A Willowbrook Memoir Reveals Resilience with Humor
“Here’s ‘America’s Least Wanted,’” joked Henry Geller when he arrived at Lifestyles for the Disabled Willowbrook campus, recalling his days as a resident of the former state school.
Human Rights
Life-Wire Podcast: It’s My Right!
Gregory Perosi and Michael Smith discuss the rights of people with disabilities. For a list of these rights, visit the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities web page: It’s My Right.
‘Off the Rails,’ Story of A One-Track Mind
From the time he was a young boy, Darius McCollum was fascinated by trains. The trains were his hiding spot to get away from his troubles. But when he took it upon himself to steal trains, he became infamous.
Willowbrook Mile Opening Day
Our crew was on-hand to cover the opening of this memorial self-guided walk with Geraldo Rivera, who was preeminent among the reporters who broke the story, and others who made this day possible.
Willowbrook Mile Ribbon Cutting
“The problem wasn’t that people didn’t care.” Rivera continued. “The problem was that the whole notion that you could mass-produce care for the developmentally disabled the way you mass produce cars was very deeply flawed. It was doomed to fail.”
Koko Gets Her PBS Closeup
Koko, the gorilla, is the ‘lovable’ subject of new documentary, premiering August 3, 8 ET on PBS. (Check local listings.)
The PBS/BBC co-production about the ‘talking gorilla’ delves into her life learning sign language from her trainer, Penny Patterson.
Great Kills Parents Rally for Expansion
‘We need a new high school now,’ say Great Kills High School parents
Murray Schneps, Willowbrook Parent, Speaks Out
Murray B. Schneps relates the story of his daughter Lara, who resided at Willowbrook State School, at the recent Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Council Community Breakfast. The author of “I See Your Face Before Me: A Father’s Promise” spoke at the event at The Vanderbilt on Staten Island, February 26, 2016, in support of group …
Rally for Direct Care Workers
Across New York State direct care service providers, self-advocates, and their families gathered to support a $15 minimum wage for direct care workers at rallies organized by the Coalition of Service Providers. Outside the New York City office of Governor Andrew Cuomo supporters rallied on Friday, March 11, 2016 to have their voices heard together. The following …
Keeping the Promise: SIDDC Breakfast
The Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Council’s Annual Community Breakfast: “Keeping the Promise: It Matters to Us” was held February 26, 2016 at The Vanderbilt in South Beach. NYS Senator Diane Savino and NYS Assembly Representative Nicole Malliotakis heard the concerns of advocates for and families of people with disabilities. Life-Wire News Service’s Meredith Arout photographed the event …
