Bridges Celebrates 30 Years Of Helping People With Disabilities

From BRiDGES: Thirty years ago BRiDGES was founded to give a voice to people with disabilities living in Rockland County. BRiDGES, which stands for Building Relationships – Investing in Diversity – Genuinely Empowering Self, provides extensive services based upon a philosophy of Independent Living that respects each person’s right to make autonomous decisions regarding every aspect of life.

On March 9th , the agency celebrated 30 years of advocacy and leadership on behalf of people with disabilities. One of the original founders, Charles Davis, Esq, was on hand for the event and continues to advocate for people with disabilities. Thanks to the generosity of several local business sponsors, the event was open to all stakeholders to attend free of charge. Primary sponsors included: Anchor Media Services; Atlantic, Tomorrow’s Office; Goosetown Communications; M&T Bank; and The Clubhouse at Patriot Hills.

The featured speakers at the event are each persons served by the agency, who shared their own stories, and how BRiDGES helped them be more independent:

William Smith – Veteran, Certified Public Accountant, voiced issues related to military service including PTSD, Recovery and how the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Program has both helped him adjust to civilian life while also affording him the opportunity to help others. Mr. Smith is now employed at the Independence Café, operated by BRiDGES, which employs and teaches Veterans the skills needed to be entrepreneurs.

Edwin Raoul – shared his story of participating with the Rockland County Re-Entry Task Force, for which BRiDGES implements Case Management and offers evidence-based services of Thinking for Change and Ready, Set, Work! Mr. Raoul shared a word that he has embraced, “Change,” and challenged the more than 300 people in attendance to take personal responsibility to improve their own life through better relationships and decision-making.

Yolette Vilsaint – shared her story from seeking assistance to securing benefits to gaining meaningful employment through BRiDGES. Ms. Vilsaint and her family credit the Program Advocates, especially Gisele Gerard, as well as her Christian faith and church family, with helping her live independently. Sophia Lamy – gave her voice to her family’s experience of emigrating from Haiti in 2008 to seeking assistance with benefits and now working at BRiDGES. Ms. Lamy also demonstrated her crocheting skills by donating a blanket for the live auction that sold for $500 at the event.

Milton Koja – gave voice through his musical talent, playing the piano throughout the event, and through his personal story. He has benefitted from the advocacy of BRiDGES supporting his efforts to allow his service dog to go with him anywhere in the community to his currently receiving services of a Personal Assistant through the PASER (Personal Assistant Self-directed Employers of Rockland) program. Patrick Hennessy – voiced his story of living with cerebral palsy to find purpose through meaningful employment at BRiDGES, where he helps others by working with Managed Care Organizations to ensure authorization for services.

BRiDGES partners with more than 30 Rockland County agencies and organizations to ensure that every person with a disability receives quality services that help Rockland County be a fully accessible, integrated community, promoting health and autonomy for people with disabilities.

Individuals wishing to make a donation or create an on-going monthly commitment, can obtain more information at bridgesrc.org or by calling 845-624- 1366.

BRiDGES operates a variety of specialized programs in partnership with public and private agencies in Rockland County that serve to support individuals and families in ways that foster independence. These include the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Program, Case Management for the Rockland County Re-Entry Task Force, Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Alternative to Incarceration (IDDATI), Personal Assistant Self-directed Employers of Rockland (PASER), and youth programs for the East Ramapo School District that help children obtain certification in Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) as well as providing a Food Pantry for persons in need.

Persons Served / Speakers

• 8824 A Diane Adele Pomeroy & Linda-Joy Vendura
• 8998 A William Smith
• 9008 A Edwin Raoul
• 9042 A Yolette Vilsaint
• 9067 David Manzano
• 9087 A Sophia Lamy with Gisele Gerard
• 9119 A Patrick Hennessy
• 9156 A Antonio Caceres (if cropped to be only Antonio)

Community Partners

• 8835 A Guillermo Rosa & Martha Robles
• 8881 Charles Davis
• 8797 A Tom & Madison Orlando / Jay & Lorraine Greenwell
• 8822 A Thomas Della Torre / Debra Studnitzer / Marion Breland

BRiDGES Executive Director Dr. David Jacobsen

• 8874 A Dr. David Jacobsen
• 8986 William Smith and Dr. David Jacobsen
• 9089 A Sophia Lamy with Gisele Gerard and Dr. David Jacobsen

Image Courtesy Of BRiDGES