Dear Friends and Colleagues, It is National Disability Voting Rights Week and it’s time for all of us to REV UP the Vote. What does REV UP mean? It stands for “Register! Educate! Vote! Use your Power!” Our goal this year, and every year, is to make sure …
Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council Tuesday, September 24, 11 AM until 2 PM The next public meeting of the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council will be held Tuesday, September 24, from 11 am until 2 pm. The Developmental Disabilities …
Dear Friends and Colleagues, This week, September 8-14, 2024, marks National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week, a special week set aside to honor and celebrate the professionals who work in the direct support field and provide the supports and …
Dear Friends and Colleagues, In November 2022, OPWDD contracted with Guidehouse, Inc. to independently assess New York's current developmental disabilities service delivery system. The assessment evaluated whether utilizing managed care to pay for …
Launched during Disability Pride Month on the 34th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Accessing Life is a new podcast led by people with lived experience with developmental disabilities. Chester Finn and BJ Stasio, both OPWDD employees, …
To learn more about your voting rights and where to go for help with registering to vote, view the Voter Registration Flyer below in multiple languages. Go back to the Know Your Rights page.
New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities announced the launch of a new podcast on the 34th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA, signed July 26, 1990, prohibits discrimination and upholds the civil …
The NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) today announced that 81 local direct support professionals employed by Heritage Christian Services will receive credentials through the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals ( …
Earlier this year Commissioner Kerri Neifeld announced that she would be leaving her role as Commissioner of OPWDD at the end of June. Read Commissioner Neifeld's announcement here. It is time to offer Commissioner Neifeld a fond farewell, thank her …
Dear Friends and Colleagues, Today, we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Olmstead Decision. This law enshrines the rights of people with disabilities to receive services in their communities rather than in institutions. It is a day also …
There is still time to join us for one of our 2024 Strategic Planning Forums to share your feedback on our 2023 – 2027 Strategic Plan. At each forum OPWDD staff will provide updates on our Strategic Plan, respond to pre-submitted questions, and listen to …
Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council Tuesday, June 11, 11 AM until 2 PM The next public meeting of the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council will be held Tuesday, June 11th, from 11 am until 2 pm. The meeting will be held in person at the …
OPWDD is partnering with NYS State Parks, DEC, and the Department of Veterans Services this year on Get Outdoors & Get Together Day, which is happening on Saturday, June 8. Fun and accessible outdoor events will be held at select parks and DEC sites …
Dear Friends and Colleagues,Today is Nurse’s Day and the start of National Nurse’s Week. When I heard that this year’s theme for Nurse’s Week was “Nurses Make the Difference,” I couldn’t help but think how true that is for nurses who support people with …
The next public meeting of the Autism Spectrum Disorders Advisory Board will be held in person at the Empire State Plaza, Meeting Room 1 in Albany and virtually via WebEx on Tuesday, May 13, 2024 from 12 pm- 2 pm. Meeting information including the WebEx …
OPWDD WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU! We are excited to announce the schedule for our 2024 Strategic Planning Forums. We’re traveling across New York State to hear your feedback on our Strategic Plan and work to date. Forums will focus on hearing your feedback on …
Earlier this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued its Final Rule on Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services, commonly referred to as the Access Rule. You can see the Rule here. The Access Rule was originally published in draft on May …
