From the Desk of the CEO

Stanfort J. Perry

Early on Monday, January 19, members of the AHRC Nassau community joined the City of Glen Cove Commemorative Commission and the greater Glen Cove community for the 42nd Annual Commemorative March and Program honoring the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). The goal of what is one of the longest-running commemorative events in the nation honoring MLK, is to carry forward Dr. King’s legacy of service and support increased food access on Long Island.

Community members gathered at the First Baptist Church in Glen Cove for a symbolic march to Robert M. Finley Middle School. The annual event also kicked off the agency’s MLK Day of Service, an inclusive volunteering initiative made possible in part by a grant from The Arc of the United States.

AHRC Nassau is proud to welcome Michelle Rudoff to the AHRC Nassau Board of Directors in recognition of her years of advocacy and service to the disability community.

Michelle, a Valley Stream-based self-advocate and Quality Assurance (QA) Trainer at AHRC Nassau, brings years of lived experience and commitment to advancing person-centered outcomes for people across her community. A staunch believer in the importance of self-advocacy and self-expression, Michelle credits these values as central to her independence and ability to give back to her community.

In her role as a part-time QA Trainer, Michelle supports life planning events for people receiving Day Habilitation, Residential, and employment services at AHRC Nassau. Michelle works closely with Residential Services, Personal Outcome Measures, and Day Services departments to design and facilitate empowering events for people receiving services.

The primary goal of these events is to bring attention to the importance of self-advocacy while empowering people to discover and pursue their life goals.

Congratulations to Jeffrey Jean-Pierre for receiving the 2025 Outstanding Performance Award from New York State Industries for the Disabled (NYSID).

Jeffrey was recognized among 45 people employed through NYSID who were nominated for the prize.

He was honored for his exemplary work ethic, initiative, and commitment to doing his job well. 

Jeffrey took the role of Porter at the New York State (NYS) Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in October 2023 and has been a valued member of the team ever since. He is known by his coworkers for being positive and always willing to lend a helping hand.

A Season of Giving in Action

While holiday celebrations were taking place throughout the agency, many of the people we support and the professionals who support them were focused on making the holiday season extra special for families in need.

In December, people supported by day services contributed to donation drives with the goal of increasing food access across Long Island and providing gifts to families. Among the many community service activities was a Toys for Tots drive led mainly by team members and people receiving services at the Freeport location.

People at Freeport were busy all month long. In addition to leading the Toys for Tots drive, the Freeport crew continued their community service work, including shopping for seniors and the food pantry.

Sixty people attended the In-Person Advocacy Workshop on Jan. 10 in Brookville, the first of the year-long InformMe series of workshops dedicated to building insight and opportunities to connect among family members.

Organized by the Interagency Government Affairs Committee, the seminar, “Let’s Talk: The Nuts and Bolts of Advocacy and Government,” offered practical sessions to navigate government processes, take action, and connect with others to strengthen bipartisan support for disability services. See key takeaways from the training here.

Similar to the Advocacy Workshop, upcoming InformMe Educational Workshop sessions will feature the insight of agency leaders and self-advocates and assist family members in navigating the daily challenges unique to the intellectual/developmental disability (IDD) services system. Upcoming topics will cover managing transitions, aging with IDD, and future planning, among others.

Who's ready for Valentine's Day?!

Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate love this season? Wheatley Farms offers a thoughtful selection of handcrafted items personally made by the people we serve. Each purchase goes beyond a gift—it helps support our mission and provides ongoing opportunities for our team to grow, create, and serve the community.

From cozy sweatshirts to iced coffee cups, coasters, pens and more, there’s something special for everyone. Visit our website to explore what we’ve been working on and find a gift that truly comes from the heart.

Say I Love You With Flowers!

Pre-order beautiful roses, plants, and flower bouquets for pick up only.

Order by February 6th for pick up on February 12th or 13th in Brookville.

Wheatley Farms Catering

Wheatley Farms Catering offers delicious weekly specials! Local to Long Island? Give us a try!

Catering options also available. The Mansion at Wheatley Farms offers high-quality, personalized services for all your catering needs. Situated on a beautiful and pristine 20-acre estate in Brookville, NY, the Mansion at Wheatley Farms offers a timeless setting with modern dishes for any celebration, big or small!

At Wheatley Farms, we are dedicated to inclusivity. We take pride in providing employment opportunities for people of all abilities. We empower people to gain valuable skills in the culinary arts, fostering independence and self-confidence.

Coming Up

Inform Me Series: Managing Transition/Expectations

Virtual workshop providing guidance and support to people with I/DD and their families on navigating transitional stages following high school. Registration required.

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2026 | 6 – 7 pm | Virtual (Zoom)