ThinkDIFFERENTLY is a call to action, established in 2015 by former County Executive Marc Molinaro, to create a supportive and welcoming environment for those living with special needs. We have been inspired by the community response! This website is designed to be a starting point to find the services and connections you and your family need.

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Child Development and Future Planning>>

ThinkDIFFERENTLY EVENTS

Thursday, June 29, 2023

3rd Annual ThinkDIFFERENTLY Fitness and Field Day

We’re very excited to announce our 3rd Annual Fitness and Field Day! Come join us for a day filled with fun!!

RSVP by Monday, June 19th

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Questions? Contact Mara at:

(845) 486-3568

xsantiago@dutchessny.gov

See more details.

Community Calendar ( List View )

Staff Assistant Experience 2023 - Session 1 June 25, 2023 22 Camp Ramapo Rd, Rhinebeck, NY 12572, USA
Ramapo for Children

Session 1: June 25th-July 14th

The Staff Assistant Experience (SAE) is a residential transition-to-independence program that offers summer and year-round experiences for young adults with learning differences, ADHD, and/or autism. The program offers opportunities to practice vocational and life skills in a communal setting that is inclusive of typically developing coworkers and peer role models.

Multiple sessions and full summer enrollment available

$5,500 per session
For more information:
(845) 687-3641
akrause@ramapoforchildren.org
www.ramapoforchildren.org/sae

-----------------------------------------------

See more details

Community Calendar ( Monthly View )

	June 2023
			1	2	3 Special Needs - TOPSoccer Special Needs - TOPSoccer June 3, 2023 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm East Fishkill Soccer Club, 1925 NY-52, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533, USA TOPSoccer Player Registration US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer(The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a recreational sports program for children and adults with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities offered only through local US Youth Soccer-affiliated soccer clubs. TOPSoccer provides people with diverse abilities an opportunity to play soccer in a structured environment that is safe, fun, supportive, and inclusive. Registration for our Special Needs program is always open. Registration for all East Fishkill Soccer programs is done on the site linked below so please make sure you scroll through to find the program that meets your needs. TOPS registration is FREE Click Here TOPS Physician letter/waiver form letter Click Here Please contact the program coordinator Maggie Reilly with any questions – TOPSdirector@efsc.net ----------------------------------------------- See more details •	4
5	6	7	8	9	10 Special Needs - TOPSoccer Special Needs - TOPSoccer June 10, 2023 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm East Fishkill Soccer Club, 1925 NY-52, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533, USA TOPSoccer Player Registration US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer(The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a recreational sports program for children and adults with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities offered only through local US Youth Soccer-affiliated soccer clubs. TOPSoccer provides people with diverse abilities an opportunity to play soccer in a structured environment that is safe, fun, supportive, and inclusive. Registration for our Special Needs program is always open. Registration for all East Fishkill Soccer programs is done on the site linked below so please make sure you scroll through to find the program that meets your needs. TOPS registration is FREE Click Here TOPS Physician letter/waiver form letter Click Here Please contact the program coordinator Maggie Reilly with any questions – TOPSdirector@efsc.net ----------------------------------------------- See more details •	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21 Taconic Resources for Independence- SSI & SSDI While Working Virtual Workshop Taconic Resources for Independence- SSI & SSDI While Working Virtual Workshop June 21, 2023 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Monthly Workshops Every 3rd Wednesday 3:00PM – 4:00PM Increase Your Benefits – Avoid Overpayments Plan Ahead, Be Prepared – Begin With Ticket-To-Work! These Workshops Are Intended For The Beneficiary (SSI/SSDI/DAC Recipient) As Well As Their Representative Payee. Human Services Professionals Are Welcome To Attend, However, We Encourage The Beneficiary To Be Present. Sign-Up In Advance For The Next Virtual Workshop Registration Can Also Be Accessed Through The Zoom Website With The Zoom Meeting ID: 874 0577 4507. Or Click HERE To Register. After Registering, You Will Receive A Confirmation Email Containing Information About Joining The Meeting. We Encourage Everyone To Register Separately. Please Do Not Share Your Confirmation Email. If You Need An American Sign-Language Interpreter You Must Call Or Email Sarah At Least 2 Weeks In Advance: S.Drake@Taconicresources.Org (845) 452-3913 Ext. 111 TRI’s Mobile Benefit Services Are Paid For In Part By Dutchess County Think DIFFERENTLY. -----------------------------------------------* See more details •	22	23	24	25 Staff Assistant Experience 2023 - Session 1 Staff Assistant Experience 2023 - Session 1 June 25, 2023 22 Camp Ramapo Rd, Rhinebeck, NY 12572, USA Ramapo for Children Session 1: June 25th-July 14th The Staff Assistant Experience (SAE) is a residential transition-to-independence program that offers summer and year-round experiences for young adults with learning differences, ADHD, and/or autism. The program offers opportunities to practice vocational and life skills in a communal setting that is inclusive of typically developing coworkers and peer role models. Multiple sessions and full summer enrollment available $5,500 per session For more information: (845) 687-3641 akrause@ramapoforchildren.org www.ramapoforchildren.org/sae ----------------------------------------------- See more details •
26	27	28	29 2nd Annual TRI Inclusion Festival 2023 2nd Annual TRI Inclusion Festival 2023 June 29, 2023 11:00 am - 3:00 pm Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, 4097 Albany Post Rd, Hyde Park, NY 12538, USA Celebrate disability pride andculture at our 2nd annualTRI Inclusion Festival! Our event will feature an arrayof accessible, engaging,and fun activities on thebeautiful grounds of theHome of FDRHistoric Site For more information: www.taconicresources.org \| (845) 452-3913 ----------------------------------------------- See more details 3rd Annual ThinkDIFFERENTLY Fitness & Field Day 3rd Annual ThinkDIFFERENTLY Fitness & Field Day June 29, 2023 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Bowdoin Park, 85 Sheafe Rd, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590, USA Join Us for Summer Fun with Field Games & Fitness Activities! All ages and abilities welcome! Free bagged lunch picnic & medals for all participants. Questions? Contact Mara at: 845-486-3568 or xsantiago@dutchessny.go See more details • •	30

ThinkDIFFERENTLY Moments

Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Flourishing Farmers 4H event held 4/2/2023

“Thank you both for such a wonderful event today. I love that you have made it possible for children of [ …Read More ]

View All Inspired Thinkers

Dutchess County ThinkDIFFERENTLY visits Fit & Fun Playscapes, LLC

Dana Hopkins and Mara Santiago of Dutchess County ThinkDIFFERENTLY visited Fit & Fun Playscapes, LLC to learn more about their [ …Read More ]

View All Inspired Thinkers

Spectrum News: Differently abled people find support with ThinkDIFFERENTLY

In December, Spectrum News interviewed Dana Hopkins, All Abilities Program Director for Dutchess County at the 6th Annual ThinkDIFFERENTLY Conference held at the [ …Read More ]

View All Inspired Thinkers

Eagle Scout Project

Ryan Lugo, a John Jay High School student, recently completed his Eagle scout project! Ryan planted a garden and built [ …Read More ]

View All Inspired Thinkers

100 Cups of Coffee

Chief of Police, Thomas Pape attended Dutchess County’s 100 Cups of Coffee at Taconic Resources for Independence and was inspired [ …Read More ]

View All Inspired Thinkers

Verplanck Garden Club

Verplanck Garden Club at Stony Kill Farm’s Environmental and Education Center in Wappingers Falls, NY have been maintaining the Special [ …Read More ]

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Dr. Joseph Bonanno receives award.

Dr Joseph Bonanno the Medical Director for both OPWDD Taconic Region and Arc of Dutchess was honored for his outstanding [ …Read More ]

View All Inspired Thinkers

Coach Vincent and Jonathan “Superman” Brunot

Coach Vincent Del-Cid is a CPA and has previously worked for JP Morgan. Prior to meeting Jonathan “Superman” Brunot, he had [ …Read More ]

View All Inspired Thinkers

Youth Soft Skills Empowerment & Hudson Cadillac

Emanuel Cordero, a vocational coordinator from Youth Soft Skills Empowerment (YSSE) (left) met with Mike Mullaney, Dealer Principal (right) from [ …Read More ]

View All Inspired Thinkers

Carnival Lion for the 2017 ThinkDIFFERENTLY Picnic

Elanor DeMan, a Roosevelt High School student and her father, Jayson DeMan created this fantastic ‘Carnival Lion’ as a bean [ …Read More ]

View All Inspired Thinkers

Red Hook Library Creates “All Abilities Program Series”

Red Hook Public Library has created an All Abilities Program Series for families with special needs to gather and enjoy. The [ …Read More ]

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Universal Park Equipment

Congratulations to Sidney Scoralick, James Ryan and Ulises Olmedo. Special thanks to their teacher Kimberly Sweck, Arlington High School, Teacher-Engineering and Cameron Tuller, a junior at the time, who helped the team with the physical construction of the project.

View All Inspired Thinkers

	June 2023
Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
			1	2	3 Special Needs - TOPSoccer Special Needs - TOPSoccer June 3, 2023 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm East Fishkill Soccer Club, 1925 NY-52, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533, USA TOPSoccer Player Registration US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer(The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a recreational sports program for children and adults with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities offered only through local US Youth Soccer-affiliated soccer clubs. TOPSoccer provides people with diverse abilities an opportunity to play soccer in a structured environment that is safe, fun, supportive, and inclusive. Registration for our Special Needs program is always open. Registration for all East Fishkill Soccer programs is done on the site linked below so please make sure you scroll through to find the program that meets your needs. TOPS registration is FREE Click Here TOPS Physician letter/waiver form letter Click Here Please contact the program coordinator Maggie Reilly with any questions – TOPSdirector@efsc.net ----------------------------------------------- See more details •	4
5	6	7	8	9	10 Special Needs - TOPSoccer Special Needs - TOPSoccer June 10, 2023 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm East Fishkill Soccer Club, 1925 NY-52, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533, USA TOPSoccer Player Registration US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer(The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a recreational sports program for children and adults with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities offered only through local US Youth Soccer-affiliated soccer clubs. TOPSoccer provides people with diverse abilities an opportunity to play soccer in a structured environment that is safe, fun, supportive, and inclusive. Registration for our Special Needs program is always open. Registration for all East Fishkill Soccer programs is done on the site linked below so please make sure you scroll through to find the program that meets your needs. TOPS registration is FREE Click Here TOPS Physician letter/waiver form letter Click Here Please contact the program coordinator Maggie Reilly with any questions – TOPSdirector@efsc.net ----------------------------------------------- See more details •	11
12	13	14	15	16	17	18
19	20	21 Taconic Resources for Independence- SSI & SSDI While Working Virtual Workshop Taconic Resources for Independence- SSI & SSDI While Working Virtual Workshop June 21, 2023 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Monthly Workshops Every 3rd Wednesday 3:00PM – 4:00PM Increase Your Benefits – Avoid Overpayments Plan Ahead, Be Prepared – Begin With Ticket-To-Work! These Workshops Are Intended For The Beneficiary (SSI/SSDI/DAC Recipient) As Well As Their Representative Payee. Human Services Professionals Are Welcome To Attend, However, We Encourage The Beneficiary To Be Present. Sign-Up In Advance For The Next Virtual Workshop Registration Can Also Be Accessed Through The Zoom Website With The Zoom Meeting ID: 874 0577 4507. Or Click HERE To Register. After Registering, You Will Receive A Confirmation Email Containing Information About Joining The Meeting. We Encourage Everyone To Register Separately. Please Do Not Share Your Confirmation Email. *If You Need An American Sign-Language Interpreter You Must Call Or Email Sarah At Least 2 Weeks In Advance: S.Drake@Taconicresources.Org (845) 452-3913 Ext. 111 TRI’s Mobile Benefit Services Are Paid For In Part By Dutchess County Think DIFFERENTLY. ----------------------------------------------- See more details •	22	23	24	25 Staff Assistant Experience 2023 - Session 1 Staff Assistant Experience 2023 - Session 1 June 25, 2023 22 Camp Ramapo Rd, Rhinebeck, NY 12572, USA Ramapo for Children Session 1: June 25th-July 14th The Staff Assistant Experience (SAE) is a residential transition-to-independence program that offers summer and year-round experiences for young adults with learning differences, ADHD, and/or autism. The program offers opportunities to practice vocational and life skills in a communal setting that is inclusive of typically developing coworkers and peer role models. Multiple sessions and full summer enrollment available $5,500 per session For more information: (845) 687-3641 akrause@ramapoforchildren.org www.ramapoforchildren.org/sae ----------------------------------------------- See more details •
26	27	28	29 2nd Annual TRI Inclusion Festival 2023 2nd Annual TRI Inclusion Festival 2023 June 29, 2023 11:00 am - 3:00 pm Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, 4097 Albany Post Rd, Hyde Park, NY 12538, USA Celebrate disability pride andculture at our 2nd annualTRI Inclusion Festival! Our event will feature an arrayof accessible, engaging,and fun activities on thebeautiful grounds of theHome of FDRHistoric Site For more information: www.taconicresources.org \| (845) 452-3913 ----------------------------------------------- See more details 3rd Annual ThinkDIFFERENTLY Fitness & Field Day 3rd Annual ThinkDIFFERENTLY Fitness & Field Day June 29, 2023 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Bowdoin Park, 85 Sheafe Rd, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590, USA Join Us for Summer Fun with Field Games & Fitness Activities! All ages and abilities welcome! Free bagged lunch picnic & medals for all participants. Questions? Contact Mara at: 845-486-3568 or xsantiago@dutchessny.go See more details • •	30

Search for Services

Who

What

Where

Who

What

Where

ThinkDIFFERENTLY EVENTS

Thursday, June 29, 2023

3rd Annual ThinkDIFFERENTLY Fitness and Field Day

RSVP by Monday, June 19th

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Community Calendar ( List View )

Community Calendar ( Monthly View )

June 2023

ThinkDIFFERENTLY Moments

Inspired Thinkers

Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Flourishing Farmers 4H event held 4/2/2023

Inspired Thinkers

Dutchess County ThinkDIFFERENTLY visits Fit & Fun Playscapes, LLC

Inspired Thinkers

Spectrum News: Differently abled people find support with ThinkDIFFERENTLY

Inspired Thinkers

Eagle Scout Project

Inspired Thinkers

100 Cups of Coffee

Inspired Thinkers

Verplanck Garden Club

Inspired Thinkers

Dr. Joseph Bonanno receives award.

Inspired Thinkers

Coach Vincent and Jonathan “Superman” Brunot

Inspired Thinkers

Youth Soft Skills Empowerment & Hudson Cadillac

Inspired Thinkers

Carnival Lion for the 2017 ThinkDIFFERENTLY Picnic

Inspired Thinkers

Red Hook Library Creates “All Abilities Program Series”

Inspired Thinkers

Universal Park Equipment