Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I believe the name needs to be restored to the Tappan Zee Bridge. Being connected to the name Cuomo is an embarrassment after everything with Andrew. In addition, Tappan Zee is part of our history with regard to the original population the Lenni Lenape Indians and Dutch settlers.

Thank you,

Donna Jessie

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To the editor:

Deaf patients object to lack of interpreting services at area hospitals, doctor’s offices, rehab centers                                                                           

On this day, we celebrate the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the landmark civil rights law signed by President George W. Bush on July 26, 1990 – 36 years ago, that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. However, for Deaf people the ADA is not about ramps and curb cuts that provide access to buildings. Instead, Deaf people require the use of American Sign Language interpreters and captioning to provide access and “effective communication” in all areas of public life, including school, employment, government services, transportation, medical care and public accommodations.

During the past three years, Deaf patients have noticed a steady increase in the number of local hospitals, doctor’s offices and rehabilitation centers in Rockland, Westchester, Orange and now, Bergen County that attempt to avoid or outright refuse to provide an “in-person” professional American Sign Language interpreter when requested by the Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing patient.  Instead, a number of healthcare providers resort to asking the Deaf patient to lip read, write on notepaper, ask family members to interpret or state a policy that requires the Deaf patient to use of Video Remote Interpreter (VRI) technology on an iPad to save some expense. Deaf patients have continued to object to healthcare providers that offer only VRI technology and claim a cost-savings for the medical provider, but that does not provide clear and effective doctor-patient communication during medical exams and procedures – depriving the Deaf patient of their right to fully understand and to be understood!

The National Association for the Deaf (NAD) has established a list of guidelines for medical providers –– indicting when VRI does not provide viable and effective means of communication for a variety of Deaf patients and medical situations. (see attached)

The Rockland Deafness Task Force and its members encourage Deaf residents and their families to advocate for their rights under the American with Disabilities Act and the Affordable Care Act to access effective communication with their medical providers – and to require that area hospitals, doctor’s offices or rehab centers provide an “in-person” professional American Sign Language Interpreter to ensure the right of the Deaf patient, to be informed and to fully participate in the medical assessment and decisions concerning their personal healthcare and treatment.

George Potanovic Jr., Co-Chair

Rockland Deafness Task Force

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Dear Editor,

My name is Nicky Van Vooren, President of the Welfare League. I am writing to share my story and the mission that has shaped my life’s work.

When I was nine years old, I was diagnosed with brain cancer. The prognosis was uncertain, and many believed I would not survive. As a little girl, my greatest dream was to become a doctor. Although I was given a second chance at life, the surgery left me with a permanent invisible disability that changed the course of my future.

Living with an invisible disability has been one of the most challenging aspects of my journey. The struggles are often unseen, and people sometimes judge what they do not understand. As a child, I was bullied, called names, and made to feel like I didn’t belong. After losing my hair, I often felt invisible, misunderstood, and alone. For years, I searched for a place where I would be accepted simply for who I am.

That place found me when I joined Special Olympics. There, I discovered far more than a program—I found a family. I met extraordinary individuals whose resilience, compassion, determination, and joy changed my life forever. They welcomed me without judgment and reminded me that every person deserves to be seen, valued, and loved. For the first time, I truly understood what it meant to belong.

Through my involvement, I came to realize that every individual in this community carries a unique story. Many have overcome obstacles most people will never fully understand, yet they continue to face each day with courage, kindness, and hope. Despite all they have to offer, they are too often overlooked—their voices unheard, their achievements unnoticed, and their potential underestimated.

I could not accept that.

That is why I became involved with the Welfare League. Although we have limited funding, our vision is limitless. My mission is to build more than an organization—I am committed to building a community where every individual with a disability feels respected, included, empowered, and truly at home. I want every person who walks through our doors to know they are welcomed, believed in, and never alone.

I strive to be someone who reminds others that they are capable of achieving their dreams. I advocate for those who have never felt heard, encourage those who have lost confidence, and create opportunities for individuals to discover their strengths. I want them to know they will never have to face life’s journey alone, because this community stands together.

This mission is deeply personal, but it is not mine alone.

My son, Tommy, has stood beside me every step of the way as we work to grow this organization. He has believed in this mission from the beginning and has dedicated countless hours to helping bring this vision to life. Tommy is studying to become a neurosurgeon, inspired by a lifelong desire to help others. Watching him devote himself to serving people reminds me daily that compassion, service, and hope have the power to change lives. Together, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential and to know that someone believes in them.

Surviving brain cancer taught me that life is not defined by what happens to us, but by what we choose to do with the second chance we are given. I have chosen to dedicate my life to ensuring that no individual with a disability ever feels invisible, forgotten, or alone.

The Welfare League is more than a nonprofit organization—it is a movement built on compassion, dignity, acceptance, and hope. It is a promise that every individual, regardless of ability, deserves to be seen for who they are, recognized for what they can accomplish, and embraced as an important part of our community.

My mission is to create a place where every person knows they belong, where every voice matters, where every dream is encouraged, and where every individual can find the support, confidence, and family they deserve. With the support of our community, we can build that future together.

Sincerely,

Nicky Van Vooren

President

Welfare League