NORTH COUNTRY, N.Y. (WWTI) – All around New York there are people with disabilities; some of them are visible and others are invisible. However, you likely know someone who has a disability whether they are a member of your family, a friend, a coworker or even your favorite cashier; it’s important that as a community we come together to spread some understanding.
Starting off with a definition of disability, The CDC defines it as any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities and interact with the world around them.
The World Health Organization estimates that 1.3 billion people — 16% of the global population — currently have significant disabilities. According to the US Census Bureau, for Jefferson County 10.4% of the population under 65 years of age had a disability between 2017 to 2021, 10.2% in Lewis County and jumping to 11.6% in St. Lawrence County. New York however is 7.7% overall in comparison.
A full list of NY Counties’ disability percentages for those under 65 years of age between 2017 to 2021:
| NY Counties | Disability % |
| Albany County | 8.0 |
| Allegany County | 11.9 |
| Bronx County | 11.8 |
| Broome County | 12.1 |
| Cattaraugus County | 12.0 |
| Cayuga County | 10.1 |
| Chautauqua County | 13.1 |
| Chemung County | 11.5 |
| Chenango County | 14.6 |
| Clinton County | 11.8 |
| Columbia County | 9.9 |
| Cortland County | 9.6 |
| Delaware County | 12.4 |
| Dutchess County | 8.0 |
| Erie County | 9.7 |
| Essex County | 11.1 |
| Franklin County | 12.1 |
| Fulton County | 13.4 |
| Genesee County | 11.2 |
| Greene County | 9.9 |
| Hamilton County | 17.2 |
| Herkimer County | 11.8 |
| Jefferson County | 10.4 |
| Kings County (Brooklyn) | 5.8 |
| Lewis County | 10.2 |
| Livingston County | 8.8 |
| Madison County | 9.2 |
| Monroe County | 10.8 |
| Montgomery County | 11.7 |
| Nassau County | 4.9 |
| New York County (Manhattan) | 6.3 |
| Niagara County | 10.9 |
| Oneida County | 10.9 |
| Onondaga County | 9.5 |
| Ontario County | 9.9 |
| Orange County | 8.9 |
| Orleans County | 7.8 |
| Oswego County | 11.0 |
| Otsego County | 9.1 |
| Putnam County | 6.2 |
| Queens County | 5.6 |
| Rensselaer County | 10.5 |
| Richmond County (Staten Island) | 6.4 |
| Rockland County | 5.2 |
| Saint Lawrence County | 11.6 |
| Saratoga County | 7.4 |
| Schenectady County | 9.3 |
| Schoharie County | 11.9 |
| Schuyler County | 11.4 |
| Seneca County | 12.1 |
| Steuben County | 11.3 |
| Suffolk County | 6.1 |
| Sullivan County | 11.4 |
| Tioga County | 11.5 |
| Tompkins County | 7.6 |
| Ulster County | 9.9 |
| Warren County | 11.2 |
| Washington County | 11.0 |
| Wayne County | 10.7 |
| Westchester County | 5.9 |
| Wyoming County | 8.7 |
| Yates County | 8.0 |
These people are not just statistics though, they live full and active lives in our communities. They work hard and play hard just like those who are unaffected do. They are our neighbors, friends, family and coworkers; whittling them down to just a statistic is not going to solve the problem but it’s a good place to start when trying to understand the scope of those affected and who we are talking about.
What People with Disabilities want you to Know:
It’s always best to get to know people before we judge them, there’s a reason why so many after-school specials used the phrase:
“Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
Sometimes with a busy life and hectic schedule, snap judgments are made. It takes effort to break stereotypes and bring down walls of miscommunication and assumptions. A task so simple for most of us like reading can be revolutionized when a disability like blindness affects us. Timothy Monaghan, a blind advocate, sat down with us at Watertown’s Wednesday Farmers Market to give a demonstration on how to read Braille:
Disabilities associated with Mental Health disorders come with their own set of challenges as well. We sat down with some members and volunteers from the Mental Health Association, here’s what they had to say:
Services for those affected by Disabilities:
Having a disability can create a list of problems for the individual affected by said disability, The North Country has a host of services and people behind them that step up to help.
Those working in this field are dedicated to the people they serve, ABC 50 interviewed a few of these hard-working individuals. You can watch them speak down below about what they do and the people they serve.
Timothy Ruetten, Jefferson County Community Services Director:
Michelle Quinell-Gayle, Director of Community Relations for The Arc Jefferson — St. Lawrence:
Ashley Wilson, Mental Health Association Program Director:
The services that care for the North Country’s most vulnerable citizens and the people behind them are here to help. Just as there is a variety of disabilities there are a variety of services that offer assistance, from physical to mental disabilities and everything in between. Below is a list of some of the services offered in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties — if ever you find yourself in need.
Jefferson County:
| NRCIL 210 Court St. #107 Watertown, NY 13601 315-785-8703 | Watertown Behavioral Counseling & Rehab Services 95 Public Square Watertown, NY 13601 315-557-0880 |
| DPAO Corporate Office 617 Davidson Street Watertown, New York 13601 315-782-3577 | The Arc: Jefferson – St. Lawrence 380 Gaffney Drive Watertown, New York 13601 315-788-2730 |
| Cerebral Palsy Association of the North Country: Jefferson County 146L Arsenal Street Suite 8 Watertown, NY 13601 315-786-0983 | Mental Health Association in Jefferson County, Inc. 425 Washington St Watertown, NY 13601 315-788-0970 |
| Jefferson County Department of Social Services 250 Arsenal Street Watertown, NY 13601 315-785-3000 | Transitional Living Services of Northern New York 482 Black River Pkwy Watertown, NY 13601 315-782-1777 |
| Credo Community Center Treatment of Addictions/ Mental Health Clinic 595 West Main Street Watertown, NY 13601 315-788-1530 | Citizen Advocates Watertown Behavioral Health Campus 650 State St Watertown, NY 13601 315-755-1251 |
| PIVOT -Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services 167 Polk Street Suite 320 Watertown, NY 13601 315-788-4660 | Carthage Area Hospital Behavioral Health 1001 West Street Carthage, NY 13619 315-493-3300 |
| Child and Adolescent Wellness Clinic 20104 NYS Rt. 3 Watertown NY 13601 315-779-7170 | Children’s Home of Jefferson County SPOA/SPOE 1740 State Street Watertown, NY 13601 315-788-7430 |
| Community Clinic of Jefferson County 167 Polk Street Suite 300 Watertown, NY 13601 315-782-7445 | Fort Drum Behavioral Health Department Building P36 Fort Drum, NY 13601 315-772-2778 |
| River Hospital Behavioral Health 3 James Street Alexandria Bay, NY 13607 315-482-1277 |
Lewis County:
| Arc Oneida-Lewis Chapter 5349 Summit Ave Lowville, NY 13367 315-376-4739 | Northern Regional Center for Independent Living 5520 Jackson St Lowville, NY 13367 315-836-3735 |
| Disabled Persons Action 5205 Ebbly Rd Lowville, NY 13367 315-376-8327 | Community Services & Mental Health 5274 Outer Stowe St Lowville, NY 13367 Traumatic Loss Team: 315-376-9735 |
| Transitional Living of Northern New York 7550 South State St Lowville, NY 13367 315-376-5450 | Suicide Prevention Coalition 5274 Outer Stowe St Lowville, NY 13367 315-376-5453 |
| Credo Community Center 7714 Number Three Rd Lowville, NY 13367 315-376-5958 | Mountain View Prevention Services 7714 Number Three Rd Lowville, NY 13367 315-376-2321 |
| Lewis County Opportunities, Inc. 8265 State Route 812 Lowville, NY 13367 315-376-8202 |
St. Lawrence County:
| SLC Human Service Center 80 St. Hwy 310 Suite 1 Canton, New York 13617 315-386-2048 | Social Services 6 Judson Street Canton, New York 13617 315-379-2111 |
| Cerebral Palsy Association of the North: St. Lawrence County 4 Commerce Lane Canton, NY 13617 315-386-8191 | The Arc: Jefferson – St. Lawrence 6 Commerce Lane Canton, NY 13617 315-379-9531 |
| St Lawrence County YAP 3 Remington Ave Canton, NY 13617 315-379-0518 | MILC Independent Living Center 156 Center St Massena, NY 13662 315-764-9442 |
| United Helpers 10 Spruce St Ogdensburg, NY 13669 315-393-5073 | St Lawrence Nysarc Inc 415 Deviller St, Ogdensburg, NY 13669 315-393-7829 |
What can you do?
In the videos above you heard for yourself, things like kindness, respect and a little understanding can truly make a difference.
“One of the easiest ways the community can connect with people we support is to simply say hi or strike up a conversation. Taking the time to chat with someone builds the connections that truly integrate all people. Sometimes, well-meaning community members make an assumption that someone may need assistance, when the best thing to do is to ask the person what they need. Your thoughtfulness will be appreciated.”
Michelle Quinell-Gayle, Director of Community Relations for The Arc Jefferson–St. Lawrence
With more than 10% of individuals in the Tri-County area affected by a disability, it’s very likely you personally know or at least interact with someone on a regular basis, you might even be personally affected. Do we, as a society really want to treat those in our community with anything less than kindness… that is a question only you can answer. However, a quote from Doctor Who seems fitting here:
“Human progress isn’t measured by industry. It’s measured by the value you place on a life. An unimportant life. A life without privilege. The boy who died on the river, that boy’s value is your value … that’s what defines a species.”
The Doctor, portrayed by Peter Capaldi
The North Country community may not be big and flashy but there’s a lot of heart here and at the end of the day… isn’t that what’s most important?
