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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ThinkDIFFERENTLY EVENTS

Happy Holidays from ThinkDIFFERENTLY!

We wish everyone a wonderful season with those you love and a very Happy New Year!!

Stay tuned for more ThinkDIFFERENTLY events in 2025!!

 

We’ll see you next year!

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Community Calendar ( List View )

  • Pancake Breakfast @ Bowdoin park March 29, 2025  9:30 am - 12:00 pm Bowdoin Park, 85 Sheafe Rd, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590, USA

    Dutchess County Parks hosts it's annual Community Pancake Breakfast at Bowdoin Parks Auditorium featuring Dutchess County Parks Maple Syrup!! 
    $5 per person, children 6 and under are free.

    See more details

Community Calendar ( Monthly View )

March 2025

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1
  • March: Disability Awareness Month
  • Dance forever | Rythm Works Hip-Hop Dance Program
2
  • World Teen Mental Wellness Day
  • Wheelchair Repair Workshop
3
4
  • Applying for Social Security Disability Programs Workshop
5
  • Seizure Recognition & First Aid Certification Webinar
6
  • Autism Society of Greater Hudson Region: Planning For a Loved One with Special Needs Webinar
7
  • Rally in the Valley
8
  • Dance forever | Rythm Works Hip-Hop Dance Program
  • Down Syndrome Association- World Down Syndrome Day KICK OFF
9
10
11
12
  • Autism Society of Greater Hudson Region: Planning For a Loved One with Special Needs Webinar
13
  • Think Ahead at DCC Information Session for 2025-2027 students
14
15
  • Dance forever | Rythm Works Hip-Hop Dance Program
16
17
18
19
  • SSI & SSDI While Working Virtual Workshop
  • Family Fun Night with CAPE at Spins Bowling Wappingers Falls
20
  • Beacon City School Districts- Community Resource Fair
21
  • World Down Syndrome Day
22
  • Dance forever | Rythm Works Hip-Hop Dance Program
23
  • Club Connect at Sensory Space Pl
24
25
  • Applying for Social Security Disability Programs Workshop
  • Think Ahead at DCC Information Session for 2025-2027 students
26
27
28
29
  • Pancake Breakfast @ Bowdoin park
  • Dance forever | Rythm Works Hip-Hop Dance Program
  • Ramapo CONNECT March event
30
  • Club Connect at The Sensory Space Pk
  • Special Olympics Ulster County Tigers Basketball Game
  • Marist Best Buddies Event #2
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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