EASTHAMPTON — Over the course of her nearly four-decade career, Char Gentes has seen a positive evolution in the way society helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live rich, independent lives.
But things were not so “golden” early in her career, before the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. To illustrate the point, Gentes, who will retire early next month after 37 years at Riverside Industries in Easthampton, recalls what would have been the opening of “Golden Drive” in Northampton. At the time, three people living at Belchertown State School were about to move into a residence on Golden Drive. They were met with backlash from community members opposed to this transition.
“There was huge opposition. I remember being at the council meeting in Northampton and people were very angry and adamantly opposed. People would shout, ‘Those people can’t live here,’” Gentes said. “They had never met these women. I had just met them. They were really calm and sweet and probably in their 30s. But there was so much opposition that the house never opened on Golden Drive. It took years for those women to be placed.”
The ADA became law a short time later, prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the public.
Since then, Gentes said, there has been much more integration of people with disabilities into communities. Between that and a movement to educate and bring more of an awareness of individuals with intellectual disabilities, she said public perception and the field itself has come a long way.
“Things that happened then just don’t happen anymore. People are moving into communities left and right. They live and belong in a community. They’re being seen as who they are and people are working in the communities. They’re working at the supermarkets and small businesses,” she said. “That would have never happened 40 years ago when I first started.”
Gentes has dedicated 37 years to Riverside Industries, including the last 10 years president and CEO of the agency, which runs a host of programs out of its Easthampton headquarters designed to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live full lives.
Gentes’ career with Riverside began in 1981 after she obtained her master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from Springfield College. In that first role, she worked as the house manager for Maple Street, which was the name of a house that the agency previously owned as it provided residential services. In less than one year, she took on a role as a day habilitation counselor and spent three years in that role.
She also left Riverside for three years to work at Baroco Corp., another organization that provides services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
From there, Gentes saw an opening at Riverside, applied and was hired as the agency’s director of employment services in 1987. She also held roles as the director of the elder program and special projects for the president, and director for community relations and development.
Gentes said she’s been grateful to be a part of a movement — not only in Easthampton, but nationwide — that has helped people with intellectual and developmental disabilities integrate into society.
At the beginning of her career, she recalled individuals that were using Riverside’s services exhibit pure appreciation. Those that were institutionalized at Belchertown State School didn’t have the ability to make even simple choices on their own, she said. While deciding between a grilled cheese or a turkey sandwich might not seem like much to most people these days, for those who have never had that opportunity, it was pure joy, she added.
“I think seeing people gain rights — which they should have already had to begin with — is beautiful. Now they have opportunities for these privileges that we all have and take for granted every day,” Gentes said. “With the support of the staff here, we’ve had people play guitar, get out of their wheelchair and walk, play the piano — or even those who have learned to make a cup of coffee or write their name on their own. They’re working. Over the past 40 years, there’s been so much growth.”
Still, the job hasn’t been without its challenges. As a private nonprofit agency, establishing funding has been a struggle at times. The biggest challenge throughout Gentes’ tenure, however, has been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has had on Riverside.
The organization went from facility-based to completely remote and is still in the process of transitioning back. Currently, Riverside has 112 employees. To bring back all of its 264 clients, Gentes said the agency needs to hire 25 to 30 more employees, which has proved to be challenging.
As she passes the baton on to Lynn Ostrowski-Ireland, Ph.D., who was named as the new president and CEO of Riverside in November, Gentes said she is hopeful the agency is on track to be fully staffed with all clients returning for in-person services.
Kathy Hall, chair of the board of directors at Riverside said Ostrowski-Ireland’s experience has provided her with strong working relationships with corporations and legislators.
“We are all confident that Lynn has the depth of experience and leadership competency to lead Riverside into the next decade and beyond,” Hall said.
Ostrowski-Ireland has most recently served as the chief operating officer for Holyoke-based Sisters for Providence Ministry Corp., where she oversaw programming focused on helping elders and the underprivileged.
Before that, she served as the chief operating officer for Viability Inc., which is headquartered in Northampton. She’s also worked at Health New England as the director of corporate responsibility and government affairs.
Meanwhile, for Gentes, retirement beckons.
“I retire feeling happy and very fulfilled, and that’s a great feeling,” she said. “I have no regrets.”
Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com
