September is here, bringing the start of fall, the return to school routines, and plenty to look forward to as we continue growing together. As the days grow shorter and the season shifts, WILC remains committed to fostering connection, learning, and support throughout our community. We're excited for all that this month will bring and look forward to making more meaningful memories, celebrating achievements, and continuing to build a strong and inclusive community together. | | Supporting Adaptive Sports | | |
Congratulations to Navy Djonovic, the winner of our Joe Bravo "Play It Forward" Scholarship raffle for a signed Mitchell Robinson #23 Knicks jersey! Navy has decided to donate the jersey back to WILC, stay tuned as we pick our new winner!
Thank you to everyone who entered and supported the raffle. The Joe Bravo Scholarship remains open for donations year round, helping cover adaptive sports equipment, transportation, and program fees for individuals in our community.
If you'd like to contribute, you can do so here!
| | Disability Voting Rights Week | | |
This September marks Disability Voting Rights Week, a good time to make sure every voter in our community knows their rights and the accommodations available to them at the polls. WILC's ADA Specialist Michael Hellman put together a helpful FAQ on accessible voting in Westchester covering everything from the Ballot Marking Device to bringing someone to help you vote. You can read more here!
Know more with a quick overview of your voter rights and accommodations here.
| | Resource & Transition Fair | | |
WILC is co-hosting the Resource & Transition Fair with Brewster High School and the Putnam County Transition Consortium on Thursday, November 5th from 4 to 7 p.m. at Brewster High School. This FREE event is open to all and connects students and families with local resources for the transition from high school to adulthood.
| | National Assisted Living Week (Sept.13–19) | | |
You are not alone. 🫂
This week is National Assisted Living Week, a time to recognize the individuals, families, and caregivers navigating housing and care options for aging or disability related needs.
WILC connects you to helpful resources and information to support independent living, wherever you are in that journey.
Check out our resource page here to learn more.
| Newest Webinar: Family Empowerment Advocacy Series (FEAS) | |
SAVE THE DATE .... WILC's Parent Training and Information Center 2026 Family Empowerment Advocacy Series (FEAS) to begin in October 2026!
Parents and family members, join us for this FREE in-depth series for families navigating special education.
The series has 2 goals: 1. strengthen participants' ability to advocate effectively for their own children; and, 2. prepare them to serve as informed, responsible resources for other families in their communities. Participants will build practical knowledge of special education processes, communication, meetings, evaluations, IEPs, rights, discipline, and referrals. The program will also emphasize the boundaries of the parent/lay advocate role, including when a family may need more specialized or legal support.
Flyer with RSVP link to be distributed soon.
For more information, please contact dgreen@putnamils.org
| Azzura'e Wilson Honor | Barry Dain Champion of Hope Award | | |
We’re thrilled to share that Azzura’e Wilson has been named the recipient of the Barry Dain Champion of Hope Award from the Brain Injury Association of New York State! 🏆
This award honors individuals who demonstrate outstanding dedication and leadership in supporting brain injury survivors and caregivers. Azzura’e’s compassion, advocacy, and commitment to empowering others make this recognition truly well deserved.
Please join us in congratulating Azzura’e on this incredible honor! 💙
| | New on Our Blog: Back To School Tips | | |
Returning to school can bring a lot of feelings, for both children and parents. For families of children with disabilities, additional considerations like changes in routine, sensory overload, transportation, communication, new environments, and unfamiliar people can bring overwhelm and uncertainty as school starts back up.
But preparing for a new school year doesn't have to mean solving everything at once. The goal isn't a perfect first day, it's helping your child feel safe enough to take the next step.
Our latest blog offers 20 practical ways families can prepare for a smoother, safer return to school.
Read the full list on our blog here! 🎒
| September is Hydrocephalus Awareness Month: WILC Staff Member Veronica Brockett Shares Her Experience | |
September is Hydrocephalus Awareness Month. To help our community better understand a condition that is often unfamiliar to others, Veronica Brockett—a Minority Outreach Database Admin with WILC—shares her experience living with hydrocephalus.
“I was diagnosed with hydrocephalus in early childhood and was given a VP shunt as treatment.The easiest way I can explain it is: Cerebral Spinal fluid circulates around your brain and spinal cord to protect it from injury. People with this condition, the part of the brain that circulates the cerebral spinal fluid (csf) around the brain and spinal cord doesn't work anymore. A cerebral shunt is put in the brain to circulate the fluid.
It's kind of like an artificial limb for the brain and nervous system.
Because my shunt is currently working, I no longer have hydrocephalus. I only have hydrocephalus when my shunt is NOT working. Shunts can get infected, obstructed and/or fall apart. Past shunt failure for me has only happened first thing in the morning, never during the day or at night. The good news is I was given a new type of shunt that doesn't need revisions (surgery), just adjustments by the neurosurgeon when needed.”
For more information and resources about hydrocephalus, check out Veronica’s blog Shunt Chronicles, Harry's HAT, and the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation.
| Michael’s Monthly Fun Fact: Good Neighbor Day | | |
While we are still in September, this would be a good time to remind people of a special day that may not be very well known. That day would be National Good Neighbor Day. The day, during this month, is celebrated on September 28. The point of the day is to encourage people to be kind, help bring others together, and form strong neighborly bonds with one another.
It may not be easy for people to branch out and connect. Many might be too shy or live closeted lifestyles that isolate themselves from everyone else. There are resources available that can best help you on how to find the best way to communicate with others in a kind and friendly manner.
There is a website dedicated to National Good Neighbor Day that would be a great place to start. Browsing the website, you will find tools and advice such as creating guides, making plans, and eventually, helping you find the confidence to reach out and speak to your neighbor. It doesn’t have to be someone that lives by right next to you. It could be someone that lives in a different town, or works in a different place, like a library, coffee shop, etc. By the time you are done, you would have made a new-found connection with someone and can help someone else along the way.
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