Citizens Options Unlimited (Citizens) empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to achieve their goals through self-directed services. Recognized as a leading agency in the field, our programs, include: •Self-Direction •Medicaid Service Coordination •Residential Supports and Services •Family Support Services (Camp Loyaltown, Family Reimbursement, and ComeUnity Recreation Programs) •Respite Services •Citizens also works hand in hand with Advantage Care Health Centers to provide coordinated medical, psychiatric and dental care. Citizens believes that when people come together and work as a team great things happen. Citizens works closely with personal outcome trainers to assist people with I/DD in defining their personal goals and dreams, while developing a life plan that includes natural supports, community supports, and choice of service provision options.
External link for Citizens Options Unlimited
115 E. Bethpage Road
Plainview, NY 11803, US
What a great evening of family and friendship 💛 Yesterday, Helen Kaplan Center hosted a Family Gala at the American Legion. Everyone dressed in their best to enjoy a dinner together, as well as some karaoke, dancing, and pictures by the photo booth! Thank you to the staff who made this wonderful evening possible, and all the family who attended to enjoy a night out with their loved ones!
The 2026 NASSAU COUNTY AHRC FOUNDATION INC Rose Ball is approaching, and we invite your support. For more than 76 years, the Rose Ball has reliably supported programs and services in education, healthcare, housing, employment, and recreation. Community engagement drives meaningful change. 🌹🌹🌹 This year, the AHRC Foundation will honor Jack and Eydie Garofalo with the Margaret Riva Lifetime Achievement Award and Jack N. Posner, Esq., with the Cornerstone Award, recognizing their decades of advocacy, leadership, and dedication to the disability community. You can support the Rose Ball in several ways. Support this year’s Rose Ball by purchasing a sponsorship, placing a journal ad, buying tickets, or making a donation: https://lnkd.in/e9fGhnez Your support ensures this important legacy continues for future generations. #RoseBall2026 #AHRCFoundation #LongIsland #CommunityImpact #OpportunityInclusionCommunity
Very soon, Camp Loyaltown will be buzzing with creativity and joy as campers arrive for another memorable summer in Hunter, New York. At Camp Loyaltown, each day is filled with activities campers can choose, from arts & crafts and swimming to talent shows and campfires. Ninety percent of campers are returnees. Among them are siblings Eddie and Justine Bortell. Eddie has attended camp for over 15 years, while Justine is entering her third summer. “It’s a good experience,” Eddie said. “It’s very interesting. I like the international counselors. They’re fun.” Learn more about Eddie and Justine's camp journey on our blog: https://lnkd.in/eaePH5K6
At Citizens Options Unlimited, May 12 is recognized as Psychology Day. To mark the occasion, clinicians attended a luncheon at the Brookville mansion. The event provided an opportunity to connect with colleagues from AHRC Nassau and Brookville Center for Children's Services and included gifts from One Stop Gift Shop, such as a t-shirt and notebook. Behavioral specialists and psychologists at Citizens Options Unlimited support people with dual diagnoses and enhance mental health. They provide guidance during daily routines, transitions, and crises, offering expertise, developing behavioral plans, and coaching Direct Support Professionals. Thank you to everyone on the Behavioral Health team! ⭐We'd also like to extend appreciation to WheatleyFarmsLi for catering and providing beautiful flower centerpieces that we raffled off.
This week, we have celebrated our dedicated team of nurses and highlighted their inspiring contributions. Nurses are essential to delivering effective Residential and Family Support Services. They ensure the safety, health, and comfort of those we serve. Thank you to our nurses for your dedication and outstanding service. #NationalNursesWeek💙🩺
Meet Marvin Morales, an RN for Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRAs) 💙🩺 For over a year, Marvin has provided essential care to men and women residing at IRAs in Westbury, West Islip, and Glen Head. He became an LPN in 2019 and became an RN in 2022, inspired by his strong interest in medicine, health and fitness, and anatomy and physiology. At Citizens, Marvin enjoys being part of a team that advocates for the people he supports. His responsibilities include making sure everyone follows medical guidelines, watching for changes in health, working with healthcare providers and specialists, and staying in close contact with each person’s support network, including behavior intervention specialists, nutritionists, and Day Habilitation staff. Marvin also appreciates the support Citizens provides to its team. “They really want to support you and help you grow,” he said. Thank you for all you do, Marvin!
Meet Laura Nagengast, RN at the Shoreham Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) 💙🩺 Laura has spent 15 years working with the men and women at Shoreham. She became a nurse in 2000, inspired by the nurses who cared for her when she was a child. “I always remember thinking I want to be one of the nurses that you can tell really care for their patients, to help people the way they helped me,” Laura said. “I always wanted to be the nurse who made patients feel comfortable and at peace.” Growing up with family members who have IDD also inspired Laura and showed her the importance of advocacy. At Shoreham, she always brings kindness and compassion to her work, getting to know each person to give the best care. She believes that sharing a joke and some laughter helps everyone do their best. Laura’s favorite part about working at Shoreham is the teamwork among staff. “Everybody just collaborates together to make the best day possible,” Laura said. Thank you for all you do, Laura!
Meet Kathleen Charbonneau, Assistant Nurse Manager at Camp Loyaltown 💙🩺 Kathleen has lived near Camp Loyaltown for many years and has been a nurse for 16 years. When she learned about the camp, she looked into it and knew right away she wanted to work with the campers. “When I got here the first year, I just kind of fell in love with it,” Kathleen said. Before becoming a nurse, Kathleen worked as a teacher assistant and found her passion for helping children with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). She also volunteered with the Adaptive Sports Foundation at Windham Mountain Club and taught skiing to people with developmental disabilities and visual impairments. After nursing school and working in a hospital setting, Kathleen realized she wanted to focus on caring for people with IDD. “If you listen and just concentrate, you get used to their body language, and you can almost connect their body language with what’s going on, whether it’s sadness or pain,” Kathleen said. “I think the listening, the visual, the patience, the taking time, and allowing them to make a connection and trust you all goes a long way.” At Camp Loyaltown, Kathleen has also enjoyed working with counselors who travel from all around the world.
Meet Erica Price, an RN for Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRAs) 💙🩺 Inspired by her work as a DSP between 2010 and 2016 for Citizens’ Family of Organizations, Erica enrolled in nursing school in 2022 and became a nurse in 2024. “I remember enjoying my work as a DSP, working with this population and interacting with them, knowing that someone needed to advocate for them," Erica said. Erica now works as an RN for people supported by IRAs in Valley Stream, Cedarhurst, Lawrence, and West Hempstead. Along with providing health and medical care, she values the close relationships she has built with the people she supports. “We’re like a family,” Erica said. “We hang out on birthdays and holidays sometimes. We talk, we have conversations, we discuss our likes and dislikes, even just little things, like movies we’re watching at the time.” Thank you for all you do, Erica!