Beth Kuczynski: Team Member Spotlight

What is your job title?

Behavior Supports Specialist

How long have you been with Penn-Mar?

5 ½ years

How did you get connected with Penn-Mar? 

I found the job listing on Indeed and was drawn to working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

What was your previous work experience prior to Penn-Mar and how did it prepare you for your current role? 

My prior work history is a windy road. I started off working in research investigating the brain and Alzheimer’s Disease. After I had kids, I took a break and did small jobs such as day care and elderly care so I could spend more time with my kids and be involved in school activities. As my son got older, I realized he had disabilities, and this led me to teach other children about people with disabilities. I really enjoyed teaching and helping children and ended up working as a therapist for a local agency for children with needs. As my son grew older, I wanted to become more familiar with the adult world of disabilities and that’s when I found Penn-Mar.

What does your work entail? 

My work involves helping everyone get along to live/work in a positive environment. I help provide strategies to hopefully improve the dynamics that surround the people we support and their teams.

What’s an average day like for you? 

My average day involves talking with anyone who might be dealing with a difficult situation, brainstorming with the teams to develop successful strategies, developing and maintaining all of the support plans, and interacting with staff and the people we support to foster positive, healthy relationships.

What’s one thing you wish people realized about your job? 

I hope people realize that I truly care about their thoughts and perspectives and I always take their suggestions seriously. I cannot do my job without their experience and suggestions, and I am always thankful for their honesty and input.

In another life, your career path is . . .

In another life my career path would be to help those with disabilities receive improved medical/psychiatric interventions.

Why is Penn-Mar’s mission important to you?

I truly love helping people and I feel those with intellectual and developmental disabilities don’t have enough properly trained medical staff to assist them in that field. Penn-Mar’s mission is very important to me due to my personal experience with disabilities and because it is so important to help everyone live their best possible life.

What’s one thing you wished the general public knew about people with IDD?

I wish the general public would understand that people with IDD just want to be treated like the neurotypical person. While their communication and interactions may be different, they are just the same as everyone else.

What is your favorite quote or mantra? 

“Always remember to smile” – this is something I try and communicate with everyone. A smile goes a long way even when given to a total stranger.

Any hidden talents or fun facts someone wouldn’t know about you?

Some fun facts about me are that I used to be pretty good at playing tennis and I love to sing Titanium and Stronger when alone in my car.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, you’d visit . . .

If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would visit Australia.

In your spare time, you’ll be found . . .

In my spare time, I can be found hanging out with my girlfriends at fun breweries, walking the dog, watching Netflix with my kids or playing word games on my phone.

A book, movie, TV show, sports team, etc. you love: 

Some of my favorite TV shows were Friends and Seinfeld and I love movies that are intense but not super scary. Before I had kids, I read a lot of James Patterson books.

Something fun, interesting, or meaningful about yourself: 

I have learned that getting through difficult times absolutely makes you stronger and helps you grow on many levels. It’s important to use mistakes as learning experiences and to simply do the best you can with the situation at hand. My kids and I are starting fresh, and we are very much looking forward to our new adventures.