TCWH Celebrates Disability Pride Month and the Anniversary of the ADA
Published on July 28, 2026
July is Disability Pride Month, a special time of observance to uplift, celebrate and honor the history, achievements, and lived experiences of the disabled community. The annual observance coincides with the anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990. Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) welcomes the opportunity to uplift the members of our community who are celebrating Disability Pride Month with a special message from our Community Services Board’s Developmental Disabilities Subcommittee.
Tompkins County Community Services Board: Advocating for Compassion & Care
TCWH’s Community Services Board (CSB) develops and approves the local services plan for mental hygiene services and advocates for services in Tompkins County. The CSB has three subcommittees: Mental Health, Substance Use, and Developmental Disabilities. The Developmental Disabilities Subcommittee identifies areas of strength and need in the community to inform program planning for local services to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Local disability advocate and Co-Chair of the CSB’s DD Subcommittee, Jeff Boles, shares, “Disability is widely misunderstood despite growing awareness; there are those who still buy into the many misperceptions about disability. A few of the biggest misperceptions are disability means poor quality of life, people with disabilities are not happy with who they are and can’t or don’t lead joyful lives, and that disability needs to be fixed. As a person living with cerebral palsy for 60 years, I do face day-to-day barriers due to my disability, but I have a good quality of life, I’m happy with who I am, I am a successful person, and my disability doesn’t need to be fixed.”
Boles continued, “When we talk about disability, the conversation often centers on a person’s medical condition or physical limitations. But research and experience consistently show that many of the most significant barriers people with disabilities face are not rooted in their disabilities but how society is structured around them. If you are interested in helping shape policies and programs impacting our community, please consider joining the TC Community Services Board or one of its subcommittees.”
Deputy Commissioner of Mental Health Harmony Ayers-Friedlander, stated, “Participation on the Community Services Board is a great opportunity to gain professional experience, expand your knowledge of local services and policies, and play an important role in the decision-making process of local mental health services. We currently have a vacancy on the Community Services Board and are particularly interested in applications from people who have lived experience, as well as professionals or interested community members looking to make positive impacts in local services.”
Applicants must complete an Advisory Board Application form to indicate interest in serving on the CSB. The form may be obtained from the County Legislature office, located at the Governor Daniel D. Tompkins Building (Old Court House), 121 E. Court Street, Ithaca. The entrance is on the Dewitt Park side of the building. The application form is also available for download. Please call the County Legislature office with any questions at: (607) 274-5434. For more information about Advisory Boards, visit the County Legislature’s webpage.
After the application is submitted, candidates may be interviewed prior to recommendation, and they must be approved by both the CSB and the County Legislature. Minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information on the CSB, please contact Harmony Ayers-Friedlander via email at: hayers@tompkins-co.org.
TCWH Services for Children, Youth, Families & Adults
TCWH’s Early Intervention Program (EI) provides services to families with children from birth to three years old who have developmental delays and disabilities, as well as services to children in this age range with a diagnosed physical or mental conditions that have a high probability of developmental delay or disability (such as Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, vision impairment, or hearing impairment). Children enrolled in EI work one-on-one with specialized therapy teams that can include service coordinators, social workers, special education teachers, speech and language pathologists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists.
TCWH’s Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs program (CYSHCN) serves families with children from birth to age 21 who have or are suspected of having a serious or chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition, and who require health care and related services beyond that which children generally need. CYSHCN utilizes Community Health Workers to connect families to resources and support that benefit their child and family.
Participation in EI or CYSHCN is voluntary and provided at no cost to families. To learn more, go to our webpage or call the office at (607) 274-6644.
TCWH Mental Health Services offers therapeutic outpatient mental health treatment and Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS). Treatment is provided by licensed clinical therapists, professional nurses, psychiatrists and certified peer specialists. Individual and group therapy are offered in the clinic for youth and adults at both our Green Street and Brown Road locations. For a full roster of group offerings, visit our website. Participation in TCWH Mental Health Services programs are considered an insurance billable mental health service; talk with our intake team to learn more by calling 607-274-6200.
TCWH Thanks Local Service Providers
Need help finding help? Call the Tompkins County Human Services Coalition helpline, 211 (1-877-211-8667).