Blog Stories

On a brisk February evening, 22 people trickled through the doors of YAI’s Tarrytown Day Habilitation Center, teeth chattering from nerves and the chilly air. Though they represented a broad range of ages, backgrounds, and abilities, they were united by the same goal: to make a meaningful connection with others at YAI’s inaugural Get 2-Gether celebration.

On January 7, YAI self advocates, staff, and friends gathered at the agency’s headquarters where YAI artists unveiled their mural entitled Self Advocating Conference. Conceived by Jimmy Tucker and Oswald Saenz and brought vibrantly to life by 15 of their fellow YAI artists over the course of three weeks, the 30-foot painting reflects the agency’s commitment to community, diversity, and inclusion.

For Monique Robinson, Assistant Supervisor at YAI’s East Tremont residence in the Bronx, supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) comes naturally. “My older brother has autism, so being around people with developmental disabilities wasn’t unusual for me,” she said.

On January 1, New York’s most acclaimed pediatric neurology team joined YAI Network agency Premier HealthCare’s Manhattan clinic. Steven Wolf, MD, and Patricia McGoldrick, NP, bring more than 20 years of award-winning care and specialized experience in neurology and intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

The week before Thanksgiving, Connie Senior, YAI’s Assistant Coordinator of Sex Education, traveled to South Korea to help families, researchers, and direct support staff learn how to best support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) as they navigate their sexuality.

On September 14, Kizzy Byfield completed YAI’s CPR and First Aid training. Just 13 days later, on September 27, she used those skills to save the life of a man who attends the agency’s Fulton Street Day Habilitation program in Farmingdale, New York.

At Elmsford Day Habilitation in YAI’s Hudson Valley region, a group of women are smashing the commonly held misconception that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) cannot meaningfully give back to their communities. For months, the women have spent their free time crocheting blankets for patients undergoing inpatient rehabilitation for chemical dependency at St. John’s Riverside Hospital in Yonkers.

Even as the sky darkened and puddles collected on the lawn of their apartment complex in Westwood, New Jersey, Lisa Zabielski and Jenna DeNoble didn’t let the weather drown out their Halloween plans. “We love having friends over, so we’re throwing a Halloween pizza party tonight,” Zabielski said, smiling. “We’ll have a bucket of candy and put on some movies so no one has to go out in the rain.”

On November 15, YAI hosted its third annual Hudson Valley Autism Conference, drawing more than 200 people from across the region who came to learn more about the challenges and opportunities that adults with autism encounter in their everyday lives.

November was a month of milestones for YAI. On November 10, CEO George Contos made his debut on City and State’s Nonprofit Power 100 list, coming in at 45. Just five days later, YAI earned the 2019 Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar, the world’s largest organization that evaluates the effectiveness and mission of US-based nonprofit organizations.