Westchester Institute For Human Development

12/16/2025

The first snowstorm of the season didn't stop families associated with Shrub Oak Troop 238 from dropping off gifts that were donated by parishioners of the Church of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Shrub Oak! In total, the church provided gifts for over 90 children, as well as an incredibly generous amount of gift cards and pajamas, all of which will be given to children and families involved with WIHD's Child Welfare Services Program. We are so incredibly grateful for this long-lasting and continued partnership with the Seton Parish Giving Tree Program, as well as the assistance of Kathleen Kaiser and Robin Dever and their families!

12/03/2025

Need help with OPWDD services? The Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Ombudsprogram (IDDO ) is here to provide free and private support.

Contact us:
1-800-762-9290
https://iddony.org/
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM

We can help you get information, connect with OPWDD’s Front Door, work with your providers, and file complaints if needed.

11/25/2025

WIHD Stars is an Early Intervention child development and family support group led by certified occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists with expertise in assistive technology and pediatric feeding.

During child developmental group time, therapists support growth across all developmental areas—cognition, language, motor skills, social skills, feeding, and speech sound development—using sensory and self-regulation strategies tailored to each child.

In the Parent/Child & Family Support group, caregivers work directly with therapists to learn practical strategies and activity modifications that promote development at home and in the community.

Families are also introduced to supports such as positioning equipment, wheelchairs, walkers, standers, adaptive feeding tools, and AAC. Eligible materials may be available for loan.

If interested, please contact your Early Intervention Service Coordinator. You can also learn more about WIHD Stars in their newsletter:

Email from Westchester Institute for Human Development News Letter November/December 2025 Early Intervention (EI) STARS Program WIHD STARS (Strive Towards Achieving Results) provides a child developme

11/20/2025

🎉 Congratulations to the entire Ride Ahead team!

We are Anthem Award winners 🏆👏

is a 2025 Gold winner in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, Documentary or Film category! We’re honored to be recognized by the and admire their work in amplifying voices that spark global change.

https://www.anthemawards.com/winners/list/entry/ #!diversity-equity-inclusion-belonging/documentary-or-film/the-ride-ahead/0/the-ride-ahead/619291

Image Description: Samuel smiling in his wheelchair wearing a Red Sox jersey at a baseball game. “The Ride Ahead” in black text is in the top left corner. Around is a beige border with black text “5th Anthem Awards. 2025 Gold Anthem Award Winner.” and a design of three colorful figures holding up a gold award.

11/13/2025

Accessibility and dignity guide everything we do at WIHD 💙

For longtime WIHD employee Luis, that commitment became life changing when he received an electric Hoyer lift through a donation from . After waiting more than seven years, Luis now has the support he needs for safer, more independent care at home.

Afya redistributes surplus medical supplies and equipment to help organizations like WIHD better serve their communities.

We are so grateful for their partnership and for helping us continue our mission to make care accessible and compassionate for all.



📸 Pictured: Luis Ortiz with his new electric Hoyer lift, made possible through Afya’s support.

11/13/2025

At WIHD, our mission is rooted in accessibility, dignity, and compassion for all. That mission shines brightly in stories like Luis'.

Luis, a longtime WIHD employee, had been waiting more than seven years for an electric Hoyer lift to support his daily care. Thanks to a generous donation received through our partnership with Afya, that wait is finally over. The lift has transformed his daily routine, making his care safer, more consistent, and far more dignified, giving him greater independence and confidence at home.

Afya is a nonprofit that collects and redistributes surplus medical supplies and equipment to support health systems and community programs locally and globally. Through this partnership, WIHD can provide essential tools to the individuals and families we serve, improving care and accessibility across our community.

We are deeply grateful for Afya’s generosity and shared commitment to making care accessible and compassionate for all. Together, we are building a stronger and more supportive community.


📸 Pictured: Luis Ortiz with his new electric Hoyer lift, made possible through Afya’s support.

11/11/2025

WIHD is recruiting please spread the word!
https://www.wihd.org/jobs/

Click the link for more information for the following opportunities:
Pediatrician - 28 Hours Per Week
Social Worker / Mental Health Counselor - Part Time 21 Hours Week
Dental RV Driver - 1/2 days Per Week

11/06/2025

We at the Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) are deeply grateful for the ongoing support of Pi Iota Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®️.

Each year, the members of Pi Iota Omega Chapter generously donate coats to help over 55 children in our Every Family Counts and Project IMPACT programs stay warm and ready for the winter season. 🧤🧥

Your continued partnership makes a lasting difference in the lives of the families we serve — thank you!

10/30/2025

We’re proud to share that Gemma continues to advocate for AAC systems that empower users with the language they truly need — including words for all body parts and safety language.

Everyone deserves access to vocabulary that helps them express themselves fully, ask for help, and stay safe. Communication is a right — not a privilege!

10/16/2025

From the team behind The Ride Ahead comes a new educational webinar series, Our Ride Ahead!

Check out these two upcoming webinars for disabled youth on dating, relationships, romance, and sexual health. Part 1 will take place on October 24 at 7pm ET to discuss disability and dating (ages 16+), and part two will take place on November 6 at 6:30pm ET to discuss disability, romance, and sexual health (ages 18+).

Our Ride Ahead webinars are free and open to the public. Live captioning and ASL interpretation will be provided. Learn more and register at rideaheadfilm.com/webinars!

10/09/2025

Mark your calendars! On Wednesday, October 15 at 6 PM, join us online for a conversation with Willow Baer, Commissioner of the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).

This virtual session is a great chance to hear directly from Commissioner Baer about current initiatives, updates, and the work being done to support people with developmental disabilities across New York State.

👉 Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/BjoRz-RJR16J32q53NHgLg

Questions? Reach out to HOV@WIHD.org
for more information.