A night at the theatre. A day at Adventureland. A seat at a Mets game. A circus under the big top. Thanksgiving dinner with more than 200 friends. For the people we support in Citizens Options Unlimited (COU) homes across Nassau and Suffolk Counties, this past year was full of ordinary, wonderful outings — the same kind of nights and weekends anyone looks forward to.
Every outing started the same way: someone was asked what they’d like to do. Not handed a schedule, not slotted into a group activity — asked. From there, a staff member helped make that experience, that activity, happen. This is the part that doesn’t show up on a calendar, but it’s the part that matters most.
The power of choice led to people experiencing a full range of what Long Island has to offer. Some picked a matinee — Frozen, Cinderella, Annie, a Disney classic at the John W. Engeman Theatre or the Argyle. Others wanted the roar of a crowd, cheering on the Mets, Yankees, or Nets. For the thrill-seekers, there was Splish Splash, Adventureland, Six Flags, and Sesame Place. For the curious, the Long Island Aquarium, the Cradle of Aviation Museum, and the American Museum of Natural History. And as the seasons turned, so did the outings — pumpkin festivals in October, light shows in December, a circus in the spring, a resort getaway in the summer.
None of this happens without support. A $35,000 grant from the AHRC Foundation helped make this year of outings possible across more than 30 COU homes, with residents contributing toward their own tickets to the best of their ability and funds making it possible for staff to be supportive alongside. This funding is what turns a question like “what have you always wanted to try?” or “what have you always wanted to do?” into something that can happen. Citizens is grateful to the AHRC Foundation for this funding and what it makes possible in the lives of the people we support, and we look forward to many more, everyday adventures.