This year’s Willowbrook Annual Lecture is entitled “Opening the Doors to Higher Education to Students with Developmental Disabilities.” The event marks the 17th discussion in this informative series coordinated by leading scholar and Willowbrook historian Dr. David Good, and presented at the College of Staten Island.

“This year’s program highlights CSI’s dedication to students with developmental disabilities in a new way,” said Goode. “We are proud of our long-running Creative Exchange program, which has given classes to even students who used to live at Willowbrook, but the Melissa Riggio program is another new attempt to include students with developmental disabilities in our campus life. It’s obviously something that is both appropriate and important for our College.”

The Lecture, scheduled for April 30 in the Archives & Special Collections of the CSI Library at 4:00pm, will feature a discussion of the Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program.

Presenters include: Dr. Carole Gothelf, Director of Individualized Supports, AHRC New York City, and Matthew Weiler, Program Director, the Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program, AHRC.

Three students enrolled in the program, Blake Eagel, Kristin Thatcher, Eric Goldberg, will be featured speakers at the events, while two others, Michael Iacono and Christian Gordon, have prepared written statements that will be handed out. These outstanding students will be joined at the event by their parents. Faculty members who participate in the program will also present.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information call 718.982.2310.

The Willowbrook Annual Lecture will be held in the CSI Archives & Special Collections on April 30.