I met Adam Haber in January of 2013. I was asked to be a part of a roundtable discussion about women’s issues.
Adam sat in the audience and listened to each panelist speak about issues on affordable childcare, pay equity, and the rising cost of living on Long Island. I spoke about my struggles as a parent raising a child with special needs and the challenges of finding appropriate after-school services.
I began my introduction by telling the audience that I am a single mother of an 10-year-old boy, who is diagnosed with autism and sickle beta-thalassemia.
We currently reside in Elmont. I explained that, for the past eight years, I’ve researched after-school programs within my community of Elmont, with trained staff that would accept children with special needs.
To my surprise there were none. Shortly after, I researched neighboring communities. Again to my disbelief, my search came up empty.
The next step I took was applying for a Medicaid Service Coordinator to help in my research. I was told by the MSC that, due to state budget cuts to social services, there was limited placement for after school services.
I explained that many families in the disability community echo my same testimony.
For the last three years, a group of parents from the local Parent Teacher Association PTA and Special Education Parent Teacher Association SEPTA in Elmont have been working together.
We formed a coalition called The After School Equality for All Children. Our mission is to improve the overall available appropriate after-school services for all-age children, including children with learning and developmental disabilities in Elmont.
Most parents work full-time jobs and worry about their unsupervised children between the hours of 3-6 p.m. The situation is more difficult for households headed by single parents.
Our research showed special needs children require more assistance with general education curriculum. After-school programs help with education, and reduce delinquency and the need for public assistance.
After a few more stories were shared, Adam stood up to address the issues. He singled my story out and discussed programs that the Roslyn School District implemented for children with special needs.
I was amazed by what he has done to help. Apart from the support he’s provided for families of children with special needs since joining the Roslyn School Board five years ago, he and his wife provide an annual scholarship to Camp Kehila (for the past decade), sending one special needs child to camp, whose family otherwise couldn’t afford it.
Adam and his wife Renée feel blessed, and believe it’s their responsibility to give back. To have Adam as Elmont’s State Senator would be a blessing for families raising children with special needs.
For the past year, Adam has helped Elmont with the campaign to (1) provide appropriate training for staff of existing after-school programs (2) create a smaller (separate) after-school program for children with special needs, who work better in smaller settings with highly qualified teachers and aides, and (3) include children with special needs in community activities.
No elected official has stepped up to the plate to help children with special needs in Elmont. Politics is the next step for Adam and Renée, to give back in a way they believe will have broader reach and greater impact.
Adam is our hope for better policymaking and real change in Albany. I know we all hear the same rhetoric over and over each election cycle.
Adam is different. He puts in the work, day in and day out, for Nassau County. I know he will be the voice for the voiceless and advocate for children with special needs in Albany.
On behalf of families of children with special needs, we encourage our neighbors to vote Adam Haber into the New York State Senate, District 7 on Nov. 4.
Tammie Williams
Sewanhaka-Elmont-
Floral Park-Bellerose SEPTA
Elmont
