POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., Sept. 28, 2026 – New York State’s top official for developmental disability services praised the Think Ahead program founded by Abilities First and The ARC Greater Hudson Valley after seeing the employment-readiness service in action at Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie.
“I was incredibly impressed by the level of dedication by the programs and how committed they are to making the program as available and successful and as integrated as possible,” Commissioner Willow Baer of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) said last Monday after a visit to a class and a discussion led by Abilities First CEO Dr. Jeffery Fox. Abilities First and ARC collaborate with the college in running the program.
Baer is visiting similar programs throughout New York to learn about their successes and obstacles and how the state can support them.
“Commissioner Baer is uniquely positioned to support the proliferation of programs like Think Ahead across the state,” Fox said. “Right now, there are only a handful of programs like Think Ahead around the state, and those programs only exist because a few providers like Abilities First and ARC Greater Hudson Valley spearheaded partnerships with colleges and others to make them happen. We have an opportunity to develop guidance for other counties and colleges so more people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can advance their education and prepare for competitive employment. Showcasing Think Ahead for Commissioner Baer was a very good place to start.”
Unlike programs focused primarily on academic or life skills, Think Ahead emphasizes the skills, habits and experiences needed to succeed in the workplace, Fox said. The program’s effectiveness is demonstrated by its success rate. Mark Nace, Chief Program Officer at Abilities First, said approximately 80% of students who complete Think Ahead find job placements and keep them long-term.
“Not only have participants gone on to competitive employment, but they’ve done well because they’ve had a lot of practice at it,” Nace said. “So it’s not their first time doing things. This is a real example of a true college immersion program.”
Think Ahead’s combination of college immersion, career exploration, internships and workplace preparation is designed to help students move from the classroom into employment with experience and confidence.
Fox said the program’s attributes extend beyond learning skills and internship success. “It’s about the values that go along with success in the workplace, the work ethic and the social skills needed to work within teams ,” he said.
Think Ahead is offered through a collaboration among the two founding organizations in addition to Dutchess Community College and the Dutchess County ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative. Think Ahead combines classroom instruction, internships and hands-on experience in the workplace, with students working toward a certificate at graduation. The goal is to place them in competitive employment.
Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino and Lenke Ganz, Constituent Relations Coordinator for New York State Sen. Robert Rolison, joined the visit along with other representatives of the county, college, Abilities First, ARC Greater Hudson Valley, and OPWDD.
Think Ahead serves up to 20 students at a time, all at least 18 years old, with some in their 60s. The program consists of four 15-week semesters, with an eight-week summer session between the first and second years.
This makes the program invaluable, Fox said, noting that, of approximately 130,000 people served by programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in New York, only about 11,000 receive employment services.
“We are aiming to do our part to increase that number,” Fox said.
Dutchess Community College President Dr. Peter Jordan said Think Ahead is an important part of the college’s commitment to inclusiveness, giving students the opportunity to participate in college life while preparing for their futures.
“We’ve learned a lot from this program,” he said. “It’s a joy to work with and teach this population of students. They are lively, they are curious, they are intense in their learning. And when you are able to reach them, they learn deeply. It is a joy to have this program.”
The program’s employment focus was front and center during Baer’s visit. In a classroom, students transitioned from a vocabulary exercise related to job applications to three students offering presentations about their employment goals and experiences.
Robby Falanga already has a job unloading trucks. “It’s very physical work that I do and it’s a job that I love,” Falanga said. “I make money at my job and do lots of chores at home to help out.” His personal slogan reflects his approach to work: “Never fail to deliver the mail.”
That kind of self-assurance is a valuable outcome of the program, said Dana Hopkins, the All Abilities Program Director of the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health.
“The self-confidence alone that this program provides is amazing,” she said. “There’s just a lot of opportunity for them to grow and shine and that’s what this is about.”
About Abilities First and the Foundation for Abilities First N.Y.
Founded in 1962, Abilities First is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization serving the needs of over 1,100 children and adults with developmental disabilities from birth through adulthood throughout the Hudson Valley. More than 600 dedicated employees are committed to providing a culture of compassion, empowerment and respect through educational, vocational, residential, habilitation and family support programs and services. Founded in 2018, the Foundation for Abilities First NY is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Its mission is to garner the financial resources necessary to meet the programmatic interests and to assure the sustainability of the mission of Abilities First, Inc. Learn more at AbilitiesFirstNY.org.
