Mary Cariola receives grant for language barrier program

The Mary Cariola Center will receive a nearly $82,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation for its project “Eliminating Language Barriers.”

The grant will bridge the communication gap between non-English speaking or deaf parents and children.

“As the United States becomes more and more diverse, so do the languages we speak. Today, more than 25 million Americans speak English ‘less than very well,’ according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Mary Cariola Center is no exception, serving a very diverse community, many of whom come from non-English speaking or Deaf families,” said Mary Cariola President and CEO Karen Zandi. “Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are recognized as an underserved population that experiences significant disparities in health care, therapy sessions and in education. Couple that with a non-English speaking parent or caregivers (and) the challenges become even more significant. It is an honor to have been awarded this grant, and the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation has the appreciation of everyone at Mary Cariola.”

One way in which the encounters can be improved is through better communication practices with the student or patient and their family or caregiver, Mary Cariola officials noted. Effective doctor, therapist and educational communication is essential for establishing stable student/patient and parent relationships and working to eliminate disparities faced by individuals with developmental disabilities.

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization in New York City with the mission to improve the health and well-being of the vulnerable New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of targeted communities, eliminate barriers to care and bridge gaps in health services.

Mary Cariola Center is an independent, nonprofit agency operating a school and six residential homes for children, youth and young adults with multiple, complex needs and medical issues. The organization serves more than 450 students from 52 school districts and 11 counties.

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