Mission Statement
Life-Wire News Service is a first-of-its-kind service which distributes media content from the unique perspective of people with intellectual disabilities — giving a new voice to the disabilities community. ©2016
For twenty years, Lifestyles for the Disabled has provided an environment where people with intellectual disabilities find purpose and inspiration to create, work and thrive. In the Media Center, participants explore information technology and produce original content in their areas of expertise and interest utilizing video and radio formats. Utilizing Lifestyles’ media assets, Life-Wire News Service – the only media wire offering content by people with intellectual disabilities – features stories that explore entertainment, sports, human rights, or more.
Participants in the service (crew members) will produce their own content with the aid of Lifestyles staff to an extent depending on the crew members’ needs. The program connects crew members to the community in new ways and provides exposure to the public that will help to demystify people with intellectual disabilities.
Staff
Edward Gregory – Editor-in-Chief of Life-Wire News Service and Manager of the Lifestyles Media Center.
Joseph Maturi – Executive Editor of Life-Wire News Service and Manager the Lifestyles Media Center
Kathryn Carse – News Editor/Location Manager of Life-Wire News Service and the Lifestyles Media Center
Tony DeSimone – Photo Editor/Photographer of Life-Wire News Service
Mario Papa – Sports Editor/Direct Care Specialist
Crew
Meredith Arout – Photographer, Camera Operator, Voice-overs -areas of interest: pop music, art, nature
Jonathan Chernok – DJ, Photographer, Talent – area of interest: music
Michael Cilmi – Interviewer – area of interest: sports
Salvatore DiBenedetto – Photographer, Poet – areas of interest: classic comedy and music.
Anthony DiFato – Blogger, Radio Host, Interviewer, Photographer – areas of interest: mysteries, comics
Steven Filoramo – Journalist, Interviewer – areas of interest: technology, human rights
Riki Garcia – Photographer
Joseph Jones – Photographer, Camera Operator, Journalist – areas of interest: music
Michael Levenstein – Photographer
Glen Mazzola – Radio Host
Andrew Moszenberg – Photographer – areas of interest: photography, media
Laurence Oliveri – Interviewer, Singer – areas of interest: opera
Anthony Pabon – Photographer, Interviewer – areas of interest: FDNY, music, media
Joseph Padalino – Student-Teacher, Videography, Interviewer, Radio Host, Photographer – areas of interest: Italian heritage, food
Dolores Palermo – Interviewer, Photographer – areas of interest: music, culture
Gregory Perosi – Interviewer, Photographer – areas of interest: music, science, history
Alan Russo – Photographer, Interviewer – area of interest: wrestling
Eric Schwacke – Video Host, Videographer – areas of interest: travel, cooking
Samuel “Shmuli” Stone – Journalist, Screenwriter – areas of interest: history
Advisory Panel
Life-Wire News Service is in the process of developing a panel of talented community members who can offer their advice and expertise to the success of Life-Wire News Service and to help us develop the potential of our participating journalists to their fullest. We will list our advisers here.
Lifestyles for the Disabled of Staten Island Mission Statement
Lifestyles for the Disabled originated in 1994 through collaboration among local business people, community organizations and program participants. The mission of Lifestyles is to provide quality learning experiences that will enable all program participants, regardless of their present disabilities, to become productive members of society and live their lives with dignity and as independently as possible.
