A very big THANK YOU to @rsc_westchester and @latinas_therapy for taking SCFU out to see the @wcknicks What a great time! 🗽🤩🏀⛹🏽‍♂️

Get your tickets today! Link in bio! Or visit www.tinyurl.com/SCFUYankees24 and use Promo Code: SCFU24 . . . . #yankees #baseball #autism #autismacceptance #autismawareness #nyyankees

Kicking off our new Pottery Program at SCFU’s Bronx Day Services! Stay tuned for more exciting pottery content! 😍🏺 . . . . #pottery #autismpottery #autismart #autism #autismawareness #autismacceptance #outsiderart

On Wednesdays we wear pink. Unless it’s Valentine’s Day, then we wear red. ❤️#happyvalentinesday . . . . . #autismawareness #autismacceptance #autism #disabilityawareness #disabilty #disabilities #inclusion #valentines #thebronx #boogiedownbronx #onwednesdayswewearpink

⚾ 😎 🧩 We are excited to once again partner w/ the @yankees for their 2024 Autism Awareness Day Game! Join us, Sunday, April 7th for a day at the ballpark in celebration of Autism Acceptance Month, and in support of all our critical work. Scan the QR code or visit: https://tinyurl.com/SCFUYankees24 and use Promo Code "SCFU24" to unlock this exclusive offer for discounted tickets that come with a limited edition 2024 Yankees Autism Advocacy Hat 🧢! And there's more! A portion of all ticket sales using this link and promo code will go directly to supporting Special Citizens and all our critical work. See you at the game! #yankees #nyyankees #autism #autismbaseball #autismawareness #autismacceptance #disabilities #baseball #playball #takemeouttotheballgame

Capturing magical moments at the NYBG Train Show with these incredible people! 🚂⭐️ . . . #nybgtrainshow #autismawareness #autismsupport #community

Time for some good eats 😋 . . . #goldencorral #bronx #autism #autismawareness

Honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year! 🥳

Merry Christmas! From all of us at SCFU 🎅🏽🎄☃️

Exploring the wonderland of the Balloon Museum during the holiday season 🎈✨ . . #HolidayAdventures #BalloonMagic #BalloonMuseum #autismacceptance

This year’s Holiday Concert put everyone in the spirit of the season! Thank you to all the family and advocates who joined us, and of course, a big round of applause for all of our superstar holiday singers. ☃️😍❄️ Happy Holidays from our SCFU family to yours! . . . . . #happyholidays #holidayconcert #tistheseason #autism #autismacceptance #autismawareness #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #disabilityawareness #differentlyablednotdisabled

Wishing a very healthy, safe, and Happy Hanukkah from our SCFU family to yours 💙🕎💙

🍁📰 Check out our latest agency newsletter! Link in bio.

Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

Our annual Thanksgiving Week Luncheon is one of the most highly anticipated days of the year at Metro Day Program, and this year’s spread did not disappoint! 😍🦃🍛🍗🥧😋 . . . . #thanksgiving #happythanksgivng #turkeyday #autism #autismacceptance #autismawareness #disability #differentlyabled #neurodiversity #neurodivergent

Stepping together for a cause that’s close to the heart. 💙👟 #kidneywalk #nationalkidneyfoundation

Last week’s 5th annual Artful Autumn for Autism Acceptance fundraising event, held at @fountainhousegallery was our most successful to date! Thank you to everyone who helped to make it such an incredibly successful event, with a very special thanks to all our event donors and sponsors including: @gallagherglobal @jetblue @lambinsuranceservices @communitycarerx @newyorkefm @mandt_bank @grassicpas @usibenefits @cbre @edward_teleky_jeweler @kashkavalgarden @eatkubeh @butlerhsfurniture @tomorrowsoffice @focusedwealthmgmt #eifertfrenchketchum #johnmurphyandassociates And a very special thank you to our donating professional artists, @susanaaldanondo @mschainkerfineart @cindyshaoul @kellyfossart @decopopz . . . . . #autism #art #outsiderart #autismacceptance #autsimawareness #inclusion #disability #artfulautumn #autismart #autismartist #nycart

Some more photos of SCFU’s spooky ghouls and goblins from today’s Halloween festivities 🎃👻

Thank you to our amazing staff for coordinating a great community outing this past Halloween weekend! . . . #spooktacularfallfest #ossiningchamber #hudsonvalley #hudsonvalleyevents #westchestercounty #autism #autismawareness #autismacceptance #halloween #happyhalloween

Happy Halloween! 🎃👻 . . . #happyhalloween #autsim #costumeparty #community

SCFU artists 👩🏽‍🎨 🖼️ putting the finishing touches on their pieces for this year’s 5th annual Artful Autumn for Autism Acceptance fundraising event 🎨 Get your tickets today (link in bio!) if you haven’t already! All attendees are also entered in the raffle to win great prizes from our generous donors and sponsors including: @jetblue @edward_teleky_jeweler @eatkubeh and @kashkavalgarden Attendees will also have the chance to bid on works from donating professional artists including: @susanaaldanondo @mschainkerfineart @cindyshaoul @decopopz . . . . #autismart #autism #autismacceptance #autismawareness #disability #outsiderart

👩🏽‍🎨 Have you got your tickets yet!? We’re just a few weeks away from our 5th annual Artful Autumn for Autism Acceptance fundraising event. Link in bio! 🎨

#latergram 🥳🏆 Congratulations to last Friday’s DSP of the Day honoree, LeAnna Dunnican! In honor of Direct Support Professionals Appreciation Week. LeAnna’s upbeat and cheerful personality is infectious, brightening the lives of everyone around her. From the very moment she joined our organization, she effortlessly created a strong bond not only with the person whom she supports, but also with her colleagues, and everyone within our networks of support. Her creativity, cheerfulness, and professionalism shine through in all that she does. One of LeAnna’s most remarkable qualities is the unwavering respect and dignity with which she treats the person to whom she provides support. It is no surprise that she has received consistent praise from the family she works with, who have time and again acknowledged the profound and positive impact she has had on them. LeAnna, your contribution to our team and your profound impact on the lives of those we serve is immeasurable. In just six months, you have demonstrated unwavering dedication and commitment to both your supported individual and our organization as a whole. Your actions speak volumes, and we want you to know that you are genuinely appreciated. Thank you, LeAnna, for your exceptional commitment to embodying the values that define our organization and its mission to provide home, family, care, and love to everyone we support. You are an inspiration to us all. Congratulations on this well deserved distinction! . . . . . . #autism #autismawareness #autismacceptance #directsupportprofessional

Today we are proud to honor Robert Aiken as our DSP of the Day honoree! Robert has been an invaluable part of the SCFU family since he joined us in 2018 and has consistently played a pivotal role in helping our residents transition into their new home settings, providing them with the care, support, and understanding they so crucially needed during this significant period in their lives. His commitment to the well-being of everyone we support is not just steeped in professionalism; it’s also a deeply personal endeavor to him. He has become a trusted friend and advocate to SCFU residents, ensuring that each person he supports is treated with the utmost respect and dignity. Robert's compassion and empathy shine through in everything he does, making a profound difference in the lives of those we serve. As we mark Robert's five-year anniversary with us, we want to take this moment to express our heartfelt gratitude. Robert, your hard work, dedication, and passion for your role have had a lasting impact on our organization and, more importantly, on the lives of the individuals we care for. Your consistency and commitment are truly commendable. Please join us in congratulating Robert on this well-deserved distinction and also in thanking him for his outstanding contributions to our team and the people we support. Congratulations Robert! Thank you for all that you do.

🏆🥳 Please join us in applauding today’s DSP of the Day honoree: Heather Pilgrim! In honor of Direct Support Professionals Appreciation Week, we’re spotlighting an exceptional ‘DSP of the Day’ for each day of this very important week that calls our attention to the incredibly important work of our devoted team of DSPs, carried out each and every day with the highest levels of care, compassion, and dedication. Heather's role involves numerous crucial responsibilities that ensure the health, safety, and happiness of SCFU residents. From facilitating recreational activities to coordinating medical appointments and reinforcing and helping to develop crucial life skills among residents, Heather’s meticulous attention to detail and organizational skills are not only truly commendable, but are vital our mission of providing home, family, care, and love to everyone we support. . . . #autism #directsupportprofessional #disability #neurodiversity #autismawareness #autismacceptance

Some scenes from today’s annual agency cookout! 🌭😎🍔

Congratulations to this year’s annual agency award winners!* 🤩🏆🥳 DSPs of the Year Award Winners: -Vanessa Spiller-Blades -Alicia Thompson And the CEO Award Winner: -Regina Anderson Congrats SCFU Allstars! *Stay tuned! We will have more annual awards to announce soon.

Join us one week from today at Dave & Buster’s Times Square for Quiz for a Cause! A special pub quiz benefitting Special Citizens 🤓🍺📝 (link in bio)

We’re excited to launch our 5th Annual Artful Autumn for Autism Acceptance today! Follow the link in bio to get your tickets now! (early bird tix available until 9-8-23)

Mark your calendars and make plans to join us next month for an evening of pub quiz fun at @daveandbusters Times Square, exclusively benefiting Special Citizens! More info to come!

All aboard for a great time at the @nytransitmuseum 🚎😊🚉

Gardening season is in full swing at SCFU! Yesterday, residents and staff took a field trip to the local nursery to get more supplies for our residential greenhouse and gardens. Thankful to our past grant funders @yankees and @ericdinowitznyc for making this possible. 🪴😍🪻

Thank you @ericdinowitznyc for inviting us to today’s 2023 Community Health Fair @lehmancuny

It’s Chess Day at SCFU! We were so excited to welcome back former SCFU employee and chess mentor, Tristan Stovall for a day full of chess playing, instruction, and appreciation. 😍♟️😃♟️ . . . . #autism #autismawareness #autismacceptance #chess

Happy Pride Month! 🤍🩷🩵🤎🖤❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

As #nursesweek comes to an end, please join us once again in applauding our incredible team of SCFU nurses (Pat, Tasha, Rosalie, and Sharon) for all of their hard work and dedication ensuring the health and happiness of every Special Citizens resident and program participant. Thank you nurses! ❤️👩‍⚕️💐

Today we shine our #nursesweek spotlight on Sharon Gordon (RN). For over two years Sharon has been providing essential support to Special Citizens residents, and says the part of the job she loves the most is her interactions with persons supported, their advocates, as well as her professional relationships with colleagues and the overall sense of teamwork she’s come to find at Special Citizens. Asked about the more challenging parts of being a nurse at SCFU, Sharon stated that she finds the times where a supported person is experiencing moments of being upset yet are unable to fully articulate themselves to be the most trying, and added that “as a nurse, you have to utilize the skills learned throughout one’s career, however, you may walk away with a sense of ‘what could I have done to prevent or minimize (any given) challenging moment.” Sharon was first inspired to become a nurse through seeing her grandmother (a former nurse) working with and providing care to families in Jamaica; where Sharon would occasionally tag along and assist her with some of the non-medical tasks. When Sharon isn’t at work, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her family and friends. Please join us in virtual applause and appreciation for all of Sharon’s hard work in helping to improve the lives of the SCFU residents she supports. ❤️🩺👩‍⚕️

Today’s #nursesweek honoree is Tasha Henry (RN). Tasha joined SCFU last fall, and since becoming a part of the SCFU team, she says she has been most excited about getting to connect with all supported persons and seeing how they’ve been able to benefit from her knowledge of nursing. Driven to the field of nursing by her innate need to help others, Tasha’s caring nature and dedication to SCFU residents is immensely appreciated by all the supported persons she cares for and by her colleagues alike. Outside of work, Tasha most enjoys disconnecting and destressing through cooking for her loved ones and friends. Thank you, Tasha, for making a difference in the lives of everyone we support and for helping to advance SCFU’s mission. 🩹🩺❤️

Today, our #nursesweek spotlight is on Rosalie Perez (RN). Rosalie just recently joined the SCFU team, and says she most enjoys being able to assist in helping to achieve the highest levels of medical, physical, nutritional, and mental health among everyone in the residential setting. Rosalie was inspired to become a nurse by her Mom, who as Rosalie stated was an “awesome nurse” who she admired for her “care, concern, and knowledge of medical issues with the population she managed.” When Rosalie isn’t helping to advance our mission and advocate for SCFU residents, she enjoys playing piano, horseback riding, and traveling. Thank you, Rosalie, for all that you do, and for being such an important part in the everyday lives of everyone we support.😍

In honor of #nursesweek (May 6 - 12), we’re recognizing each member of our incredible team of nurses throughout this week. First up is SCFU veteran, Pat Nelson, who has been with Special Citizens for almost 29 years. From the age of five Pat recalls wanting to be a nurse, when she began asking Santa for medical-related play kits. In recalling the memory she added that she “just always wanted to help people.” When asked what the most rewarding part of her job is, Pat stated that her favorite part of the job is “working with our supported individuals, their families, as well as with my coworkers, who over the years have become like family.” When she’s not busy helping to make the world a better place at SCFU, Pat enjoys anything having to do with the outdoors, including camping, boating, motorcycle riding, spending time at the beach, fishing, and attending T-ball games and playgrounds with her 4 grandchildren. Please join us in giving a virtual round of applause and loads of heartfelt appreciation to Pat for all her hard work in helping to improve the lives of everyone we support. Thank you for all that you do, Pat! ❤️👩‍⚕️

Special Citizens Day Services Staff recruiting for new Day Program and Community Habilitation participants at Roosevelt High School in Yonkers today! 📋😊 (Pictured: SCFU’s Elmsford Day Services Manager, Eric Rodriguez & Director of Day Services, Katrina Potter)

SCFU Residents & Day Program participants taking advantage of the spring weather with an outing to Van Cortlandt Park and a stop at the local @barnesandnoble 🌤️😎🌳🤓📚

A couple of #latergram photos of SCFU residents at yesterday’s World Autism Day game! 😍 Thanks again to everyone who came out to the ballpark with us yesterday! . . . #worldautismawarenessday #worldautismawarenessday #yankees #baseball #autismacceptance #autismawareness #autism #neurodivergent #autismawarenessmonth #autismacceptancemonth

SCFU residents celebrating #worldautismday with the @yankees for their annual World Autism Day game against the @sfgiants Go Yankees! ⚾️ 😃

All of April is Autism Acceptance Month, and today we join everyone around the globe in celebrating World Autism Day! 😊#worldautismday #autismacceptance #nuerodiversity

Yesterday SCFU residents gave back to the community and volunteered their time with @nycommonpantry Great job everyone! 😃👍

SCFU residents took advatage of the amazing weather this past Sunday and visited @nybg for this year’s orchid show. 🌺 😊

Happy International Women’s Day!

Only ONE MONTH AWAY! Join us April 2nd, to cheer on the New York Yankees for #worldautismday - (link in bio!) visit: https://offer.fevo.com/world-autism-awareness-day-acd438e and enter promo code: SCFU23 to unlock the exclusive Special Citizens discount! Tickets include: (1) free NY Yankees World Autism Day hat (1) free hot dog (1) free drink Get your tickets today! A portion of all ticket sales sold through promo code SCFU23 will go directly to Special Citizens. See you at the game! ⚾️

Happy Women’s History Month!

Drop a ❤️ if you love someone living with autism. Happy Valentine’s Day! #valentinesday

SCFU residents catching today’s @tdfnyc performance of @wicked_musical 🎭😊

Celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Join us on Sunday, April 2nd, to cheer on the @yankees for #worldautismday - enter promo code: SCFU23 to unlock the exclusive Special Citizens discount! Tickets include: (1) free NY Yankees World Autism Day hat (1) free hot dog (1) free drink Get your tickets today! Link in profile. A portion of all ticket sales sold through promo code SCFU23 will go directly to Special Citizens. See you at the game! ⚾️

Wishing everyone all the very best in the New Year, from everyone at Special Citizens! 🥳

SCFU residents and staff paying a visit to the tree and taking in the holiday sights at Rockefeller Center 🤩🎄

SCFU residents are painting the town & keeping things merry and bright this holiday season ⛄️❄️

❄️⛄️ With the holiday season officially upon us, we hope Special Citizens is in your thoughts as you make your year-end giving choices. If you haven’t made your year-end gift yet, follow the link in our bio to make a special year-end gift today! Happy Holidays! & Thank you for your support! ❤️

Please join us in giving the biggest & warmest welcome to Jose, who officially joined us this week as SCFU’s newest resident at our Grace Cavanagh House. Welcome home, Jose! 😊🎉 (Fr. l-r: SCFU staff Kairon, Nicole, & Luis; Jose, SCFU staff Kebbi & Carl)

SCFU residents out enjoying today’s @macys #thanksgivingdayparade 😍

#Thankful to have our annual pre-Thanksgiving feast event return for the first time since 2019. The staff and contributing family cooks outdid themselves! Happy (early) Thanksgiving! 🦃🍁

Please join us in congratulating Vanessa Morgan, Assistant Manager at our Cortlandt Hills Residence, for receiving the Direct Support Professional Excellence Award last night at the CCRx Annual DSP Awards & Gala. OPWDD Commissioner, Kerri Neifeld, and @communitycarelongterm CEO and Chairman of the Board, Hossam Maksoud, presented Vanessa with this prestigious award in recognition of her professionalism and dedication to the people she supports. Congratulations Vanessa! 🥳

Happy Rosh Hashanah! Our best wishes for a sweet and happy new year to all who celebrate 🍯🍎

Only ONE month to go! Get your tickets now! #linkinbio

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and safe Labor Day

Hurry! Get your tickets to our 4th annual Artful Autumn for Autism Acceptance (link in bio!) 👉Mon., Oct 17th 5-7:30PM @ Fountain House Gallery in Hell’s Kitchen 👉Early bird tickets on sale until Fri. Sept. 2nd 👉Raffle prizes for attendees include (2) @jetblue travel vouchers! 🛩🏝 👉Silent auction for amazing art 🖼 and other donated items. 👉Live cello 🎻 music and refreshments & hors d’oeuvres🍷🧀

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Staff team building today @5witsadventures escape rooms in West Nyack (Everyone escaped!) 🙌

So proud of our resident artists whose work was chosen to be part of the 2022 @nyaii1 Virtual Art Gallery. Great Job! 👏 Link in bio for the full site

Happy 🌍 Day! ♻️🌳💚

April is #autismacceptancemonth. We hope you’ll join us in shining a light on all our efforts to promote inclusion as well as championing and supporting everyone who resides on the #autismspectrum. And, don’t forget, there’s still time to get your tickets to this year’s NY Red Bulls Autism Acceptance Match (Sat. April 9th @ 4pm) Follow the link in our bio to get your tickets today.

Happy International Women’s Day! Thank you to all of the incredible women who help to make the world a better and brighter place. 😍

Wishing everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️😍 . . . #autism #autismacceptance #autismawareness #valentines #autismvalentine #differentlyabled

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas! 🎄

Two weeks to go! (Link in profile for tickets) Bid on art and win prizes that include @jetblue travel vouchers! Thank you to our sponsors: @communitycarelongterm @lambinsuranceservices @briobenefits @jetblue @butlerhsfurniture , Grassi Advisors & Accountants, Focused Wealth Management, Knockout Pest Control, and Eifert French & Ketchum

@jetblue has generously donated two travel packages, each with (2) round-trip travel vouchers in support of our 3rd annual Artful Autumn for Autism Awareness! They could be yours, but only if you get your tickets through the link in our profile.

We are excited to have @susanaaldanondo return as a contributing artist to this year’s Artful Autumn for Autism Awareness (link for 🎟 tickets in profile) Artwork Pictured: “Temporary Place”

We are thrilled to announce that @mattipietar.art will be a contributing artist to this year’s 3rd annual Artful Autumn for Autism Awareness. Click the link in our profile to get your tickets! Today is the last day for early bird tickets! #nycartists #autismart #autismawareness #autismacceptance

We are just ONE month away from the big night! Get your tickets today (link in profile!)

As Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week comes to a close, we want to acknowledge and thank our incredibly hardworking team of DSPs, without whom, none of our crucially important work would be possible. #dspweek2021 #weloveourdsps #thankyou #autism #autismacceptance #autismawareness #essentialworkers

Wishing everyone a safe, healthy & Happy Labor Day!

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈

April is Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month! Join us in celebrating inclusion, nuerodiversity, and acceptance. 🙌🙂 #autismawareness #autismacceptance #autism

We’re excited to announce the launch of our new website! Head to www.specialcitizens.org to check it out

Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️ . . . #valentines #happyvalentinesday #autism #autismawareness #autismacceptance

Remembering the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Wishing you and yours a very happy and healthy New Year!

🎄😍 Getting into the holiday spirit with a visit to the Yonkers Christmas tree and making holiday crafts ✂️❤️💚

Gingerbread cookie and house production underway ⛄️🍪🍭

Today is the last day of our virtual auction & annual fundraising event! Hurry to get your bids in by midnight tonight! 🙋‍♀️😍 (link in bio)

Wishing you and yours a very happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving!

Taking a chance at a friendly game of #monopoly 😄🏠🏨💰🧐

😲Check out these incredible handcrafted pieces created by SCFU resident John Hartman, that were just added to our virtual auction! Get your virtual bidding paddles ready, bidding opens tomorrow @ 9AM! (link in bio)

📢 2020 has forced us to take our annual fundraising event online (link in bio). Our virtual auction 🙋🏽will open @9am on Thurs., 11/19 - check out items up for bid, or make a donation via the link in our bio! Thank you for your support 🥰

Please join us in wishing a very Happy Birthday to SCFU resident, Antonio! 🎉😍🎂

👻🎃 🧟‍♀️🧛‍♀️ Getting in the Halloween spirit! SCFU staff have outdone themselves with this year’s haunted house experience created for our residents!

There’s still time to sign up for tomorrow’s spooky Halloween-themed virtual pub quiz! 🎃 Tomorrow night @7pm via Zoom 1st Prize is a $50 Amazon gift card 🤩 To register, email: development@specialcitizens.org

From apple picking to hiking and volunteering, we’ve been partaking in loads of outdoor fall activities 🍁🎃👨‍🌾

Join us next Thursday for a special 🦹🏽‍♀️ Halloween 🎃 edition of Quiz for a Cause! 🤓Hosted by @dave.zucker To register: email development@specialcitizens.org