Advocate

 

Riverhead Patch Article:
"Nonprofits to Protest Cuts to Developmentally Disabled"

Click Here to follow the link

 

Hamptons.com Article:
"IGHL Faces Devastating Budget Cuts"

Click Here to follow the link

 

New York Times Article: "Opposition Emerges to Cuomo's Plan to cut $120 Million for the Disabled"

Click Here to follow the link   ~   Click Here for a PDF Version

New Yorkers with Disabilities Need Your Help!

Update - 3/6/13  

Urgent Action Plan:

1.  Continue making two calls each week to your State Senator and your State Assembly Member.
2.  Rally to "Stop the 6% Cut".  Friday March 15, 2013.  11:00 AM New York State Office Building in Hauppague, NY.  Be there!

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 Both houses of the State Legislature are in the process of negotiating and getting ready to release the respective one-house budget measures.  While we understand the 6% across the board cut to the not-for-profit developmental disabilities sector is gaining great attention in the State Legislature, we need to continue advocacy efforts and therefore we are asking agencies, parents and family members, agency staff and direct support professionals, self advocates to make two telephone calls this week.

WHO TO CALL: Please make two telephone calls, one to your State Assemblymember and the other to your State Senator in their Albany Offices

WHEN:  Now!  (Week of March 4^th)

WHAT'S MY MESSAGE: "I'm a constituent and I am concerned the proposed 6% across the board cut to the not-for-profit developmental disabilities providers will negatively impact supports, services and programs.  I wish to thank my Assemblymember/Senator for his/her support of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and ask him/her to support restoration of the 6% proposed cut in the one-house budget bill."

 HOW:

Contact the Assembly Operator at 518-455-4100 and ask to be transferred to your Assemblymember's Office. (if you do not know who your Member of the Assembly is, go to www.assembly.state.ny.us to identify your Member.  You may also obtain his/her direct Albany Office telephone number, rather than going through the Assembly Operator).

Contact the Senate Operator at 518-455-2800 and ask to be transferred to your Senator's Office (if you do not know who your Member of the Senate is, go to www.nysenate.gov to identify your Senator. You may also obtain his/her Albany Office telephone number on the website, rather than going through the Senate Operator).
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The Alliance of Long Island Agencies is organizing a rally in front of Governor Cuomo's satelite office in the State Office building in Hauppauge.  The rally will be held on Friday, March 15th at 11am.  Mark your calendars - details on the rally to follow.  

Your advocacy can make the difference! 

LIDDSO - Information for Parents and Professionals 2013

A two hour overview introduces families and professionals to the types of supports and services available. Topics include: Eligibility, Family Support Services, Medicaid Service Coordination, Home and Community Based Waiver, Employment Services, Residential Services (including Family Care), Medicaid, SSI and Self Determination.

Announcement/Registration

NYS Partner in Policymaking Accepting New Member Applications

The NYS Partners in Policymaking program is an innovative leadership training opportunity for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members.  During an eight month course, participants gain knowledge, skills, and confidence to make changes in policy, perception, and treatment of individuals with disabilities. Upon completion of the program, participants join a graduate network.  The 2013 NYS Partners program is offered as a series of interactive modules and webinars, with one state-wide and one regional meeting.   The program focuses on including self-advocates and individuals from diverse backgrounds, and on developing participant’s familiarity with technology and on-line communication tools for advocacy.

For an informational overview of the Partners in Policymaking program, visit: http://nyspip.org/documents/PartnersFlyer.pdf  

To fill out an online application, visit:  www.nyspip.org  and fill out the on-line application.  Deadline for 2013 class is December 1, 2012.

Message from the Commissioner

August 23, 2012

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

As you know, there are many changes underway within our service delivery system. Because of your involvement, reforms that have been implemented or are in development now, are making our system stronger every day. We want to keep our progress going, and continue to empower all stakeholders in a meaningful way.

OPWDD is currently reviewing all of the laws, regulations and memorandum that exist across our system and impact our work – and we need your feedback on any changes that you believe are necessary to better meet our mission of enriching the lives of people with developmental disabilities through our four primary goals: home, health, meaningful relationships and activities in the community. 

We have set up an online survey, which can be completed anonymously. Upon viewing the link, you will see that one survey is for individuals and advocates, while a second is written for service providers (direct support professionals, clinicians, organization management) and quality improvement staff.

For individuals and families, we are interested in knowing what requirements prevent you from having the life you want, as well as the requirements that have value to you and should not be changed. For service providers, we want to know what requirements prevent you from providing quality person-centered services, as well as the requirements you value most in your work.

Thank you in advance for your thoughtfulness, and taking the time to participate in this important survey. Please share this information with friends, colleagues, and loved ones. Anyone without internet access can call 518-474-3625.

Sincerely,

Commissioner Burke

P.S. Communication is critical to our collective success, and OPWDD’s Facebook page is a great place for individuals, family members, employees, advocates, and other stakeholders to exchange thoughts and ideas. Please feel free to join the conversation.

People First Waiver 

The PowerPoint presentation for the videoconference update on the People First Waiver scheduled for Friday, August 17, from 10:30 am to 12 noon, is now available on the OPWDD Web site at http://www.opwdd.ny.gov/opwdd_services_supports/people_first_waiver/voluntary_provider_updates.

Health Reform Implementation 

Kaiser Health News offers this consumer-friendly summary of the Affordable Care Act which reflects the impact of the June Supreme Court decision: http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2012/March/22/consumer-guide-health-law.aspx

States must select a benchmark plan that provides a minimum package of services in 10 categories called Essential Health Benefits (EHB).  This infographic depicts New York’s progress relative to other states.  More detailed information about the decision-making process is available by clicking on the “NY” in the graphic:
http://www.statereforum.org/hurdles-essential-health-benefits-infographic

Medicaid Redesign in NYS 

Governor Cuomo has announced that NYS has submitted a federal waiver request to invest $10 billion in savings achieved through Medicaid Redesign into transforming the state’s health care system.  The waiver is known as the “Super Waiver”: http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/08062012-federal-waiver-health-care

 The New York State Rehabilitation Association provides more information about the above “Super Waiver”, including a summary of key components and discussion of how it relates to OPWDD’s People First Waiver application: http://www.nyrehab.org/news_detail.php?id=254

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EEDA is constantly working on advocating legislation to benefit those with disabilities. You can help us by visiting the links below to find out more about speaking up and taking action.

As you are probably aware, New York State has been struggling with a budget deficit for several years. Due to the current economic status, now more than ever, it is important that our families advocate with their legislators in order to help EEDA.

Find Your New York State Legislator:
Assembly - Senate - Congress - Legislator

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President Barack Obama signed into law Rosa's Law, which will change references in federal laws from mental retardation to intellectual disability, and references to a mentally retarded individual to an individual with an intellectual disability.

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For current legislative actions please visit the following websites:

• www.ny.gov
• US House of Representatives
• New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
• Long Island Developmental Disabilities Services Office
• Parent to Parent of New York State
• Long Island Advocacy Center, Inc. (THE LIAC)
• League of Women Voters of Suffolk County
• Redesigning New York's Medicaid Program