Date: Fri 09-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Cheryl-Barszcz-employee-year

Full Text:

State Agency Honors Cheryl Barszcz

(with cut)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

When Cheryl Barszcz graduated from Briarwood School for Women in Southington

with a business degree in 1976, it took her more than a year to find a job. It

wasn't easy in the 1970s to convince employers that a blind woman would be an

asset.

So it was with a great deal of satisfaction that the Newtown resident traveled

to Hartford recently for ceremonies held by the State Department of Mental

Health and Addiction Services honoring her as the department's Employee of the

Year.

"There were nine finalists -- a lot of them with advanced (college) degrees --

so I was pleasantly surprised," she said. "Commissioner (Albert) Solnit

presented me with a plaque, which was inscribed in braille, and with several

gifts."

Ms Barszcz, 45, who grew up in Bristol, has worked for the state Department of

Mental Health and Addiction Services for nearly 22 years. When she was unable

to find a job after graduation, she went to Services for the Blind, an agency

in Bristol, which helped her find a position at Fairfield Hills Hospital.

"I worked at Fairfield Hills until it closed," she said. "It was very

convenient because there were dormitories for the employees. I lived on the

grounds for 19 years."

When the hospital closed three years ago, Ms Barszcz had to find another job

and a place to live. She moved to Poverty Hollow Road in Newtown and was

transferred to a state job in Bridgeport.

"That didn't work out well because there wasn't any (public) transportation

and I didn't feel I had enough to do on that job," she said. "Eventually I was

able to get a transfer to the Greater Danbury Mental Health Authority, part of

the Western Connecticut Mental Health Network. It is located on West Street in

Danbury. I've been there two years now and take the Sweetheart bus."

Ms Barszcz is the receptionist and telephone switchboard operator at the

agency, which has a staff of about 25.

"I am the first person the clients see when they come in," she explained. I

greet them and let the case managers or doctors know they are there. I also

operate the four-line switchboard."

She uses a computer that has a voice-activated synthesizer to type minutes of

meetings that have been dictated on tape and to type letters and psychological

assessments of clients who have been are referred to the agency.

Last April she got a larger measure of independence when she acquired a guide

dog, Kricket, a young German shepherd.

"I never had a guide dog before," she said. "I went to Fidelco, a small

Connecticut company, because I like their concept. You don't have to go away

for training, they come to you and do it in your own environment."

The guide dog has enabled her to get out and walk on the streets of Danbury.

"I walk an hour and 15 minutes a day, before work and at lunch," she said. "I

feel a lot more mobile. I lost 25 pounds and my blood pressure went down. The

difficult part of having Kricket is getting enough exercise for her. I am

looking for someplace that has a large fenced-in area where I can let her off

the leash and she can just run."

"With Kricket, it is a lot of work but well worth it," she said. "My day

starts at 4:45 am when I let her out, brush and feed her. I've always thought

that learning came easy to me but training (Kricket) was the hardest thing

I've ever done, even harder than learning the computer!"

Cheryl Barszcz is a charter member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 308

Ladies Auxiliary in Newtown; her father is a decorated Naval veteran of World

War II.

A self-described "die-hard Atlanta Braves fan," she goes once or twice a year

to Shea Stadium when the Braves play the Mets.

"I also like listening to music," she said. "I have a CD player that holds 200

CDs. I like music from the 40s and 50s, vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald and

Frank Sinatra who sing the old standards like Gershwin and Cole Porter."

Last June, Ms Barsczc learned that she had been nominated for the state award.

Her agency is part of the Western Connecticut Mental Health Network which

includes Danbury, Waterbury and Torrington, but all state psychological

facilities, whether in- or out-patient had nominees, she said.

Michael Brody, director of the Greater Danbury Mental Health Authority,

nominated Ms Barszcz for the award.

"Since coming to our agency, she has been willing and interested to take on

any and all tasks that we have requested," he said. "What makes this

exceptional is the fact that she is visually handicapped and does nothing to

hide behind this disability."

"She takes extreme pride in the work that she does and is constantly pushing

herself to succeed and produce excellent work," he said. "Most recently she

(got) a guide dog to assist her. Even though this enables her greater mobility

and support, her first concern at work was whether or not the dog would fit in

and not be disruptive to the flow of the agency. She has on more than one

occasion approached the director to make sure that there have been no problems

or complaints since the arrival of her guide dog. This self-sacrificing

approach to her job is a hallmark of her work."

"Everyone who comes in contact with Ms Barszcz finds her to be personable,

cheerful, enthusiastic and helpful," he said. "(Clients) often seek her out

for personal contact because of her kindness and generosity. Staff and clients

rely on (her) for support, assistance and assurance."

Cheryl Barszcz didn't think she was exceptional.

"I was perfectly happy just being nominated by Greater Danbury for the award,"

she said. "When I gave my speech at the luncheon in the Hartford Armory I said

that I didn't think I had done anything special. I just treat everyone with

respect and dignity, the way I would want to be treated."