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McKinstry: Disabled young people caught in political dispute

December 22, 2012 10:41 AM By GERALD MCKINSTRY

Special education teacher Molly Conway, 33, helps Justin

Photo credit: Elizabeth Daza | Special education teacher Molly Conway, 33, helps Justin Irizarry, 17, play a tambourine and sing along during class at the School for Adaptive & Integrative Learning at Ferncliff Manor in Yonkers, (Dec. 13, 2012)

Gerald McKinstry

Portrait of Newsday editorial board member Gerald McKinstry Gerald McKinstry

Gerald McKinstry is a member of the Newsday editorial board.

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Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino announces the 2013 Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino

Kristen Yurczak recently dropped by a classroom at Sail at Ferncliff Manor in Yonkers, a residential facility for the developmentally disabled, and learned that it was a "big day" for one of the students: Aaron turned 21.

"Happy birthday," Yurczak said, as she and another special education teacher showered Aaron with attention.

Unlike most 21-year-olds reaching this age, Aaron -- who...

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