back to their program. Blue Dot also hosts inclusive, local dance parties and social gatherings.
the community, while working on vocational, social, and cognitive skills. They spread light to others, knowing it will enhance someone’s day while improving the mental health for the Blue Dot community members as well. As a primarily state-funded organization, they strive to keep services accessible to all Blue Dot Community Members. They knew the need was great when they started. However, they are now realizing just how vast the gap is for adults with disabilities having access to services.
12 July 2024
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