Spotlight: On Your Mark in Staten Island and Brooklyn

Welcome to Broadway Stages’ Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. We encourage our readers to join us in supporting these establishments and advancing local economic growth. Today, we feature an organization the provides much needed services to people with disabilities. 

On Your Mark (OYM) provides innovative and comprehensive community-based service to people with developmental and intellectual disabilities across their lifespan. They have been serving in Staten Island and Brooklyn since 1979. They serve children and adults with a variety of diagnoses, including intellectual disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and neurological impairments. 

OYM encourages individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve their highest level of independence in the community, regardless of the type or severity of their disability. They believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live as enjoyable and productive a life as possible. 

OYM is committed to helping individuals experience the highest quality of life possible by providing person-centered programs. Their programs promote community and social inclusion, health and fitness, daily activity participation, independence, self-empowerment, and productivity.

Over 400 people use OYM’s Respite Services. While their family members experience a moment of downtime, participants acquire new skills and experiences. Similarly, Camp Chill Away offers On Your Mark family and friends a place to have weekend getaways. OYM also provides Residential services for over 100 individuals with a wide range of disabilities in certified residences and over 10 individuals in non-certified apartments. 

On Your Mark’s Clinical Services department consists of a multidisciplinary team with full-time registered nurses available 24/7, behavioral intervention specialists, licensed mental health counselors, and social workers.

With an eye on community inclusion, OYM’s Day Habilitation services help individuals acquire, retain, or improve their self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills, including communication, travel, and other areas in adult education. Another phase of their services is Community Habilitation. These services assist individuals in acquiring, retaining, and improving the self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills necessary to reside successfully in their homes and engage in community-based activities.

OYM owns and operates 6 businesses that employ our individuals to achieve the highest level of independence in the community. Working in these businesses can teach transferable skills that prepare participants for success. These businesses are On Your Mark Café, On Your Mark Chocolatiers, Novel-Tees By On Your Mark, Exceptional Creations, On Your Mark Vending Services, and On Your Mark Snack Zone at the Staten Island Children’s Museum.

With the skills individuals gain in the in-house businesses, they can enter Community Employment. The Employment Services Department provides job-skills training, resume development, interview preparation, application assistance, and intensive job coaching to people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities(I/DD) who wish to obtain and maintain competitive employment.

If you know of someone who would benefit from these services, they can apply for services HERE. If you would like to support On Your Mark and their work, you can donate HERE. Also, you can stay informed and find inspiration in their work by following them on Instagram and Facebook.

On Your Mark encourages greater expectations, provides new challenges, and promotes real accomplishments. They are an inspiration to us all and we wish them all the best in the new year!