Our mission is to empower children and adults with developmental disabilities to achieve their potential based on personal choices, abilities and interests...

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Mellissa Lang
Director of Marketing and Public Affairs
phone: 914.949.9300,
ext. 4618
fax: 914.997.2985
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mlang@westchesterarc.org

Westchester Arc
The Gleeson-Israel Gateway Center
265 Saw Mill River Road
Hawthorne, NY 10532
914.949.9300
info@westchesterarc.org

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Press Release

Annual Meeting Confronts Autism
Westchester Arc Elects Board Members

WHITE PLAINS, NY - June 12, 2007 – Dr. Grant Mitchell, commissioner of the county’s Department of Community Mental Health, informed attendees of Westchester Arc’s 58th annual meeting that “autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the nation, with over 3,700 reported cases in Westchester alone.” Speaking on June 12 at the Crowne Plaza, White Plains, he urged public support systems to quit “pushing and shoving” and start working together to meet the vast needs of individuals with autism, many of whom require the services of more than one public agency. Dr. Mitchell went on to praise Westchester Arc for its commitment to “advocacy and social change.”

Westchester Arc is the largest agency in the county serving children and adults who have disabilities such as autistic spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, mental retardation, cerebral palsy and learning delays.

Family Support Workshops
A featured workshop, “Services for Kids and Adults with Autism: Where to Find Them/How to Get Them,” helped parents navigate the maze of programs and methodologies offered in response to the autism surge and to identify the best choices for their children.

“Educational Advocacy for Children and Teens: Legal Rights and Negotiating Strategies” armed parents for the often-contentious process of defining educational plans for students with disabilities.

A third workshop focused on the self-advocacy movement, individuals with developmental disabilities making their opinions known and directing their own lives. Self-advocate Avdi Bruncaj inspired the crowd. “People said my life would be hard, that I’d never walk or talk. But I can do both. I even speak two languages. They said I’d never fall in love, and I got married two months ago. I’ll never let people tell me what to do.”

Election of Officers and Board Members
Attendees also elected new officers and board members. Anne M. Majsak, of White Plains, was re-elected president; Timothy B. Sullivan, M.D., of Harrison, was re-elected first vice president; Sheryl Frishman, of White Plains, was elected second vice president; Mark S. Glucksman, of White Plains, was re-elected treasurer, and Sarah Phelan, Esq., of White Plains, was re-elected secretary. (See below for complete list of elected board members.)

Self-Advocates Vote
Self-advocates from across the agency elected new officers to their customer service council, a board level group comprised of individuals with developmental disabilities. Members of the council directly contribute to decisions on Westchester Arc’s strategy and operations. Candidates addressed issues such as community employment, literacy and social inclusion. Elected officers were: Chinika T, president; Linda K, vice president, and Carolyn H, secretary. (See below for complete list of council members.)

Marc Brandt, executive director of NYSARC, the largest non-profit agency in the nation serving individuals with developmental disabilities, praised the group. “Life is a challenge for all of us, but it’s also full of successes. Here at Westchester Arc you demonstrate what life can be all about.”

Community Awards and Annual Art Show
In addition, Westchester Arc recognized a number of volunteers and community partners for their outstanding contributions to social inclusion for individuals with developmental disabilities (See below for complete list.)

Westchester Arc’s 11th annual art show featured the unique work of over 70 individuals with developmental disabilities, including pre-schoolers, who contributed colorful handprints and decorated paper plates. Attendees had a chance to take home paintings from former prize-winners during the evening’s lively auction. Half of the $1,200 proceeds will go to the artists, while the other half will help fund Westchester Arc’s art program.

NEWLY ELECTED WESTCHESTER ARC BOARD MEMBERS

OFFICERS
Anne M. Majsak, President
Anne M. Majsak, of White Plains, a Westchester Arc board member since 1991, has served as second vice president and treasurer. This will be her second term as president. She is also co-chair of the Parent Assistance Committee on Down Syndrome (PACDS), a support network that helps new parents of children with Down syndrome understand their babies and develop their potential.

Dr. Timothy B. Sullivan, M.D, First Vice President
Timothy B. Sullivan, of Harrison, is service chief of the day treatment program at Saint Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center in Harrison, New York. He is a respected educator and published author. He is being reelected to this post.

Sheryl R. Frishman, Second Vice President
Sheryl R. Frishman, of White Plains, is a founding partner of the law firm Frishman & Faber, specializing in educational advocacy and planning services for children with disabilities and their families.

Mark Glucksman, Treasurer
Mark Glucksman, of White Plains, is controller for Consolidated Edison’s competitive businesses, which focus on sales of electricity to commercial customers and on the ownership and operation of power plants in the Northeast. He is being reelected to this Westchester Arc office.

Sarah E. Phelan, Esq., Secretary
Sarah Phelan, of Hawthorne, is an attorney and former senior manager at Deloitte & Touche, LLP. She has also served as an executive at the non-profit American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She is being reelected to this Westchester Arc office.

BOARD MEMBERS
William Horton
Will Horton, of White Plains, is a strong self-advocate. He has attended the National Self-Advocacy Conference and is a past president of the self-advocacy group One Another.

Phyllis Lombardi
Phyllis Lombardi, of Dobbs Ferry, started the only PTA-approved Special Education Committee in the Ardsley School District and served as chairperson for four years. She was recently elected to the Westchester Committee for the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore to help with their new center for autism.

Mohan Mehra
Mohan Mehra, of Cortlandt Manor, served as Westchester Arc president from 2001-2006. He is a sales and marketing consultant who works with both non-profit organizations and for-profit companies.

Paul Mehta
Paul Mehta, of Scarsdale, is controller and vice president of finance for Goodwill Industries of New York and Northern New Jersey. He has served in non-profit organizations for over 24 years.

Julie Rabinowitz
Julie Rabinowitz, of White Plains, is director of the Youth Renewal Fund in New York City and a professional fundraiser.

Marie J. Radcliff, Esq.
Marie J. Radcliff, of Plainfield, New Jersey, is an attorney and serves as director of the human resources legal compliance department at Pitney Bowes in Stamford, Connecticut.

Linda Sabbarese
Linda Sabbarese, of White Plains, is a purchasing officer at the United Nations.

CUSTOMER SERVICE COUNCIL: 2007-2008

Officers

President: Chinika T.
Vice President: Linda K.
Secretary: Carolyn H.

Council Members

Northern Westchester
Linda K.
Lynne L.
Nicole W.
Hartley S.
Lois G.

Central Westchester
Will H.
Eddie C.
Chinika T.
Vance J.
David S.
Debbie B.

Southern Westchester
Susan H.
Michael S.

At-Large

Carolyn H.

PARTNERSHIP AWARD WINNERS

Community Partnership Award
Raymond Frost, Yaniv Gorodischer and Jason Kingsley, self-advocates, for petitioning the town of Greenburgh to build sidewalks on their traffic-filled street. The men drafted a petition, went door-to-door collecting signatures and then formally presented it to the town board on February 28.

School Partnership Award
Peekskill School District, for working with Westchester Arc’s Children’s School for Early Development to create community-based classes for pre-schoolers with developmental disabilities. Accepting for the school district was Lisa Hammel, CSE-CPSE chair.

Family Award
Mark Glucksman and Roberta Leiber, parents and advocates, for their longtime activism. They are active members of PACDS (Parent Assistance Committee on Down Syndrome), a volunteer arm of Westchester Arc that offers guidance and support to parents of children with Down syndrome. Their community efforts to involve children with disabilities in sports and the arts have served as models for Westchester Arc programs.

Youth Partnership Award
Nicholas Lombardi, for designing a button to increase public awareness of autism. Frustrated by the way community members react to some of his brother’s behavior, the 11- year-old designed a button reading, “I’m not misbehaving, I have autism. Please be understanding.” This thoughtful act by a concerned brother has led to a national movement.

Community Image Builder Award
Georgene Mongarella, interior designer, for arranging the donation of $250,000 worth of furniture for Westchester Arc’s new resource center in Hawthorne, New York.

Katzenberg Award
Susan Walker, Westchester Arc board member, for her significant efforts on behalf of the agency’s capital campaign, which raises funds for Westchester Arc’s new resource center and for agency programs that receive insufficient government support.

Westchester Arc Foundation Award