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As the nation prepared to mark National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, Westchester County leaders visited Community Based Services, Inc. (CBS) on Friday, September 25, to see how County funding is helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities move from high school into work and community life.
New York Assemblyman Chris Burdick, Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Vedat Gashi and Westchester County Legislator Erika L. Pierce joined families, staff, and program participants at CBS’s 31 Fields Lane campus. David Shepperly, a representative of WIN Waste Innovations was also in attendance. Later in the day, CBS also welcomed Senator Pete Harckham. Visitors toured the newly renovated Impact Center for Learning, a workforce development center that combines customized instruction, virtual reality job simulations, hands-on training, and community-based employment exploration. Through this customized skill development model, individuals with disabilities are prepared for employment success with greater confidence and independence.
Inside, Good Reasons dog treat bakery gave the visitors a vivid example of this model in action. They watched participants proudly run production at Good Reasons Dog Treats, a CBS social enterprise where individuals with disabilities bake and package dog treats while building real job skills, including following production steps, teamwork, communication and quality control.
Human Impact: Helping Families Plan for Life After Graduation
Since 2023, County funding has allowed CBS to provide Transition Planning services to hundreds of Westchester families, as demand has grown by roughly 20 percent. Transition Planning helps students and their families to set goals and prepare for life after high school graduation. CBS guides families through OPWDD eligibility, care coordination, Medicaid requirements, day and community habilitation, respite, employment supports, transportation and long-term planning.
Here’s what CBS parent have to say:
“My daughter has had to go out of district for schooling, for speech therapy, and for other services. I’ve always wanted her to live and work and enjoy the community here. And now Community Based Services is providing that."
“CBS has been a thought leader in providing rich, meaningful programming for our daughter. Beautiful state of the art facilities developed by CBS with financial support from Westchester County and New York State — such as InterArts, the pre-vocational training center and Cultivating Dreams — have all greatly enriched the lives of the CBS community. We are grateful for CBS's far-reaching vision and innovation, and for the generous support they receive."
“After our daughter graduated from high school, she really had no clear options. In the ten years since, CBS has played an important role in her life by providing creative, engaging social and vocational programs which she truly enjoys."
Deep Appreciation for Westchester County
The County’s investment has had tremendous human impact, and CBS expressed deep appreciation to Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins and to the Westchester County Board of Legislators for making this work possible. Without Westchester County funding of approximately $219,000 over four years, CBS would not have been able to build a high level of family-centered transition support or renovate and expand its workforce development model through the Impact Center for Learning.
"With the right supports, individuals with disabilities can learn, work, contribute, and thrive. County funding has let us reach Westchester families earlier and create hands-on workforce experiences that open doors."
Leadership and Advocacy: Elected Officials Weigh In
CBS especially recognized and thanked Legislator Erika L. Pierce for her leadership, advocacy and sustained commitment to families in northern Westchester and across the County. Her support turned a critical need into a practical, responsive model that reaches families earlier, connects them to services, and helps young adults with disabilities plan for adulthood with greater dignity and opportunity.
"This multi-year partnership responds to what families have told us they need: clear information, a trusted guide, and real options for life after school. CBS has turned County support into practical help, hope, and opportunity."
"When you see this work in person, you understand why it matters. This is not abstract funding on a page. It is families getting answers, young people gaining skills, and a community making sure people with disabilities are seen for their abilities and their future."
“The work Community Based Services is doing through transition planning and workforce development reflects exactly the kind of people-centered investment that helps individuals with disabilities pursue greater opportunity, independence and belonging. By providing individuals with the tools, resources and support they need to navigate important life transitions and build meaningful careers, Community Based Services is helping create pathways to greater self-sufficiency and participation in the community.”
What’s Next
With continued support, CBS plans to:
- Start outreach earlier in high school and deepen partnerships with school districts and parent groups
- Launch Good Reasons Roast, a coffee roasting and brewing enterprise that will train participants in customer service, food handling, hospitality and small-business operations
- Explore a second Westchester location in the mid- or southern County, combining CBS’s InterArts programming and the Impact Center for Learning closer to where families live
“National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a reminder that people with disabilities are ready to contribute,” Dr. Sylvester added. “Public-private partnerships like ours make that possible.”
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