Dear AHRC Families and Friends,

Enjoying the warm summer months, here, on Long Island is a wonderful opportunity to spend more time exploring nature and new activities to connect with loved ones and friends. To do both, I invite you to consider Wheatley Farms & Arts Center (WFA).

Whether you’re looking to learn through volunteering or one of our many WFA educational events, check out our WFA calendar at ahrc.org/communityworkshops—and plan a group outing. By doing so, you’re sharing the experience of what it means to be a part of an inclusive community and broadening understanding of the experience of disability.

Your advocacy matters—especially as we seek to build support for increased funding across all levels of government for Medicaid, the Direct Support Professional (DSP) Wage Enhancement, and home and community-based services. The more voices calling out for change, the better!

As a family of organizations, we are consistently working to bring awareness to these issues and new opportunities to demonstrate excellence. Recently, nearly 90 direct support professionals completed a rigorous professional development training through the E-Badge Academy from the National Academy of Direct Support Professionals—spotlighting their expertise as essential workers. We also have been hosting transition fairs to highlight how our agency can assist young adults and their families to join a community dedicated to their success.

There are many other meaningful events happening! Whether you join us in person or “like” an advocacy post on social media, please know your support is needed and appreciated. 

Best regards,

Stanfort J. Perry | CEO

Celebrating Successes in the NADSP E-Badge Academy

Please join us in congratulating AHRC’s over 60 enrolled learners who are actively engaged in the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) E-Badge Academy. Made possible by a grant from NY State’s Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), this national certification program offers direct support professionals (DSPs) and frontline supervisors (FLS) the opportunity to earn stackable electronic badges leading to credentialing and a bonus.

AHRC Day Services Picnic Returns

AHRC's Day Services Picnic returned to Eisenhower Park on May 16, bringing together 750 people supported and staff members for a day filled with music, dancing, and games. The picnic, which was paused during the pandemic, made a triumphant comeback for its tenth year.

Assistant Director Patrick Sherrard remembered how the picnic started, “All the sites were talking about having a picnic, then it evolved to planning a great day for everyone. It’s a tremendous amount of planning and coordination, but so worth it.”

The return of the Day Services Picnic highlighted our collective resilience and unity, creating excitement and memories to kick off 2023! Check out the photo gallery.

“Great Adventures” and Time With Friends in Pre-Vocational Services

On a summer Friday, Sal Traversa and friends from AHRC’s Pre-Vocational Services headed to Soup To Nuts Soup Kitchen, a food pantry in Freeport’s Christ Lutheran Church, to donate $50 towards the church’s community meals program.

This donation was particularly meaningful for Sal, who volunteered at the bake sale where the money was raised. Sal shares that he feels confident completing tasks and spending time with his friends in Pre-Vocational Services.

“We also do a lot of pop-up sales. I’m getting to be a master salesman. I must be going on great adventures,” mused Sal, who has received Pre-Vocational Services since he was 21. 

Exploring new skills and volunteering with nonprofits across Nassau County is a part of Sal’s weekly schedule. His Pre-Vocational activities include a mix of gardening and product maintenance. Mondays and Wednesdays may include a visit to Wheatley Farms & Arts Center, where Sal learns how to care for goats, chickens, ducks, even a pig. Recently, Sal has been learning how to prepare the hay and use the professional tools necessary for farm work.

Farmingdale High School Hosts AHRC for 15th Annual Spring Fling Dance

In full swing, the Spring Fling Dance hosted by Farmingdale High School’s Smile Club brought an evening of laughter, dancing and camaraderie to people supported by AHRC Nassau who enjoyed a night out with friends.

Music, refreshments, and colorful Hawaiian leis made this year’s Spring Fling stand out and helped get everyone in the party mood. 

Alex Wiegmann, who is a new resident with AHRC, was eager to attend his first dance and had a blast. “It’s great. I got to dance which is one of my favorite things. Did you see my skills? I always say that I’m the best dancer in the whole place.”

Become an AHRC Nassau Member Today!

We need your help. Join us.

By becoming a member of the AHRC family you’re contributing your voice to a community advocating for meaningful opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

As a family-led organization, AHRC Nassau has cultivated an environment where parents, volunteers, and caring staff advocate to enrich the lives of people in their community.

Add your voice to a coalition of purpose-driven advocates providing for Nassau County by staying informed and taking action. 

Lifetime memberships are available. Annual memberships start at as little as $15. Make a difference and become a member now.

Celebrating Service at AHRC’s Volunteer Dinner

AHRC Nassau held its first volunteer dinner in three years on June 1, welcoming a group of nearly 100 volunteers and agency leaders to celebrate meaningful contributions to AHRC Nassau as well as affiliate agencies, Citizens Options Unlimited and Brookville Center for Children’s Services. 

Of the many volunteers in attendance at the Brookville Mansion were Girl Scout Troop 3322, members of the Giving Tree Family and Purolator International. Eighty certificates were presented to volunteers, and awards were given to Purolator International, Girl Scout Mia Bacani and Amber Sun, President of the Giving Tree Family.

Welcoming the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Tour to Wheatley Farms

As young adults with disabilities near the age of 21, parents begin thinking about next steps―the types of adult services or opportunities that will most resonate with their child. To offer an introduction and answer questions, AHRC Nassau hosted young adults, parents and teachers from the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District on the grounds of Wheatley Farms & Arts Center. 

There, they met Assistant Director of Project Development Bridget Cariello and Volunteer Coordinator Jerri Walker and were split into groups to experience current opportunities and discuss plans for programmatic growth.

The students became quickly engaged in educational activities such as plantings and soapmaking, while parents were invited to the Wheatley Farms Clubhouse to learn about AHRC services and resources available through the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), including day, pre-vocational, supported employment, and residential services. 

AHRC welcomes transition coordinators, care managers, and families for visits to learn more. To schedule a visit, please reach out to us here. 

Staff Highlight: Giovanni Dainotto

Giovanni Dainotto, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist, joined AHRC Nassau two years ago. 

As a talent acquisition specialist, Giovanni is tasked with filling roles for the residential program, including 230 openings for direct support professionals (DSPs). Giovanni takes exceptional care in filling these positions. He regularly visits AHRC residences with openings to find candidates who are the best fit.

“I absolutely enjoy seeing people whom I recruit as direct support professionals (DSPs) ascend to different parts of the agency,” said Giovanni. “It’s really something that makes me proud knowing I had a hand in giving them the opportunity to make a career out of our agency. AHRC is one of the premier organizations on Long Island. We are a place where you will grow and learn a lot about the community and yourself.”

Prior to this role, Giovanni served as an Administrative Assistant. He studied Media Arts at SUNY (State Universities of New York), Old Westbury where he currently contributes to the radio programming at OWWR: Old Westbury Web Radio.

Upcoming Events

InformMe Learning Series: Guardianship, Wills and Trusts| July 18 | 5–6 p.m. 

As family and friends of people who benefit from support services, it can be difficult to navigate the landscape of preparing our loved ones for the future. This installment of the InformMe Learning Series is part of AHRC’s commitment to providing family supports, empowering the community to plan for needs of their loved one. Learn more here.

Workshops at Wheatley Farms | Ongoing

Have you ever considered learning soap making, knitting, or painting? Then why not join a community of like-minded people and participate in one of the Thomas S. Gulotta Wheatley Farms & Arts Center workshops to develop those skills and more. There is always educational fun waiting for you at the farm. Sign up for a workshop here.

AHRC Foundation Walk | October 29 | 10:00 am

The annual AHRC Foundation Walk is Nassau County’s largest event for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. The Walk offers a three-mile course and engaging post-walk activities to raise funds that advance education, health, community inclusion and guardianship supports across Long Island. Register here.