Governor David A. Paterson

Serving Students with Special Needs since 1831

David Paterson David A. Paterson
New York’s 55th Governor

Blind New York governor
embraces his disability

Paterson Facts

1985 - Elected to the New York State Senate at age 31, becoming Albany's youngest Senator at the time.
2003 - Becomes Minority Leader of the New York State Senate; the first non-white legislative leader in New York’s history.
2004 - First legally blind person to address the Democratic National Convention.
2007 - New York's first African American Lieutenant Governor.
2008 - First legally blind person to take the Oath of Office as Governor and New York's first African American Governor.
Letter to our NYISE graduates

News Archive

Swearing-In Resonates at a School for the Blind
(NYTimes - March 18, 2008)
PDF version - Text version
CBS Morning Show - March 18, 2008
N.Y. Gov. Inspires Blind
New York State's new governor, David Paterson, is the first legally blind governor in the nation. Three visually impaired students who were at his swearing-in ceremony speak with Maggie Rodriguez
CBS Evening News - March 17, 2008
Role Model To The Blind
Gov. David Paterson, who is legally blind, has given hope to the visually impaired. A staggering 70 percent of the nation's legally blind are unemployed. Byron Pitts reports.
From Harlem to Albany
An interactive timeline of David A. Paterson's life and career
Link to ny.gov biography
Paterson's Ascension Inspires Disabled(cbsnews.com)
Wiki Biography
The New Governor Also Serves as an Inspiration
for the Blind (NYTimes.com)
CBS Evening News featuring our students.
(15MB download video file )
Studying the Footprints of a Governor-to-Be

For our Annual Report and information on making a tax-deductible contribution contact:
The New York Institute for Special Education
Kim Benisatto, Operations Manager
999 Pelham Parkway Bronx, New York 10469 USA
Phone: (718) 519-7000 Ext. 315 Fax: (718) 231-9314