Inclusion Matters

SEPTEMBER 2026

At Advocates, every season brings new opportunities to build community, amplify voices, and support people with disabilities and their families. As summer ends and fall begins, we're grateful for the opportunities we've had to join together to celebrate inclusion and strengthen our community. From summer events that brought people together to fall initiatives that will help shape the future, Advocates is excited to keep the momentum going.

This summer, Advocates was proud to participate in events that offered opportunities for connection, fun, community engagement, and visibility for people with disabilities and their families, including:

♿ CNY Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Celebration & March

☀️ Dreamnight at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo

🏃 Advocates' 8th Annual Stroll & Roll 5K

🏳️‍🌈 CNY Pride Parade

Thank you to everyone who joined us, sponsored an event, or showed your support along the way! As exciting as this summer has been, we are equally energized about what's ahead this fall.

🍂 As we look ahead to fall, there is much to celebrate and many opportunities for people we support, families, employees, and friends of Advocates to come together and reconnect.

💙 Advocates is celebrating Direct Support Professional Recognition Week and honoring the incredible Mentors and Residential Coordinators who make a difference every day. We're showing our appreciation for the dedication, compassion, and commitment of our direct support professionals with daily gift card appreciation raffles on social media beginning 9/14/26. We also encourage the people we support, families, and friends to join us in celebrating the DSPs who make such a meaningful difference in their lives every day!

⛳ Our 21st Annual Golf Tournament on 9/16/26 will bring our community together in support of Advocates' mission. We welcome you to join us on the course, become a sponsor, or support the event.

❤️ Advocates' Online Auction offers another way for friends and supporters to make a difference while bidding on great items and experiences. You can still place your bid by 9/13/26 to join the fun!

🏡 We'll be hosting four Housing Forum Focus Groups this September to hear directly from people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families about their experiences, challenges, successes, and unmet support needs. 🗣️ These conversations will help inform statewide advocacy efforts and ensure that the voices that matter most are heard as we work with partners across New York State toward meaningful housing supports. Please register below and join the conversation!

🧺 On 9/9/26, we gathered at our Annual Family Picnic to enjoy great company, delicious food, crafts, music, and a little magic while spending time together as a community.

🎃 Halloween fun is right around the corner! Advocates is excited to host a Trunk or Treat on 10/27/26 at our new Liverpool office, followed by a Halloween Celebration co-hosted with David's Refuge on 10/31/26 at the East Area Family YMCA in Fayetteville. We hope you'll join us for costumes, treats, games, and plenty of festive fun!

⚽ There's even more to look forward to this fall! Stay connected with Advocates through social media and Constant Contact for event updates, Fall Kickball League information, upcoming trainings, and other opportunities to connect, learn, and have fun together.

Thank you for being part of the Advocates community and for joining us in building a more inclusive and supportive future. Wishing everyone a wonderful fall season filled with purpose, connection, and opportunity. I hope to see you at an upcoming event!🍁

Amy Dugliss

Executive Director

Advocates is working with the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation, with support from the New York State Council on Developmental Disabilities, to conduct a series of Focus Group Sessions to ensure that the voices of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families are heard.



We are looking for people to share their experiences, recommendations, and residential support needs related to independent living, especially when support from parents or family members is limited or unavailable.

💬Discussion Topics Include:

• Accessing and managing housing
• Financial supports and benefits
• Health care and medical coordination
• Self-Directed services
• Staffing and support workforce challenges
• Transportation and community participation
• Strategies that promote successful independent living
• Barriers that make independent living more difficult

🌟Why Participate?

• Share your experiences and perspectives
• Help identify gaps in current supports and services
• Contribute ideas and solutions that may benefit others
• Influence future housing resources for people with I/DD
• Help shape statewide residential recommendations and advocacy efforts

At Advocates, our Mentors and Residential Coordinators are the bridge to independence, confidence, and community.

We are so grateful for your compassion and unwavering commitment to the people we work together to support!

Next week, we’ll celebrate Direct Support Professional Appreciation Week by recognizing the dedicated Mentors and Residential Coordinators whose kindness, patience, encouragement, and everyday support make such a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

As a small token of our appreciation, we’ll be holding five daily drawings for $50 Amazon gift cards throughout the week. Be sure to visit our Facebook page to see our daily recipients, learn more about the inspiring work being done by some of our amazing teammates, and join us in celebrating all of our DSPs and the life-changing work they do every day!

Thank you for being the steady support so many rely on. Your work matters, and we are grateful for each and

every one of you!

Join Us "Fore" a Great Cause!

Advocates’ Annual Golf Tournament is next week, and we’d love for you to be part of this special event!

Join us on Wednesday, September 16th at the beautiful Timber Banks Golf Club in Baldwinsville, featuring a stunning Jack Nicklaus Design course. Enjoy 18 holes of golf with cart, player gifts, on-course contests, lunch, beverages, a post-round networking reception, awards, an exciting auction, and a gourmet meal overlooking the scenic grounds.

Online Auction

Our online auction compliments the proceeds of Advocates’ Annual Golf Tournament, and is filled with amazing packages made possible by generous businesses and community partners throughout our community.

Just a sampling of what you’ll find:

🍽️ Gift cards to some of our favorite local restaurants

🎭 Tickets and experiences for performances and shows

📸 Professional photography packages

🧖 Spa, beauty and wellness experiences

🎟️ Fun, experience-based activities for individuals, couples and families

🚗 Great ideas for local day trips and getaways

🎁 And plenty of other unique finds you won’t want to miss!

Whether you're looking for family fun, dining, entertainment, adventure, relaxation, or the perfect gift, there’s something for everyone. Best of all, every bid helps advance Advocates’ mission and makes a meaningful difference in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The auction is now open and will run through September 13th! Check out the items, place your bids, and find something you love while making a difference.

A huge thank-you to all of the incredible local businesses and community partners who donated to make this auction possible. We couldn’t do it without you!

Family Guide to Transition Planning: Preparing Students with Disabilities for Life After High School

Presented by: Kristine O’Brien,

Resource and Referral Specialist with the Midstate School Age Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Center

September 23rd @ 6 PM

(virtual event)

Transition planning is the ongoing process of preparing students with disabilities for the adult life they choose after high school. This training will assist families in understanding the transition planning process, specifically looking at what components of the IEP are essential as the students plans for their future.

Although this event is free to attend, eligible individuals must be enrolled in our FSS Training program in order to register.

Our next Dine for Dollar$ fundraiser will be held on Thursday, Sept. 24th at IHOP on Rte. 31 in Clay.

Stop in anytime between 3-10 PM for their world-famous pancakes and a wide variety of other lunch and dinner options. Take a night off from cooking and enjoy an evening out while making a difference for the people Advocates supports.

IHOP will generously donate 20% of sales to Advocates. Please make sure to let them know you are with Advocates by visiting the fundraiser's webpage if you plan on attending. 

We look forward to seeing you there,

and we appreciate your support!

Fall kickball is back!

Advocates' fall kickball league will run from September 23rd through December 16th for people ages 11+ who receive services from Advocates. The session will be held on Wednesdays from 4pm-5pm at CNY Family Sports Centre (7201 Jones Rd. Syracuse, NY 13209.)

The fee to participate is $30 per person. Please make checks payable to Advocates Incorporated. Payment can be made in person on the first day of the session or dropped off or mailed to: 300 South Manlius St.; Fayetteville, NY 13066.

Elidgible individuals must be enrolled in our FSS Recreation program in order to register. For more information, please email Recreation@advocatesincorporated.org

We hope to see you back on the field!

Save the date!

Advocates is excited to host a Trunk or Treat on Tuesday, October 27th from 1:30-4 PM. People receiving services from Advocates and their families/mentors are invited to join us at our Liverpool office (7710 Maltlage Drive, Liverpool, NY 13090) for an afternoon of treats, costumes, and fun. Stay tuned for more details!

Along with our friends at David's Refuge, Advocates is proud to co-host a Halloween Celebration later in the month!

We hope you'll join us for spooky fun and games at the East Area Family YMCA (200 Towne Drive, Fayetteville, NY 13066) on Saturday, Oct. 31st from 11am-1pm. Wear your favorite costume and enjoy indoor trick-or-treating, music and activities, a costume contest, and more!

We hope to see you there!