10 Trudeau Truths with Program Coordinator Amy Stone
You know them as the educators, caregivers and leaders who work to keep everything running smoothly so that our clients at the Trudeau Memorial Center can have the best experience possible. But what are they like when they’re off the clock?
Here’s a chance to get a more personal look at the people who make up the team at Trudeau… 10 questions at a time.
Meet Amy Stone, who serves as Transition Coordinator at Trudeau’s Pathways program. With 4 years of dedicated service, Amy’s connection to human services runs deep and personal – inspired by her older brother Brian, who has needed various supports throughout his life. Growing up alongside Brian made Amy’s career path clear – working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities wasn’t just a choice, it was her calling. She knew she would serve this community; it was just a matter of finding the right role. Through her work as Transition Coordinator at Pathways, Amy exemplifies Trudeau’s commitment to supporting individuals with I/DD and their families, bringing both professional expertise and personal understanding to her role.
Read on to learn more about Amy in this edition of 10 Trudeau Truths!
10 Trudeau Truths with Amy Stone
1. What inspired you to pursue a career in human services?
My older brother, Brian, has always needed a variety of supports, so I feel like I’ve always been in the field. It was never a question to me that I would be working with people with I/DD, it was just a matter of in which capacity.
2. What do you find most rewarding about your job?
I always imagine my mom sitting in meetings by herself and probably feeling very overwhelmed and scared, so when I know I’ve helped a parent feel good about their child, their education, and where they will be when school is all done, I feel the best.
3. Can you describe a memorable moment or success story from your time working at Trudeau?
A memorable moment would be the first day I walked into the HR office building on Post Rd., once I was hired and saw the plaque outside the door that has my grandfather’s name on it. My Brian did EI with Trudeau years ago and our grandfather held a fundraiser for Trudeau, and it was a great moment for me to come completely full circle and be working here as well!
4. What’s something about people with differing abilities (or working with them) that you wish other people knew or better understood?
The language we use to refer to the people we help to support is important and makes a difference. Also, always coming from a place of presuming competence and practicing the least dangerous assumption when working with someone is vital.
5. What’s your favorite way to spend a weekend?
I spend most of my weekends at fields and courts-soccer, baseball, flag football, basketball-it doesn’t matter. My 2 boys are at all of them! When I’m not driving them from field to field, I like to read and cook dinner with my husband.
6. Favorite book, movie, and/or TV show.
Still a huge fan of Friends and Schitt’s Creek. I’ll read anything by Elin Hilderbrand, Jennifer Weiner and James Patterson.
7. Do you have any pets?
Cooper is my 13-year-old Australian Labradoodle-he was our first baby that we got a week after we got home from our honeymoon.
8. What’s your favorite food?
Cheeseburgers. Or anything we order out from for lunch on a Friday!
9. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Fiji and staying in one of the over the water bungalows. Can’t imagine anything being better!
10. What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?
I’m an extremely picky eater and I’ve never had any type of candy bar other than a plain Hershey’s milk chocolate bar.
Photo Captions:
L: Amy’s family including her sons and husband
R: Amy’s dog, Cooper
