A Legacy of InclusionFamily Comes First

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FAMILY COMES FIRST

GIRT SCOUTS

A LEGACY OF INCLUSION

#602

APPEARANCES IN ORDER:

VINCENT J. RUSSO ESQ. Russo Law Group, P. C.

VICTORIA ROBERTS-DROGIN Russo Law Group. P. C.

EDITH HEINSOHN, Girl Scout Troop Leader

INDA HENSOHN

SUSAN RUSSO, President, Theresa Foundation Exec. Dir. , Theresa ACademy Of PerfOrming Arts

TODD BELISLE, President Center for Special Needs Trust Administration

KIM CHRISTIAN, ESQ., Special Needs Attorney RuSSO Law Group, P. C.

DONNA CERAVOLO, CEO Girl SCOuts Of Nassau County

ANTHONY STANGANETTI

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RUSSO: Welcome, everyone, to

Family Comes First. I’m Vincent J.

RUSSO.

ROBERTS – DIRIOGINI: And I’m

Victoria Roberts-Drogin. Thank you for

joining us.

For years, the Girls Scouts has

been an organization where girls can

build courage, confidence and character,

and then go on to make the World a better

place.

RUSSO: Absolutely awesome.

And just because a girl may have special

needs, it doesn’t mean she Can’t be a

part of the Girl Scouts.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Today on

Family Comes First, we’re going to talk

about how all girls can benefit from

being a part of Scouting; a legacy Of

inclusion right here on Family Comes

Fir St .

実 ★ ★ *****

ROBERTS-DROGIN: We are talking

today about how girls with Special needs

can be a part of the Girl Scouts.

Page

Edith Heinsohn is here and she was

inspired to start a troop in her area, a

Girl Scout troop, where children like her

daughter Linda with Special needs, Could

parti Cipate .

RUSSO: This is going to be

such a great show.

And also with us, Of Course, is

Linda, Edith’s daughter, who is part Of

that troop and One of my favorite guests,

I have to say that, Susan Russo of the Theresa Academy of Performing Arts for

children with special needs, and we’ll

talk about the tie-in there, which is

really fantastic.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Absolutely.

So, tell us about your two beautiful

Children.

HEINSOHN: Both of my children

are special needs; Linda is thirteen and

Scott is fourteen.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: What kinds of

activities do you do with them?

MS . HIETINSOIHIN : Of COur Se We dO

TAPA, we have a respite camp, and we do a

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lot of the activities; arts and crafts. We

do bowling through the Nassau County PAL,

and they’re in Camp Anchor now and they

also do bowling through Anchor. We do

softball in the spring through Shining

Stars of Levittown. We’ve very busy.

ROBERTS – DIRIOGIN : I was just

going to Say.

HEINSOHN: And Girl Scouts.
RUSSO : Can I be a part of

your family?

MS . ENSOHIN : Se

RUSSO: My parents didn’t

offer me all these things when I was

little. It was just go play in the – – –

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Yes, go play

Outside.

RUSSO: – – – in the street,

in Brooklyn.

And so, Linda, you’re very busy.

LINDA: Yes, I am.

RUSSO: And who’s your friend

here?

LINDA: Annie.

RUSSO: Annie? Aw, she’s

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beautiful. She’s been with you a long time,

I understand.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: And does

Annie do Girl Scouts with you, Linda?

Does she keep you Company?

RUSSO: That’s a trick

questi On.

LINDA: Yep.

RUSSO: Okay. So, Linda, what

do you like the most about going to the

Girl Scouts? Do you like having fun?

TINDA: Yes, having fun.

RUSSO: Fun with all your

friends, right?

TINDA: (Smiles)

MS, ROBERTS-DROGIN: And what’s

your favorite badge? What’s your

favorite patch?

LINDA: Dance. I love dance.

RUSSO: Dance, okay.
ROBERTS – DIROGIN : That’s great.

And dance is part of the program at TAPA?

RUSSO: Linda is a very good

dan Cer. She al SO take S dan Ce ClaSSeS ,

and she’s a part of the Banana Splits

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Club, which is an exclusive club within her

dance school where she attends.

ROBERTS-DROGIN : How nice .
RUSSO: The girls earned a

dance badge with us.

RUSSO: Talk about how there’s

been this connection between you starting

up the troop, 2477, did I get that right?

MS . HEINSOHN : Mm-hmm.

MR . RUSSO : And the ServiCeS We’ re

providing at TAPA?

RUSSO: We’ve known Edith and

the kids for a few years now.

HEINSOHN: Many years.
RUSSO: Yes. They’ve been to art classes, and drumming Classes and

they’ve attended TAPA camp for a long

time, several years.

Her son Scott is an amazing

African drummer. He is really, really

good. That ‘ s his favorite part of TAPA

Camp. And when Edith started with the

troop, the girls, they’ve earned three

badges, working at TAPA, three Or four

badges. They’ve earned an art badge, a

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1 yoga badge, a dance badge, a ballet badge and

2 I believe there” S One Other. Music . A

3 music badge.

4 MS. ROBERTS-DROGIN: So there S a

5 ni Ce Support .

6 MS RUSSO : It is . It is. And

7 it’s a great group of girls to WOrk With.

8 They’re lovely, lovely girls. All about

9 the same age.

1 O MS. HEINSOHN: They’re from ten

11 through Sixteen.

12 MR. RUSSO: So, how ‘d you come up

13 with – – – you weren’t in the Girl

14 SCOutS.

15 MS HEINSOHIN: NO .

16 MR. RUSSO: And now you’re a troop

17 leader, so how did that happen?

18 MS. HEINSOHN: Linda was asking

19 for a long time to become a Girl Scout.

2O MR. RUSSO: Oh, great.

21 MS. HEINSOHN: And I investigated,

22 and although any girl can join any troop,

23 it really wasn’t appropriate for her, SO

24 I thought I would start my own, and I

25 just gear it towards the girls and their

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abilities.

RUSSO: Wow, that’s fantastic.
ROBERTS-DROGIN: How big is the

troop?

HEINSOHN: I only have four

girls, but they’re very, very active.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: It makes it

very special; there’s a lot of attention.

RUSSO: They have so many

projects they work on, and I – – –

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Well, I can

See from this beautiful – – –

RUSSO: Yes, let S See. Let’s

See. Let’s see it, if we can hold that

Just hold that up for a minute and

talk about what’s going with all this – –

ROBERTS-DROGIN: There are a

lot of badges on there.

HEINSOHN: These are the badges

that they work for. They’ve done first

aid, cooking, baking. We had a tea party.

They did a social tea. Exercise. We’ve

done it Over the years, and of course the

Cookie Sales.

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ROBERTS-DROGEN: There’s a lot On

the back, too, I think.

RUSSO: The back?
HEINSOHN: These aire the

patches. These are just the fun patches.

RUSSO: Where’s the yoga patch?

ITINIDA : (Points to yoga patch)

RUSSO: There it is because I

understand that you love yoga.

ROBERTS – DIRIOGIN : T See a

couple on there, right? Great.

RUSSO : WOW.
ROBERTS-DROGIN: Wonderful.
RUSSO: Yes, that’s – – – what

are you going to do when you’re Out of

space?

HEINSOHN: This is their junior

vest. They just bridged up to Cadets, so

this is her new One.

RUSSO: Oh, this is the fancy

OG .

HEINSOHN: We start loading

this One up.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: I See there’s

stuff on there already.

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RUSSO: Ye S. YeS.
RUSSO: Linda, what’s your

favorite pose in yoga?

LINDA: Downward dog.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Downward dog.
RUSSO: Okay. That’s really

wonderful. Now, Edith is also an

incredible baker, and she has baked for

the Theresa Academy as fundraisers and our

Theresa bowling event.

I remember all those great – – – SO

talk to us about all the cakes and the

Cupcakes and – – – Susan?

RUSSO: And Edith has done,

helped us with some birthday, special

birthday cakes for camp as well.

HEINSOHN: Some gluten free.
RUSSO: Gluten free.
HEINSOHN: We did the dinosaur.
RUSSO: And you did a mermaid.
HEINSOHN : MermaiC.
RUSSO: Very, very, very nice.
ROBERTS-DROGIN: Also for

eVent S.

RUSSO: We SO love how involved

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you are with your children.

HEINSOHN: Thank you.
RUSSO: You have a lot Of

Courage and you’re really inspirational to

people, you know, to step in as a mom and

make sure that they’re having the best

life that they can and – – – I wish I had

all this joy and all this fun.

RUSSO : What ” S ni Ce abOut the

troop is that the girls have become such

fast friends. So it’s another, besides

all of the work that they do as Girl

Scouts and enjoy all of these wonderful

activities, they’ve made very close

friendships.

So, who is your best friend in Girl

SCOutSp

LINDA: Jillian Dolan.

RUSSO: Jillian Dolan.
RUSSO: So, it’s a great social

outlet for the kids.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Yes, sure.
RUSSO: A lot of fun.
ROBERTS-DROGIN: It S a

Community.

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RUSSO: They make lifelong

friends. Yes. It’s really, really good.

HEINSOHN: It’S WOnderful for

them.

ROBERTS – DIROGIN : That’ S

terrific. Well, thank you so much for

being here. Thank you, Linda, for COming

and telling us all about this; telling us

about yoga, and Girl Scouts and

everything.

RUSSO: That’s wonderful. And,

Susan, for being On.

MS ROBERTS-DROGIN: Susan frOm

TAPA, yes . All that you do .

RUSSO : SUIre –
RUSSO: This is one of my

favorite families.

RUSSO: And we’re going to have

Edith stay on after we take our break, and

we’re going to talk more about your story,

which were thrilled that you’re sharing.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: And then We’ll

come back with Kim Christian of your law

firm to talk about a legacy of inclusion

right here on Family Comes First.

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BELISLE: Hi. 7 m TOCC

Belis le , the President Of The Center for

Special Needs Trust Administration.

Under current policy, individuals

receiving certain means tested public

benefits have very strict income and asset

limits. Our partnership with the Theresa

Foundation and Community Trust Program

helps individuals protect these valuable

benefits by giving the individual or their

representative the ability to create a

trust for the benefit of a loved One.

For additi Onal informati On On how

the Theresa Foundation Community Trust

Program might help you or a loved One,

please Contact us today.

RUSSO: Welcome back to Family

Comes First.

Let’s continue with Edith’s

WOnderful and inspiring Story, and also

joining us is Kim Christian, a special

needs attorney in my law firm.

ROBERTS-DROGIN : Wel COme tO

硕盈瑟丽琛影蕊蕊※※、

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you, both.

CHRISTIAN: Thank you.
ROBERTS-DROGIN: We’re so glad

to have you here.

CHRISTIAN: Glad to be here.
RUSSO: We re thrilled.
ROBERTS-DROGIN: So, Edith,

when we left off, we were talking about

how you created the scout troop for Linda

and her friends, so that they could really

enjoy some of the benefits of Scouting.

Now, your background aligned with

this effort. You have a background in

special needs education?

HEINSOHN: I am. I’m a special

ed teaCher.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: So you brought

something unique to this. How do you help

the girls to succeed in your troop?

HEINSOHN: Well, I take any

activity, and I break it down, and I make

it easy for them to do. But, we do cover

all the requirements, just in a different

way for each of the badges.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Wonderful.

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21.

RUSSO: How did you get into the

world of special needs as an educator?

HEINSOHN: Well, I had a

sister, many, many years ago, who I never

met who was severely mentally retarded,

and I believe that I went that way because

Of her.

RUSSO : SUire .
HEINSOHN: So, I went back to

School when I was older, and I went

straight through for my master’s and

became a special ed teacher.

RUSSO: So she inspired you.
HEINSOHN: She did. She did,

and my sister’s name was Linda, too.

RUSSO: There you go.
ROBERTS-DROGIN: That’ S

beautiful.

RUSSO: And my family, my

daughter, Lizzie, is a special ed teacher,

and Theresa; they were roommates growing

up, and so there’s that connection. It’s

just wonderful.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: And it does

inspire you, to want to give back and

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support that world.

RUSSO : Ye S.
ROBERTS – DIRIOGINI: And She’ S

addOIrable .

HEINSOHN: Thank you.
RUSSO: So, Kim, a lot of

issues when parents COme to us, and they

have a child with special needs, and we

really need to kind of help them navigate

what they need to do and what turns they

may need to take in the future. So, let’s

hear your thoughts.

CHRISTIAN: Sure. There’s a

lot of important issues and topi CS to

COVES .

One, mainly, making sure you leave

yOur estate plan in a way that protects

your child with Special needs.

One recommendation, no matter what

would have to be to have a Will with a

trust included in it that says, When I’m

no longer here, my assets pass to this

child in a protective way.

RUSSO: So, it goes in a trust,

and then those assets are managed for that

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1 child.

2 MS … CHRTISTAN ; YeS.

3 MR. RUSSO: And is used to enhance

4 their quality of life?

5 MS. CHRISTIAN : That’s Correct.

6 MR. RUSSO: And will keep Medicaid?

7 MS. CHRISTIAN: Will keep Medicaid.

8 MR. RUSSO: And possibly SSI, if

9 they’re on SSI.

1 O MS. CHRISTIAN: SSI, if they’re on

11 SSI.

12 MR. RUSSO: What is SSI?

13 MS. CHRISTIAN: So, SSI is a

14 benefit that you could get for your child

15 with special needs, and again, helps With

16 insuring the quality of life, and you want

17 to make sure that you protect the assets,

18 because it’s a means tested program.

19 MR. RUSSO : So SSE WOuld be a

2O dollar amount, a monthly Stipend.

21 MS CHIRISTIAN: Mm-hmm.

22 MR. RUSSO: And typically at what

23 age would a child who is unable to WOrk in

24 the WOIrkfOIrCe be able tO aC CeSS SSII ?

25 MS. CHRISTIAN: Eighteen-years old

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is the age where you can access SSI.

RUSSO: And, Edith, you’ve done

all this planning, right?

HEINSOHN: It’s all done.
RUSSO: Which is fantastic, and

what I want to hear from you is why that

is important, because it’s unbelievable in

one way that we meet with families all the

time, and they have no planning. What are

the benefits?

HEINSOHN: Well, I’m a single

mom, so I wanted to make sure if anything

happened to me that everything would be

covered, and I own a home, so I wanted to

make sure it would all be taken Care of

right.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: And designated

someone that you trust.

HEINSOHN: Yes my friend.

MS, ROBERTS-DROGIN: Ye S.

RUSSO: So, for example,

guardian. So, if you’re at SOme point

Unable Oir not available to make thOse

decisions On an Ongoing basis for yOur

daughter or your son, you’ve named a

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Standby guardian.

HEINSOHN: Right. Correct.
RUSSO: And what’s great about

what you’ve done is many families hesitate

to do the planning, because they don’t

have any family member that’s available to

step in, and sometimes We’ll get in

discussions with Our Clients about the

options there, and you have a friend who

is willing to step in and – – –

HEINSOHN: I didn’t select any

of my family members. I selected my

friend.

RUSSO: But you made a

selection, and that’s why it’ s SO

important, because we don’t want that to

prevent a parent from going ahead and

doing the documents.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Right.
RUSSO: You know, to put in

place, the plan.

ROBERTS – DIRIOGIN: And what

happens if you don’t? I mean the

Consequences – – –

RUSSO : YeS.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: What if you

neglect to do this planning, or you just

aren’t up to it?

RUSSO: Right.
ROBERTS-DROGIN: And God forbid

something happens?

MS . CHRISTIAN: Suire …, AS II

mentioned earlier, your goal is to do

whatever you can to protect your child and

kudos to you, because you’re right. Not

many people do it, or they put it aside

for whatever reason they have.

So it’s so important, to answer

your question, if they do receive assets

outright, there is a potential, first, to

lose benefits such as Medicaid or SST , Or

not be eligible for those benefits when

you otherwise would have been, and of

Course, from a guardianship Standpoint you

want to put the person in place who you’re

going to entrust your child to; their

likes and wants and needs.

RUSSO: So what happens is

ChaOS.

MS ROBERTS-DROGN: YeS

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MS . CHRISTAN : YeS.

RUSSO: You know? If there’s

no plan in place like Edith’s done, it’s

Chaos, it’s Crisis.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: And then the

children Suffer.

RUSSO: And right. That’s the

point Kim’s making is that yes, now they

may lose benefits, where are they living?

Who is taking care of them? And also

sometimes family members have differing

opinions, and then they’re all in Court.

And then it gets so expensive, it’s time

consuming. You’d have to bring a

guardianship proceeding if there was no

guardian, right?

CHRISTIAN: Right.
RUSSO: And how long would that

take?

CHRISTIAN: Several months and

very costly.

MR, RUSSO : YeS.

CHRISTIAN: And the person that

may ultimately become the guardian may not

have been the person that you would have

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11.

selected in your documents.

RUSSO: Yes, sometimes a judge

will punt, because a judge will Say, Well,

I’ve got two family members who are

fighting with each other, how are we going

to reconcile that? So, we’ll bring an

independent person who is now going to

make personal decisions, health Care

decisions financial decisions. You don’t

Want that.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: N.O.

MS HEINSOHIN: NO .

RUSSO: Right? You want to

Control as much as you can, right? The

WOrld that your daughter is living in

which is so hard, because we don’t always

– – – because there’s a higher being who

kind of looks down on us and kind of, then

things happen. And so you’ve done the

most that you could.

So, SSI is supplemental Security

income?

MS, CHRISTITAN : YeS .

RUSSO: And SO that WOuld be a

monthly check.

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CHRISTIAN: That S Correct.
RUSSO: Right. And so can that

just go to the person directly, Or does it

need to go into a trust?

CHRISTIAN: Well, you can put

it in a trust to make sure that it’s spent

properly and used so it doesn’t affect any

benefits that the person is currently

receiving, and to your point, to enhance

quality of life. That’s what’s important.

MR, RUSSO : Ye S.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: And can you

delineate specifically things about your

Children’s lives?

Like, can you say, these are their

preferences, this is how I want the money

spent. These are the activities I want.

I want them to continue to do bowling, I

want Linda to stay and – – – Can you get

that specific with this vehicle?

CHRISTIAN: Sure. I’m so glad

you brought that up. There’s something

called a memorandum of intent.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Okay.
CHRISTIAN: And We reCOmmend

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11.

that to all our clients, and basically, it’s

a road map that says, if I’m not here,

these are the things that my children

love .

MS , ROBERTS – DROGIN : YeS.

CHRISTIAN : From food S tO

activities to their favorite Raggedy Ann

doll that they’re holding. I mean, it’ S

so Critical.

MS, ROBERTS-DROGIN: It S SO

important .

CHRISTIAN: It’s the human

element that’s so important.

RUSSO: And even though it’s

technically not a legal document, it may

be the most important document, and Our

viewers can download it at no cost Off Our

website at VURussOLaw. COm, and a lot Of

families are well — intentioned, but they’ Ire

so busy taking care of their child and

they’re so anxious about all the things

they need to take care of that it’s hard

for them to find the time, and So what

we’ve learned in our practices, we’ll have

the family member just come down and we’ll

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record their answers and then we’ll type

them up into the memorandum for them, and

then we’d love for them. On an annual basis

to update it.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Yes, because

that, I imagine you don’t think about your

life while you’re living it. You know, so

to recreate an environment for your child

or your children which probably is the

thing that’s going to touch them the most,

because the money, you take care of

Strategically, you do the proper planning

legally, but the actual experience of

their day-to-day is what they’re going to

feel. You know, at a time of loss or

transition, that’s going to be tough

enough as it is . So, I would imagine

that – – –

CHRISTIAN: Sure, the personal

Connection.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Yes, assisting

parents in actually debriefing their days

and capturing it and sort of

deconstructing, Oh, this is the morning.

This is the – – – you know, at every age.

11.

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RUSSO: Right.
ROBERTS-DROGIN: It’s probably

really important .

CHRISTIAN: Very important.
RUSSO: We try, when we’re

meeting with our clients, not to give them

homework.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Well, I get

that. Sure. Nobody likes to do it.

RUSSO : Especially when you

have so many responsibilities that you

need to take Care Of.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Yes, it’s

overwhelming. Yes.

RUSSO: So we’ll try to do as

much as we can, and make our Clients feel

very comfortable.

You know, most people don’t have

Wills. Parents who have a child with

special needs, I think is even more of a

compelling reason to make sure there’s a

Will with a proper trust called a

supplemental needs trust Or Special needs

trul St.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Right.

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RUSSO: I Want to COme baCk tO

the Girl Scouts a moment, because the

Organization has always been an

inclusionary type organization, which is

not true of certain other organizations

through the years. And, the Girls Scouts

have been around a long time. I ” ve been

down to the original, to the house in

Savannah which is unbelievable where they

ROBERTS-DROGIN: They founded

土t?

RUSSO: They founded it.

It’s just amazing. I don’t know if you

had a chance to go down to Savannah.

So when you brought this up, you

know, was that something that they felt in

higher ups that that was a COmfortable

situation for you to go ahead and do this?

HEINSOHN: I did. I spoke to a

few people and they said the troop has to

be available to any child – – –

RUSSO : Slure.
HEINSOHN : – – – that COeS Want

to join, but they were very, very

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supportive. And I have a cadet now who is

volunteering with me and she’s typical,

and she’s a great role model, so it’s been

wOnderful.

RUSSO: That’s fantastic.
ROBERTS-DROGIN: That’s great.
RUSSO: And I know, we’re going

to talk more about the Girl Scouts as a

national Organization, WOrldwide

Organization.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Absolutely.
RUSSO: And I just love the

Cookies, so – – –

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Yes. The

cookies are a great part.

RUSSO: – – – we’ll see. And

so, it’s been fantastic. A lot Of great

insights on the planning, Kim. We really

appreciate your being here.

And, Edith, you’ve been terrific.

And, I know you continue to be terrific

and thanks for baking all those goodies that

We’re able to raffle Off and Sell. Those

fundraisers.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Ye S.

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RUSSO: Because we, all the Small

organizations, need all the Support they

can get. So thank you very much for being

Ol …

HEINSOHN: My pleasure.
RUSSO: Family Comes First.

SO, let’s take a break.

** ★ ★ ★ ** *

RUSSO: Victoria, the Girls

Scouts have been a part of American

culture for over one hundred years with

the message that girls can be successful.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Absolutely.

It’s Such a Special Organization. I was a

Brownie and both of my girls were Girl

SCOutS.

RUSSO : T was a Cub Scout.
ROBERTS-DROGIN: Okay. And

there are troops all over the country.

And today we’re so fortunate to

have with us Donna Ceravolo, CEO, Chief

Executive Officer of Girls Scouts for

Nassau County and also Father Tony to

offer his reflections on this wonderful

topi C .

怒蛟※燃签蕊砚签懿、磁蕊、 ,※※

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RUSSO: Okay, so we want to know

about the Girl Scouts.

CERAVOLO: Well, we are the

Girl Scouts. We are a very large and

long-standing Organization. We’re in Our

103rd year. In Nassau County, we have

just under 20, 000 Girl Scouts and we’re

able to do that, because we have the

support of 7,000 adult volunteers.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: And it is a

volunteer. This is people who are – – –

CERAVOLO: This is a volunteer

Organization.

MS, ROBERTS-DROGIN: – – – jumping

in, and – – – there’s so much time. I know from my girls, the generosity of the

troop leaders. So much time and energy.

CERAVOLO: The troop leaders.

Without them, I would not have the best

job in the world and so I think every

single one of you out there; thank you for

being Girl Scout volunteers.

RUSSO: And, Edith?
CERAVOLO: Edith is One Of Our

very special Stars.

She has really

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stepped up when sometimes other people have

not been able to do what she’s done and

we’re very, very grateful for her

leadership in establishing a Special,

regular after-school troop for girls.

That’s great.

RUSSO: Are there any others?
CERAVOLO: Yes. There are Six

other specific special needs troops in

Na SS au COunty .

RUSSO: Tell us. Tell uS.
CERAVOLO: There are two at

BOCES Schools, and there is one at the

Henry Viscardi School; there’s one at

Little Village, and there’s one at UCP

here in Nassau County.

RUSSO: Great organizations.
CERAVOLO: Those are all

flagship Organizations and what they do,

and all of them have Girl Scout troops

within their program, either during the

school day or after School.

RUSSO: That’s great. That is

WOnderful. Father?

STANGANELLI : This has been

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such a wonderful show, so hopeful and

inspirational.

FR . STANGANELLI : Truly. Absolutely.

Especially, I love that theme of inclusion,

and I never thought of that with

regard to the Girl Scouts, but specifically

that, All are wel COme. All are wel COme.

And I was thinking about the words of

Jesus When Jesus Said, Let the Children

come to me, and do not hinder them, for it

is to just such as these that the kingdom

of God belongs.

I think about how maybe sometimes

adults hinder children because they feel

they’re not capable, they’re not ready, or

they’re not able to do whatever they think

that children should be doing or could be

doing, and that inclusi On Of Jesus , let

them come to Me. Don’t hinder them. It is

to just such as these that the kingdom of

God does belong.

RUSSO: Sometimes parents worry

about what other people think, and it

limits them.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Or they worry

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that they can’t – – – that they’re not

capable enough to handle that Or take it On.

You have someone like Edith who says, I’m

just going to do it, and does it.

And I think my own, and I have to

give her a shout Out, because my

daughter’s troop leader, Debbie O’Gorman

gave such a special experience to my

daughter that you know, whether you think

you can or you can’t, try it. Do it. You

know, because what you give is more than

what doesn’t exist if you don’t try and

you don’t do it.

CERAVOLO: If you look at the

statistics about four to five percent Of

girls in Nassau County have Some degree of

disability at some level or another. We

have many leaders who either take the

girls on their waiting list with no

questions asked, and we have SOme leaders

who go that extra mille that who know that

child who needs to be included as Father

Said. 褒

ROBERTS-DROGIN: That’s amazing.
RUSSO: Well, thank you so much.

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Page

CERAVOLO: Thank you.
RUSSO: It’s been Wonderful to

have you give the broader perspective of

the Girl Scouts, and Edith sharing her

story and Father Tony and your remarks

were just – – – inclusion. It’s all about

inclusi On.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: So, for more

information. On the Girl Scouts, you can

certainly visit their website at

GirlScouts . Org .

RUSSO: Absolutely. I support

them.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Yes. And alSO

On your law firm website, Vincent, which is

WURuSSOLaw. Com. There’s a lot of

information about Special needs planning for

your children and also all Of the resources

from Family Comes First are on the website.

RUSSO: My personal commitment is

to continue to buy cookies and eat them.

And eat them.

ROBERTS-DROGIN: Most definitely.

Most definitely. Tagalong S . Tagalongs

and Thin Mints.

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RUSSO: All right. Thanks to all

our viewers for joining us, and remember,

family truly does come first.

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Our faith tells us we are not alone and that we travel together with OUR GOD through difficult times
—Monsignor James C. Vlaun

A Legacy of Inclusion

Special Comment from Vincent