After 20 years of dedicated service, ADAPT Community Network bids a heartfelt farewell to our Vice President of Clinical Services, Laura DeCarlo, as she begins her well-earned retirement. Throughout her remarkable career, Laura played an instrumental role in shaping and expanding healthcare services across the organization, leaving a lasting impact on both staff and our people supported.
Laura’s connection to the disability services field began long before her time at ADAPT. As a teenager, her first introduction came by volunteering at a summer camp for kids with special needs. From there, she worked her way up at organizations like the Rose Kennedy Center and the Bronx Developmental Center. She eventually found her way to ADAPT, where she worked as a dental hygienist providing direct dental care.
After several years here , she stepped away to focus on her family, but that did not stop her eventual return. In 2006, she returned as Clinic Administrator and later became Vice President of Clinic Services.
Several years had passed since her first tenure, and upon her return, she found the new changes happening at ADAPT revolutionary. Healthcare services had expanded significantly, and she was excited for what lay ahead.
During her time at ADAPT, Laura and her team consistently worked to improve and innovate clinical services, including expanding dental programs and establishing women’s health services. They also secured grants to further enhance and grow these offerings, all while staying committed to providing high-quality healthcare for our people supported. Beyond helping to build and improve clinic facilities, Laura played a key role in breaking down barriers and advancing the overall quality of care.
“I am just a piece of the puzzle. I know it sounds cliche, but it takes a village to provide care for the people we support, and in clinic, it takes an entire team,” she shares.
“I’m really proud of my staff. I can’t say enough about them. To provide that kind of service to a population that has even more challenges is wonderful.”
One of the things Laura cherishes most is the lasting relationships she built throughout her career. Having worked in disability services for decades, she has watched many of our people supported grow over the years.
“Some of the people at ADAPT, I’ve known them for over 40 years” she recalled. “Some were in our Pre-School Program, and now they’re in our Adult Day Programs.”
Reflecting on her time at ADAPT, Laura is most proud that, despite the many roadblocks and challenges facing healthcare, ADAPT continuously provides quality healthcare services to the people we support.
It has also been incredibly meaningful for her to witness the broader changes taking place not only within ADAPT but across the disability rights movement as a whole. As someone who remembers Willowbrook, she reflects on the tremendous progress in disability rights and advocacy.
“People with developmental disabilities are their own individuals, and we can’t lead their lives for them. They don’t want to have somebody telling them what they want, where they should go, or what they should do. Just giving people a sense of exploring who they are, has been remarkable.”
As she prepares to depart from ADAPT, she admits to having “all the feelings,” but she feels ready to embark on new adventures. She leaves knowing that the ADAPT clinics are in a strong position and is excited to see the continued success and growth of ADAPT’s healthcare services.
“The clinic has so much potential to expand beyond even the ID/D population. We have expertise here that we could really expand to other populations – the elderly, veterans, and more. Whatever it is, I think our expertise lends us to expand, so, I’m hoping, somebody picks up that and runs with it.”
Laura’s commitment extends beyond her role at ADAPT, as evidenced by her longstanding service as Chair of the Interagency Council, and the Cerebral Palsy Association of NYS Clinic Committees. Over the years, she played a vital role in these committees, contributing her expertise to enhance the quality of care and services provided by ADAPT while helping keep the organization connected to developments within the industry.
While Laura’s presence will be deeply missed, her legacy of compassion, leadership, and advocacy will continue to shape ADAPT for years to come. We thank her for her extraordinary dedication and wish her nothing but happiness in her retirement.
