Ever since its inception, ADAPT Community Network has been a family. In 1932, Jack and Ethel Hausman founded ADAPT, formerly United Cerebral Palsy of New York City. Since then, four generations of the Hausman family have contributed to the nearly century-long history of ADAPT.  

Thanks to its employee referral program, ADAPT employees often end up working alongside their friends, cousins, siblings, and even children.  

One of these examples is Stephanie White, a Habilitation Assistant who has been working at ADAPT since 2018. When her son Noah, who is on the autism spectrum, was an infant she began working as a Habilitation Assistant. “It was an easy choice to enroll my son in ADAPT’s children’s program because I knew of their great reputation” – said Stephanie.   

Stephanie’s favorite part about being a Habilitation Assistant is finding activities for the people she supports every day. She has especially loved seeing the success of some of the pop-up shops that have been run by people supported around the program at Lawrence.  

 “It’s important to understand that there are different ways of encouraging people and telling them something. Patience is the best way to navigate my job.” Stephanie said.  

Another inspirational family story is Sean and Jonathan Toth, who are siblings and Education Specialists at ADAPT. They have been working at ADAPT since 2009, and travel throughout ADAPT programs helping people supported gain their GEDs, college degrees, and the education needed to start employment.  

Together, they are working on “ADAPT’s Got Knowledge,” a Jeopardy-style competition that quizzes people supported across ADAPT programs on their general knowledge. “Having an understanding as brothers has been a major benefit to working together,”  says Sean.  

The stories of dedicated staff like Stephanie White and the Toth brothers highlight the deep connections that drive ADAPT’s mission and the lasting impact it has on people’s lives. With each passing generation, ADAPT hopes to continue promoting the values of patience, understanding, and the belief that every individual has the potential to succeed.