The meeting will be held in person in Albany at the Empire State Plaza, Meeting Room 1.

You may also join at one of our OPWDD Regional Office Locations listed below. When you arrive, please sign-in at the security desk:  

• Buffalo: 1021 Broadway, Room 433, Buffalo, NY 14212

• NYC: 25 Beaver St. OPWDD, 3rd Floor, Room 3K11, New York, NY 10004, Please bring state issued photo ID and sign-in at the security desk

• Long Island: 415A Oser Ave. Hauppauge, NY 11788

• Syracuse: Syracuse: 187 Northern Concourse, Syracuse, NY 13212 | Classroom 2

The Family Support Services (FSS) Committee Meeting has transitioned to a new webcasting platform.

• To view the live meeting, please visit: http://totalwebcasting.com/live/nysopwdd

• To participate in public comment, you may either attend the meeting in person or sign up to participate virtually on Total Webcasting. Those who sign up for virtual public comment will receive an email with instructions on how to join the meeting and provide their comments virtually on the morning of September 8.

C4SD Working Group on Housing

Meets first Wednesday of month at 4 PM in September, October, November, and Deceember!

If you would like to join the discussion, please reach out to the Chairs of the group at HousingAdmin@c4sd.org

After more than a decade, New York State is revising its Olmstead Plan. This is an opportunity to tell the policy makers about what is working and what is not. An opportunity to shape policy for the decade to come.

Tell the State about the changes that you need.
Send an email by end of the day on Monday September 1st: olmsteadplanny@exec.ny.gov.
Send us a copy too, please, at info@coalition4sdf.org

• Topic 1: Access to Services and Supports

• Getting the help you need – like housing, healthcare, or transportation – when you need it.

• Prompt:
  What kinds of help or services do you rely on to live in your community?
  What services and supports would most improve your life if they were made more accessible?

• Topic 2: Rights Protection and System Accountability

• Knowing your rights are protected, being treated with dignity, and having systems that work and respond fairly.

• Prompt:
  What have your experiences in sharing your preferences been like?
  Have you or someone you know had your/their rights eroded?
  What would help you feel more confident that your rights are protected?

• Topic 3: Community Integration and Choice

• Living where and with whom you want, making your own choices, and being part of your community.

• Prompt:
  What have you observed about community integration and choice in your community?
  What would help make where you live more inclusive and integrated?
  What’s one thing that could make it easier for people to live in the communities of their choice? 

Previous

OPWDD is going through their annual exercise of updating the Stategic Plan.
We encourage everyone to send them written testimony at planning@opwdd.ny.gov by the end of the day on Tuesday August 19th.
Send us a copy too, please, at info@coalition4sdf.org

Details of the Strategic Plan can be found on the OPWDD site at opwdd.ny.gov/strategic-planning/opwdd-2023-2027-strategic-plan-document-all-languages

You can also testify at the on-line forums on August 18th and 19th, as listed on our calendar.

Get your Self-Direction questions answered at the C4SD Office Hours.
Due to the enthusiastic response from our attendees, we will be hosting one every 2nd Wednesday of the month for the rest of the year!

For our August Office Hours  Click Here To Register Now! 

C4SD’s Employment Committee has joined forces with Beth Rosenberg's ASD Workforce Coalition. Beth is the ED of Tech Kids Unlimited. This is a well-established advocacy organization. Folks interested in joining should reach out to Beth at asdworkforcecoalition@techkidsunlimited.org

New York's Get Outdoors & Get Together Day coincides with National Get Outdoors Day, an annual event to encourage healthy, active outdoor fun.

Get Outdoors & Get Together Day is a partnership between the NYS Office of the Chief Disability Officer, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, the NYS Department of Veterans’ Services, the Office of Mental Health, the Justice Center for the Protection of People With Special Needs, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

At events across the state, participants will be encouraged to discover new skills and enjoy a range of free introductory-level outdoor recreation activities such as fishing, nature walks and hikes, birding, archery, camping demonstrations, paddling, and more. Each event will highlight ways to enjoy the outdoors safely and sustainably.

All locations will offer a selection of accessible activities, and use of adaptive equipment and demonstrations will be provided at many sites free of cost, including trail and beach mobility aids, archery assist stands, arm supports for fishing, and more.

C4SD’s Employment Committee has joined forces with Beth Rosenberg's ASD Workforce Coalition. Beth is the ED of Tech Kids Unlimited. This is a well-established advocacy organization. Folks interested in joining should reach out to Beth at asdworkforcecoalition@techkidsunlimited.org

About ELIJA Foundation:

ELIJA (Empowering Long Island's Journey through Autism) is excited to be hosting our 18th Annual Sy Schwartz Golf Outing on Monday, June 2nd, at the amazing Brookville Country Club, Brookville, Long Island, honoring Craig Carton, renowned sports radio and television personality, 2024 New York State Broadcasting Hall of fame inductee, current host of Breakfast Ball on FS1, and Hello, My Name is Craig on WFAN. 

Proceeds from this annual event go directly to improve the lives of the 1 in 36 children being diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which today is more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined.

While there is no prevention or cure for Autism, research indicates that the appropriate support can result in significant improvements and outcomes for those affected. We at ELIJA work tirelessly to improve outcomes by offering our learners a personalized and quality education, focused on developing communication, social and cognitive skills.

The ELIJA Foundation, a not-for-profit, 501c (3) organization, has been serving parents, educators, professionals, and caregivers of children with an ASD since 2002. The ELIJA Foundation provides the community with educational opportunities that focus on improving the quality of programs and services available to children with Autism. In 2006, The ELIJA School opened its doors to extend the mission of the Foundation and start helping children with Autism. In 2016 we expanded programming to support our young learners as they transition into adulthood.

ELIJA's focus is to empower individuals and families living with an ASD throughout their lives. We believe in hope and hard work; that all children (or adults) with an ASD deserve a chance, and their families deserve our commitment, expertise and support!

C4SD’s Employment Committee has joined forces with Beth Rosenberg's ASD Workforce Coalition. Beth is the ED of Tech Kids Unlimited. This is a well-established advocacy organization. Folks interested in joining should reach out to Beth at asdworkforcecoalition@techkidsunlimited.org

For people with disabilities, these cuts put home and community-based services (HCBS) at risk of being significantly reduced or eliminated. Senator Schumer will provide the latest updates from Washington. Advocates will share first-hand experiences of getting out of institutions and how Medicaid cuts put them and others at risk. Medicaid policy expert Michael Kinnucan of the Fiscal Policy Institute will explain the financial and human impacts of cuts on New York. There will be time to answer a few questions and share ways you can take action.

Click here to register for the town hall!

Advanced/Creative Self-Direction budgeting

Come hear Ken Siri, a very experienced SD broker and parent talk to us about creative budgeting ideas he has seen, especially as people try to set up non-certified housing and living situations.  Please note, this is not an introductory session.

Link to sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCrBdos5p7T68aWvMBDOve_WmubcfL3kly87CEdp8FnlB8BQ/viewform