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“ThinkDIFFERENTLY is a call to action to create a supportive and welcoming environment for those living with special needs. This website is designed to be a starting point to find the services and connections you and your family need.”

– Marc Molinaro, Dutchess County Executive

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Child Development and Future Planning>>

ThinkDIFFERENTLY EVENTS

November 30, 2018

Collaboration of Services and Care Across the Life Span for People with Special Needs

Please join us Friday, November 30th at the Henry Wallace Center located at the FDR Presidential Library and Home in Hyde Park. This conference will guide families and providers through a series of discussions with a focus on planning for the care of someone with special needs. Our goal is to explore the benefits of collaborating and improving negotiating skills for services.

RSVP by November 26th

For more information please see Flyer TD Conference 2018

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Community Calendar ( List View )

December 11, 2018

LGBTQ & Ability Support and Discussion Group December 11, 2018 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Taconic Resources-Independence, 82 Washington St # 214, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, USA
LGBTQ + Abilities Support and Discussion Group

This group is open to all people of the disability and LGBTQ community. It meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

Contact Charla to RSVP in attendance; charlarubym@gmail.com or call/text 845-443-5924

If you require an American Sign-Language interpreter must RSVP 1-2 weeks in advance.

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Community Calendar ( Monthly View )

December 2018

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Poughkeepise Galleria Photo Session with Santa
Poughkeepise Galleria Photo Session with Santa

December 9, 2018 8:30 am - 10:30 am
Poughkeepsie Galleria Mall, 2001 South Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, USA

Children with special needs and their families are invited to attend a private photo session where extra care is taken to support the sensory, physical and other developmental needs of children. There will also be an American Sign Language Interpreter on site to assist with interpreting and translating services.
Please RSVP at PoughkeepsieGalleriaMall.com/events

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LGBTQ & Ability Support and Discussion Group
LGBTQ & Ability Support and Discussion Group

December 11, 2018 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Taconic Resources-Independence, 82 Washington St # 214, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, USA

LGBTQ + Abilities Support and Discussion Group

This group is open to all people of the disability and LGBTQ community. It meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

Contact Charla to RSVP in attendance; charlarubym@gmail.com or call/text 845-443-5924

If you require an American Sign-Language interpreter must RSVP 1-2 weeks in advance.

See more details

Polar Express at Lyceum
Polar Express at Lyceum

December 15, 2018 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Lyceum Cinemas, 15 Old Farm Rd, Red Hook, NY 12571, USA

Come join us at the Lyceum Cinema in Red Hook for a sensory friendly showing of "The Polar Express."
Admission is free but tickets must be obtained in advance from any of the following local merchants: Minuteman Press, Subway, Mid Hudson Valley Credit Union, Red Hook branch, Griff's Southside Deli, Red Hook T's, Ben & Gracie's Thrift Shop, Village Pizza II, The Bagel Shoppe, Historic Village Diner & Charlie O's Restaurant.
Santa will be on hand when the doors open at 9:00am.
Everyone who attends the movie is asked to please bring a non-perishable food item for collection by the Dutchess County Community Action Agency.

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Visit with Santa Interpreter Service
Visit with Santa Interpreter Service

December 16, 2018 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Poughkeepsie Galleria Mall, 2001 South Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, USA

An American Sign Language Interpreter will be on site at Poughkeepsie Galleria's Santa set to assist with interpreting and translating services. This special service comes as a result of a partnership between Taconic Resources for Independence, Dutchess County Government's ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative and Poughkeepsie Galleria.
For information on holiday hours, visiting Santa Claus, the annual Santa Cares event and the many holiday happenings please visit Poughkeepsie Galleria's website

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Special Education PTA - in Spanish
Special Education PTA - in Spanish

December 21, 2018 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Lagrange Association Library, 488 Freedom Plains Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603, USA

SEPTA (Special Education PTA) Support group that is held every 3rd Friday of the month from 6 to 7 in Spanish and from 7 to 8pm in English in the Lagrange Library.

Please contact Ivonne Rios at ivy2115@yahoo. for further information or any questions.

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Visit with Santa Interpreter Service
Visit with Santa Interpreter Service

December 23, 2018 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Poughkeepsie Galleria Mall, 2001 South Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, USA

An American Sign Language Interpreter will be on site at Poughkeepsie Galleria's Santa set to assist with interpreting and translating services. This special service comes as a result of a partnership between Taconic Resources for Independence, Dutchess County Government's ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative and Poughkeepsie Galleria.
For information on holiday hours, visiting Santa Claus, the annual Santa Cares event and the many holiday happenings please visit Poughkeepsie Galleria's website

See more details

ThinkDIFFERENTLY Moments

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 ]

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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 ]

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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 ]

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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 ]

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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 ]

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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.

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