Life-Giving Joy: The Work and Purpose of Emily Longino
Each morning, Emily Longino begins her day by greeting residents in the cafeteria for breakfast, helping them build independence and practice appropriate mealtime behaviors. From there, she never quite knows what the day will bring.
“There is no typical day in the life of a Glenwood employee, and I absolutely love that,” she says.
As senior behavioral analyst for Allan Cott School and Children’s Residential Services, Emily supports students during their most challenging moments and coaches caregivers on de-escalation techniques and effective communication.
“Many days I get to support students trying new things for the first time,” Emily says. “Sometimes that’s going to the pool, the movie theater, or a new restaurant in town. Other times, it’s just exploring a new leisure activity.”
Emily always knew she was called to work with children, though she wasn’t sure at what capacity. While earning her undergraduate degree at Berry College, she completed the Board-Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) program and landed an internship at the Marcus Autism Center, where she fell in love with serving children with autism. She later earned her graduate degree at Auburn University through a Glenwood fellowship program. After completing her two-year fellowship, she knew she wasn’t ready to leave.
“I love the diversity of the individuals we serve and the opportunities for professional development,” she says. “Glenwood serves a unique population, and I always wanted to be in a place that was truly making a positive impact on the world. I feel like my role here is doing just that.”
Though progress is sometimes slow and not always visible day to day, Emily finds joy in looking back to see the difference she’s made over her six years at Glenwood.
“I have learned how powerful each little moment is in creating lasting change,” she says.
She recalls one student in particular who had experienced significant trauma and came into Glenwood’s care because he wasn’t receiving the support he needed at home. As his first residential placement, the transition was difficult. He frequently tried to run away, bit others, and stole food due to a history of food insecurity. Despite these challenges, he made remarkable progress in functional communication and behavior reduction.
At age 21, when his funding for placement ended, he faced the possibility of homelessness. Glenwood advocated on his behalf so he could continue receiving care and transition into the Adult Services program. Today, he is thriving at the Sullivan Center and has rebuilt his relationship with his mother, who can now safely take him on home visits.
“I really believe in some ways, we saved his life,” Emily says.
Although the work can be heavy, Emily finds purpose in walking alongside students through their challenges. In addition, her team motivates her to keep going.
“We all experience hard moments, hard days, hard weeks and sometimes hard months. We cry together, laugh together and support each other. On hard days, I often walk into my office to find a heartfelt card, my favorite candy or some flowers on my desk. A little pick-me-up from the people that know you best, and a reminder that what I’m doing is meaningful, is all I need to keep going.”
For Emily, building relationships with individuals living with disabilities is one of life’s greatest joys.
“Our individuals experience big emotions. When they’re upset, they feel frustration differently than we do. When they experience joy, it’s life-giving joy. I encourage people in our community to join us in building relationships with these individuals.”
Outside of Glenwood, Emily recharges through creative outlets, hobbies, and travel. She’s on a mission to visit every U.S. National Park and has upcoming plans to explore a few in Washington before an Alaskan cruise.
Emily once thought her job was to speak up for individuals with disabilities and be their voice. But over time, she’s learned it’s just as important to listen and create moments of joy in everyday life. That philosophy guides her work each day.
“At Glenwood, I help create joy for individuals of all abilities,” she says. “It’s my job to listen to my residents and students to make sure the world hears them, but they deserve to tell their own stories.”
