CPC Hosts 4th Annual Queens Special Needs Summer Picnic
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
Date: August 24, 2024
Press Contacts:
Alice Du, Director of Communications | (212) 792-4585 | adu@cpc-nyc.org
CPC Hosts the 4th Annual Queens Special Needs Summer Picnic
New York, NY – The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) hosted its annual Queens Special Needs Summer Picnic, bringing together over 300 staff members and special-needs families for a fun-filled day of food, games, activities, useful resources, and meaningful connections at the Queens Botanical Garden. The event also presented findings from the New York Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Special Needs Survey, which highlighted the challenges faced by individuals with developmental disabilities and their caregivers. These challenges included obstacles to accessing services such as homecare, transportation support, public assistance, and benefits.
FAIR, a parent-led initiative advocating for AAPI individuals with developmental disabilities, spearheaded the survey with support from CPC and Dr. Xinwei Zhang of Teachers College at Columbia University.
The comprehensive survey, conducted from August 25 to November 6, 2023, included 227 respondents. Notable barriers identified included a lack of information, with 62.8% of individuals with developmental disabilities who did not already receive needed services not knowing where to find relevant information; the complexity of application processes, cited by 60.5% who found the application procedures overly time-consuming; extensive wait times, with 32.6% facing prolonged waits for services and sometimes inadequate follow-up from providers; and language barriers, affecting nearly 90% of caregivers and 60% of individuals with developmental disabilities who reported limited English proficiency.
“This is the 4th year we are holding the Special Needs Summer Picnic at Queens Botanical Garden. This annual event continues to gain momentum and popularity each year. It has become a significant occasion for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families within the local Chinese community,” said Jacqueline Fan, CPC Program Director of Queens Special Needs. “It is great to see more Chinese individuals with developmental disabilities and their families engaging in community events like this to build meaningful relationships with friends, family, and others in their community. The event provides opportunities for them not only to have fun but also to engage actively as volunteers and advocates.”
CPC Queens Special Needs program provides a wide range of services, including family support, respite care, Medicaid service coordination, and individual residential alternatives. The picnic serves as a key social event where special needs participants and families come together to foster meaningful connections within their community and become informed about the resources available to them.
“The NYS Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD) is pleased to recognize and thank the CPC for the crucial work it is doing to increase access to information and supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families in ways that align with their linguistic and cultural traditions,” said Kristin Proud, CDD Executive Director. “As a longtime partner on various CDD projects, including two current projects – Family Employment Awareness Training (FEAT) and the Bilingual Coordinator Program – we want to join CPC and community members in celebrating this vital work at the Annual Queens Special Needs Summer Picnic.”
The event's success was made possible by the continued support and generosity of our partners and sponsors, including National Financial Network, Coalition of Asian-American IPA, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, Royal Care, and volunteers, especially Voya Financial’s corporate volunteer team and Queens Botanical Garden.
Press Coverage: Sing Tao Daily, World Journal, NYN Media, and Queens Gazette.
