CSI event provides parents,
educators and disabled persons with information about support on
Island
Staten Island Advance - June 8, 2004
The Staten Island Developmental Disabilities
Council, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary, yesterday hosted
the annual Family Support Conference and Resource Fair at the of
Staten Island Willowbrook.
The event provides parents, educators and disabled
persons with a wealth of resources and information about receiving
support on Staten Island.
“There’s help out there,” said SIDDC chairwoman
Kathleen Nowak. “Parents need to know they are not alone.”
At the outset of the conference, Donna Maxon,
Jacqueline Tripodi and Joanne Sindet offered firsthand accounts of
how SIDDC has helped their families.
“I am here to tell you that it is OK to reach out
for services for ourselves,” said Mrs. Maxon, whose son, Donald, 12,
has autism.
Mrs. Tripodi echoed her comments, “By utilizing the
services that are available, my family is being given the
opportunity to not just take one day at a time, but to actually live
a life within each day.”
In addition to housing over 30 informational booths
from various disability organizations, the conference featured
workshops on sexuality, adapted yoga, infant massage, Asperger’s
disorder, education and psychopharmacology.
“I got a lot of info at the workshop concerning my
son,” said Annette Liberman of Rossville. “I didn’t even realize
that all of these resources existed.”
One very popular booth was for On Your Mark, a
therapeutic recreational program for children with developmental
disabilities. “If it hadn’t been for the assistance of On Your Mark,
my son would still be introverted,” said Ms. Sindet. “They gave me
back my life and my son.”
According to its mission statement, SIDDC is
comprised of consumers, family members, provider agencies,
advocates, government officials and others who are concerned with
the needs, supports and services of Staten Islanders with
developmental disabilities.
“We try to reach out to younger families,” said Mrs.
Nowak. “There are so many families out there who just don’t know
about all the resources.”
“An event like this brings a range of agencies and
information to parents,” said Kevin Joyce of Tottenville, a
representative from Lifestyles for the Disabled. “We can show
parents that they’re not alone.”
The Eden II dancers, a performing arts team for
children ages 5 to 14 who have developmental disabilities, performed
at the beginning of the fair.
Anyone interested in learning more about SIDDC and
disability services on Staten Island can call (718) 983-5354 for
more information.
by Ryan G. Murphy
Reprinted here with permission from the
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