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News & Events

WIHD Celebrates Grand Opening

On Thursday, October 20th, WIHD officially kicked off its independence during a grand opening celebration attended by more than 150 individuals with disabilities, families, professionals, staff from WIHD and community agencies, community leaders, and elected officials.

The celebration included a brief program recognizing Senator Nick Spano for his state-level leadership, County Executive Andy Spano for his commitment of county support, GROW (an advocacy group of parents of children and adults with developmental disabilities), and SANYS (an organization of people with developmental disabilities speaking up for themselves) for their unwavering advocacy on behalf of WIHD. A symbolic ribbon-cutting was followed by music from the CLC Chorus, and a song written for this occasion and performed by Steve Holmes, the Administrative Director of SANYS.		Senator Nicholas Spano.
Dr. Ansley Bacon, WIHD President & CEO, presents Senator Spano with a scrapbook of momentos from his recent award from the NYS DDPC designating him as Community Leader of the Year.		Mr. Tom Hughes, WIHD Board of Directors, and Dr. Bacon with GROW members accepting award.
Mr. Steve Holmes and SANYS members accepting award.		The ribbon cutting ceremony!
The CLC Chorus.		Steve Holmes and the "WIHD Singers".

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Grand Opening

Please join us for a fun filled afternoon as the Westchester Institute for Human Development celebrates its Grand Opening on Thursday, October 20th, 2005.

Time:
4:00 pm - 4:45 pm - Art Show and Raffle
4:45 pm - 5:15 pm - Ribbon Cutting
5:15 pm - 6:00 pm - Refreshments

Location:
WIHD Lobby

Join us in celebrating our new independence and our continued commitment to individuals with disabilities.

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WIHD Begins Independence

WIHD is the Hudson Valley’s oldest “new” not-for-profit organization. WIHD began its new life on July 1, 2005, becoming independent after a more-than-twenty-year identity as a program of the Westchester Medical Center, and prior to that a thirty-year identity as a program of the New York Medical College. We are, therefore, a new resource with a 50-year tradition of excellence for thousands of children and adults with disabilities, their families, the professionals who serve them, and the communities in which they live.	Senator Nicholas Spano.
Westchester County Executive Andy Spano speaking; Tom Hughes, Chairman of the WIHD Board of Directors looking on.	Marilyn Klein, Director of the Speech and Hearing Center at WIHD, accepting Founding Staff Members plaque on behalf of WIHD staff, with Senator Spano looking on.
On Tuesday August 23rd, WIHD kicked off its independence with a program to thank all of the individuals and organizations who helped make the transition to independence possible. Special certificates, plaques and awards were presented to: Senator Nick Spano County Executive Andy Spano the NYS Governor’s Office ProBono Partnership Cicero Velazquez Cicero and Associates New York Medical College Westchester Medical Center the WIHD Board of Directors the WIHD Community Advisory Committee A Founding Staff Members plaque was presented to all WIHD staff for their commitment and hard work during the past few years.
Ansley Bacon, President and CEO of WIHD, accepting special award from Nick Spano with Tom Hughes looking on.	Left to right: Walt Fowler and Tom Hughes (WIHD Board of Directors); Senator Spano; Ansley Bacon; County Executive Andy Spano, Tim Dunn (Governor's Office, Director of Human Services), Dr. William Frishman, Ken Kirshenbaum and Betsy Stern(WIHD Board of Directors).
Staff and friends of WIHD.
An official Grand Opening event is being planned for Thursday, October 20th from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm at WIHD. All friends of WIHD are invited.

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Positive Behavioral Support Website

A Positive Strategies website (http://www.nymc.edu/wihd/pbs) is available to support and provide technical assistance to Positive Strategies teams.

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2004-2005 LEND Fellows Graduation

The 2004-2005 LEND fellows celebrated the end of their fellowships with a poster session, graduation ceremony, and luncheon on Thursday May 5th at WIHD. The day began with a poster session where their research projects were displayed in the lobby, and the LEND fellows had an opportunity to present their projects to staff, faculty, and other visitors.
After a brief graduation ceremony and presentation of graduation certificates, everyone enjoyed a final luncheon together.

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WIHD Staff Testify At Public Hearing

On February 10th, two WIHD staff members, Ms. Barbara Levitz and Mr. Mitchell Levitz, along with Mr. Scott Fowler attended a public hearing in Kingston, NY where they presented comments on the proposed Five Year State Plan for the NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. They spoke in support of the OMRDD plan, each of them providing a unique personal perspective. Please use the links below to read their testimonies.

Mr. Fowler and Mr. Levitz recently taped a segment of The Ways We Care, a television cable program sponsored by Westchester Jewish Community Services, where they talked about including people with disabilities in the community. The airing of the cable program coincides with national recognition of Disabilities Awareness Month. It can be seen throughout the month of March on your local cable access channel.

To learn more about the participants, use the links below.

Ms. Barbara Levitz
Mr. Mitchell Levitz
Mr. Scott Fowler

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WIHD Staff Member Honored

Mary Ellen Ryan, Associate Nursing Care Coordinator at WIHD was recently honored by the Westchester-Putnam Special Olympics. The Westchester-Putnam branch works with over 1,150 athletes locally to provide sports training competition on an ongoing basis.

Ms. Ryan received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her volunteer work with the Special Olympics over the past 22 years.

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