New director takes the helm at two Living Innovations' offices

McCloskey has long history of assisting people with developmental disabilities

For immediate release, Dec. 10, 2007

LEWISTON and AUGUSTA, Maine - Living Innovations, an agency that provides in-home and community support to people with developmental disabilities, has announced a new director for its Lewiston and Augusta offices.

 Kate McCloskey has been chosen to direct the programs and services offered in each of those offices. The Augusta office just recently opened in November and became Living Innovations' eleventh location in New England. In Maine, the agency focuses on optimizing the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities and health or behavioral needs.

"This is my passion. It's necessary to ensure services are responsive to people.  My goal is to support people with disabilities in leading their life in a way that they choose," said McCloskey. "It's also important to me that caregivers and loved ones are  also supported in their roles." 

McCloskey speaks from the heart and is no newcomer in the field of developmental disabilities. She discovered her calling in graduate school at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she worked in the psychology department with a rehabilitation program and supervised undergraduate students who provided applied behavior analysis services to children and adults. She then moved on to work for the state of Nevada at its Rural Regional Center, which offered community services to people with developmental disabilities.

A transition to Maine found McCloskey working at the state's Office of Elder Services, but a job opening at Living Innovations allowed her to get back to what she loves doing most - working with people with developmental disabilities and teaching others to do the same.

"A lot of times, people with disabilities are not supported in having a future of their choosing," she said. "I like helping people figure out where they are going to go and how to get there. I am excited about my new role with Living Innovations because I will be able to support and teach our community living coordinators in partnering with people, regardless of ability, in defining personal futures and putting supports into place to make those futures reachable."

For information about Living Innovations, its services or locations, visit www.livinginnovations.com. You may also call the Augusta office at 622-4350 or call the Lewiston office at 786-9928.