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Wednesday, 1st 2004f September 2004
His mental capabilities still do not allow him to mend for himself. His vocabulary is limited, but with great enthusiasm confirms that he is from Puerto Rico and "caborrojeño." As one of the students attending Manhattan Day Services, a social service school for 220 adults with disabilities, Justo has had great advances. Justo " whose last name was asked to be kept confidential " works now as a volunteer at the child care center, sorting the mail and doing laundry.
"It"s difficult to predict up to what Justo can go. Before he did not want to be at the center and did not tolerate to be given orders. Now he helps a lot more," said Domingo Hernández, a Puerto Rican that serves as a liaison between clients and stu dents of the Manhattan Day Services, and was the person that received the Puerto Rican delegation yesterday.
The objective of the Manhattan Day Services social programs " a subsidiary of YAI/The National Institute for People with Disabilities " is to promote independence among people with disabilities, allow them to create relationships with others that have the same situations y, if possible, help them to eventually get a job, said Steve Freeman, executive director of the center.
The visit by the republicans from Puerto Rico to the social center coincided with "Compassion With America" day promoted by the republican convention.
Manhattan Day Services provides services to a 40% Hispanic population. YAI has a social center in Puerto Rico: "el Instituto Internacional para Personas Discapacitadas."
The Manhattan Project is financed by Social Security Supplement. In Puerto Rico, where there is no access to such funding, it depends on state funding and was started under Pedro Rossello"s government, stated Zoraida Fonalledas, National Committeewoman for the Republican Party, board member of the local organization and someone that has a 22 year daughter, Rosamar, who has become a local "artesana" despite her disability.
KATHY CHARDÓN, wife of the Republican Party Secretary, Carlos Chardon, is also a board member of the local organization and was part of the Puerto Rican delegation that visited the Manhattan Day Services. The delegation also included Luis Fortuño, candidate for Resident Commissioner, and mayor of Yauco, Abel Nazario.
"All the delegations where doing community service today," said Fortuño.