“I’ve seen so much growth in Kevin. He’s so much more open to communicating when we go out into the community,” said HeartShare SPA Respite Manager Donna Collins. HeartShare’s SPA (Serving People with Autism) Overnight Respite Program provides much-needed rest to families caring for relatives with a disability. Kevin has been participating in the program…

Medicaid Service Coordination (MSC) supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by crafting and implementing a person-centered Individualized Service Plan (ISP) that reflects their unique needs, desires and goals. Jackie has been a part of HeartShare for nearly two decades. With the assistance of her  Medicaid Service Coordinator, Jackie plans and pursues personally meaningful short-…

Yshevia is an active participant in HeartShare’s Respite Recreation Program, which was designed to give families and caretakers a much-needed break from their 24/7 responsibilities during weeknights, weekends and holidays while offering a wide array of exciting activities for group members. Heels and Wheels, one of HeartShare’s 16 recreation programs, was specially created for those…

The HeartShare School, a school for children ages 5-21 with autism, celebrated its first graduate, Valerie, in June 2014. Valerie first joined HeartShare with the opening of its Children’s Residences, adjacent to the school, three years earlier. Valerie’s mother, Odessa, described the obstacles that Valerie overcame to reach this milestone, “Valerie experienced a lot of…

Barbara Cuthel is the Founder and Co-Curator of ArtShare for HeartShare, a gallery exhibit featuring artwork created by children and adults with disabilities participating in HeartShare programs. The artists’ repertoire includes drawings, paintings, collages, photographs and prints. This multimedia collection also includes HeartShare’s Jewelry Studio featuring hand-crafted necklaces, earrings and bracelets. “This exhibition is just…

Barbara Cuthel is the Founder and Co-Curator of ArtShare for HeartShare, a gallery exhibit featuring artwork created by children and adults with disabilities participating in HeartShare programs. The artists’ repertoire includes drawings, paintings, collages, photographs and prints. This multimedia collection also includes HeartShare’s Jewelry Studio featuring hand-crafted necklaces, earrings and bracelets. “This exhibition is just…

HeartShare has 38 supervised group homes and 42 independent living apartments in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. HeartShare’s staff ultimately hopes to see an individual become as independent as possible and live more inclusively in the New York community. Eric formerly lived at the Short Residence, a HeartShare…

Darron was one of the first HeartShare-trained employees of Cleaning with Meaning, a green home and office cleaning business serving the five boroughs of New York City and lower Westchester County that was founded by HeartShare and its partners at the New York Integrated Network (NYIN). During his training to become a cleaning technician, Darron…

Today, 1 in 59 children are diagnosed with autism. HeartShare’s early childhood programs target developmental delays as soon as possible. “At two years old, he was pointing and talking, but still couldn’t verbalize at times,” recalled Brandon’s mother, Tatiana. During his two years as a pre-schooler at HeartShare’s Cuomo First Step Early Childhood Center, Brandon…