Spring into action this April. As the days grow longer, we’re thrilled to dive into everything April has to offer. We’re here to bring you upcoming events, updates, and happenings. Let’s embrace the energy of this beautiful season and make April one to remember.

TAKE ACTION to Protect ACL Programs

We need your help to protect vital services for people with disabilities and older adults. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) was created in response to the disability community’s efforts to improve services and supports, mitigate fragmentation, and increase coordination between programs. Now, efforts to dismantle ACL could undermine these critical services, putting many at risk.

What's on the Line

This restructuring may lead to fewer resources and more barriers to the programs and services we depend on. These programs give disabled people the tools to live with dignity, freedom, and independence. They ensure that we stay in our communities and are able to live life on our own terms instead of being forced into institutions.

Why This Matters

The programs currently provided through ACL give us a chance to live with self-sufficiency, reducing reliance on institutional care and saving taxpayer money. 

These decisions have been made with no engagement or transparency with the disability community and will likely cause huge disruptions for people with disabilities and aging adults. Without ACL, many of the hard-won advances in disability rights could be undone.

Take Action

It is important to contact both Congress and Secretary Kennedy.

1. Contact your members of Congress: Use NCIL’s Advocacy& Action to ask your members of Congress to exercise Congressional oversight authority. 

2. Call Secretary Kennedy’s office at 202-690-7000 and leave a message when prompted. Sample script:

"I am calling to express my concern about changes to the Administration for Community Living. I urge Secretary Kennedy to meet and work with the Independent Living Network and other disability and aging programs currently administered by ACL to ensure they remain protected and fully equipped to serve their communities.” 

3. Share this message on social media. Tag any relevant organizations.



Autism Awareness Blog

April is Autism Awareness Month—a time to celebrate neurodiversity. Some WILC and PILS team members share personal reflections as parents of autistic children.

To read more on what they’ve learned click HERE.

Michael's Fun Fact

As we are transitioning into the spring season, now would be a good time to talk about how different seasons can affect someone’s mental health, or other types of disability. Seasonal disabilities generally refer to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs with the change of seasons, often starting in the fall and winter, and resolving in the spring and summer, and repeating itself onwards.

People with these kinds of disabilities can express different kinds of changes to their body, both physically and mentally.  SAD symptoms can include fatigue, mood swings, and changes in appetite and sleep patterns. Those are just to name a few, and some can pass on its own in time, or even reemerge later. Severity levels can be more serious than most people would think.

People with these types of disabilities can be more deceptible than others when the seasons change, especially those who are more physically and emotionally vulnerable and may not even realize that the changes of the seasons are affecting them in such a way.

That being said, the best way for someone to see if there have been any sudden changes to themselves would be to monitor their health and their behaviors to see if they have noticed any differences from how they would normally act. From there, they should speak to a doctor right away if they do see any changes and come up with the right treatment plan for how to best tackle these issues. These types of things can be treated as long as people can stay more vigilant of their physical and mental wellbeing.

-   Michael Colotti

Upcoming Events

Diverse Abilities Job Fair

An upcoming Diverse Abilities Job Fair on April 17, 2025 is taking place at the Westchester County Center. This is an excellent opportunity to meet job seekers of all abilities who are ready, willing, able and excited to work.

To learn more, click HERE

WILC Vendor Table @ Putnam Autism Walk

Join us for the Autism Awareness Walk on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at Tilly Foster Farm located in Brewster, NY. This inclusive event is open to participants of all ages and abilities. Come together to raise awareness and support individuals with autism.

To be an event participant, register HERE

Click here to learn MORE

2025 Fair Affordable Housing Expo

Upcoming Webinars

Webinar: Dyslexia, Dysgraphia & Dyscalculia

Monroe Woodbury SEPTA has partnered with Westchester Independent Living Services for a free webinar on Dyslexia, Dysgraphia & Dyscalculia. This webinar takes place on May 6, 2025 at 7:30 pm via zoom.

To LEARN more about this webinar or click here to REGISTER. If you have any questions, please email frattray@putnamils.org.

Leave Us a Google Review!

Share your experience with the Westchester Independent Living Center (WILC) by leaving a Google review. Your feedback helps us empower individuals with disabilities to lead self-directed lives through advocacy, training, and access to essential resources. Together, let's amplify our impact and support the journey towards independent living.

Click Here to leave your review today!