PBS Profile: Sandy and Amanda

Every Thanksgiving holds special meaning for Sandy Deare-Robinson and Amanda Jo Benoit. Fittingly, the holiday that brings families together is also the one that marked the beginning of Amanda joining Sandy’s family. 

Sandy recalls receiving the call about Amanda while shopping for last-minute Thanksgiving ingredients. “They reached out to me asking if I could take Amanda in for respite. It was Thanksgiving Eve, and I was out shopping, preparing to have over 50 people in my house when I received the call,” Sandy recalls. “I said, ‘Absolutely—as long as she’s okay with the holiday festivities.’”

“If you saw her that day, she was dancing without a care in the world,” Sandy continues. “That was a special time, and she decided to stay. She opened up my kids to what I actually do during the day, and they absolutely loved her.”

That moment grew into 16 years—and counting—of shared life and connection, with Amanda becoming an integral part of Sandy’s household.

“Our relationship has been meaningful, navigating hardships and sickness together. She loves my kids, Malyah and Craig, and my son is one of her best friends. She lights up when he comes home from school and cried when he went to college, just like I did,” Sandy says. “When Craig finished school and graduated, Amanda would not let the day go without being there to support his achievement. She was so proud of him. Now she’s an auntie with the arrival of my daughter’s baby boy, Omavi—she’s incredibly excited about that.”

“Sandy and her family are important to me,” Amanda says. “When she opened her door and welcomed me into her family, it really touched my heart.”

Sandy and Amanda’s relationship reflects the trust, care, support, and shared decision-making that define Shared Living—values that are also central to how Nonotuck approaches Positive Behavioral Supports (PBS).

At Nonotuck, PBS is used as part of an ongoing effort to truly understand the person being supported. It emphasizes recognizing each person’s individuality, strengths, and personality, while supporting autonomy, ambition, and meaningful connections within their community.

While PBS has been more formally emphasized by the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) in recent years, its person-centered approach closely aligns with Nonotuck’s long-standing values. In every Shared Living home, PBS reinforces what Nonotuck has always stood for: that every person deserves not only safety, but dignity, respect, love, an authentic life, and the freedom to make choices that shape their own story.

Sandy and Amanda both agree that integrating PBS into Amanda’s care plan strengthened what was already working by centering her voice, expanding choice, and building trust through everyday conversations. Watch the video above to hear more from their conversation.

“It opened her up more,” Sandy says. “We talked about things she might like, her past, her future, and what she wanted to do. It’s made her more open and more creative.”

That creativity includes a new interest in playing drums—she already plays guitar and enjoys karaoke—which has brought joy to them both. “PBS helped us think more outside the box and beyond our routines,” Sandy adds. “Seeing her be so joyful and happy made me extra happy too.”