July 23, 2025
Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Eachus Visit Abilities First and Legal Services of the Hudson Valley
Pictured in the first photo at the Abilities First School with Speaker Heastie is Assemblymember Chris Eachus, Chief Program Officer Mark Nace, Director of Strategic Initiatives Marcy Handler, MBA, and Dr. Michael Troeger, Abilities First Executive Drive Preschool and Straus Family Pavilion.
Pictured in the second photo at Legal Services of the Hudson Valley with Speaker Heastie is Attorney in Charge of the Goshen and Monticello offices Lucy Turner, Supervising Attorney in New Windsor Michael Kenney, CEO Rachel Chazin Halperin, Assemblymember Chris Eachus and Attorney in Charge Sarah Maida.
Speaker Carl Heastie today visited Abilities First and Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, organizations that provide vital resources for families, at the Straus Family Pavilion with Assemblymember Chris Eachus on the next leg of his annual statewide tour.
“Abilities First and Legal Services of the Hudson Valley are doing incredible work to support some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers,” Speaker Heastie said. “It’s great to be here today with Assemblymember Eachus and to see first hand how organizations in communities here in the Hudson Valley are supporting their friends and neighbors.”
“Thank you to Speaker Heastie for coming out to the Straus Family Pavilion today,” Assemblymember Eachus said. “Under one roof, Abilities First and Legal Services of the Hudson Valley are providing vital services and resources for families that need it most. We will keep working to get great organizations like these the resources they need to continue their important work.”
Speaker Heastie and Assemblymember Eachus visited Abilities First, an organization that provides disability services for children and adults, as well as their families. They serve more than 1,500 people with needs ranging from intellectual and developmental disabilities, developmental delays and learning disabilities, children and adults with autism, physical disabilities, seniors and individuals experiencing dementia, and individuals with mental health conditions. The location at the Strauss Family Pavilion is also home to the Abilities First School.
They also visited Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, which provides free legal services for those who cannot afford a lawyer. They provide services for housing rights, LGBTQ rights, Social Security and other public benefits, supporting veterans when they return home, disability advocacy and supporting survivors of domestic violence.