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Westchester Arc
The Gleeson-Israel Gateway Center
265 Saw Mill River Road
Hawthorne, NY 10532
914.949.9300
info@westchesterarc.org

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Westchester Arc Marches To State Capitol

Celebrating NYSARC’s 60th Anniversary

On September 17, nearly 30 individuals from Westchester Arc headed to Albany to participate in a statewide event which culminated at the steps of the NYS Capitol in Albany. The event kicked off at at the Corning Preserve Riverfront Park as a procession of 1,500 people walked over the Hudson River Way Pedestrian Bridge and up State Street to the Capitol Steps lead by Schenectady Pipe and Drum.

At the Capitol steps flags from the 55 NYSARC Chapters were placed by individuals who use the supports and services of NYSARC Chapters. NYSARC President Katharine Wilson Conroy welcomed marchers and several important public officials including Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings; Senate Majority Leader, Ron Canestrari; Senate Assistant Majority Leader, Neil Breslin; Asemblyman James Tedisco; Director for Constituent Relations for Senator Roy MacDonald, Jim Church; Director of Mental Hygiene for Governor Paterson, Michael Seereiter; and OMRDD Executive Deputy Commissioner, Max Chmura.

Immediately following the ceremony the group returned to the Riverfront Park at the Corning Preserve for a picnic and entertainment provided by the popular band FLAME.

The 60th Anniversary Celebration walk to the Capitol was symbolic of what NYSARC, Inc. is−local grassroots energies spreading from community to community to ultimately come together as a statewide, parent driven organization that supports more than 60,000 people with developmental disabilities as they pursue their dreams and personal goals.

In addition to its role as the nation’s largest provider of services to people with developmental disabilities, for six decades NYSARC and Westchester Arc has played a leading role in legislative advocacy. NYSARC initiated the historic suit against New York State which resulted in the signing of the Willowbrook Consent Decree and paved the way for a massive national policy shift toward deinstitutionalization. The Organization was also instrumental in the creation of a separate Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. More recent advocacy efforts include a major role in the passage of landmark legislation in health care decision making for people who have developmental disabilities.

As part of the year-long celebration, Westchester Arc opened a new art exhibit with the theme Celebration at gallery265 in August. Over 150 people attended the art show which offered music, ice cream and friendship among families from five Arcs in the region – Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Dutchess. Each Arc asked their students and consumers to submit art for this special event. The gallery is now adorned with 70 pieces of artwork. The gallery265 Committee selected ten pieces as finalists from which one from Orange County was selected to be produced as a 60th anniversary US postal service stamp. (click here to view the winning stamp)