Providers continue to face staffing shortages, rising operational expenses, and growing demand for services. Recruiting and retaining qualified staff remains one of the most pressing challenges across the field.

That is why DDAWNY and our statewide advocacy partners are strongly advocating for a full 4% Targeted Inflationary Increase (TII) in the final New York State budget.

I had started teaching baby sign language when he was very small and he took to it well. Since he didn’t speak, I just kept going. Eventually I decided he would need to know the ASL (American Sign Language) alphabet, not just signs, so I began drawing the hand shapes with objects he could recognize to reinforce the sounds. This series of drawings grew and started lining the walls of his bedroom.

If you walk by our office, you will likely hear us typing away on braillers, making tactile cues, or using materials to find creative ways to adapt lessons. The students we serve have a variety of visual impairments ranging from low vision to blindness, dual sensory loss (combined hearing and visual impairments), and Cortical Visual Impairment

Looking back on my time as an intern at the Mary Cariola Center, I can honestly say it was one of the most fulfilling experiences I have had. Mary Cariola became a community I will always want to be part of.

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has never been just another television network. Since its launch in 1969, PBS has served as a cornerstone of American culture: educating children, documenting history, amplifying local voices, and providing trusted information.

There is a quiet strength they bring to the work they do. Cariola’s staff listen with compassion, advocate with courage, and support with unwavering commitment. Whether working directly with students and residents or in administration ensuring our systems run smoothly, their contributions are essential.

As with all our students, it is important to honor and celebrate the unique heritage that our Hispanic students bring to our schools. This helps support better relationships and a more positive school environment where each student feels a sense of belonging and appreciation.

I would go on to learn exponentially more in my summer at Mary Cariola, one of the most fulfilling and rewarding work experiences of my young professional life.

The best part for me was the joy. You could see it on everyone’s faces. Kids running around, staff walking side by side with families, and volunteers making sure people had what they needed. It’s the kind of joy that reminds you why events like this matter.