Happy June! Summer is right around the corner, and the WILC team has some helpful information to share this month. Please read along to find some valuable tips and resources to get your summer started right! 

Save the Date: People with Diverse Abilities Job Fair

Bee Line Buses and Paratransit Free

Westchester County Executive George Latimer is once again taking action to ease the burden on Westchester residents’ wallets as he announces for the third time that Bee-Line Bus fares will be suspended from July 1 until September 4 during this summer. The fare suspension will also apply to the County’s ParaTransit system.

Latimer said: “This is a move we are able to make on behalf of Westchester residents due to the strong, smart fiscal management my Administration has taken during our tenure. From cutting property taxes to ensuring our Public Safety Department is fully funded, this is another way we County government can improve the lives of the people we serve.”

During the summer of 2022, the County offered its first free rides program and saw a dramatic increase in ridership. The system experienced a 37% increase in ridership during the three-month period of June, July and August, compared to the prior three-month period in March, April and May.

Department of Public Works/Transportation Commissioner Hugh Greechan said: “Westchester County is proud of our ability to provide this outstanding service to our residents fare-free for a limited time. We understand the impact it has on the budgets of our riders and looking forward to providing some relief.”

To read more, click HERE.

How to be Healthy and Active with Arthritis From the CDC

Many people living with arthritis experience pain and discomfort in their joints and other affected areas, leading them to move less. However, research has shown that low-impact physical activity can improve symptoms. 

The “Healthy Living With Arthritis,” feature focuses on the CDC-recognized arthritis-appropriate, evidence-based interventions (AAEBIs), which help adults with chronic conditions in addition to arthritis. Arthritis often co-occurs with other chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes, and arthritis symptoms can hinder physical activity, which helps adults manage chronic conditions. This feature, which can be found here summarizes important details about these interventions for a general audience and is applicable to adults with arthritis and other chronic conditions. 

Join the Conversation 

Learn more about programs that can help adults with arthritis and other chronic conditions manage their symptoms. Check out the latest podcast on the Chronic Pain Self-Management Program. This episode features Dr. Anika Foster who provides an in-depth discussion of the program’s many benefits and ways to access it. Listen and learn how to take control of symptoms this summer. Subscribe and listen here. 

Spotlight on Jennifer Johnson:

Vice President of the Board of Directors of 

Westchester Independent Living Center Board

Photo credit: Team USA

Jennifer Johnson Paralympian and Gold Medalist, (1988) and 1996), and a Wheelchair Sports, USA Hall of Famer. She developed polio at the age of five in Jamaica and represented Jamaica at the Paralympics from 1968 to 1980 and then represented the United States at the Paralympics from 1984 to 2004.

Jennifer started playing ball sports in her teens, and was interested in table tennis. She participated for home nation Jamaica at the 1972 Summer Paralympics in Heidelberg, Germany, and won a silver medal in wheelchair basketball. Johnson's family immigrated to the United States after the 1972 Summer Paralympics, she joined the Paralympic table tennis team in 1983 and one year later won two silver medals in the 1984 Summer Paralympics along with Pamela Fontaine.

The WILC team is proud to have her on our board. To read more about her, click HERE.

Diabetes Prevention Program at WILC

Empower yourself and take back your health and wellness! Are you ready to take charge of your health and wellness in the new year? Have you been told by a healthcare provider you have prediabetes? If so, many people with prediabetes who don’t change their lifestyle may develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years after being diagnosed. 

Type 2 diabetes can lead to serious health issues such as:

·     Heart attack

·     Stroke 

·     Blindness

·     Kidney failure

·     Loss of toes, feet, or leg

Do you have risk factors?

·     You are overweight

·     You are 45 years of age or older

·     Your parent or sibling has type 2 diabetes

·     You are physically active fewer than 3 times per week

·     You ever gave birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds

·     You ever had diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes)

WILC is excited to announce we will be offering new workshops for our Diabetes Prevention Program in the coming months. In this CDC recognized program you will learn valuable skills and information to address lifestyle changes that can help you take back control of your health and wellness!  



If you or someone you know is interested in participating in the DPP Program, please contact Aimee Parks at 845-228-7457 ext. 1106 or by email [email protected].