Jon Noel, executive director of A Better Way of Living (ABWL), a nonprofit organization in Albuquerque that assists individuals with developmental delays, emphasized the organization's commitment to providing more than basic support for people with disabilities. He made this statement to the New Mexico Sun.
"We pride ourselves on going the extra mile to assist people with disabilities to develop their potential," said Noel. "We lead them to try to live as independent a life as possible. We are not just a safety net. We help the ones who can develop their own natural support system."
According to Noel, employees at ABWL find their work meaningful as they assist clients in various aspects of life, including careers, education, leisure, and relationships. Noel, who assumed the role of Executive Director in 2023, finds interacting with staff and experiencing the strong sense of teamwork and collaboration within the organization to be the most rewarding part of his job.
An issue faced by ABWL and similar providers is low employee retention rates. "One of the biggest challenges is staff retention, probably across the board in all organizations that provide services such as ours," said Noel. Apart from private events and fundraisers, ABWL primarily relies on Medicaid funding and often struggles to sustain services for beneficiaries.
However, Noel is optimistic about new legislative measures targeting workforce shortages within the Developmental Disabilities Division. These bills also aim to secure funding for life-skills trainers needed at ABWL to help individuals fulfill everyday tasks through its day program or in-home support.
A Better Way of Living Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, has been serving Greater Albuquerque's community since 2001. Currently, it serves 112 individuals with a team of 141 employees and offers seven direct support services.
