ACHIEVE

ACHIEVE Thankfully not everyone shared this philosophy. The first programs were offered by volunteer teachers in donated space in a church basement.

ACHIEVE, a Chapter of The Arc New York, is the premier provider of services to individuals with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities in Broome, Chenango and Tioga Counties and has proudly been a part of this community for 70 years. A Brief History of ACHIEVE
More than sixty years ago it was a common practice for children with intellectual and other developmental disabilities to be placed in state institutions. Those families who chose to keep their children at home were told that their children were not eligible for and could not benefit from an education, something to which every child is entitled. Ten brave families - Walter and Kathryn Baird, Clyde and Elsie Brown, Howard and Esther Hall, Siegfried and Jane Heierman, Harry and Roye Sall, George and Josephine Sheehe, Joseph and Esther Stuckert, Robert and Annette Sturdevant, Floyd and Marian Taylor, and Glenn and Marian Young - who wanted a better life for their children joined with another group of parents in New York State to establish the Broome County Association for Retarded Children so that their children could attend school, receive an education, and lead a productive life. In September of 1952 when this organization was established, ACHIEVE's founding families started out with nothing but a common goal and dream. Parents went door-to-door to collect donations, and in a few years these passionate families were able to establish a school program and summer camp for their children and other children in the community. ACHIEVE continued to grow as we merged with the Chenango ARC in September of 2016. Our organization welcomed 400 new program participants and over 100 new employees to the ACHIEVE family. ACHIEVE’s founding families had a vision for the future. Today ACHIEVE has grown into an twenty-nine-million dollar agency operating an array of services in thirty-one facilities for more than 2,200 individuals. These families were always thinking, planning, and working, and today ACHIEVE continues to live out its mission - As a chapter of NYSARC, Inc. it is the mission of ACHIEVE to advocate for an enhanced quality of life through skill advancement, inclusion, integration, and independence of persons with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities through services provided in Broome, Chenango and Tioga Counties.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at ACHIEVE! 🧡🦃Today, we’re especially grateful for the incredible individuals we suppo...
11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at ACHIEVE! 🧡🦃

Today, we’re especially grateful for the incredible individuals we support, our dedicated staff, our families, and the community partners who help make our mission possible each and every day. Your kindness, generosity, and support strengthen our entire ACHIEVE family and allow us to continue creating opportunities for growth, inclusion, and connection.

We hope your day is filled with gratitude, warmth, and moments shared with the people who mean the most. Thank you for being a part of our community — we’re thankful for you today and always. 💛

Happy Thanksgiving! 🍁

Our Chenango Day Hab program has been busy spreading kindness and giving back all month long! 💙Our volunteers have been ...
11/26/2025

Our Chenango Day Hab program has been busy spreading kindness and giving back all month long! 💙

Our volunteers have been lending a hand each week at Rogers Conservation in Sherburne, helping care for the grounds through yard work, building maintenance, and even working on bee houses. 🐝🌿

Each week, they also volunteer at PBX Book Exchange in downtown Norwich—sorting, cleaning, organizing books, and assisting with book sales and donations. Recently, PBX staff even led a fun bookmark craft, where participants created unique bookmarks to take home and to share with future readers at the shop. 📚✨

And the giving doesn't stop there! Most recently, participants collected and delivered food to the local food pantry, helping support families in our community.

We’re so proud of the meaningful ways our participants continue to support and connect with their community. Great job, everyone! 💛

🦃 Sharing Gratitude This Holiday SeasonThis year, ACHIEVE’s Leadership Team and Employee Appreciation Committee were pro...
11/25/2025

🦃 Sharing Gratitude This Holiday Season

This year, ACHIEVE’s Leadership Team and Employee Appreciation Committee were proud to provide free turkeys to all employees across the agency as a small gesture of thanks for the incredible work our staff do every day.

We are deeply grateful to our partners at Price Chopper Supermarkets in Endicott, Chenango Bridge, and Norwich for collaborating with us and serving as convenient pick-up locations for our team.

Many employees have already picked up their turkeys and shared how meaningful this support has been. One staff member told us that the turkey they received made it possible for their family to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to this year — a reminder of how even small acts of appreciation can make a big difference.

To all of our dedicated employees: thank you for everything you do. We are grateful for you today and every day. 💙

📅 Save the Date! RSVP Today!New York Disability Advocates (NYDA) is hosting Legislative Roundtables with New York State ...
11/25/2025

📅 Save the Date! RSVP Today!

New York Disability Advocates (NYDA) is hosting Legislative Roundtables with New York State legislators, and you’re invited to join the conversation!

These regional virtual sessions will focus on the I/DD service system and NYDA’s priorities for the Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget.

Roundtables begin December 2nd and continue through the month. Please see the flyer for details on regions, dates, and times.

✔️ To RSVP for any session, visit:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfVsI59TzZqZ5t2pFxQ8TyR3p6DCaGfXlQXOm7_lSQdr2Fx2Q/viewform

Let’s come together to shape the future of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across New York State! 💙

🎁 Help us spread JOY this Holiday Season! 🎁Our Envisions site in Norwich is officially a drop-off location for this year...
11/21/2025

🎁 Help us spread JOY this Holiday Season! 🎁

Our Envisions site in Norwich is officially a drop-off location for this year’s Toys for Tots campaign in Chenango County!

If you’d like to donate, please bring new, unwrapped toys to Envisions in Norwich. Donations will be accepted now through the end of the day on December 12th.

This meaningful campaign helps ensure children who may not otherwise receive gifts can experience the joy and magic of the holiday season.

Thank you for your generosity and support—you’re helping make the season brighter for local families. ❤️

Today, we joined other advocates at the NYS Capitol to urge Governor Kathy Hochul to prioritize our community through ou...
11/18/2025

Today, we joined other advocates at the NYS Capitol to urge Governor Kathy Hochul to prioritize our community through our CareForce Affordability Agenda.

We showed the power of community and the importance of the workforce that supports people with disabilities.



The Arc New York

We’re rallying today with hundreds of advocates to encourage NYS to enact our CareForce Affordability Agenda and financi...
11/18/2025

We’re rallying today with hundreds of advocates to encourage NYS to enact our CareForce Affordability Agenda and financial protections to meet the needs of the DSPs who care for people with I/DD.



The Arc New York

✨ Building Bridges for the Future at Tioga Day Habilitation! ✨Yesterday, Tioga Day Habilitation welcomed individuals and...
11/14/2025

✨ Building Bridges for the Future at Tioga Day Habilitation! ✨

Yesterday, Tioga Day Habilitation welcomed individuals and staff from Broome Tioga Boces for the exciting launch of a new collaborative program designed to help support smooth transitions from a school setting into a day habilitation environment. This initiative gives individuals the chance to become familiar with Day Hab firsthand—building comfort, confidence, and connections as they prepare for their next chapter.

Everyone enjoyed a fun sensory craft activity that encouraged creativity, engagement, and sensory exploration while offering a glimpse into the therapeutic and meaningful experiences our program provides.

We wrapped up the visit by sharing lunch together, creating valuable opportunities for social interaction and relationship building between individuals, staff, and peers. The conversations and smiles made the day even more special.

We’re thrilled about this partnership and look forward to continuing this work to support successful, person-centered transitions. This is just the beginning of a collaboration rooted in inclusion, growth, and community. 💚💛

💙 Happy World Kindness Day! 💙At ACHIEVE, kindness is at the heart of everything we do — and today, we’re celebrating one...
11/13/2025

💙 Happy World Kindness Day! 💙

At ACHIEVE, kindness is at the heart of everything we do — and today, we’re celebrating one way that some of our participants are spreading kindness throughout our community!

This season, two of our programs are giving back by hosting holiday food drives to support local families in need. If you’d like to join us in sharing kindness, we welcome your non-perishable food donations at either of our locations:

🥫 Broome County:
Our On the Pond program is sponsoring a food drive with donation drop-off available through November 20 at our Broome Day Habilitation, 125 Cutler Pond Road, Binghamton.

🥫 Chenango County:
Our Envisions Day Hab program is sponsoring a food drive with donation drop-off available through November 21 at our Chenango Day Habilitation, 27 Griffin Street, Norwich.

Together, we can make a meaningful difference this holiday season — one act of kindness at a time. 💛

Today, we pause to honor the brave men and women who have served and sacrificed for our country. Their courage, dedicati...
11/11/2025

Today, we pause to honor the brave men and women who have served and sacrificed for our country. Their courage, dedication, and commitment to protecting our freedoms inspire us every day.

To all veterans — thank you for your service, your strength, and your unwavering devotion. We are deeply grateful for all you have done and continue to do.

🌟 A huge thank you to the Chenango County Health Department for hosting their 2nd Annual Public Health Partner Summit ri...
11/10/2025

🌟 A huge thank you to the Chenango County Health Department for hosting their 2nd Annual Public Health Partner Summit right here at ACHIEVE’s Community Event Center in Norwich!

We were honored to provide the space for such an impactful event that brings together community partners dedicated to improving health and wellbeing across Chenango County. 💚

It’s always inspiring to see collaboration in action — building a stronger, healthier community for everyone! 🏥🤝

🗳️ November’s Self-Advocacy Right of the Month: The Right to Vote! 🗳️This month, we’re celebrating the power of having a...
11/04/2025

🗳️ November’s Self-Advocacy Right of the Month: The Right to Vote! 🗳️

This month, we’re celebrating the power of having a voice and making it count. Voting is an important part of self-advocacy and civic engagement — it’s how we shape the future of our communities!

ACHIEVE’s Self Advocacy Committee meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 10:30 AM, with meeting locations rotating across counties — or join us remotely! The committee brings together individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to speak up for their rights, educate the community, and fundraise for causes that matter.

Want to get involved or learn more? Contact Kasey Hlebica, Director of Residential Operations & Self-Advocacy Coordination at khlebica1@achieveny.org! 💬

Address

4733 Vestal Parkway East
Vestal, NY
13850

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

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Our Story

It all started with a dream - a dream of ten families who wanted a better life for their children with intellectual and other developmental disabilities - who created ACHIEVE. In 1952, the first programs were offered by volunteer teachers in donated space in a church basement. Parents went door-to-door to collect donations, and in a few years these passionate families were able to establish a school program and summer camp for their children and others in the community.

Today, we continue to ACHIEVE our dreams and have grown into an agency that operates a wide array of services across thirty facilities to more than 2,200 individuals. These families were always thinking, planning and working, and today ACHIEVE continues to live out its mission - As a chapter of NYSARC, Inc. it is the mission of ACHIEVE to advocate for an enhanced quality of life through skill advancement, inclusion, integration, and independence of persons with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities through services provided in Broome, Chenango and Tioga Counties.

I welcome you to come learn more about our organization, and thank you for 60+ years of support.

Amy Howard Chief Executive Officer