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Dear Staff,
We hope that your summer is off to an excellent start! July is Disability Pride Month, which gives us the opportunity to honor the history, achievements, experiences, struggles and triumphs of the disability community.
This month is a powerful reminder to champion inclusion, celebrate diversity and ensure that people with autism, learning and developmental disabilities are accepted fully and unconditionally—just as they are. As we recognize Disability Pride this month, I encourage each of us to reflect on the core values that guide our mission: inclusion, respect, equity and opportunity. Let’s continue to listen, learn and lead with empathy—ensuring that every person we serve feels seen, heard and empowered. We will be sharing more information about Disability Pride Month in this edition of Limelight and on our social media channels, so be sure to look out for more information throughout the month!
In this edition of Limelight you will also see coverage from our most recent Organizational Care days, a video recap from last month's Great Summer Kick-Off, a very special Candleworks sale running in July, and other news from across the agency.
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
| | Organizational Care Corner | | June- Juneteenth & Pride! | | Children's Services Field Day | Human Resources & Center for Learning BBQ | ACLD Foundation's Great Summer Kick-Off | |
REMINDER:
There will be NO FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY on July 4, 2025, as all offices will be closed in observance of Independence Day. The information below is for the next Food Truck Friday, which will be on July 11, 2025.
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Please join ACLD's Children's Services in wishing Magda Copeland, Bilingual Speech Language Pathologist, a happy retirement after working for ACLD for nearly 28 years!
Magda joined ACLD as a member of the Human Resources Department on January 20, 1998. After beginning her career at ACLD in Human Resources, she completed her Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology at Long Island University C. W. Post in Brookville, New York. Magda was then rehired in August 2005 and has been employed in the Speech Department of ACLD Children’s Services since that time.
Magda also completed her Bilingual Extension at Columbia University in Manhattan while continuing to work full-time in our Speech Department. Her expertise in early childhood language development and her proficiency in Spanish have made it possible for her to provide quality services to the children on her caseload and give support to families who have need of bilingual services.
In her role as a Team Member at the Alan and Ellen Spiegel Children’s Center, Magda devotes 100% of her energy to providing meaningful and fun learning experiences for the children she sees daily in school. Magda’s work over the years has been invaluable to hundreds of children from Bay Shore and the surrounding communities who attend our preschool programs.
At the end of the Summer Session, Magda will be retiring and leaving Long Island with her husband Matt to begin a new adventure in Tennessee. Magda’s colorful personality and enthusiasm for her profession as a Speech Language Pathologist will be greatly missed when we return for the 2025 – 2026 School Year.
Enjoy your retirement Magda, and thank you for your many years of dedication to our ACLD families!
| | Milestones & Announcements | | |
Congratulations to Madeline Molina from Children's Services, whose son, Christian, graduated from SUNY New Paltz this past May with a Bachelors in Accounting!
| | Please join us in wishing Jeanette DeBonis, Receptionist/Secretary and Community Habilitation Specialist at Hauppauge the best of luck with her upcoming performance at the Empire Dance Festival Ballroom Competition. Jeanette will be competing in Jersey City on August 1st, 2025 in the International Latin Ballroom Category with her teacher/partner Alon Gilin. Break a leg Jeanette! | | |
Anniversary Milestones- June 2025
Due to an error in the reporting last month, we are rerunning the June Anniversaries to ensure all employee milestones are recognized!
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1 Year
Maiya Bryant Teacher Aide, Children's Services, Kramer Learning Center
Dylan Angstreich Maintenance Aide, Administrative Services, Bethpage 807
Shakeena Norman-Lamorissiere Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857
Catherine Bertil Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857
Jaime Cohen Special Educator, Children's Services, Kramer Learning Center
Whitney Reyes Behavioral Intervention Specialist, Residential Services, Bethpage 857
Emma Gerstenfeld Training and Compliance Facilitator, Day Services- Vocational, Bethpage 837
Mary Beth McDonald-Gerace Respite Counselor, Day Services, Bethpage 807
Latisha Evans Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, St. James
Yvonne Dorsey Residential Manager, Residential Services, Wildwood
5 Years
Larissa Ferguson Senior Regulatory Affairs Analyst, Regulatory Affairs, Bethpage 807
Jessica Francois Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Roslyn
Poonam Rampal Employee Development and Engagement Manager, Human Resources, Bethpage 807
10 Years
Keisha Marshall Respite Counselor, Day Services, Bethpage 807
Sandra Davis Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, East Hills
Aimee Keegan Chief Development & Marketing Officer, Development, Bethpage 807
15 Years
Pia Hutton Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857
20 Years
Guiseppina Spinelli Behavioral Intervention Specialist, Residential Services, Bethpage 857
30 Years
Alan Alexander Clerk, Finance and Human Resources, Bethpage 807
Elizabeth Appel Maintenance Aide, Children's Services, Kramer Learning Center
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Anniversary Milestones- July 2025
1 Year
Erik Sumner Respite Counselor, Day Services, Bethpage 807
Parvina Rafieva Respite Counselor, Day Services, Bethpage 807
Tammy Evans Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Wildwood
Adrian Coronado Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Chichester
Clunie Buissereth Teacher Aide, Children's Services, Kramer Learning Center
Olivia Halinar Behavioral Support Specialist, Children's Services, Kramer Learning Center
Sheryl Seader Registered Nurse, Day Services, Bethpage 837
Nicole Maseroni Occupational Therapist, Children's Services, Kramer Learning Center
Sejon Williams Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, St. James
Glonic Leonce Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Magnolia
Beth Walerstein Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Russell Gardens
Zyairre Mitchell Day Habilitation Specialist, Day Services, PWW East Islip
Steven White Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Healy
Elie Cetoute Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Straightpath
Jacob Dorcely Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Harrison
Bubdley Saty Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857
Sherese Shorter Job Coach, Day Services, Bethpage 857
5 Years
Keira Finnell Job Coach, Day Services, Bethpage 857
Alan Ceppos Maintenance Aide, Administrative Services, Bethpage 857
10 Years
Ronald Hughes Respite Counselor, Day Services, Bethpage 807
Vanessa Calirant Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857
Tahir Hinds Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857
20 Years
John Landers Computer System Administrator, IT Services, Bethpage 837
25 Years
Melissa Montanez Entitlement and Benefits Specialist, Finance, Bethpage 807
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Welcome June New Hires
Leteece Walker Human Resources Generalist, Human Resources, Bethpage 807
Emily Flint Respite Counselor, Day Services, Bethpage 807
Marion Barrett Day Habilitation Specialist, Day Services, Bethpage 837
Pierre Boucicault Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 857
Werly Cormier Day Habilitation Specialist
Myrthlay Edouard Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Bethpage 837
Christopher Gabriel Jr. Driver, Day Services, Bethpage 837
Fabien Georges Direct Support Professional, Residential Services, Seaford
Maria Medina-Umana Teacher Aide, Children's Services, Kramer Learning Center
Tom Rand Day Habilitation Specialist
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Click here to access the most recent Quarterly Town Hall Recording:
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Shout Out Board
Don't forget to give a SHOUT OUT to recognize someone at your location for something special they did for you, your department or a person we support.
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Submit YOUR stories to Limelight
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Each month we include stories in The Limelight, ACLD's digital employee newsletter, about YOU and all the amazing staff here at ACLD!
BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP to find out about these stories. Please send us anything to include, such as:
· A story about how you or someone else went above and beyond to help the people we support, organized any fun or educational activity, or did anything to further our mission in any way.
· A few sentences on any staff member or team who should be spotlighted for their consistent, exceptional work.
· Information or news that is useful for staff across the agency.
· Proud moments for you or your family (personal or professional milestones, awards, weddings, educational degrees or works in the community.)
· Employee Engagement day photos of you and your team.
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"The Limelight" is produced by the
Development and Community Relations Department.
Thank you to all who have submitted information
and photos. Keep them coming!
We welcome your comments and suggestions.
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Adults and Children with Learning
and Developmental Disabilities, Inc.
807 South Oyster Bay Road, Bethpage, NY 11714
Newsletter contact: Sarah Klaum
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