New York City police treated dozens of deaf and visually impaired teens to a special New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square, aiming to help them have their dreams come true. This initiative was highlighted during an announcement on Thursday.
About 50 youths, primarily in their teens to early 20s, engaged in the vibrant festivities, marking the department’s fourth annual event focused on disability inclusion, just after midnight on Thursday.
“This event is significant for the deaf community,” stated 22-year-old David Patrick Perez, who is deaf. “It lets us participate in something… It brings joy to us.”
“Being here to see the ball drop firsthand really makes a difference,” he added.
Participants ranged in age from 8 to 22, hailing from all five boroughs, and many were tied to the Lexington School for the Deaf and St. Joseph’s School for the Deaf, according to NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Community Affairs, Alden Foster. A number of these teens come from low-income families.
“It’s essential to give young individuals who are losing their sight the chance to realize their dreams by experiencing the ball drop up close,” Foster explained to the Post on Tuesday.
The initiative is also set to include deaf and visually impaired kids in events like the Thanksgiving parade and the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting, he noted.
“It’s truly heartwarming when a parent approaches and says, ‘My child has been deaf his entire life, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,'” Foster remarked.
He acknowledged the crucial support from Police Chief Jessica Tisch in making this program successful.
