New York State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. who represents the 15th Senate District in Queens, on Saturday, May 4 partnered with Community Board 9, to bring awareness and support the Autism and Developmental Disabilities and Resource Fair at the 2nd Annual walk in Phil “Scooter Rizzuto Park/Smokey Oval, in Richmond Hill.
Despite the crisp weather, people with autism, their friends, family, and community leaders walked around the park four times, carrying posters, cheering, and waving in heartfelt support, all for awareness and acceptance of autism, a campaign that Trinidadian-born, Sherry Algreo, whose son Joseph is autistic, has championed.
“It is so important that we are here today to raise awareness of autism and developmental disabilities. When we think about it just to merely run, to play, to talk to learn, for so many it just comes natural but for others it’s very difficult, for them and their families. In the United States, one out of six children from 3 to 17 years old have some form of developmental disabilities, said Senator Addabbo.”
“There is a larger number, one in 36 children have autism, and one in 45 adults have autism and that number is growing so it’s up to us as a community as elected officials to do what we can for this rising need for those individuals and their families. It is what we need to do for the lifetime that they have this disability, that’s why we’re here and we will continue forward,” said Sen. Addabbo.
The politician suggested passing legislation to provide services that individuals need to address early intervention “so that the quicker we define and identify developmental disabilities the quicker we can get it resolved and make these lives better. We can do it legislatively, and we can do it like this too,” he alluded to the walk, adding, “I am pleased to announce that my team and I have secured $900,000 for a sensory park at Smokey Oval, born from the 2023 walk,” he stated, and credits School Psychologist, Janet Forte, for her input.
“Let’s go forward because with every step we find a solution, we find a cure, and we find the services that are needed,’ said Sen. Addabbo, who thanked his colleague, Lynn Schulman, the Parks Department, and Chief Williams of the 102 Precinct.
Councilmember Lynn Schulman of District 29, who began representing the district from Jan. 1 this year, stated that autism is an important issue, it is not a mental ill issue, but a developmental disability issue.
“I am very proud to have been a co-sponsor City Council legislation to make sure that the police receive training on how to interact with people with autism when they respond to a 911 call. I am happy to have done that,” said Shulman who applauded Sherry Algreo, whom she said the walk could not have happened without her.
“Algreo, and her son are amazing. I look forward to working with the board, and with Richmond Hill. I would like to thank Sen. Addabbo for his efforts,” said Schulman.
Chief Williams of the NYPD South stated that it does not matter what the situation, the police department “is here for the community. We will continue to make our community better.”
Thomas Grech, president & CEO of Queens Chamber of Commerce, in brief remarks, noted that the walk was lucky and blessed to partner with elected officials, and Sherry Algreo, and her son Joseph, who gets love and support from his family.
Anthony Lemma, district director, on behalf of Assemblymember David Weprin, thanked Community Board 9, and elected officials for working hard for the community.
He said it is amazing how everybody works together, noting that the community ensured that funding for autism support was not cut. “We are blessed to have such good, elected officials, and Sherry,” he said.
Members of the Sikh community who sponsored an ice cream truck for the walk, said autism does not know race, religion, color, or creed. “We need to use the disability to our advantage so that we can treat children with autism as normal human beings, so they can progress and be useful to society. We are here culturally together, we know Sherry is dedicated to her family, and she is just as good to her community.”
Algreo, chairperson of Community Board 9, spoke passionately about bringing about change to support the disability community, noting that due to the large turnout of almost 400 supporters last year, she saw a need for more advocacy, and the mother of a special needs child, who cried a lot earlier on, when his disability was thought to be a disease.
“My son was targeted and ill-treated by other children, and even by adults who felt autism was a contagious disease that their children would contract.”
“We are making a statement that Richmond Hill Community Board 9 care about persons with disability. We call the walk autism and developmental disability that’s why we do it in May because every day is autism awareness, not just April. It is not going anywhere, it’s not a disease where there’s going to be a cure, if anything, there’s going to be a growing number as children with autism gets older.”
“What do we do with them. Facility and services are limited, Social Security is a nightmare, guardianship is a nightmare, we need to do more, our laws are not structured for people with disability, the laws need to be changed,” said Algreo, in a heartfelt statement to Caribbean Life.
Algreo, who works diligently in her Richmond Hill community, bringing about awareness, has received support from various small business owners, and advocacy groups to ensure services are available to mothers, and families, and thanked Senator Addabbo, for his quick response in starting the inaugural walk last year.
Some of the partners included River Fund Inc., Heart of Gems, Caribbean Cabana, Indra Puran, New York Life, the Trinidadian and Tobagonian USA group, Bena Homecare Agency, Emblem Health, Mercy Drive Inc. a day habilitation without walls, the Sikh community’s ice-cream truck, and others.
Queens Community Board will conduct a Small Business Resource Fair, & Q&A at the Helen Marshall Center at Queens Borough Hall, from May 16. The open event to local business owners will be held from 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
