Development Disabilities Institute Breaks Ground in Huntington

Bring the children home.

That was the rallying cry among Development Disabilities Institute executives, parents and elected officials as the nonprofit organization broke ground on a construction project at its Little Plains campus in Huntington Thursday.

The ceremony marked the beginning of a multi-faceted construction and renovation project at 25 Little Plains Rd. which houses one of DDI's existing special education school buildings serving approximately 300 children with autism and other developmental disabilities.

The project will provide a home for 24 Long Island students with autism and other developmental disabilities who are presently placed at out-of-state residential facilities, or who are at risk of being placed at these distant facilities, due to the lack of sufficient residences for them on Long Island, according to DDI.

One thankful parent said parent said it was like hitting the lottery.

"Our son, with a severe case on the autism spectrum, was placed at a facility 130 miles away north of Poughkeepsie," said Phil Veneziano of Wantaugh. "We'd make the trip every weekend to pick him up and take him back home, and then drop him off for the week."

After seven years of weekly trips upstate to see their son, Veneziano and his wife Linda discovered the Development Disabilities Institute campus in Smithtown, and have been there for one year.

"We absolutely love it, the cooperation with the staff and our son's interaction has really been a great experience," said Veneziano. "We needed a professional facility as we couldn't help him deal with all of his challenges day-to-day, and like my wife and I say, we hit the lottery with the Institute."

Renovation plans for the special education school buildings will include four classrooms and improved handicapped accessibility, HVAC upgrades, roof replacement and installation of energy-efficient curtain-walls and windows.

DDI Executive Director John Lessard noted the magnitude of the project.

"This isn't something just for the 24 children who'll reside here, it will benefit the entire community and the families needing care for their child," Lessard said.

State Sen. Carl Marcellino, R-Syosset, promised he'll continue to work in the Assembly to assist the DDI.

"We have to bring our children home for the services they need, I'll always be a friend in Albany," Marcellino said.

Marcellino said after the groundbreaking that autism is an issue that he takes personal interest in, as an uncle to two children with disabilities along the spectrum.

"There's children who need these special services provided by the DDI, and the Institute should be commended for its tremendous effort," said Marcellino.

The Development Disabilities Institute also provides economic benefit to Long Island, as an employer of over 1800, according to state Sen. John J. Flanagan, R-East Northport.