Monday, May 19, 2025
To mark Autism Acceptance Month, Nassau County officials gathered in Mineola on April 23 to raise awareness and celebrate local efforts supporting individuals on the autism spectrum.
County Executive Bruce Blakeman held a news conference at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building to announce the building would be lit blue in recognition of Autism Awareness Day. He also noted the county’s efforts to support individuals with autism and assist families with navigating challenges, including providing housing for those transitioning to adulthood.
“Autism isn’t just about an individual family,” Blakeman said. “It’s about all of us in the community pitching in to make sure that we have the happiest and healthiest and kindness community in the United States.”
Joining Blakeman were county officials and legislators, including Legislator Michael Giangregorio, who has personal experience with autism: His son is on the spectrum and requires round-the-clock care. Some individuals with autism can speak for themselves, he said, but others, like his son, cannot — and the community must speak for them.
“We have to advocate for the entire community, for those that are a little more higher functioning, to those like my son that will need 24/7 care,” Giangregorio said, “because if we’re not welcoming to everyone, then we’re not doing a good job.”
Giangregorio also congratulated the Genesis School in East Meadow, which has spent 30 years educating and supporting children with autism. Founded in 1995 by Eden II Programs, a non-profit organization that supports people with autism through science and services, the school serves students ages 5 to 21 and uses applied behavior analysis to guide its teaching. Each classroom is staffed with a certified teacher, specialists, and aides, with additional support available for families at home.
“I had the good fortune of sending my son there many years ago,” he said. “The loving care he’s received in that program has been a lifesaver for us.”
Mary McDonald, associate executive director of Long Island programs for Eden II, spoke at the event, where she thanked county officials for promoting autism awareness. McDonald, who has been with the Genesis School since its founding, said the program has grown over the years to meet the needs of the community, expanding from a school into outreach, family support, and adult services.
“It really sort of naturally evolved,” McDonald said. “We always try to meet the needs of the people we serve.”
McDonald highlighted the school’s onsite behavior clinic, which serves students with severe challenges who can’t be supported in typical settings. The clinic helps improve behavior and language skills while also training the schools or programs students return to. Each program is tailored to the individual needs of the student, she said.
Looking ahead, McDonald said the Genesis School hopes to move into a larger space, having recently grown from five to seven classrooms. The school also plans to expand adult services and is in the early stages of developing a residential group home within the next year or two.
According to McDonald, the Genesis School is the only program in Nassau County that specializes in autism and applied behavior analysis. The school currently serves 44 students, with 50 individuals in its adult program and about 25 in the onsite behavior clinic.
“If we have a new building we’ll be able to serve some more students with autism,” she said, “which would be nice for this specialized type of program.”
