Poughkeepsie…. The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) of Dutchess County will offer an educational presentation about Disability Etiquette on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at 7 p.m., at the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response, 392 Creek Road, Poughkeepsie.  The training is free and open to the public, but registration prior to the event is required. Seating is limited.

“In Dutchess County, we ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’, and proudly serve residents of all needs and abilities, as we strive to make our communities inclusive for all people,” said A. K. Vaidian, MD, MPH, Commissioner of the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH). “This program can help residents better understand the most appropriate and empathetic ways of interacting with people whose needs are different from their own.”

Led by Taconic Resources for Independence, the program will discuss proper etiquette when interacting with people who have any type of physical, mental, or unseen disability. Communication techniques, functional needs, and other special considerations will also be covered.

The Medical Reserve Corps of Dutchess County is part of a national network of more than 200,000 volunteers dedicated to supporting public health infrastructure as well as disaster preparedness and response in the community.  Both medical professionals and non-medical volunteers are always needed.

For more information about the Medical Reserve Corps, or to register, please contact MRC Coordinator Joe Ryan at (845) 486-2493 or jryan@dutchessny.gov.  For information on upcoming trainings, visit www.DutchessNY.gov/MRC.