News Flash • Southampton Town Disability Advisory Taskforce

On Saturday, November 1, 2025, the Town of Southampton Disability Advisory Taskforce hosted its Second Annual Resource Fair from Noon- 3:00 PM at the Hampton Bays Community Center.

The Town is pleased to announce this event drew approximately 70 individuals. Among them were families and caregivers from across the East End area, including the North Fork and Brookhaven, who came to learn more about a wide range of services, programs, and support networks dedicated to children and adults with special needs, with over a dozen informational tables hosted by local organizations, advocacy groups, and state providers.

From Noon – 1 PM, the event started with a welcoming message by Councilmember Michael Iasilli. “Local government can act as an intermediary between residents seeking assistance and the spate of services that are available here in Southampton. It can be overwhelming at times for families, but that is why the Town’s Disability Taskforce does this work,” he said.

Two seminar presentations were offered, one by the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), offering insights into their programs and application process, supports and services. The other was presented by Self-Initiated Living Options (SILO) titled “The review and development of documentation to support eligibility with OPWDD and the Social security Administration for SSI.” Both organizations play a critical role in supporting and promoting the rights of local individuals with disabilities on a state and federal level.

Thanks to Hampton Bays School District Superintendent Lars Clemensen, the High School sent volunteer students to help attendees with bilingual services and informational assistance. Some of which included information about the participating organizations, Braille cards, and the Town’s Resource Guide published last year (in both Spanish and English). The Town of Southampton Disability Taskforce continues to remain committed to enhance quality of life for Southampton Town residents and visitors seeking special needs services and this is just one of the many ways the Town is supporting the community.

Councilmember Iasilli added, “the muscle behind this event truly is Jamie Bowden, our Town’s Community Organization specialist, who works tirelessly to organize this event, ensuring we get helpful organizations that can make a difference in people’s lives.” Next year, the Town looks forward to expanding its efforts by welcoming even more participants with the aim of becoming a cornerstone event for Southampton residents. Additional information can be found on the Town’s website: