Mary Cariola Center

04/17/2026

Our staff is talented, and not just at caring for our students 🌟. Wednesday we held a staff talent show where students and fellow staff members danced along to beautiful singing 🎶 listened to masterful musicians 🎹 and were wowed by elegant acrobatics 🩰.

04/16/2026

This month's Mary Cariola Radio Show is all about growth and acceptance! 🌼 We'll be talking about Cariola's newly appointed Chief Operating Officer, the ways Mary Cariola supports career growth, the importance of Autism Acceptance month, and a new author's creative journey. Tune in tonight at 7:00 PM on WYSL!

If you miss it, you can listen to the podcast starting Friday at https://www.marycariola.org/media-room-press-releases

04/15/2026

We were excited to welcome the URMC Pediatric Pulmonary team to our clinic space this week! Their visit is an important step toward bringing pediatric pulmonology push‑in visits directly to our students. We’re looking forward to expanding access and supporting the health needs of our kids right here on campus. 💙

04/13/2026

Thank you Jonathan and the Eastman School of Music for sharing this article on our ongoing partnership with Eastman's Music Teaching and Learning department! We love being able to provide hands-on experience working with our students and meeting the needs of every individual. Please give it a read!

At the Mary Cariola Center, Eastman students discover how music can support learning, connection, and joy in unexpected ways.

04/10/2026

We were honored to welcome our Leadership Donors for an inspiring evening of connection and impact. Friends of the Agency experienced a “day in the life” of a Cariola student through hands-on activities and classroom demonstrations, offering a meaningful glimpse into how our work helps students build the skills and confidence they need to thrive.

President/CEO Karen Zandi also shared a heartfelt State of the Agency, highlighting the incredible impact of our donors’ generosity and the opportunities that Marketplace Mall would provide as a new school campus — made possible through the generosity of Tom Golisano and the support of Governor Hochul.

We are deeply grateful to all who believe in our mission. Your generosity is transforming lives.

04/10/2026

Shoutout to our powerhouse Occupational Therapists and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants — turning challenges into breakthroughs and making every little movement matter.... every day! 💛💙

04/09/2026

Mark you calendars for this great opportunity to learn more about Lifetime Assistance Inc . RSVP required.

04/08/2026

We had a wonderful performance by HANDS Winds from .school today. Staff and students loved every minute, especially when they were able to get up close and personal – and the group took audience requests! Thanks to the musicians and to Eastman for their “Music for All” community engagement initiative.

04/08/2026

Harry's Story Part 2!
It was a breakthrough wrapped in a Happy Meal. Harry, who usually sticks to the drive‑thru, walked into McDonald's , with his bottle return money, and settled at a table with his staff like it was no big deal — except it was a big deal. A massive one.

Even when his communication device died, staff pivoted to the McDonald's picture menu and kept the momentum going. And the McDonald's team member — the same wonderful woman who’s helped our Cariola community before — was all in. Patient, upbeat, and ready to take Harry's fry order.

Ba da Bah Bah Bah… this moment deserves its own commercial and we're lovin it! Huge thanks to our amazing staff and our friends at McDonald’s for making this golden moment at the Golden Arches possible. 🍟🍟🍟💫💪

04/08/2026

Her life as an artist took an unexpected turn when her son’s autism journey pushed her to become an author and an advocate. Our Guest Blogger, Teacher Assistant Dani Dietterick , reveals the raw beginnings — the questions, the pushback, and the moment she realized their story could help other families feel less alone. It's our April Blog. Please give it a read.!

I had started teaching baby sign language when he was very small and he took to it well. Since he didn’t speak, I just kept going. Eventually I decided he would need to know the ASL (American Sign Language) alphabet, not just signs, so I began drawing the hand shapes with objects he could recogniz...

04/07/2026

Save the Date. Discover resources and make connections. This is the Resource Fair for YOU!

04/07/2026

Students at our East Henrietta campus enjoyed a performance yesterday by the .school French Horn Quartet-Earth, Wind, & Geyer 📯 FACT! Carl Geyer was a German-American brass instrument maker known for his craftsmanship in French Horns! Thanks for the visit…you blew us away with your talent. 📯💫