On a beautiful spring day, Giovanni “Gio” Ericco sang karaoke, listened to music, and enjoyed the annual Day Services Picnic at Eisenhower Park with approximately 300 attendees.
Sitting with Direct Support Professional Ralph Dorcy, who provides one-to-one support, Gio chatted, asked for snacks or walks, and took in the lively afternoon.
For Gio and his family, it’s a meaningful milestone made possible through a strong partnership with the Lynbrook team.
After spending several years at home, Gio began attending Day Services at Lynbrook in the fall of 2024 after his mother, Kim Ericco, decided it was the right time to revisit the service.
“He needs to get out there, to socialize and mingle with the people at program,” Kim said. “I said, ‘We’ll never know until we try!’”
For people with disabilities, Day Services offers opportunities to engage with others, explore the community, and develop valuable social skills.
To set Gio up for success, the Lynbrook team invested time in getting to know Gio—including his goals, his interests, hobbies, and support needs. Gio appreciates routine and can take time to become comfortable with new people.
Danielle Mackey, Lynbrook Site Manager, and two additional Lynbrook team members visited Gio and Kim at home, preparing him for the experience. They discussed what a typical day would like, Gio’s support needs, how he benefits from verbal prompting, and his love of VHS tapes and trips to the thrift store. They also explained how all of it could be incorporated into his routine.
When Gio started, he only attended Day Services one day a week.
“Then, gradually, we increased the days,” Kim said. “After a few months, they increased to three days.”
Since attending Day Services, Kim has found Gio’s better at expressing himself. When the summer months come around, Gio will be quick to tell his mother, “You know, it’s getting hot outside, and the pool has to go up. I want to go swimming.”
He still appreciates structure but has become more flexible and loves spending time with Dorcy. Together the pair go to MyUnique Thrift to search for new VHS tapes that pique Gio’s interests. They visit museums, attend festivals, and sometimes they sit together to enjoy the park.
A daily activity at the Lynbrook site is their end-of-day share. Gio’s grown especially fond of it. During that time, he can talk about his trips and the new VHS tapes he’s purchased. As people engage in different activities throughout the day, gathering for an end of day builds relationships and shared interests through conversation. It also ties directly into Gio’s goals.
Currently, Gio is thriving in Day Services and maintains a schedule of three days per week— with more days being considered for the future. For now, the focus remains on consistency and giving Gio the confidence to explore more of his world.
“I feel very proud that my team was able to help him be more social,” Danielle said. “We are more than happy to have him at program with us.”