Disabilities confab shares stories of support

“We have to tell our stories. Our stories will save us. And our stories will ensure our future,” said Marianne Ardito, vice chairperson for the Queens Council on Developmental Disabilities (QCDD) during the 26th annual Queens Family Support Conference.
Hundreds of family members, advocates and supporters of the developmentally disabled gathered at the LaGuardia Sheraton in Flushing on November 12 to attend a full day of lectures, workshops and networking opportunities. Raymond DeNatale, chairperson of the QCDD and emcee for the conference introduction, stressed the importance of being an advocate for the disabled during trying economic times.
“If there was ever a time for you to rise up and share your voice in support for people with developmental disabilities, now is the time,” said DeNatale, who compared the current threat to disabled people losing their life-long services to the times of the Willowbrook calamity of the 1970s. “We will not go back to those times . . . Let’s bridge another river of uncertainty to a new side of even better and more permanent services for people with disabilities.”
Due to her 20 years of service to persons with developmental disabilities and her contributions in the field of special needs, Lisa Veglia, LCSW, MPA, the Deputy Executive Director of Quality Services for the Autism Community (QSAC), was awarded the June Marcus Award. Veglia said that she always appreciated Marcus’ knowledge, energy and passion.
“It’s easier to lead when times are good but true leadership and character in leadership is demonstrated in difficult times, much like those we face today,” said Veglia.
As keynote speaker, Victoria Schneps-Yunis, publisher of The Queens Courier and founder of Working Organization for Children (now called Life’s WORC) spoke about “the power of the person” and shared her personal story about her daughter, Lara, who was born developmentally disabled in 1968.
“There were no day programs, there were no school programs, there were no group homes,” said Schneps-Yunis, who turned to the newly built infant rehabilitation center at Willowbrook. It was then when Schneps-Yunis, along with a group of friends, decided to do something positive for Willowbrook by founding WORC and becoming active in volunteering and fundraising. After losing significant funding, Willowbrook lost a class action lawsuit when Geraldo Rivera exposed the facility as an abusive environment. Since then, Life’s Worc has opened 39 group homes in Suffolk, Nassau and Queens to care for those will developmental disabilities.
“I didn’t know that I was going to have this life. I didn’t know that I could make a difference. Every single one of you can make a difference. If you are passionate about what you do, let your voice be heard,” said Schneps-Yunis. “I think Lara is up in heaven and thinking, ‘Mom, we’ve come a long way.’ And each one of you makes that happen. Keep making it happen.”
To learn more about the Queens Council on Developmental Disabilities and to see a full schedule of upcoming events, visit www.qcdd.org.