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NEWS & EVENTS

Discover cultural events and community activities to enjoy, including key announcements and upcoming opportunities from the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to keep you informed and engaged.

NEW YORK CITY REGION (NYC, Bronx, Manhattan) - DECEMBER 2025 & JANUARY 2026

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1. NY Botanical Garden — Holiday Train Show Sensory Friendly Mornings

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2. New York City Ballet — George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® Sensory-Friendly Performance

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3. Lincoln Center Presents — Relaxed & Accessible Performances

(Multiple events that are sensory-friendly or welcoming to neurodiverse audiences)

  • Ages: All ages (varies by show)

  • Selected Dates:

    • December 21, 2025 — Big Band Holidays: Relaxed Performance (2:00 PM & 5:30 PM)

    • January 4, 2026 — Sensory-Friendly Nutcracker (1:00 PM) — already listed above

    • January 11, 2026 — CMS Kids II Relaxed/Interactive Concerts multiple times

  • Location: Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts — various NYC theaters

  • Description: Performances with relaxed, inclusive environments (e.g., adjusted sensory conditions, supportive staff, freedom to move/take breaks), ideal for individuals with autism, sensory, communication or learning disabilities. (Lincoln Center)

  • Cost: Ticketed — prices vary by performance (some may be free or choose-what-you-pay through Passport to the Arts).

  • Booking & Calendar: https://lincolncenter.org/series/accessibility-at-lincoln-center

  • Accessibility Contact: access@lincolncenter.org | Phone: 212-875-5375 (direct access support/accommodation inquiries) (Lincoln Center)

  • Note: Lincoln Center also offers Passport to the Arts (free/accessible introductory access for people with disabilities and families). (Lincoln Center)

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4. INCLUDEnyc Fair 2026

  • Ages: Birth to 26

  • Date: January 24, 2026 • 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM

  • Location: The Shed – Tisch Skylights, 11 Hudson Yards, NYC

  • Description: Inclusive resource fair connecting families of young people with disabilities to camps, arts, sports, technology, and community programs. (INCLUDEnyc)

  • Cost: Free

  • Booking: https://includenyc.org/events/2026-includenyc-fair/

  • Accessibility Contact: Kylie Balogh — (212) 677-4650 x21 | kbalogh@includenyc.org (for accommodations/questions) (INCLUDEnyc)

  • (Spanish interpretation available at additional contact). (INCLUDEnyc)

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5. Accessible Mass & Interpretation Events (Sign Language)

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 UPSTATE & OTHER NY STATE REGIONS - DECEMBER 2025 

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6. Sensory-Friendly Santa Claus Event — Jamestown (Chautauqua County)

(Community-reported event)

  • Ages: All ages / families with children

  • Date: December 13, 2025

  • Hour: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

  • Location: Fenton History Center, Jamestown, NY

  • Description: A calm, sensory-friendly visit with Santa in a low-stress, inclusive environment — refreshments provided and a gift for every child. (Reddit)

  • Cost: Free & open to the community (Reddit)

  • Accessibility Contact: Call ahead: (716) 664-6256 (to confirm details/accommodations). (Reddit)

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7. NY Botanical Garden — Plants of the Winter Solstice Tour with ASL Interpretation (Bronx / NYC Region)

  • Ages: All ages

  • Date: December 20, 2025 • 1:00 PM

  • Location: New York Botanical Garden (Reflecting Pool meeting point)

  • Description: Garden tour with an American Sign Language interpreter, exploring historic winter solstice plant traditions. (New York Botanical Garden)

  • Cost: Admission required (ticketed) — sign up through NYBG calendar.

  • Booking: See NYBG calendar event listing.

  • Accessibility Contact: access@nybg.org — email for accommodations/interpreters. (New York Botanical Garden)

Holiday-to-Winter Events (Dec 3 – Jan 11):

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These family-friendly cultural events are generally accessible and suitable for many audiences, including inclusive design features or broad family appeal. Accessibility (ASL, relaxed experiences, captioning) varies by presenter — check event organizers for details.

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1. Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree & Plaza Viewing

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2. Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off

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3. Edge NYC x Museum of Ice Cream: Pinkmas

  • Event name: Edge NYC x Museum of Ice Cream: Pinkmas

  • Date: Through January 5, 2026(Edge NYC -)

  • Ages: All ages (children 5 and under enter free)(Edge NYC -)

  • Location: Edge NYC — 30 Hudson Yards, NY(Edge NYC -)

  • Description: A whimsical holiday art and photo exhibit combining Edge’s skydeck experience with festive Museum of Ice Cream installations — complete with oversized playful décor and ice cream treats.(Edge NYC -)

  • Cost: Admission ticket (Edge general admission required; varies by age)(Edge NYC -)

  • Information link: https://www.edgenyc.com/events/pinkmas-at-edge/ (Edge NYC -)

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4. Christmas Carousel in Greeley Square

Meetings, trainings and gatherings:

Capital Region / Hudson Valley (Albany, Hudson Valley, Taconic)

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1. OPWDD — Family Support Services (FSS) Committee — Dec 10, 2025 (in-person + regional sites + virtual)

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2. OPWDD — Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council (DDAC) — Jan 6, 2026

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New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island)

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3. OPWDD — Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Advisory Board — Jan 7, 2026

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Local community events:

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4. Manhattan Developmental Disabilities Council (meetings / local events) —

 

MDDC runs local meetings and committee events; some December meetings are listed on their site. See Manhattan DD Council events page for meeting-specific registration (often includes Zoom links). Website: https://www.manhattanddcouncil.org/ (check their Events for specific Zoom/register links). (manhattanddcouncil.org)

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Long Island

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5. AHRC (Long Island / Nassau) — Sibling Holiday Dinner — Dec 18, 2025

  • Event / RSVP: AHRC Long Island listed a Sibling Holiday Dinner (Dec 18, 2025 at Brookville Mansion) with an RSVP form on the chapter site. Event / RSVP page (AHRC Long Island): https://www.ahrc.org/ (navigate to local events / RSVP for Dec 18). (AHRC Nassau)

  • Accessibility / accommodations: AHRC event pages usually include a contact or RSVP form; to request accommodations contact AHRC Long Island directly via the chapter contact on their site (or call OPWDD Long Island regional office: 631-434-6100). (Office of Developmental Disabilities)

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Central New York / Southern Tier / Finger Lakes

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6. Regional trainings & community webinars 

  • LifePlan CCO / local provider webinars (December) — LifePlan and similar CCOs often host webinars for families (healthcare, preventive care for I/DD). Event calendar listing for December 2025 is on LifePlan’s site; see their Dec calendar for registration links. LifePlan calendar: https://lifeplanccony.com/eventscal/month/2025-12/ . (LIFEPlan CCO NY)

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  • Accessibility / accommodations: OPWDD Central NY contact: (607) 240-4900 (or Syracuse: 315-473-6980). Use these contacts to request event-specific supports. (Office of Developmental Disabilities)

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Western NY & Finger Lakes (Buffalo, Rochester, surrounding)

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OPWDD regional meeting sites (satellite for Dec 10 FSS)

  • OPWDD listed satellite in Buffalo (1021 Broadway, Room 433) for the Dec 10 FSS meeting and provides webcasting for virtual participation. If you plan to attend in Buffalo, sign in at security and request accommodations via OPWDD Western NY: 716-517-2057. (Office of Developmental Disabilities)

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Local groups

  • AHRC / local chapters and county-based Developmental Disabilities Councils host holiday gatherings and workshops — check AHRC Buffalo / AHRC Rochester pages for event RSVP and accommodation contacts (links are on the chapter sites). Example chapter hub: https://www.ahrcnyc.org/ (AHRC chapters list / events). (AHRC New York City)

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North Country

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  • OPWDD North Country office: phone 518-359-4150 (email listed on contact page). For regional events or to ask about accessible programming in Dec / Jan, contact that office; many community events in smaller counties are posted through county DD Councils or OPWDD provider pages. (Office of Developmental Disabilities)

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How to request accommodations (step-by-step — works for OPWDD and most provider events)

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  1. Check the event page for an accessibility or “Request accommodations” link. If present, use it. (OPWDD event pages often point to the ADA coordinator details.) (Office of Developmental Disabilities)      
     

  2. Email OPWDD ADA Coordinator at [email protected] (best for OPWDD events). Give: event name/date, what accommodation you need (ASL/CART, mobility access, sensory supports, large print), and contact phone/email. Two-week notice is requested when possible. (Office of Developmental Disabilities)
     

  3. If the event is run by a local chapter (AHRC, DD Council, provider) — use the chapter’s RSVP form or contact number (links on each chapter page). If you don’t see accommodation details, call the chapter and also copy OPWDD regional office for that county. (AHRC Nassau)

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