1,200 Attended the INCLUDEnyc Fair on Jan. 25

The Fair is New York City’s largest annual free fair for young people with disabilities.

By Jacqueline Neber January 27, 2020

The INCLUDEnyc Fair came to Hotel Pennsylvania on Jan. 25 with more than 100 summer camps and after-school, weekend, art, sports, social, and recreational programs for young people with special needs in New York City. The event attracted more than 1,200 parents, children, and families this year and promoted inclusion, providing attendees with information and resources they might otherwise not know are available. Parents got an early start researching options for summer activities and applying for scholarships and financial aid, and older kids had the opportunity to connect with resources for planning for life after high school–including jobs, vocational training, and college options.

Organizations and programs who attended the fair last year include 92nd Street Y, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Cooper Hewitt, Extreme Kids and Crew, NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, New York Transit Museum, Tech Kids Unlimited, and the Whitney Museum.

This year, some attendees included Parent to Parent of NYS, Parents to Improve School Transportation, Eprine Community Services, and ADAPT Community Network. Program information was available in Spanish and Chinese, and ASL interpretation was available as well.

“For more than three decades, the INCLUDEnyc Fair has introduced New York families to camp, recreational, arts, sports, and other support services welcoming and including children and young people with disabilities,” said Barbara Glassman, executive director of INCLUDEnyc. “Parents love this fair because every year there are new partners, new resources, and programs to discover. As families grow with us, we continue to offer resources for every stage of their child’s life from birth to 26."

Representatives from participating organizations praised the fair.

"This is such a great opportunity to meet families face-to-face, which is the best way to share information and make a true connection," said Leigh Reid, development and communications director at Extreme Kids & Crew.

INCLUDEnyc is dedicated to helping kids with special needs live more fulfilled lives and was recently awarded $3 million by the State Education Department to serve as the Family and Community Engagement Center (FACE) for all five boroughs. For more information on how INCLUDEnyc can help your family, head to the organization’s website.

"Everyone deserves to express themselves," said Harley Sherwood, the program manager at CO/LAB Theater, reflecting on the fair. "We have so much to learn from young people with disabilities."

Main Image: Courtesy INCLUDEnyc