Family Fun Day
On September 28, 2024, hundreds of students, alumni, staff, family & friends gathered at the Plainview Preschool in support of the ACDS Community for a day of food and fun, carnival games and entertainment, music and raffle prizes. Many thanks to sponsors Sackman Enterprises, Frank and Theresa Cherba and The Zaffos Family. Special thanks to the ACDS PTO, Best Buy, Brian Forkos, Garden City Service League, Let’s Groove Zumba Group, Melissa Castro, Soccer Shots, The Carey Family, Plainview Old-Bethpage Library, The Tracy Family and all the wonderful volunteers!
Buddy Bench Installation in Memory of Jill Silverstein
On Friday, September 13, we honored Jill Silverstein, a Teacher’s Assistant at ACDS who passed away on August 4, 2023. Jill was a tremendous part of ACDS and we all greatly miss her. She was all about inclusion, love and lots of fun. Therefore, it was fitting to honor her by dedicating a Buddy Bench in the large playground in her memory, in celebration of her birthday, September 14. The bench, painted yellow, Jill’s favorite color, is accompanied by Stepping Stones which include rocks painted by students and staff in Jill’s honor.
The 5+ Program at Pelham
The 5+ Program at Pelham is a Saturday, 8-week session that includes a variety of activities including art and gardening. The program helps the children gain appropriate socialization skills while developing friendships that are maintained throughout the year.
Summer Adventure
Summer Adventure 2024 was an incredible success. We had a fantastic week full of fun activities, smiling faces, and lots of laughs that created many new memories for our 100+ campers and staff – our largest group to date. Held on the beautiful Camp Chen A Wanda property, our one-week program gave campers the chance to enjoy a variety of recreational activities with their peers. It also promotes independence as they stay in bunks with friends and our amazing counselors.
Michael’s Down Right Perfect Fundraiser
We are so grateful to Marie Marsilio and the Marsilio family for all of their hard work organizing and hosting the 5th Annual Michael’s Down Right Perfect fundraiser at Cutting Edge Hair Design in Commack. Thanks to everyone who came out to support the event, $5,300 was raised directly for ACDS . . . and we made it onto News 12!
Plainview Prom
With their fancy clothes and dancing shoes, students and staff alike had an absolute blast dancing the day away at Plainview’s Prom!
Kathy’s & Nivea’s Retirement
After 40 years of employment, physical therapist Kathy Dillon and occupational therapist Nivea McGee have retired from ACDS. In their honoree, they were each presented with a memorial leaf for ACDS’s Tree of Life to honor their incredible contributions. Both Kathy and Nivea have had a huge impact on our children. Their presence at ACDS will be greatly missed, but the memorial leaves will serve as lasting tributes to their dedication and passion.
Summer Music Instrument Festival
Among the wonderful activities that took place at the Plainview Preschool this past summer included a Music Instrument Festival, otherwise known as the Music Petting Zoo. Children had an opportunity to try out numerous instruments and see what amazing sounds they could make.
Annual Golf Outing
Annual Golf Outing On July 22, ACDS hosted its annual golf outing at Hempstead Golf & Country Club. The event featured exciting on-the-course activities including a $10,000 hole-in-one contest and first-rate raffles including a signed Islanders jersey. The evening’s program included inspirational remarks from David Foster who lives in an ACDS supported apartment and works as a paint mixer at Home Depot. All proceeds from the outing benefit the ACDS Foundation which supports lifetime programs serving people with developmental disabilities and their families. The event’s title sponsor was Empire Adventure Park whose CEO, Matt Mullen, has been a long-time supporter of ACDS and a key advocate for the golf outing. Additional sponsors include Hugh O’Connell and James E. Fitzgerald, Inc., CCi Voice, Jackie Boy’s Crew Foundation, Community Care Rx, Enterprise Fleet, Valley National Bank, Hefti, G&G Electric, Benfield Electric, Midtown Electric, and Americore Drilling & Cutting. Donate Now
Splash Pad Ribbon Cutting
Splash Pad Ribbon Cutting ACDS was proud to celebrate the opening of the Splash Pad at its Plainview Preschool with a Ribbon Cutting. This dream began with Principal Tricia Leahy, who envisioned a wonderful way for our children to cool off in the summer. She imagined a great splash pad fully accessible to our students with special needs, with elements that spoke to their sensory, gross and fine motor needs. She wanted to bring them some summer fun in the sun and was tireless in bringing this project to fruition. This dream would be just a dream were it not for our incredible funders – Kath O’Brien, President of The Richard J. O’Brien Foundation which honors the memory of her late husband, Rich O’Brien; Tom and Michele Casal of Jackie Boy’s Crew Foundation; Tommy Brull Foundation; and the ACDS PTO. Many thanks also goes to Kerri Ross who donated the beautiful balloon arch décor and The Milk & Sugar Truck which provided delicious treats to enjoy. Donate Now