During a March 18 graduation ceremony at our Chappaqua headquarters, Ability Beyond celebrated 10 employees who completed the E-Badge Academy in 2024-25. The national certification program for direct care providers has been made freely available to select New York agencies through a competitive grant program.

This is the second year in a row that Ability Beyond has participated in the program, offered in partnership by the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) and the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).

“We are grateful to NADSP and OPWDD for providing our staff with this opportunity to learn and grow,” said Rachael Kaiser-Levitz, Talent Development and Training Manager at Ability Beyond. 

The 2024 cohort of direct-care staff was able to access coursework virtually, strengthening their professional skills in alignment with industry standards; and gaining certification in core competencies such as communications, person-centered practices, evaluation and observation, safety, advocacy, and crisis prevention and intervention. 

“What I’m learning from E-Badge, I’m actually applying right away in my work,” said Life Skills Instructor (LSI) Shontella Ellick. “That’s different from my experience with training in the past, at different agencies. Here I can put my skills to use, and see a difference in the way I talk and carry myself—not just at work, but also in my personal life.” 

Head of the Class

Shontella came to Ability Beyond in June 2024. Within six months, she had been promoted from a site-based LSI to a “floating” LSI in Community Habilitation (CommHab), meaning that she works with folks outside of the home, accompanying them to the gym, the grocery store, medical appointments, and more. 

“I’m helping them live their everyday lives,” she said. 

Shontella was a part-time employee until she learned about the E-Badge program, which at Ability Beyond is designed for full-time staff. That’s when she decided to lean in with Ability Beyond, to advance her education and her career. Now, she is the first person at the agency to complete all three E-Badge modules for direct support professionals in less than two months. At the same time, she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Lehman College, with a double minor in Disability Studies and Health Administration. 

“I see E-Badge as another course for me—the training, studying, and readings I have to do,” she said. “What I’m learning in E-Badge is also useful for my degree.”

Empowerment through Education

The E-Badge Academy represents a coming-together of local insights, from organizations such as Ability Beyond; the national perspective of the NADSP; and state-level investment in community from the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).

OPWDD funded NADSP to facilitate the program with national grant dollars for workforce development. In turn, Ability Beyond was able to offer its careforce a paid opportunity to learn.

“In the end, the E-Badge Academy allows us to provide a higher level of care to the individuals we serve, by empowering our staff to gain more knowledge about people with disabilities, the field itself, and how they can evolve their approach,” Rachael said. “Staff who graduate from the E-Badge Academy also become role models and mentors in the agency.”

Personal and Professional Growth

Shontella said the E-Badge Academy has empowered her professionally and personally, as someone with an intellectual developmental disability. 

“It feels so rewarding,” she said. “Reading, writing, and speaking were a challenge for me. It took me many years to hold a proper conversation without stuttering or getting stuck. I found a welcoming community at Ability, and now I’m fortunate enough to speak up for myself and use my voice to advocate for the people I serve.

In just a few months, Shontella will celebrate another graduation:  from college. Her ultimate goal? To be her boss. 

“I’ve always been a frontline worker, but the experience I’m having with E-Badge will broaden my horizons,” she said. “I’d love to manage CommHab one day. Since I started, Ability Beyond has given me numerous opportunities to pursue things I wasn’t even considering. Things I never thought I’d be qualified for. But my managers, Tamika and Donna, have given me so much support. When I hear about their success, it drives me to want to do more.”