07/24/2026
๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐!
In case you missed it, be sure to check out July's spotlight article on Mentor Amy Swan!
๐ง๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐
๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Amy Swan describes herself as energetic, fun, and consistent. Itโs these qualities and more that have contributed to the praise sheโs received from those sheโs worked with in her role as a Mentor for Advocates.
For the past four years, Amy has demonstrated a strong sense of selflessness and dedication to the people sheโs supported. Though she says sheโs always had a strong work ethic, her mission at Advocates is deeply personal to her.
โI have family members with disabilities,โ Amy said. โIn particular, my brother, Morgan, is the main reason I entered the field.โ At just five years old, Morgan, who is nonverbal, was placed in Wilton Development Center in Wilton, NY. Although the establishment was 20 miles from home, Amy committed herself to seeing him daily. During their visits, Amy would assist Morgan with preparing and eating meals, help with personal care tasks, take him on day trips, or simply interact with him to keep him engaged and entertained.
โBeing there for him was rewarding to me, and seeing a smile on his face brought joy to my heart,โ Amy said. โThatโs my biggest rewardโฆseeing him happy.โ It's that sense of purpose โ bringing support, opportunity, and joy to people's lives โ that inspired Amy to build a career in human services. Her exposure to the disability world from an early age started her on the path to working in the field. In previous roles, she worked for Independent Support Services, as well as at Oswego Hospital. โIโve always worked with a variety of people with special needs, and thatโs where Iโm most comfortable.โ
Because Amy wanted to transition to a role that was more community-based, she joined Advocates on a part-time basis in addition to her position at the hospital. The mentor role was a good fit for her; so good, in fact, that she quickly decided she would leave the hospital and pursue mentoring full-time. Amy told us this was one of the best decisions sheโs made in recent memory.
โI absolutely love working with the young ladies Iโm supporting currently,โ she said. โI love being able to help them while keeping them connected to the community.โ Whether itโs helping them to achieve goals like maintaining a healthy lifestyle, creating task lists, or working on organizational and communication skills, Amy takes great pride in her work. โItโs so rewarding and fun, seeing their progress,โ she said, noting what a believer she is in the self-direction model. โBut whatโs also great is knowing their goals and the activities we participate in are the ones theyโve chosen for themselves.โ
Maureen Bobbett, Community Habilitation Coordinator Supervisor, can attest to Amyโs impact as well as anyone within Advocates.
โOne of the people Amy supports was really struggling before Amy came into the picture,โ Maureen said. โThat person was new to the area and spent a lot of time at home, and so, Iโd get phone calls from the family, looking for support.โ Amyโs presence, Maureen tells us, made a positive impact from day one. โI donโt receive those phone calls anymore,โ she said. โAmy has made a huge difference in her life.โ
Outside of work, family is at the center of Amy's life. This summer, she's been soaking up time with her first grandchild, Cana, and hitting the golf course with her husband, Bob. She also loves being outdoors โ whether she's camping or running 5K races like Advocates' Annual Stroll & Roll, an event she looks forward to every year.
For Amy, mentoring has never been just a job. It's a chance to make the same kind of meaningful difference in someone's life that she always hoped her brother experienced. By encouraging people to pursue the goals they've chosen for themselves while celebrating their accomplishments, Amy continues to embody the compassion and consistency that first inspired her to enter the field. It's no surprise that the people she supports โ and her coworkers โ describe her as someone who brings energy, kindness, and heart to everything she does.
โEvery time I speak with Amy, she tells me that this is not a job to her because she enjoys being with her individuals so much,โ said Stephany Keans, TSS/Self-Direction Coordinator for Advocates.
It's that genuine passion for helping others that makes Amy such a valued member of the Advocates team. We are grateful to have Amy on our team and thank her for the compassion, dedication, and positivity she brings to the people we support every day.
