Within a few minutes of meeting Nick Novotny, you are captivated by his charm and his positivity. He recently reached a major milestone in his athletic journey, earning his Army camo green belt in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Nick was surrounded by his proud family and dedicated support staff, who all gathered to celebrate this incredible achievement together.
Nick lives in one of Brightway’s adult residential homes in Suffolk County with five other participants. He is the president of the Adult Residential Services Without Walls Self-Advocacy Group and the manager for the local Long Island rock band Patent Pending.
For those unfamiliar with MMA, it is a sport that combines various disciplines like boxing, martial arts, and wrestling into one style. Because Nick is a wheelchair user, his training requires the adaptation of standard martial arts physics. Instead of generating power from his legs, Nick relies on his core and shoulders to deliver punches. He uses his wheelchair to pivot and avoid strikes. His success isn't about using a modified system—it is about mastering highly specialized upper-body mechanics to strike, block, and defend himself. Over the last three years, he has worked hard to master these complex adaptations, finding that the training keeps him healthy and active.
That guiding philosophy—that it is always better to laugh than cry—is a personal motto that Nick developed himself and lives by each day.
Nick was inspired to try martial arts after watching the popular show Cobra Kai. He loved the energy and wanted to experience the active lifestyle for himself. His new Army camo green belt represents a major intermediate rank, proving just how much he has grown in the sport since he started.
Getting to class every week takes a team effort, which is why we want to highlight residential Direct Support Professional (DSP) Jackie Ocasio. This is Jackie’s second role at Brightway; her initial position is a Transportation Department Driver. Her dedication ensures Nick arrives safely and promptly to every single training session. She is a vital part of Nick's success, making sure he always has the opportunity to keep growing.
Extraordinary progress like Nick’s is made possible every day by Brightway’s person-centered, data-driven approach to service delivery. We uphold the conviction that every step forward, no matter how big or how small, is a victory for the children and adults we support.