Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities Partners with Youth Bureau
In the fall of 2012 Mayor Roach re-activated the Mayor’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities with Jeremiah Frei-Pearson as Committee Chair. This Committee had originally been authorized by the Common Council in 1979 but had become inactive in recent years. The purpose of the Committee is to increase public understanding in relation to the inclusion of people with disabilities within the community and to work toward the elimination of attitudinal and architectural barriers. The Advisory Committee also functions as a liaison between city government and other agencies and services, acting as an advocate for people with disabilities and making recommendations to the Common Council as it may deem advisable.
As part of its awareness-raising efforts, the Mayor’s office has announced that the Advisory Committee will now partner with the White Plains Youth Bureau to sponsor seven presentations to White Plains’ Youth about inclusion and recognizing strengths that are often created by disabilities. These presentations will feature Westchester native Geri Mariano talking to local youths about her life and experiences. Mariano was born with diastrophic dysplasia, a condition that affects bone and cartilage, resulting in dramatically short stature and many physical and social challenges. These disabilities do not define Mariano, who has a Master’s degree and a gift for connecting with children (and people of all ages) and communicating the value of inclusion and compassion. All children who attend the Youth Bureau’s after-school program will have an opportunity to take part.
For more information about Geri Mariano visit www.justcallmegeri.com.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
