Archives for November 2012

On November 9^th, 4^thgraders at HVS participated in a video conference with Ms. Chistopher’s 2^ndGrade Class from Woodland Elementary in East Syracuse, NY. Before the Video Conference, each class created a ‘monster’ out of approved materials and wrote a detailed description of their monster. Both classes emailed descriptions of their monsters and tried to recreate them from reading the descriptions. During the video conference, each class shared their monster and saw how they did at interpreting the directions. They also shared facts about their class, school, community and state.

Click Here to view more photos from the video conference with Woodland Elementary.

 

Viscardi Disaster Relief Fund Established to Assist Students, Consumers and Employees Devastated by Hurricane Sandy

(Select “Viscardi Disaster Relief Fund” from the restricted gift drop down menu)

November 8, 2012 – The Viscardi Center, a network of non-profit organizations providing a lifespan of services that educate, employ and empower people with disabilities, announced it has established the Viscardi Disaster Relief Fund to assist its students, consumers and employees who have experienced devastating losses.

“The health, shelter, safety and mobility of these individuals have been greatly compromised,” explained John D. Kemp, president and CEO of The Viscardi Center. “Some have completely lost their homes. Some have relocated to alternate housing that cannot meet their daily health and mobility needs. Others have lost medical equipment and adaptive devices they depend on every day such as powered wheelchairs and lifts. And, let’s not forget the loss of basics like food, warm clothing and toiletries.”(See how having to move from his damaged home has affected one of our students and his family.)

Every dollar contributed to the Viscardi Disaster Relief Fund will benefit the individuals affected by Hurricane Sandy and all contributions are tax deductible. Donations of any size may be made to the Viscardi Disaster Relief Fund online (simply select “Viscardi Disaster Relief Fund” from the restricted gift drop down menu) or by mailing a check to The Viscardi Center at 201 I.U. Willets Road, Albertson, NY 11507. All checks should be made payable to The Viscardi Center.

In addition, thanks to the generosity of Michael N. Vittorio, President and CEO of The First National Bank of Long Island, and his dedicated staff who have joined The Viscardi Center’s effort, contributions to the Viscardi Disaster Relief Fund may also be made at any of The First National Bank of Long Island’s locations. “The First National Bank of Long Island is sensitive to those who have special needs as well as those that support them,” said Vittorio. “We welcome the opportunity to assist anyone who has been affected by the storm anyway we can.”

“With the help of our neighbors, families and friends, we can ease the suffering of our Henry Viscardi School students, Abilities, Inc. clients, our staff and their families, by providing the critical assistance and human kindness they need at this time,” added Kemp.

Founded by Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr., who served as disability advisor to eight U.S. presidents and became one of the world’s leading advocates, The Viscardi Center provides Pre-K through High School education, school-to-work transition services, vocational training, career counseling and placement and workforce diversification assistance to children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities and businesses. A global leader, it employs more than 300 professionals, including experts in education, human resources and technology.

FEMA ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY HOUSING RENTAL ASSISTANCE INCREASE IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – As part of ongoing efforts to ensure families and individuals impacted by Hurricane Sandy get the support they need, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that the agency is increasing the amount of rental assistance that it may provide eligible disaster survivors in New York and New Jersey.  The rental amount, based on existing HUD Fair Market Rates (FMR) for fiscal 2013, is being increased by an additional 25 percent.

 

HUD FMR rates are rental cost estimates that include the cost of the shelter and all other tenant-paid utilities except telephone, cable, and internet services. HUD designs annual FMR levels to be high enough to allow for a wide selection of available units, yet low enough so that as many units as possible may be rented and provided to low-income families.

 

Immediately after the recent disasters in the Northeast, FEMA evaluated the number of available rental resources within Metropolitan New York and Northern New Jersey that might be available to house disaster survivors. It was quickly apparent that the cost of available rental units could become a limiting factor, so FEMA authorized funds to increase the existing rental assistance in New York and New Jersey to exceed current FY2013 levels by 125 percent. The increase will be implemented when the survivor is recertified for a continued need for temporary housing assistance.  Disaster survivors are free to rent properties above the 125 percent FMR, but will only receive assistance up to the 125 percent FMR.

 

The approved FMR increase is expected to make an additional 1,800 rental resources available for temporary housing of disaster-impacted families in New York, and an additional 1,200 rental resources available for similar families in New Jersey.

 

The increase in the FMR for New York and New Jersey is one of many ways FEMA is committed to supporting survivors in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states as they begin their disaster recovery efforts.

 

FEMA encourages all the affected states to take the lead in identifying their local needs and resources by convening state-led Housing Task Forces. These individualized task forces help ensure the states continue to have the authority to select from available temporary housing solutions they deem sufficient to meet the needs of their residents following a disaster. The state Housing Task Forces in New York and New Jersey have already begun meeting with FEMA representatives and recovery housing plans are underway.

 

Families and individuals in the declared counties who are registered for federal disaster assistance and seeking rental resources can search through hundreds of listings on the FEMA Housing Portal athttp://asd.fema.gov/inter/hportal/home.htm. The site is updated regularly but families are advised that properties listed in the Housing Portal are only potential housing options, and they should contact the property owner to check if the listed unit is still available.

 

The FEMA Housing Portal consolidates rental resources identified and provided by a variety of federal agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Veterans Administration (VA), but also lists rental properties provided by private organizations and property owners willing to help their neighbors during these difficult times.

Please be advised that due to the snow storm, the Henry Viscardi School will be closed today, Thursday, November 8th. Please be careful if you decide to venture out on the roads. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Patrice Kuntzler at (516) 465-1675.