ThinkDIFFERENTLY is a call to action, established in 2015 by former County Executive Marc Molinaro, to create a supportive and welcoming environment for those living with disabilities.   We have been inspired by the community response! This website is designed to be a starting point to find the services and connections you and your family need.

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Community Calendar ( List View )

  • ThinkDIFFERENTLY & Bardavon Present: The Nutcracker, Sensory Friendly Performance December 12, 2025  6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Bardavon, 35 Market St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, USA

    This relaxed, hour-long“no-hush” performance is designed to create a supportive and flexibleenvironment where audience members are free to engage with the show in waysthat feel comfortable to them. Adjustments to lighting and sound will be madeto accommodate those with sensory sensitivities, including individuals on theautism spectrum. Doors will open at 5 p.m., and outside food and beverages arenot allowed inside the venue.

    Doors open at 5pm; Special 10th anniversary of ThinkDIFFERENTLY event at 5:30 in the Lobby. 

    Registration required, as seating is limited to keep the event sensory friendly at www.dutchessny.gov/nutcracker 

    See more details

Community Calendar ( Monthly View )

December 2025

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1
  • Sensory Space: Mommy & Me Sensory Play
  • In Flight/Standing Room Only PLUS- Wizard of Oz production classes
2
  • Dover Plains Library: All Abilities Adult Social Hour
3
  • International Day of Persons with Disabilities
  • Empower and Employ; Building an Inclusive Workforce Conference
  • Seizure Recognition & First Aid Certification Webinar
4
  • Empower and Employ; Building an Inclusive Workforce Conference
5
6
  • Zootopia 2 at Roosevelt Cinemas; Sensory Friendly Screening
7
  • Odyssey Church All Abilities Services
8
  • TRI: (Virtual) Parent Empowerment Program (PEP)
  • In Flight/Standing Room Only PLUS- Wizard of Oz production classes
  • Odyssey Church Fun Night
9
  • Dover Plains Library: All Abilities Adult Social Hour
  • Applying for Social Security Disability Programs Workshop- VIRTUAL Meeting
10
  • OPWDD Statewide Family Support Services Public Meeting
11
12
  • ThinkDIFFERENTLY & Bardavon Present: The Nutcracker, Sensory Friendly Performance
13
  • CPU Respite Open House
  • Ramapo CONNECT December Event
14
  • Odyssey Church All Abilities Services
  • In Flight's 19th Annual Holiday Formal
15
  • In Flight/Standing Room Only PLUS- Wizard of Oz production classes
16
  • Dover Plains Library: All Abilities Adult Social Hour
17
  • Social Security Work Incentives- Taconic Resources for Independence
18
19
20
21
  • Odyssey Church All Abilities Services
22
  • In Flight/Standing Room Only PLUS- Wizard of Oz production classes
23
  • Dover Plains Library: All Abilities Adult Social Hour
  • Applying for Social Security Disability Programs Workshop- IN PERSON
24
25
26
27
  • Empowerment Meet Up- Taconic Innovations
28
  • Odyssey Church All Abilities Services
  • Brain Injury Support Group
29
  • In Flight/Standing Room Only PLUS- Wizard of Oz production classes
30
  • Dover Plains Library: All Abilities Adult Social Hour
31

ThinkDIFFERENTLY Moments

Inspired Thinkers

ThinkDIFFERENTLY Moments highlight the great work happening in our community.

Dutchess County Tourism and Wheel the World Videos of Accessibility

Dutchess County Tourism is excited to share with you the two industry and consumer videos produced in partnership with Wheel [ …Read More ]

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Inspired Thinkers

ThinkDIFFERENTLY Moments highlight the great work happening in our community.

Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Flourishing Farmers 4H event held 4/2/2023

“Thank you both for such a wonderful event today.  I love that you have made it possible for children of [ …Read More ]

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Inspired Thinkers

ThinkDIFFERENTLY Moments highlight the great work happening in our community.

Dutchess County ThinkDIFFERENTLY visits Fit & Fun Playscapes, LLC

Dana Hopkins and Mara Santiago of Dutchess County ThinkDIFFERENTLY visited Fit & Fun Playscapes, LLC to learn more about their [ …Read More ]

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Inspired Thinkers

ThinkDIFFERENTLY Moments highlight the great work happening in our community.

Spectrum News: Differently abled people find support with ThinkDIFFERENTLY

In December, Spectrum News interviewed Dana Hopkins, All Abilities Program Director for Dutchess County at the 6th Annual ThinkDIFFERENTLY Conference held at the [ …Read More ]

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Inspired Thinkers

ThinkDIFFERENTLY Moments highlight the great work happening in our community.

Eagle Scout Project

Ryan Lugo, a John Jay High School student, recently completed his Eagle scout project! Ryan planted a garden and built [ …Read More ]

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Inspired Thinkers

ThinkDIFFERENTLY Moments highlight the great work happening in our community.

100 Cups of Coffee

Chief of Police, Thomas Pape attended Dutchess County’s 100 Cups of Coffee at Taconic Resources for Independence and was inspired [ …Read More ]

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Inspired Thinkers

ThinkDIFFERENTLY Moments highlight the great work happening in our community.

Verplanck Garden Club

Verplanck Garden Club at Stony Kill Farm’s Environmental and Education Center in Wappingers Falls, NY have been maintaining the Special [ …Read More ]

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Inspired Thinkers

ThinkDIFFERENTLY Moments highlight the great work happening in our community.

Dr.  Joseph Bonanno receives award.

Dr Joseph Bonanno the Medical Director for both OPWDD Taconic Region and Arc of Dutchess was honored for his outstanding [ …Read More ]

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Inspired Thinkers

ThinkDIFFERENTLY Moments highlight the great work happening in our community.

Coach Vincent and Jonathan “Superman” Brunot

Coach Vincent Del-Cid  is a CPA and has previously worked for JP Morgan.  Prior to meeting Jonathan “Superman” Brunot, he had [ …Read More ]

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Inspired Thinkers

ThinkDIFFERENTLY Moments highlight the great work happening in our community.

Youth Soft Skills Empowerment & Hudson Cadillac

Emanuel Cordero, a vocational coordinator from  Youth Soft Skills Empowerment (YSSE) (left) met with Mike Mullaney, Dealer Principal (right) from [ …Read More ]

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Inspired Thinkers

ThinkDIFFERENTLY Moments highlight the great work happening in our community.

Carnival Lion for the 2017 ThinkDIFFERENTLY Picnic

Elanor DeMan, a Roosevelt High School student and her father, Jayson DeMan created this fantastic ‘Carnival Lion’ as a bean [ …Read More ]

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Inspired Thinkers

ThinkDIFFERENTLY Moments highlight the great work happening in our community.

Red Hook Library Creates “All Abilities Program Series”

Red Hook Public Library has created an All Abilities Program Series for families with special needs to gather and enjoy. The [ …Read More ]

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Inspired Thinkers

ThinkDIFFERENTLY Moments highlight the great work happening in our community.

Universal Park Equipment

Congratulations to Sidney Scoralick, James Ryan and Ulises Olmedo. Special thanks to  their teacher Kimberly Sweck, Arlington High School, Teacher-Engineering and Cameron Tuller, a junior at the time, who helped  the team with the physical construction of the project. 

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