AHRC Nassau

The men and women who receive day services in Glen Head are an active and adventurous bunch. Recently, the staff brought in some jackfruit for everyone to try. It was a first for many at the site, and they shared their thoughts on the taste of the tropical fruit. Some found it bland, while others described it as tasting like mango. 🥭

This week's voter demonstration and registration drive was a huge success. Dozens of people registered to vote, asked questions about the voting process, and left feeling supported and empowered to exercise their right to vote. For election information specific to New York State visit www.vote411.org

👋 Say hi to Cathy! Currently, she's the receptionist at our Freeport location. She greets visitors, answers phone calls, and assists people in various departments. Cathy is proud to have a job that allows her to live independently. Our Supported Employment Program (SEMP) allows people like Cathy to earn a living by working in their community. People with disabilities can contribute to their community when given the chance, which is why programs like SEMP exist. If you're an employer, consider how employing people with different abilities can benefit your business and customers.

Today our Compass team hosted a voter registration drive with a voting demonstration conducted by the Nassau County Board of Elections. The League of Women Voters of East Nassau County was also present to support our attendees by answering questions and providing resources. The information session was a productive one, where attendees learned how to identify different sections of a ballot and how to use a voting machine. They took the first step to exercise their right to vote by registering. For more information on how to vote in NY visit www.vote411.org

Help us congratulate our One Stop Gift Shop volunteers, Jeanne, Derek and Emily! To celebrate the completion of their rotation at the shop, our activities team threw them a surprise party with gifts, pizza, and lots of treats. At the One Stop Gift Shop volunteers support operations and do everything from shop upkeep to ringing up sales. There, they work on money, customer service, and socialization skills. During the celebration, they were awarded certificates and given custom bags filled with plenty of gifts. Congratulations everyone! You can support meaningful opportunities like this by visiting the gift shop in person, at 113 Levittown Pkwy, Hicksville, NY 11801 from Monday through Friday from 10 to 2 p.m., or online at https://lnkd.in/endGuQr9

The Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter stopped by our Freeport day program with some pups for us to pet and play with. Pet therapy is such a relaxing way to connect, socialize and boost morale.

There are many adjustments one has to make as a disabled person living in a world not built for them. One of which is dealing with transportation. People with disabilities often depend on specialized transportation services which, more often than not, aren’t the most reliable. This can mean calling specialized transport and dealing with large pick-up and drop-off time windows, or resorting to expensive ride-share services if the specialized transport request falls through. Also, they frequently need to contact the establishment of their final destination to request accommodations for mobility devices. This results in people adding one to several hours to their travel time to make up for these adjustments, but it shouldn't have to be that way. One solution is having access to dedicated support staff who provide reliable transportation and assistance when arriving at places that aren’t ADA-friendly. Another is to question why it’s acceptable for people with disabilities to make such significant adjustments to be included in their community.

Thank you to the "Greatest Staff on Earth" for another unforgettable Staff Appreciation Day! We are grateful for each and every member of our family of organizations. We hope you had an excellent time!

So far, Staff Appreciation Day has been filled with sun, music, games, delicious food, and so much more! The Greatest Staff on Earth is having a ball...and the good times aren't over just yet!

Celebrating the Greatest Staff on Earth! 🥳🎉🥳🎉 There is so much to do at the Brookville Mansion today, all to celebrate the wonderful staff who go above and beyond for the people we support! Enjoy games, food trucks, prizes, yoga, massages, and so much more! 🎲🎁🍕🎶 #GreatestStaffonEarth #StaffAppreciationDay #Games #Foodtrucks #LongIsland