Dear Friends and Colleagues, As we wrap up 2025, I am so grateful for the many steps forward we took together over the last twelve months. When I officially stepped into my role as your Commissioner earlier this year, I talked about our future and I vowed …
"It’s up to us to make sure we talk about what our rights are, exercise our rights, and make sure that everyone knows what they are and follows them." - Chester Finn, Accessing Life Co-host Chester and BJ bring you a special live episode …
Dear Colleagues and Friends, This season has me thinking about traditions and how they have a way of keeping people and communities connected. You may have a favorite dish that is always on your table or people with whom you always share a Thanksgiving …
New York Department of State’s Office for New Americans has released “Know Your Resources, Know Your Rights,” a guide for all New Yorkers, including immigrants, to explain your basic rights regarding interactions with law enforcement, food and nutrition …
Dear Friends and Colleagues, I am pleased to announce that Guidehouse, the consulting firm OPWDD hired to review its Self-Direction model in March 2024, has released its Self-Direction Assessment Final Report. This comprehensive report follows an extensive …
OPWDD hired a company called Guidehouse to look at the Self-Direction model and give suggestions about how to make improvements. As part of the review, Guidehouse talked to people who are self directing and to the service providers that support them. …
Dear Friends and Colleagues, I am delighted to announce that OPWDD’s newly updated Care Coordination Organization (CCO) Policy and Procedure Manual is now available on the OPWDD website. This revised manual reflects work done with CCOs to improve clarity …
Aaron, a member of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe of Akwesasne, has built a meaningful career through dedication and support. While he had previously worked in competitive employment on the reservation, the placement was not the right fit. With the support of …
"Any employer that's coming to the DREAM Symposium event knows the value of hiring a person with a disability and wants to do so." - Kim Hill Ridley, New York State's Chief Disability Officer talking about the DREAM Symposium coming up on …
Dear Friends and Colleagues, This October marks the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)—a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to promote inclusive employment practices. What began in 1945 as a weeklong …
Dear Friends and Colleagues, OPWDD is pleased to invite people and families to attend one of our upcoming information sessions on OPWDD’s Coordinated Assessment System (CAS) and the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS-NY) assessment. We’ll be …
The Taskforce builds upon New York’s Master Plan for Aging The New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities convened its first meeting of the Developmental Disabilities Commissioner’s Taskforce on Aging to bring together leaders and …
Dear Friends and Colleagues: Addressing health equity for people with developmental disabilities is a top priority for OPWDD and for me personally. A common theme that I hear from people is that they are being left behind when it comes to accessible …
Dear Colleagues and Friends, I am pleased to share that OPWDD recently convened its inaugural meeting of the Developmental Disabilities Taskforce on Aging—a collaborative initiative between my office and the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council ( …
The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals is hosting hundreds of DSPs from across the US to hear from developmental disabilities industry stakeholders and each other New York State is leading the nation in the National Alliance for Direct …
Dear Friends and Colleagues, On September 5th, Governor Kathy Hochul issued an Executive Order declaring a Statewide Disaster Emergency to protect access to COVID-19 vaccines in New York, following recent federal actions that have threatened vaccine access …
Dear Friends and Colleagues, This week - September 7-13, 2025 - we proudly celebrate National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week. It’s a meaningful time for all of us at the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, our provider agencies …
Dear Friends and Colleagues, This Sunday, August 17, is National Nonprofit Day, a day when we recognize the incredible work that nonprofits do and the impact they have on our communities. The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities is so …
"We talk about the things that need to be changed and how it can be changed and how it can be made beneficial for the people that live in the city of Buffalo. We are working together to make city hall better, to make the city of Buffalo better." …
The next public meeting of the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council (DDAC) will be held Tuesday, July 22 from 11 am until 2 pm. The meeting will be held in person in Albany at the Empire State Plaza, Meeting Room 7. You may also join at one of our …
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