Bellmore Resident Wins Women of Distinction Award

Patricia Birbiglia, a resident of Bellmore, has received the 19th Assembly District’s “Women of Distinction” Award for 2012.

The Award pays tribute to the extraordinary efforts made by women to make our community a safer, better place to live. Birbiglia is the Director of Transition and Placement Services at Abilities, Inc. at The Viscardi Center where she has been employed for 30-plus years. She began her career assisting senior citizens and adults with disabilities in securing competitive employment and later shifted her efforts to working with the youth community. 

Birbiglia is one of the most respected people in the field of transitional services and has developed, implemented and expanded numerous programs that have transformed the lives of thousands of individuals with disabilities. They include PROSPER, a  retention attendance program designed for youth with and without disabilities attending local high schools who have been identified as at risk of achieving graduation success as well as a school to work transition program that is utilized by over 20 school districts in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Highly successful, over 80 percent of those students who complete the programs attend college, enroll in vocational training or secure employment opportunities. The basis of these programs is for students to gain an understanding of the relevancy of education as it relates to the world of work.  

In recent years, a variety of circumstances, including a tragic auto accident and a fight to survive pancreatic cancer has given Pat a different perspective on the field she has become a leader, mentor and advocate for. Through her own permanent disability, Birbiglia knows firsthand that a disability should never hold someone back from reaching high, realizing dreams and to never give up.  

“Pat Birbiglia has been a very important and key staff member," said Jessica Swirsky, President and Chief Operating Officer, Abilities, Inc. at The Viscardi Center. "She is deeply committed to her work, and through her direct efforts, has helped to place people with disabilities of all ages and levels of employment, as well as develop and direct our transition/school to work programs which have flourished under her guidance and support. Despite illness and trauma in her personal life, she has persevered beyond what many thought was humanly possible. The respect we all have for her, personally and professionally, is enormous.”  

Birbiglia is an active member of several professional organizations, including the New York State Rehabilitation Association’s School Partnership Committee as well as the Nassau Placement Network (Treasurer), Nassau County Mental Health Association (Taskforce Executive Member), Schools Administrators/Gang Awareness, LIFT for Kids and MADD. She also created an organizational-wide Adopt a Family initiative at The Viscardi Center to support families of adults and children with disabilities. 

Have you ever worked with Birbiglia? Tell us in the comments below.