NSASA

Each week, we’re thanking some incredible people in 0ur community who help support Long Island’s Autism families dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. By raising money, supplying food for group homes, or further supporting The Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society of America, these COVID-19 Heroes are a bright light in these dark and uncertain times.

Jonathan Stone of Equitable Advisors, LLC. and an AXA Corporate Match donated $1,000 to the NSASA. Jon is a long time supporter of The NSASA as a committee member of the T Off 4 Autism Team.

Gerry Brennan and Ridgewood Savings Bank donated $750 toward group home meals and COVID-19 support. Gerry and the entire Brennan Family have also been long time supporters of The NSASA.

If you’re also interested in donating to support The NSASA, contact Suzanne Reek at (516) 404-2306 or SReek@NSASA.org.

Each week, we’re thanking some incredible people in 0ur community who help support Long Island’s Autism families dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. By raising money, supplying food for group homes, or further supporting The Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society of America, these COVID-19 Heroes are a bright light in these dark and uncertain times.

Pamela Radin donated $500 to The NSASA. Pamela is an Allstate Agency Owner in Baldwin, located at 914 Atlantic Avenue. She is always there to help in a time of crisis, and she has proven it is no different amidst the pandemic. Even during Hurricane Sandy, Pamela secured a $5,000 donation for our organization.

Marni Adler also donated $500 to The NSASA. It’s donations like these that allow us to help as many people as possible as often as possible.

If you’re also interested in donating to support The NSASA, contact Suzanne Reek at (516) 404-2306 or SReek@NSASA.org.

Each week, we’re thanking some incredible people in 0ur community who help support Long Island’s Autism families dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. By raising money, supplying food for group homes, or further supporting NSASA, these COVID-19 Heroes are a bright light in these dark and uncertain times.

The Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Program of the Elmont School District raised $923 for The Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society of America. This incredible program has raised more than $52K over the last eight years.

Tom and Rosemarie DiEmidio have raised more than $850 for The Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society of America through Tom’s Birthday Donation and from other donations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tom is a consistent supporter of The NSASA year-round.

If you’re also interested in donating to support the NSASA, contact Suzanne Reek at (516) 404-2306 or SReek@NSASA.org.

From News12 Long Island:

Parents of people with autism or developmental disabilities say their children are being left out during the pandemic, and they want answers.

News 12 spoke to the parents of three men with autism or developmental disabilities who live in group homes or take part in day programs, provided by the state’s Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, or OPWDD.

Due to the state’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, families were told back on March 17 that OPWDD was temporarily suspending services statewide, meaning for some, they could not visit their loved one in a group home and day programs were not happening.

Families say they are concerned about a lack of attention placed on reopening plans for group homes in terms of visitation, day programs and day-to-day needs.

As businesses in New York open up in phases, parents say people with special needs are not being prioritized in the reopening plans. They say they want to hear from the state about what phase group homes are in and a plan for how those facilities will unpause.

“It just feels like we’ve been forgotten, our children, that they’ve been overlooked,” said Suzanne Reek. “You know, we talk about people being able to get a tattoo, but yet we can’t even spend time with our children.”

Reek is the executive director of the Nassau/Suffolk Chapter of the Autism Society and says the families she represents have repeatedly reached out to state officials for answers about the reopening plan for group homes.

Parents say the state’s new rules left them with a horrible choice: leave their loved one in a group home with no visits or take them home. Russell Snaith brought his son home.

“I’ve seen concern and distressed looks on his face, because he’s non-verbal, as to ‘Why am I not going to my day program? Why am I not seeing my housemates? Why can’t I go back to my house?'” said Snaith.

Parents say with other businesses and services in line to reopen, they are desperate for information about when it’s their turn.

A representative with the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities tells News 12 they are working with the Department of Health to safely begin returning to regular activities, including phasing in programs and visitations, but did not give a date.

Each week, we’re thanking some incredible people in 0ur community who help support Long Island’s autism families dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. By raising money, supplying food for group homes, or further supporting NSASA, these COVID-19 Heroes are a bright light in these dark and uncertain times.

Thank you to the Make Waves Foundation and Kristyn Roth of the Autism Society of America for donating 7,000 masks to our chapter that NSASA distributed to group homes. These masks help contain the spread of the virus in these group homes.

Thank you to Robby Walsh and Benjamin Dalley for donating $1,276 towards COVID-19 projects. Donations like these help us keep as many people and their families as safe as possible during this pandemic.

If you’re also interested in donating to support the NSASA, contact Suzanne Reek at (516) 404-2306 or SReek@NSASA.org.

Each week, we’re thanking some amazing members of our community who help support Long Island’s autism families dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. By raising money, supplying food for group homes, or further supporting NSASA, these COVID-19 Heroes are a bright light in these dark and uncertain times.

Big thanks to Zoë Hutzler of Mantis Marketing, Michael, and Angela Carron of TLM Group, and their group, REWIRED for Autism! This collaboration by real estate, construction, and design professionals just raised $5,000 for our community and has raised nearly $1 Million for NSASA in the past twelve years. Thank you, REWIRED, Michael, Angela, and Zoë!

And a very big thank you to Amy Cusumano, who did a virtual Zumba fundraiser for NSASA, raising $2,300. Amy is a mom to five boys, and her oldest son has Autism. She works full time, and still managed to raise this incredible contribution! This is Zumba number nine! Thank you Amy!

If you’re also interested in making a donation to support the NSASA, contact Suzanne Reek at (516) 404-2306 or SReek@NSASA.org.

The Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society of America would like to take this time to thank some very important members of the community for their remarkable actions and generous donations during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Thank you to the Sunshine Foundation for the incredibly generous $5,000 grant. The NSASA will put it to great use during these rough and trying times.

Thank you, Christine and Marcelo Penas, for raising $850 for us through your virtual concert. You’ve truly created a unique and inspirational way to both raise donations and keep the people watching at home positive and entertained.

If you’re also interested in making a donation to support the NSASA, contact Suzanne Reek at (516) 404-2306 or SReek@NSASA.org

The Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society of America would like to take this time to thank some very important members of the community for their remarkable actions and generous donations during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Thank you Investors Bank for an amazing $4500 donation towards meals for group homes.

Thank you Anthony Calderera from Greek Street at 1021 Park Blvd, Massapequa Park, NY 11762 for treating three group homes and their staff to some delicious dinners.

Thank you Rob Renda and Alessa Renda for donating $600 and treating a group home for individuals with Autism in Melville this week. We have two more planned with the funds that you donated. There is a big smile behind the mask, grateful for a night off from cooking, happy for dinner from Outback.

If you’re also interested in making a donation to support the NSASA, contact Suzanne Reek at (516) 404-2306 or SReek@NSASA.org

The Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society of America would like to take this time to thank two very important members of the community for their remarkable actions and generous donations during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Thank you, Danny Fuchs, for showing us that kindness and generosity prevail by donating bagel packages to group homes for disabled children and adults amidst the pandemonium of this pandemic. Group homes are having a difficult time keeping homes sterile and stopping the spread of the virus. Anything and everything helps so thank you, Danny, for giving them a break at breakfast time. You can find Danny Fuchs of Bagel Biz at 443 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New York 11747, and show your support!

Follow this link to the Bagel Biz website…

“Every year, no matter what’s going on, people that live in this community, people that I’m friends with, you always come through.”

-Vin Causeman

Thank you, Vin Causeman, for raising over $8,000 in donations this year from your Autism Awareness Apparel Sale. In its 10th campaign, the site sold close to 1,000 shirts and raised over $8,000, even during these tough and trying times. In total, Vin has raised over $80,000 in donations to the NSASA over the last 10 years. People like Vin Causeman and so many others are part of the reason that the NSASA can be the pillar of support it is in the local Autism community.

Watch Vin Causeman’s video on Facebook here…

SYSCO Foods, Outback Merrick, Outback Commack, Bagel Biz, Carrabbas, LI Donors and NSASA step up to support Long Island group homes.

The COVID-19 crisis is affecting group homes for the developmentally disabled in unique and troubling ways. Individuals on the autism spectrum and others with developmental disabilities run the gamut from being incredibly capable with COVID-19 protective measures to having great difficulty. This disparity and disruption to long-standing routines are making prevention problematic. To make matters worse, caregivers are becoming infected and staff shortages are becoming an increasing problem.

This problem has been extensively reported in The Washington Post

To deal with the crisis and relieve some of the pressure, Nassau Suffolk Autism Society of America is partnering with very helpful and dedicated Long Island businesses to deliver food to group homes, giving staff the ability to concentrate on safety measures. Global distributor SYSCO Foods is providing food supplies while local business owners Jenny Medina of Outback Steakhouse Merrick, and George Michailidis of Outback Steakhouse Commack, along with Bagel Biz of Melville, and Carrabbas of Central Islip are cooking up dishes to deliver to the group homes. Rick Kaplan of BOUNCE and Cafe Testarossa of Syosset sponsored meals for a group home.

“These residents are particularly vulnerable”, says Suzanne Reek, Executive Director of NSASA. “We have been using our charity partner Outback Steakhouse to provide these delivered meals. Residents of these homes can not come home to their parents unless families are willing to take them home for a very long time. We use Outback because they have supported our group for more than ten years and have raised more than $200,000 for NSASA.”

Suzanne Reek and Assistant Director Michelle Iallonardi are coordinating the fundraising and food deliveries on NSASA’s Facebook page. You can donate to the effort here…