Inductees by Category

Special Needs

Volunteers who have advocated for and supported individuals with disabilities and special needs across Long Island, creating inclusive programs and opportunities.

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Showing 6 inductees

Dr. Patricia Lowe

Long Island Advocacy Center

Dr. Lowe founded the Long Island Advocacy Center in 1980, fighting for the rights of individuals with disabilities in housing, employment, and education. Her legal advocacy resulted in landmark accessibility improvements across Long Island.

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Michael Brennan

AHRC Nassau

Michael served as a volunteer job coach and board member for AHRC Nassau for 25 years, helping hundreds of adults with intellectual disabilities find meaningful employment and live independently in their communities.

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Catherine DiMaggio

Long Island Special Olympics

Catherine organized Long Island Special Olympics events for 22 years, coordinating thousands of volunteers and athletes and expanding the program from 200 to over 2,000 participants across Nassau and Suffolk counties.

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Gregory Okonkwo

Autism Society of Long Island

Gregory founded the Autism Society of Long Island's family support network after his son's diagnosis, building a community of over 1,500 families and advocating for improved school services and adult programs for individuals with autism.

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Lorraine Petersen

Long Island Hearing & Speech Society

Lorraine served as a volunteer interpreter and board member for the Long Island Hearing & Speech Society for 28 years, expanding access to communication services for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals across the region.

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David Rubin

Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County

David transformed the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County's volunteer program, recruiting over 500 volunteers and establishing inclusive recreation programs that serve individuals with a wide range of physical and developmental disabilities.

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