AUGUST 2025

Dear Staff,

We hope you are enjoying your summer so far. Coming up later this month, we will have our Town Hall Meetings on Zoom. These town hall meetings are your opportunity to come and get important updates on our organization, as well as at the state and OPWDD level. The information for these meetings can be found below in this edition of Limelight. Due to high participation in the past several meetings and our limitations on Zoom, we ask that each employee only attend one meeting per quarter. We will also record one session per quarter that we will make available for all staff to access after the meeting.

July was an exciting month for ACLD as celebrated Disability Pride Month and the anniversary of the ADA, as well as the opening of our newest community showcase for our Art Studio Program. In this edition of Limelight, you will read about some of the amazing work done by your colleagues and other news and highlights from across the agency. Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Rob, Kim, Gerard and Anne Marie

Robert Ciatto, President/CEO

Kim Leonard, Chief Financial Officer

Gerard DiMuro, Chief Administrative Officer

Anne Marie Sime, Chief Program Officer

UPCOMING TOWN HALLS: AUGUST 2025

President/CEO Rob Ciatto will host the next Town Halls in August.

Due to high participation in the past several meetings and our limitations on Zoom, we ask that each employee only attend one meeting per quarter. We will also record one session per quarter that we will make available for all staff to access after the meeting.

Please use the links below to attend the Town Hall Meetings:

TOWN HALL MEETING 1

Wednesday, August 20th

10:30 AM

TOWN HALL MEETING 2

Wednesday, August 20th

2:30 PM

TOWN HALL MEETING 3

Thursday August 21st

2:30 PM

Organizational Care Corner

Red, White & Blue Day

Around the Agency

'The Essence of Me'

A huge congratulations to the team behind ACLD's most recent community art showcase at the East Meadow Public Library! The show, entitled, 'The Essence of Me' featured self-portrait and portrait pieces from 91 artists across 9 Day Service programs in ACLD. A huge congratulations to the Art Studio Program team and all the artists for their beautiful showcase.

The gallery will be open through September in the East Meadow Public Library (primarily on the lower level) -- check it out!

Congratulations to these employees on their NADSP Certification!

The NADSP Certification for Front Line Supervisors is a great tool that expands both your knowledge and experience as a Manager. The learning modules are very user friendly. Even the modules that are very intense as far as the knowledge that is packed into the single presentation are incredibly helpful. Once you have successfully completed the Final Exam you are left with the sense “I Got It!”. I actually liked the fact that it will not let you move forward without successfully completing the exam. It is a confirmation that the information was grasped and understood.

The essay portion, once you actually understand what is expected of you by the review team, is a great tool as well. It helps you to relate real life work experience to what you have just reviewed and learned in the modules and apply it as a Front Line Manager. You get great tips on management style, better communication with the People we support and advocacy training and tips, all of which allow you to be even more successful as a Manager. By the time you complete the Competencies, E-badges and Testimonials you are well on your way to successfully understanding the NADSP Code of Ethics.

-Soncerie Cornegy

The NADSP Badge Academy has been a ride for me as a Manager of a Residential Group Home. It’s not just online training. It is very much like professional development. The platform is simple to use, and I liked having the flexibility to work on badges at my own pace, especially with everything else going on day to day.

Best of all, it is so applicable to my everyday job. These aren’t generic trainings. Each badge requires you to think about real circumstances you have encountered and how you have applied NADSP’s core values in those moments. That type of reflection allowed me to continue to develop as a leader and reaffirmed why ethical and person-centered supports are so critical in our field.

Above all, I found this program made me feel seen. The work of supervisors and managers is often behind the scenes, and it gets overlooked. I felt seen and heard throughout this process. It is something that I am proud to have in my professional portfolio and something that has certainly made me more confident in the difference that I can make.

-Kailee Bausenwein

Congratulations to Alan Alexander, who recently celebrated 30 years working at ACLD! Alan works in both the Finance and Human Resources Departments. Here he is with Sandi Gutmanstein as their department presented him with his certificate.

Milestones & Announcements

Congratulations to Jaclyn Spiegel, Licensed Psychologist in Children's Services, on her daughter Alana's Bat Mitzvah earlier this summer. Congratulations Jaclyn!

Anniversary Milestones- July 2025

1 Year

Karen Cheeseboro Lead Day Habilitation Specialist, Day Services, Choices Bethpage

Narlee Baptiste Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857

Kayla Boughey Scheduling & Operations Manager, Residential Services, Bethpage 857

Jamar James Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Hyman Ave

David Hibbler Residential Assistant Manager, Residential Services, Autumn Dri.

Rosa Cruz-Sanchez Teacher Aide, Children's Services, Kramer Learning Center

Nadine Keefer Speech Language Pathologist, Children's Services, Kramer Learning Center

Trenice Simon Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Roslyn

Taniya Smith Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857

Joeffrey Romulus Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Westwind Dri

Tamika Day Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Hawthorne

Nermaica Pierre Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857

Annoine Auguste Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Harrison

Laura Furrer Behavior Support Specialist, Children's Services, Spiegel Children's Center

Oscar Trejo Lead Maintenance Worker, Maintenance, Bethpage 857

Steeve Sejour Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Harrison

Marc Joseph Residential Assistant Manager, Residential Services, Wildwood

Makenzy Abraham Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Johnson Ave.

Ann Marie Sutherland Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Chichester

Fred Spiegel Sorter, RewearAble

Daphka Bozor Day Habilitation Specialist, Day Services, Levittown Bridges

Kenesienna Ifemesia Teacher Aide, Children's Services, Kramer Learning Center

Widamaer Gurrier Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Seaford

Sabine Valliant Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Oaklake

Anaila Georges Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Phelps

Wanda Jimenez Registered Nurse, Residential Services, Bethpage 857

Vyktoria Lamore Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Oceanside

Jahvon Porter Taylor Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857

Celestina Mitchell Registered Nurse, Residential Services, Yorktown

Aleyandro Salvador Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Johnson Ave

5 Years

Brian Walsh Residential Assistant Manager, Residential Services, Great Neck

Michael Kaufer Speech Language Pathologist, Residential Services, Bethpage 857

10 Years

Guedline Rosima Eugene Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Magnolia

Shanielle Facey Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857

Ryan Hogan Associate Director, Residential Services, Bethpage 857

Evens Castor Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Eastover

Sabine Maynard Associate Director- Regulatory Affairs, Corporate Compliance, Bethpage 807

15 Years

Daniel Rogers Clinical Services Administrator, Clinical Services, Bethpage 837

20 Years

Jennifer Lennon Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857

Magda Copeland Speech Therapist, Children's Services, Spiegel Children's Center

Welcome July New Hires



Jamie Ausfresser, Teacher Aide, Children's Services, Universal Pre-K Center Bay Shore

Brendan Charles, Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857

Kaitlyn Fishkin, Human Resources Assistant, Administrative Services, Bethpage 807

Roberto Mena, Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857

Alfred Merisca, Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Baldwin

Khayri Rasheed, Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857

Siara Rivera, Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Spur Drive

Jocelyn Rosier, Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857

Joshlyn Smith, Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857

Alex Joseph, Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Northport

Erika Alvarado Reyes, Respite Counselor - In Home Waiver, Day Services, Bethpage 807

Matthew Adolphus, Day Habilitation Specialist, Day Services, Bethpage 837

Nadly Agenor, Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Nesconset

Matthew Calandrino, Shift Registered Nurse, Residential Services, Yorktown

Darion Davis, Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Chichester

Jamie DeCicco, Trainer, Administrative Services, Bethpage 807

Jennypha Dumerville, Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Straightpath

Chama Jacques, Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Wildwood

Harry Jacques, Day Habilitation Specialist, Day Services, Bethpage 837

Raven Reyes, Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Malts Ave

Babar Samie, Day Habilitation Specialist, Day Services, Levittown - Strive & Day Hab Supp

Tawanna Shackelford, Direct Support Professional, Administrative Services, Alice Court

Ny'eem Shakir, Day Habilitation Specialist, Day Services, Blue Day Hab - Deer Park

Town Hall Recordings