Assembly Resolution No. 2426

BY: M. of A. Lupardo

CONGRATULATING Maria Dibble upon the occasion of
her retirement after 40 years of devoted service as
Executive Director of the Southern Tier Independence
Center

WHEREAS, Individuals and organizations devoted to improving the
quality of life for others, enabling them to build lives of dignity and
self-worth are deserving of the highest praise and recognition; and

WHEREAS, From time to time, society calls upon these individuals and
organizations to be recognized for the significance of their
contributions and efforts to assist others in developing the skills
necessary to be successful, productive citizens; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate Maria
Dibble upon the occasion of her retirement after 40 years of devoted
service to the Southern Tier Independence Center; and

WHEREAS, With a steadfast and unwavering commitment to serving
individuals with disabilities, Maria Dibble co-founded the Southern Tier
Independence Center (STIC) with Frank Pennisi in 1983; and

WHEREAS, Under the able leadership of Maria Dibble, STIC, an
Independent Living Center serving children and adults with all types of
disabilities, promotes the independence, integration, and inclusion of
people with disabilities in all aspects of community life including
employment, recreation, housing, education, volunteering, and civil
responsibilities; and

WHEREAS, STIC also provides support, consultation, training and
services to families, businesses, agencies, and others within the local
community; and

WHEREAS, Completely blind from birth, Maria Dibble has experienced
the discrimination and false assumptions people make when meeting a
person with a disability, underestimating what they can do, or even
completely dismissing it; nevertheless, she was integrated into regular
schools as a child, and is a graduate of Binghamton University; and

WHEREAS, This extraordinary woman understands the issues faced by
children and their families; she vowed as a teen to somehow have an
impact on the lives of people with disabilities, by changing attitudes,
and working to remove barriers to inclusion and acceptance; and

WHEREAS, STIC has helped her to achieve these goals; since its
inception, this vital organization has grown from a grant of $100,000
and four staff, to a budget of $17 million and approximately 750
employees, all dedicated to the independence of people with
disabilities, and advocating for their civil and economic rights; and

WHEREAS, Maria Dibble was on the front lines in Washington during
the battle for passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); she
took momentum from the ADA's passage and used it to advance key

components of the Independent Living mission, including
deinstitutionalization, supported employment, and Consumer Directed
Personal Assistance (CDPA); and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, she was a leader in the Association on
Independent Living, and was appointed to the New York State Independent
Living Council (NYSILC) board of directors and served as chair in the
early 2000s; and

WHEREAS, In 2004, after realizing a lack of services for people who
have both mental health challenges and developmental disabilities, Maria
Dibble mobilized the resources of STIC to create the Children's Mental
Health Task Force and address this gap in services by fostering
collaboration among voluntary and government agencies, schools, and care
providers; and

WHEREAS, Under her direction, the task force created action steps
for the near and long-term future, and generated a dozen detailed
recommendations to address the issue; among Maria's many
accomplishments, this one stands out, truly demonstrating the reach of
her efforts, illustrating her willingness to tackle complex and
challenging issues, and proving her ability to bring a diverse group
together for a common purpose; and

WHEREAS, Widely respected for her advocacy work, Maria Dibble was
inducted into the New York State Disability Rights Hall of Fame in 2019;
and

WHEREAS, Not only has Maria Dibble brought about change locally,
statewide, and nationally, she has also inspired and mentored several
generations of advocates, each of whom have gone on to work for change
and inspire others to do the same; this ripple effect ensures
individuals with disabilities in Broome County and beyond will feel the
impact of Maria's work for generations to come; and

WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the occurrence of such a compassionate
blending of strength, leadership, intellect, and commitment as that
demonstrated by Maria Dibble over a lifetime of sacrifice and dedication
to others; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Maria Dibble upon the occasion of her retirement, and to
wish her well in all her future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Maria Dibble.