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!

See more details.

Community Calendar ( List View )

  • Incredible Years- 13 Week Parenting Program April 1, 2025  10:00 am - 10:30 am

    At the Family Opportunity Center, Wingdale, NY
    Choose between 11am-1:30pm or from 4pm-6pm.

    See more details

Community Calendar ( Monthly View )

April 2025

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1
  • Incredible Years- 13 Week Parenting Program
2
  • April: World Autism Acceptance Month
  • Seizure Recognition & First Aid Certification Webinar
3
4
5
  • Dance forever | Rythm Works Hip-Hop Dance Program
  • Town of Wappinger Parks & Rec Egg Hunt
6
  • Club Connect at The Sensory Space Pk
  • Odyssey Church All Abilities Services
7
  • Taconic Resources: Speak in One Voice- Parent Empowerment Program
8
  • Incredible Years- 13 Week Parenting Program
  • Applying for Social Security Disability Programs Workshop- VIRTUAL Meeting
  • Internet Safety for Parents Webinar
9
  • BluePath Service Dogs Information Webinar
  • Putting Kids First, Unlocking The Promise of Poughkeepsie
10
  • Taconic Resources- Speak in One Voice, Parent Empowerment Program
11
12
  • Dance forever | Rythm Works Hip-Hop Dance Program
  • Dutchess County YOUR Health Fair
  • Hidden Hollow Farm Egg Hunt
13
  • Odyssey Church All Abilities Services
14
  • The Alpha Center's School Spring Break
15
  • The Alpha Center's School Spring Break
  • Incredible Years- 13 Week Parenting Program
16
  • The Alpha Center's School Spring Break
  • Social Security Work Incentives- Taconic Resources for Independence
17
  • The Alpha Center's School Spring Break
18
  • The Alpha Center's School Spring Break
  • Egg Hunt at Family Opportunity Center in Wingdale
19
  • Dance forever | Rythm Works Hip-Hop Dance Program
  • SAVE THE DATE- John Flowers Old Fashioned Egg Hunt- Sensory Friendly Space
  • Town of Union Vale's Egg Hunt for All
  • Egg Hunt at Family Opportunity Center in Wingdale
20
  • Odyssey Church All Abilities Services
21
  • The Alpha Center's School Spring Break
22
  • Incredible Years- 13 Week Parenting Program
  • Applying for Social Security Disability Programs Workshop- IN PERSON
23
24
25
  • Staff Assistant Experience Weekend Connection
26
  • Staff Assistant Experience Weekend Connection
  • Hero 5K- Autism Society of Greater Hudson Region
  • Autism Directory Services- Walk for Autism
  • Dance forever | Rythm Works Hip-Hop Dance Program
  • PK 5K- Bartlett Park
  • Community Wellness Day in Fishkill
  • Putnam County Autism Awareness Walk
27
  • Staff Assistant Experience Weekend Connection
  • Club Connect at The Sensory Space Pk
  • Odyssey Church All Abilities Services
28
  • Millbrook Central School Wellness Fair
29
  • Incredible Years- 13 Week Parenting Program
30
  • Taconic Resources for Independence- Understanding Updates to OPWDD...

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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