K 314: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Institute for Child Development

 Assembly Resolution No. 314 BY: M. of A. Lupardo COMMEMORATING the 50th Anniversary of the Institute for Child Development WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to those organizations of high purpose and worthy accomplishment whose endeavors have faithfully served the welfare of the youth of the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Institute for Child Development; and WHEREAS, In October 1974, the Institute for Child Development (ICD) was founded on the campus of Binghamton University and encompassed the Children's Unit for Learning Disabilities and the Children's Unit for Treatment and Evaluation, which was created in 1975, within the Department of Psychology; and WHEREAS, The mission of ICD is to improve the quality of life for autistic and neurodivergent individuals, their families, and communities through excellence in the provision of high-quality, person-centered, evidence-based, and innovative practice, education, and research; and WHEREAS, In 1977, due to the growing demand for services, the New York State Legislature passed Bill 5911-A to grant special status to Binghamton University to operate the Children's Unit for Treatment and Evaluation as a school that was approved by the State Education Department; and WHEREAS, The Institute's service, training, and research components expanded steadily for several years; fewer than a dozen local children received services from the units, and funding was unstable, becoming a crisis and threatening the cessation of the program; and WHEREAS, However, this small group of families, whose children were receiving services, successfully obtained the assistance of New York State Legislators to establish a unique dual status to allow programmatic funding; with the continued strong support of families, the University's administration, the region's school districts, and numerous agencies and professionals, the programs have increased in size and complexity over the years; and WHEREAS, Demand for services continued, and in 2013, the acceleration of existing and new programs at the Institute commenced; daily, children and families have come to the Institute from a 100-mile radius, and inquiries about admission to ICD's programs have come from all areas of the United States and other countries; and WHEREAS, Annually, ICD serves 300 families and sponsor-significant public education and support activities for families and professional service providers in the region; workforce preparation activities include undergraduate, graduate, post-doctoral, and interdisciplinary programs of study; the Institute is nationally recognized as a model program that develops and implements sophisticated and effective services for which demand far exceeds capacity; and WHEREAS, Some of the current programs of the Institute include the Binghamton Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, the Child & Adolescent Diagnostic & Consultation Clinic, the Partnering with Autistic and Neuro-Divergent Adults (PANDA) Program, and the Advancing Autism Research Through Collaboration, Education, and Support (AACES) Group; and WHEREAS, The success of the Institute for Child Development is in direct correlation to the efforts of its members, whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individuals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Institute for Child Development and to honor its members, past and present, who have labored so conscientiously to secure and improve the quality of life for the youth of the community; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Institute for Child Development.