NOVEMBER 2020 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 33
RACHEL GROSS
SPECIAL NEEDS INFLUENCER
Working to dispel the notion that people
with disabilities live depressing
lives is Rachel Gross, an advocate,
blogger, and entrepreneur from Plainview
who happens to have a rare
form of congenital muscular dystrophy
called nemaline rod myopathy.
While the diagnosis leaves her wheelchair
bound because her muscles
are extremely weak, the 24-year-old
remains quick-witted and passionate
about beauty, fashion, advocating
for people with disabilities, and
everything in between. Through
her website, Rizzyray.com, she’s
recruited a group of young women
with disabilities to mentor others in
similar circumstances. And on her Instagram
account, she offers makeup
tips and sells uplifting merchandise,
in addition to posting inspirational
videos on TikTok.
“With my blog and shop, I hope that
I can shed some light on what life is
like living with a disability and to
shut down some of the stigma surrounding
it, because in all honesty,
it isn’t so bad,” she wrote. “Having a
disability isn’t all sad, dreary, and full
of struggle. It can also be beautiful,
and fun, and exciting!”
Caused by a gene mutation, nemaline
rod myopathy has an estimated
incidence of 1 in 50,000 individuals,
according to the U.S. National Library
of Medicine. While there are variations
that impact people differently,
in Gross’ case, she lives with her parents
and relies on personal assistants
to live independently.
But like any other 20-something-yearold,
she is just trying to live her best
life, sharing her story, and connecting
with people.
“I hope this blog inspires you to live
your best life, no matter the circumstances,”
she wrote. “And I hope to
encourage others with disabilities to
never give up, even when things seem
impossible — and don’t let anyone tell
you ‘no!’”
-TB
Rachel Gross
ADVERTORIAL
Autism Services Agency Opens New Clinic
Achieve Beyond, founded in 1995, has
spent these 25 years ensuring that children
with special needs get the help and support
they need through pediatric therapy and
Autism services. Established in New York,
Achieve Beyond offers Early Intervention,
SEIT, CPSE, and insurance based ABA and
speech services. They have expanded to provide
services throughout Long Island, New York
City, Hudson Valley, and Albany. Achieve
Beyond also provides services in New Jersey,
Connecticut, Maryland, Delaware, Florida,
Virginia, and California.
“We believe that all children have potential.
We are guided by the mission to support
children with special needs to Achieve Beyond
their current abilities. We are always striving
for continuous improvement by setting goals
and measuring performance. It is the reason
we will succeed together.”
Their mission and dedication have been
especially prevalent throughout this time of
crisis. Tara Karen, M.S. Ed, BCBA, LBA, the
Clinical and Operations Director of Achieve
Beyond’s insurance programs describes how
Achieve Beyond was able to help their families:
“Our therapists and administrative staff are
so dedicated to our amazing clients and their
families. We were able to work quickly during
the beginning of COVID-19 to transfer some
of our children to tele-therapy while also safely
having in-home and in-office ABA therapy for
our children. This really helped out our families
who found themselves facing new challenges
with quarantine. We also were able to create
free resources and webinars for our therapists
and families to help them with the transition,
and I’m so incredibly proud of our therapists
and staff for this.”
She then describes their latest venture: “We
have been building up our services on Long
Island for the past five years and it was our
dream to be able to one day open a clinic in
NY. We started the process of opening a clinic
before COVID-19 and have really pushed hard
to be able to open for the school year, because
we know what a challenge this will be for our
families to cope with virtual, in-person, and/or
hybrid schooling. We want to be able to offer
our families a safe and fun environment for
their children with Autism to learn functional
skills to increase their independence.”
Achieve Beyond has worked hard to ensure
that ABA therapy remained consistent for
their children throughout the pandemic to
continue stability in a world where everything
suddenly became uncertain. They have pushed
and strived to open a new clinic space, safe and
capable of providing clinic services to children
on the Autism spectrum, and that dream has
finally become a reality! On September 9, 2020,
Achieve Beyond officially opened the doors to
their new Melville clinic. The new clinic, for their
insurance-based ABA program allows children
to have private one-on-one sessions, with access
to a gym and sensory rooms, as well as small,
socially-distant social skills groups and school
day off themed days. Ms. Karen and the Achieve
Beyond team emphasize that health and safety is
the number one focus at the clinic: “The health
and safety of children, families, and therapists is
paramount, therefore the clinic will be sanitized
often, and CDC regulations will be strictly
followed and enforced. We are so happy to be
able to bring this great opportunity to our Long
Island families!”
For more information on our clinic,
scheduling a virtual tour, or any questions on
ABA therapy, please contact Achieve Beyond
at 1-877-654-0999, or via email at intake@
achievebeyondusa.com. For information
on all other programs can be found on
achievebeyondusa.com
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