From the Desk of the CEO

Dear Families, Staff and Friends,

With the leaves starting to change and a slight chill in the air, the start of autumn has brought new opportunities to Citizens Options Unlimited. From the recent Wheatley Farms Harvest Festival to the opening of new respite locations, responding to the needs and interests of our community always remains front of mind for our agency.

Seeing people thrive is a key benchmark for success. In this newsletter, it is deeply meaningful to share stories of people we support exploring new pursuits, voicing their beliefs, contributing their time and talents to the workforce, and being valued members of their local communities.

A large part of this success is because of your support and continued advocacy. Because of the efforts of advocates like you, we are now celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, America’s first disability civil rights law, and National Disability Employment Awareness Month. We are also beginning advocacy for New York State’s 2024-2025 budget.

I encourage you to share your support with local legislators for the inclusion of a 3.2% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) and the passing of the DSP Wage Enhancement Act. Sharing your perspective is important as we seek to blanket support across Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Thank you for being a part of our community and sharing our vision of a world where people of all abilities are valued.

Best Regards,

Stanfort J. Perry | CEO

Fall Fun at the Wheatley Farms Harvest Festival

The Wheatley Farms Harvest Festival kicked off the season with a sensory-friendly day of fall fun on Oct. 9. From a pumpkin patch to sensory-friendly games, hundreds of people supported, families, and visitors from across the local community joined in “Fall for All” activities, developed by leaders at Citizens Options Unlimited and volunteers across our family of organizations.

Lining the festival grounds were scarecrows submitted as part of a friendly competition among teams of people supported and staff.

Taking home a top prize for “Most Haunted” was Citizens Manor Road Residence, who entered the graceful, but terrifying, “Lady Grizzle” scarecrow.

Congratulations to Aaron Chandy, Ryan Griffith, Neel Kumra, Matthew Hofele, Devon Rivera, and William Turits.

There are certainly more good things to come at Wheatley Farms. Check out the inspiring line-up of inclusive community classes dedicated to the arts, nature, and wellness. Learn more.

Celebrating 20+ Years at The Home Depot: Meet Jamie Allen

National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2023

This year, Jamie Allen, 42, from Citizens’ Pickwick Residence, is celebrating nine consecutive years of employment as a Store Support at The Home Depot. However, Jamie has been connected to The Home Depot for over 20 years and worked in nearly every department, from paint and tools to holiday and lighting.

“I love setting up the holiday decorations in the store, helping customers, and I love my orange apron,” Jamie said. “I want to work here ‘til I retire.”

Jamie, who has Fragile X Syndrome, graduated from the Farmingdale School District in 2002 at the age of 21. This is the age when people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) “age out” of children’s services and transition to adult services.

While in a cooperative learning program at Farmingdale, Jamie did Supported Employment (SEMP) at The Home Depot. SEMP provides job development, placement services, and ongoing support to maintain employment.

After graduation, The Home Depot showed an interest in hiring Jamie. So, she started in the gardening department focusing on watering flowers. She now has developed skills to complete a wide range of tasks like seasonal decorating, customer returns, stocking the aisles, cleaning, taking out the trash, and helping customers locate items.

New Residential Council Elected

In early September, the Citizens Options Unlimited Residential Council welcomed new board members to advance the goals of community inclusion and a more robust membership.

Three cheers for:

-President Bonnie Lerhinan from Seaford

-Vice President Devon Rivera from Manor Road

-Secretary Steven Barsh from West Broadway

-Treasurer Gabriele O’Brien from Port Washington

-Assistant Director Representative Justin DeNigris

-Citizens’ Council Representative Matthew Hofele

Getting to Know the New Board

Bonnie was a volunteer of the council prior to running for president. This is her first term on the council. Long-term members of the council include Devon, returning for a second year as Vice President, and Steven, returning for a second year as Secretary. Gabriele is new to the council and looks forward to her first role as Treasurer.

Tessa Guillaume-Lewis, Assistant Director (A.D) of Residential Services and former Assistant Director (A.D) Representative of the Residential Council Board, said that the goal of this board is to both educate and empower the people we support. The council oversees Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) trainings so that people supported in group homes by our agency can better advocate for themselves and live the lives they choose. 

“We try to be a sounding board for people and share our journeys to support other people going through similar things,” Tessa said.

Disabilities Does… Play Sports

Debunking Myths and Combatting Stereotypes

Noah Probert, 35, from Wantagh, doesn’t let disability define him.

He says that playing sports is how he expresses himself. Noah, who has Cerebral Palsy, experienced being isolated and bullied in childhood due to the stigma of being in a wheelchair. Now, he won’t let other people’s misconceptions, around wheelchairs and disability, get in his way.

Noah’s motivation: To become the type of person he wished he’d known growing up.

“I want to be a role model. The other day I met a young girl with a disability, and she said she wanted to start playing sports and that she wants to be like me when she’s older,” Noah said.

“I took her under my wing and sat her down and said, ‘You can do whatever you want to do. It’s your life. Don’t limit yourself and don’t let others limit you either.’”

Agency Commemorates Patriot Day With Emergency Preparedness Events

Over 170 people from the local community joined our family of organizations for a three-day September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance celebration to honor and remember the first responders from 9/11.

“This was a time for the community to come together and understand how to better be prepared in the case of an emergency,” Jerri Walker, Project Coordinator and Volunteer at Citizens Options Unlimited and AHRC Nassau, said.

The event was open to community members throughout Nassau County.

We kicked off our three-day event with a First Responder Thank You Brunch for local first responders and their families, followed by an Emergency Preparedness Fair and Emergency Kit-Making Event, where attendees received bags with first-aid kits, masks, and other emergency items.

Our family of organizations partnered with several key local businesses and nonprofits for this event: The New York State Office for Emergency Management, Lifesaving Enterprises, Long Island Volunteer Center, Nassau County SPCA, Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, and The Swoondle Society.

A special thank you to the Brookville Police Department and Jericho Fire Department for attending and for all that you do to keep our local community safe!

From Shoreham to the Larger Community:

Krysta Fabian Gets Promoted to Senior BIS

Congratulations to Krysta Fabian, who was recently promoted to Senior Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS).

Krysta previously served as the BIS at Shoreham Intermediate Care Facility (ICF), which is the residence for around 75 people. She will now begin overseeing the Red Spring Lane and William Street group homes.

“I am excited to work in this capacity because it is a whole new 'world’ that I am going to be in,” Krysta said.

Since people who live in ICFs have increased medical needs, the care she will provide in IRAs will look slightly different and come with a new set of challenges and rewards.

Krysta went to school for mental health counseling and had originally planned on going into private practice.

 “I got in the role kind of on accident,” Krysta said. “I needed an internship during COVID and I had a professor who worked with students with disabilities in school districts. So I took the internship and quickly fell in love with the role and helping younger students, mostly who had autism.”

“Let It Go!” Building Confidence and Skills Through Theater

Tanya Castiello Performs in Disney’s Frozen at Cultural Playhouse Performing Arts Center

Tanya Castiello, from Citizens’ Pickwick Residence, had her first spotlight moment in a summer performance of Disney’s Frozen at Cultural Playhouse in Syosset. The first-year acting student advocated for more independence and to have something she could call her own.

Tanya knew she always loved music, movies, and Broadway. She wanted to explore new ways to improve her skills and make new relationships outside of her group home.

She said she wanted to find her own hobby, outside of always doing things with either her family or housemates.

So, her Pickwick residential team, including Assistant House Manager Pamela Iliou, helped her to find a new opportunity.

“It was fun having my own thing for once,” Tanya said. “I loved it. I’m excited to go back in the fall.”

Tanya performed three songs during the recital, one of which was a solo. In the audience, her housemates and staff cheered her on. After the show, they handed her several beautiful floral arrangements before heading off for a celebratory post-show dinner.

When Tanya first joined Cultural Playhouse acting classes in September of 2022; she was shy, quiet, and nervous to sing in front of an audience.

“Little by little, she got more confident and capable,” Valerie Quaresimo, class instructor, said. “She went from being hesitant to singing her very first solo.”

The turning point for Tanya was when Valerie noticed her hiding out in the bathroom during class one day. Valerie knocked on the door and the two sat down to talk about what was going on.

“She said, ‘I’m nervous, I can’t do this,’” Valerie said. “I told her, ‘You can do it,’ and she did.”

Valerie grew up shy herself, stating, “Theater changed my life,” to which Tanya replied, “It changed my life too.”

Cooking, Painting, Community Outings, and More!

Agency Opens Two New Respite Locations

Trying new things and cultivating interests is an important part of Citizens Options Unlimited. There are now even more opportunities for people supported by Citizens to take part in new experiences as part of Respite Services.

While Brookville will continue to support people on weekends, the two new locations at Wantagh and Plainview aim to introduce fun activities and community outings that encourage independence and developing new skills.

You asked and we listened! Due to your requests for transportation assistance, we are pleased to announce that we will now offer rides to Wantagh respite from AHRC Nassau Day Habs.

To learn more, please contact Maura Boden, Program Coordinator, at mboden@citizens-inc.org or (516) 293-2016, ext. 5141, or Paul MacMillan, Assistant Director of Respite, at pmacmillan@citizens-inc.org or (516) 293-2016, ext. 5140.

Upcoming Events

AHRC Foundation Walk

OCT 29 | 10:00 AM

It’s that time of year again. Time to register to make a difference in the lives of children and adults with I/DD at the AHRC Foundation Walk! Meet us at Eisenhower Park for another wonderful walk.

Sibling Holiday Party

DEC 14 | 6:00 PM

Let’s re-connect and recharge by celebrating the holiday season together. The sibling holiday party is an occasion to have fun and spend time with your loved ones, while enjoying the festive atmosphere.