Home  Chamber News Rocky Point/Sound Beach Scoop Town of Brookhaven Wheel Chair Athletic Program, Apr-07-2006, 2:53 PM Rocky Point/Sound Beach Scoop By Liz Mansfield Help a person or two get what they need to lead a full and rewarding life. Although I am the Rocky Point columnist, this article also includes information about the Town of Brookhaven. Six or so years ago, when Michael Poveromo was president of the Council of Dedicated Merchants (CDM) Chamber of Commerce, a man in a wheelchair named John Cortez came to his office seeking assistance to get the business community involved with the disabled population of Brookhaven. John's business — based in Selden — was known as On the Move. His presentation on the development of an athletic program that would help people in wheelchairs get back into the workforce, by gaining the confidence needed through athletic participation, was so far-fetched that Michael just had to take John up on the challenge he was presenting. With the authority at his disposal to involve the CDM Chamber of Commerce, and the assistance of a great board of directors at the time, they went to work with John on building a wheelchair-athletics sports program. Their early-day efforts to gain support for the program started by knocking on doors of local school supervisors, trying to find gym space for wheelchair basketball games. The idea of giving up gym space for disabled people to play ball was almost impossible to sell. Many doors closed before they even considered the real value of the program. They then went about it a different way! The chamber had a website that was linked to many tour and travel sites, local civic associations, and "shop local" programs. They had handicapped-accessible shopping icons attached to businesses that offered services for disabled people so that they could shop locally. Working hand in hand with their advisor, John, they generated one of the first sites that made shopping easier for the disabled, using their home or office computer. The website started to increase business for local merchants and notoriety with the disabled community. With this information on the web, John and Michael went back into the school district offices with the hands-on visibility at their fingertips and with the assistance of the Mount Sinai School District giving up some of its slotted gym space, wheelchair athletic basketball was "On the Move." At the time, writing to Supervisor LaValle, getting town officials involved in playing a game of wheelchair basketball, having meetings with John Cortez, and a lot of shoe leather spent knocking on doors, Supervisor LaValle adopted the CDM-sponsored program and made it into a Brookhaven Town Wheelchair Athletic Program. Since its inception in 2002, Brookhaven Wheelchair Athletics has brought disabled people back into the workforce. It gives people with disabilities the spirit of accomplishment and, most important, it is helping John Cortez reach more people with disabilities to get involved. The program does not cost a disabled person one penny to get involved! The program does not cost the Town of Brookhaven taxpayers money because it is funded by donations from the business community, grants from various governmental branches, and money earmarked for disabled programs. John Cortez is the director of the Town of Brookhaven program and is a super activist for the disabled community. He continually builds on the program and services provided to the disabled community. Call or e-mail John for more information at 451-6992. My shout out this week goes to John Cortez and the great work of the Council of Dedicated Merchants! If you have a Rocky Point/Sound Beach scoop e-mail the story to Ms. Liz Mansfield North Shore Sun superstar100859@yahoo.com [ external link ] Go Back