We are privileged and honored to have Assemblyman Jarett Gandolfo on See Us, Hear Us! Assemblyman Gandolfo represents the 7th Assembly District on Long Island, and is the ranking member on the Committee of Mental Health. Listen on to hear more about services for mental health in schools, staffing challenges faced in our industry, and the integration of the Office of Addiction Services and Supports into mental health services. 

We are so thankful to be speaking with Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz about issues currently facing our community! On this episode, we speak about employment for those with disabilities, employment issues facing Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), housing on Long Island, and more. Assemblyman Blumencranz represents New York's 15th State Assembly district.

This week, we meet Angelo, a TBI survivor due to an arterial vein malformation. Angelo had begun feeling sick, passed out after a night out, and was quickly brought to the hospital by his family, unsure of the cause. Once the cause was determined, 2 liters of blood was drained from his brain and he had awoken from his coma, Angelo had been transported to multiple hospitals and facilities that would be able to accommodate his needs, including occupational therapy, physical therapy, cognitive therapy and speech therapy. Through this process Angelo experienced sadness, but knew he had to push through for his family. His goal was to leave his last facility walking with a cane, no wheelchair, and he did just that, making his promise to his mother come true.