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June
Newsletter
A Green Key to Unlock Summer Fun
Written by Judith Wieber
Memorial Day traditionally kicks off the unofficial start of summer. Fishing, swimming, strolling along the shore, listening to live music under the stars, viewing fireworks, barbecuing with family and friends. Gardening, boating, clamming, sailing, playing ball in the park, the list of things to do in Suffolk is endless.
But what might this mean for residents of Suffolk who live with a disability? The answer may not look quite the same. A person who is hearing impaired might seek activities that are visually appealing, whereas a person who is visually impaired might seek something involving beautiful floral scents, or melodious tones of music. A person using a wheelchair might have to search for an adapted way to get down to the ocean shore. Whatever the interest, a certain amount of limitation or restriction may be involved or conceded to the environment to find some accessible fun.
As much as I may want to see a sunset and walk along the beach shore, I tell myself that standing up here at the concession stand with the sun on my face and the wind at my back is good enough. Listening to the squawking of the seagulls and the sounds of children playing in a playground can be delightful. I suppose everyone can find their joy if they want to find it.
But wouldn’t it be fantastic to enrich the summertime experiences for all by including and breaking down the obstacles to our enjoyment?
Suffolk County has provided an application process for a Disability Discount Identification Card, which provides a discounted rate to buy a Suffolk County Green Key Card. The card will grant discounts to many of the entrance fees and activities at Suffolk County parks. The Disability Discount Identification Card can be obtained through the Office for People with Disabilities, while first-time purchase of a Green Key Card needs to be done in person at several county locations (see the County website for details).
Many of the different townships in Suffolk offer free summer concert series to town residents. Check out your local township web sites for schedules.
Where Hope Grows
Written by Judith Wieber
My pick of movies this issue is the 2014 film from Godspeed Pictures, “Where Hope Grows”. Based on a true story, and written and directed by Chris Dowling, it won the Heartland International Film Festival’s Audience Choice Award. It is streaming now on Netflix.
The film reaffirms everyone has purpose in life, no matter what their level of ability. We all have gifts and talents that are meant to be shared with others.
The two main characters are Produce and Calvin Campbell, played by David DeSanctis and Kristoffer Polaha, respectively. The film takes place in modern day Louisville, Kentucky. It depicts a beautiful friendship between an unlikely duo, a produce clerk with Down Syndrome, and a retired Major League Baseball superstar struggling with addiction and raising a young teen age daughter as a single parent. Both characters support and help each other to grow and realize their self-worth.
David DeSanctis is an American actor who not only starred in “Where Hope Grows”, but in the movie “Color my World with Love”, released in 2022. He is an actor with a developmental disability, but wants to be better known for his abilities and talents.
SILO’s Support Groups
Written by Judith Wieber
My high school years were in the 1980’s. I loved watching the sitcom Cheers with Ted Danson and Shelly Long. That being said, I got to interview Erick Dreher this month. I wanted to get to know him better, as well as the support groups he and Justin Ainsworth run here at SILO, alongside Alberta Galdi’s Women’s Empowerment Group.
One thing that came to mind, after conducting my slew of interview questions, was the Cheers theme song by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo:
“Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you've got
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot
Wouldn't you like to get away?
All those nights when you've got no lights
The check is in the mail
And your little angel
Hung the cat up by its tail
And your third fiancé didn't show
Sometimes you wanna go
Where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
You wanna be where you can see (ah-ah)
Our troubles are all the same (ah-ah)
You wanna be where everybody knows your name...”
This is the feeling I experienced, when learning more about our support groups: Start the Conversation, the Man Cave, and the newly formed Women’s Empowerment Group, guided by Alberta Galdi.
The 3 groups grew out of a need, to come together, talk with each other, and share whatever might be on your mind, whether it has to do with living with a disability or not. It is about showing up, listening, and giving support. The Men’s group grew out of a counterbalance to the women’s group, said Erick. The groups complement each other. It can mean so much to sit and talk to a group of peers, to others who may have the same set of experiences. It offers a different perspective on similar circumstances.
I know that I, trying to raise sighted children while being a single parent without vision, would have loved talking to other parents with a disability about their experiences raising kids. Hey, any support group for parents would have been welcoming.
“Sometimes, just meeting someone who has gone through things already, hearing how they handled the day-to-day effects of independent living, is a help,” says Erick. “We are very laid back, and informal, yet we have social workers here if anyone needs some extra support. The goal here is to give one more way to relieve stress and encourage mental and emotional health.”
The bonds that are made, and the comradery the groups build, makes it worth checking things out.
“...Be glad there's one place in the world
Where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
You wanna go where people know
People are all the same
You wanna go where everybody knows your name”
Health and Wellness Goals (And How to Get in Shape While on a Budget)
Written by Angel Vasquez
Here we are in a new year. As summer 2025 approaches, there is always one question that some Americans cannot help but ponder: How do I improve my physical well-being?
With so much conflicting advice out there, it can be difficult to know where to begin and who to trust. This can be especially challenging for people with disabilities who are on a strict budget. Too often, both factors go hand in hand. I can attest to this since I am one of these individuals. I am a young postgraduate man, in the process of looking for my first real job, utilizing resources such as ACCES VR and Self-Direction. I also have autism, which further complicates the process of getting in shape. This is especially true considering I have the tendency to have nervous breakdowns every time someone or something disrupts my routines.
In November 2024, I was nearly 200 lbs. (197, to be exact), the most I had ever weighed. I was often out of breath, not feeling my best, and I didn't like the way I looked. When I woke up, I would feel extremely weak and unwilling to start the day, exhausted all of the time. I knew something had to change, that I needed to lose weight and get myself in better physical condition.
I have often been told to eat less to lose weight. However, this was extremely difficult for me because I would find myself abiding by the advice during the day, only to eat and drink more of the unhealthy things later on, especially at night. Usually, I would eat any snack that was in my house. This caused me to consume more saturated fat and sugar and less of the protein, complex carbohydrates, amino acids, and unsaturated healthy fats my body needed.
Such an experience taught me to listen to what my body was telling me. One day, in early January, I met with my academic coach to go over my New Year’s resolutions. I told him that one of my goals was to lose weight and get down to 170 lbs. That is when he and I began an in-depth conversation about weight loss and exercise.
He started by organizing a list of healthy foods to incorporate into my daily routine. It served as a decent start to my journey. I was able to take inspiration from the list, and began grocery shopping with my mother. One by one, I searched for the foods. Of course, I did not have to get literally everything on the list. I substituted foods that he liked, such as Tofu, with Quinoa, something I enjoy and has a decent amount of protein. This usually costs around $200 to $300 per grocery shop. In comparison, fast food is just as expensive, but more unhealthy. I have found that buying groceries beneficial to my overall health is money well spent.
I started by eating and drinking healthier, consuming more protein during the day. No matter what day it is, sunny or gloomy, I make sure that I drink one Fairlife protein drink during my morning exercises. This way, I get the protein in between the exercises and have it throughout the day. I also cook one egg in either olive oil or avocado oil for breakfast with avocado or guacamole, onions, bell peppers, lettuce, and spinach. By doing this, I am consuming unsaturated fat rather than saturated fat. I also make sure to consume at least 100 grams of protein per day. When I snack, I usually eat red grapes, which contain an anti-aging substance called resveratrol. In addition, my academic coach sent me workout videos to incorporate into my routine.
However, this did not come without trial and error. In the beginning stages of my dietary journey, I would still eat and drink certain things that were simply made up of sugar or saturated fat. Every time I did this, I noticed that I was not losing weight as fast as I wanted to. I confided to my academic coach about this. He advised me to carefully avoid these foods and drinks altogether, and focus on consuming healthy foods and beverages. So that is what I did.
As a result, after a couple of weeks, I became more accustomed to being healthy. I found myself becoming more and more energetic and motivated to tackle any challenge that awaited me. Then, the real test came in: the exercises.
Just like with the healthy dieting, I went about the workouts at my own pace. Now that it is summer, I am walking more and more around Patriot's Preserve. I have been walking daily. I try to walk up to 10 miles per day. This helps me burn many calories, and it is also good for my mental health to enjoy the nature preserve now in the late spring. I learned that it's important to find an exercise that is enjoyable, which makes it doable.
I also dusted off my exercise mat that I had for who knows how long, and acclimated myself to some abs workouts. Once I perfected these, I shifted my focus to perfecting my dumbbell exercises. At first, these workouts were challenging. But that did not stop me from trying. My New Year’s resolution of getting in shape continued to burn within my mind, so I watched workout videos on those as well. With all of these, I started doing small repetitions until I could gradually do more of them.
Right now, I am 173 lbs., and currently in the most decent shape of my youth, all thanks to consistent guidance and a reasonable dietary plan. The trick is to start slow and keep progressing over time. Now it is fun, and I look forward to improving further.
Meet Codi Hill: Information and Assistance Specialist of New York Connects
Written by Judith Wieber
This month, the SILO newsletter is highlighting the work of Codi Hill, one of the Information and Assistance Specialists in New York Connects.
Recently Codi received an award of recognition from the New York State Office for the Aging. Codi was nominated by her Director of New York Connects, Kelly-Rae Douglas.
“Codi has shown exemplary individual achievement in her role as Information and Assistance Specialist. Codi is an invaluable member of the NY Connects program and team."
“Her contributions and efforts have positively affected the operations of our office, and the individuals we serve. Her efforts and work ethic are reflected in the feedback I receive from clients that have collaborated with her, as well as her colleagues whom she has supported. She exemplifies leadership quality and self-awareness that enables her to make a positive impact for our community of consumers,” said Kelly-Rae.
Codi, a native Long Islander, is a graduate of Adelphi University. One of her proudest life moments was getting her master’s degree in social work. She has been working for SILO for approximately three years. Prior to working at SILO, she worked as a case worker in the shelter system. She credits her mom as the person who most influenced her career choice: “I grew up doing outreach with my mom. She was a case manager that worked with pregnant and parenting teens. She guided me on the importance of helping others around me.”
To get a feel for the work Codi does, she let me know: “Almost every day I am collaborating with clients on emergency situations as soon as it happens.”
Knowing how important it is for care takers and support persons to have an outlet to take a break from the stresses, I asked Codi what some of her hobbies are. I learned that she has a sticker collection. Something I already knew, however, is that she makes beautiful and delicious cakes, another thing her mom taught her. Her cakes could be sold in a bakery. They are that good.
When asked what inspired her to work in the field of disability, she answered: “The desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people.”
A meaningful difference, she surely makes. Thank you for the work you do.
