Manhattan Developmental Disabilities Council
Next Meeting
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
10:00 A.M.
Come and hear updates from providers, OPWDD, and New York City DOHMH
Learn what’s happening as we continue to work to ensure services and supports for people with I/DD!
Hybrid Meeting – Join In Person OR Virtual
In Person: AHRC NYC, 83 Maiden lane 11th floor board room!
Virtual: Zoom
Manhattan Developmental Disabilities Council Minutes
December 17, 2024
I. Introductions
The November minutes are posted on the Council website. If you would like to refer to past minutes, they are always available on the DD Council website: (www.manhattanddcouncil.org).
We acknowledge recent passing of Ed Mathews from ADAPT Community Network
Ed worked or ADAPT for many years and has been involved in the field for over 50 years leading us through deinstitutionalisation. He will be missed as we move forward.
Condolences to Ed’s family and his adapt family and all those he has touched over the years
III. Announcements
ManhattanDDCouncil@gmail.com. Please send all information and flyers to the email address. All non-fundraiser events can be posted on the website.
We will continue our meetings in person and via Zoom and we appreciate everyone who participates
NY State Institute on Disability
Doris Khan
Family support service provider agency
Family reimbursement available for Manhattan families (camp, goods, services, etc.)
Jackie Tripodi, 929-202-1115, jtripodi@nysidinc.org
NYC FAIR
Upcoming town fair on CAS is canceled. Stay tuned for rescheduled town hall!
Sinergia
Openings for evaluations, case management, family reimbursement, housing advocacy, educational advocacy
Johana Santana, jsantana@sinergiany.org
YAI
Manhattan Crisis Intervention- We provide support with behavior management, toilet training, counseling and support connecting with other services including OPWDD eligibility. To place a referral, you can reach out to 212-273-6200 or email manhattancrisisintervention@yai.org
We also have openings in our other Manhattan programs:
Socialization Skills- a socialization program for people ages 9 and up with a diagnosis of autism. There are 10 weekly sessions in the fall and spring. Some of the topics reviewed include friendships, communication, social boundaries, etc.
:
Parents with Special Needs- PWSN empowers parents with developmental disabilities through direct support and skills training, to become more independent and successful parents. Some of the topics reviewed include parenting and family empowerment, skills training that include infant care, behavior management, safety awareness, time management and other topics. Parents must have parental rights of the child.
Independent Living Skills- 18 years+. This program features ongoing weekly group sessions spread across two semesters (10 weeks each). Topics covered include budgeting, nutrition & kitchen safety, decision making, problem solving, community & internet safety, stress management.
To place a referral for any of these programs please reach out to grouptraining@yai.org
***Next Independent Living Skills group for Bronx and Brooklyn residents begins Thursday on 12/05/2024 until 2/06/2025- Please call 212-273-6200***
GHO
Services available: Day hab, day hab without walls, prevocational, non-Medicaid case management to assist families seeking OPWDD eligibility, evaluations, CCO referral, family reimbursement, assistance for Chinese & Korean speaking families. As well as CDNY
Contact Pat Liu Chang, 718-307-6563, Pat@ghoinc.org
Lifespire
Openings in Manhattan behavior management & parent training program (virtual or in-person), no wait list
Call Jay Kleinman, 646-338-5632 or email jkleinman@lifespire.org
ADAPT Community Network
ADAPT Community Network offers a wide range of supports including Family Reimbursement, Housing Assistance Services, Doorways to Independence (home modification and repair program), Community Habilitation, Overnight Respite, Day Habilitation, Health Services, Early Childhood and School-Age programs, and more. Please contact Project Connect at 877-827-2666 or fill out “getting started” online form for more information https://adaptcommunitynetwork.org/service-options/getting-started/.
1-877-827-2666 for more info
QSAC
Openings in Manhattan day habilitation program, 718-728-8476 x1222, jnunez@qsac.com
Openings in non-Medicaid case management and SD broker services, 212-244-5560 x2059
Ohel Bais Ezra
Family reimbursement funds available Manhattan Brooklyn and Queens
Call 718-686-3451 or email Communityservices@ohelfamily.org
Everett Community Services
Location in Brooklyn, openings in community habilitation & respite, day habilitation without walls (Bronx, available for Bronx & Manhattan residents)
Christopher O’Connor, 718-255-5946 x4056
Care Design NY
Care Coordination Organization (CCO), offering Care Manager services
Accepting new referrals, including those coming from other CCOs with wait lists
Assisting families through OPWDD eligibility, Medicaid enrollment, Medicaid waiver/parental deeming process
Summertime Gallery – an art studio + gallery for artists with and without disabilities pushing towards a more inclusive art world. We currently have two exciting groups we have during the week.
Studio Hours is a virtual group where we use different prompts, materials, and mediums to create art together. This is less of a step by step class but more of an art family/community where artists encourage and support each other.
Our second group is Art Walks + Talks. This hybrid group consists of visiting art museums or galleries in person every other week, and the opposing week we are virtual and create art using inspiration from the week prior. This group is great for those who want to immerse themselves in the NYC art world.
These groups accept Self-Direction and fee-for-service. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to anna@summertimegallery.org or check out our website at Summertimegallery.org
Esperanza -site based day program in Manhattan and the Bronx as well as recreational programs for adults. 212-928-5810
NYLPI – NY Lawyers assistance regarding Higher education (students attending college in NYS only) FACING DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION? FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE For Students in New York Navigating Challenges in Higher Education due to a Disability What We Offer: • Advice and Referrals • Accommodation Advocacy • Appeals and Grievances • Representation Getting Started: Contact us to schedule your free consultation and get connected to a Disability Justice Attorney to explore how we may be able to assist. Disability Justice Program New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (212) 244-4664 (voice/relay)
MTA– Reminder 59th St is being replaced by switch replacement, please give yourself additional time.
MTA will be hosting an open house information coming. Please check MTA website for information.
Access A ride assessment centre is now in lower Manhattan (3 stone Street) by appointment
Please do not park vans in bus stops.
AHRC- AHRC NYC has openings for Free Evaluations for Individuals who do not have Medicaid and are seeking OPWDD eligibility. Contact Marrissa.mcmillan@ahrcnyc.org or the Referral Information Center at 212-780-4491 or referrals@ahrcnyc.org
AHRC NYC has openings for Family Reimbursement. Contact Casey Barba at 917-715-8035 or AHRC.FamilyReimbursementPrograms@ahrcnyc.org
GoodWill– Day Hab vacancies
Excellent Home Care– Home care particularly focusing on minors to help with therapies and nursing. It is completely to the IEP. Contact us to explore if we can help you.
NYstate institute on disability-reimbursement for good service and camp-Jackie Trapodi-
Guest presentation-MTA Accessibility-Sara Bahri
- Congestion pricing
- 700,000 vehicles entering Manhattan daily. Traffic has slowed down making it hard to travel below 60th st.
- 16.5 Billion will be towards capital improvements
- 2billion towards 20+ station accessibility improvements Reduced card users should be getting their OMNI Cards in the mail this month or next month. If you don’t want to use your OMNI card you can use your bank card.
- How to load the card: 1. Cash in a reloading centre 2 OMNI kiosk in subway stations3. Mobile places 4. Call OMNI
- Spend down reduced fair metro card now then use OMNI. If you want a refund call 511.
- Added benefit create an OMNI online account
- If you are the caregiver of a person with disabilities you can have one car registered to an EZ pass to wave the congestion pricing fees. You must have an appointment with Access A ride in order to begin the process Access-A-Ride Paratransit Service
III. State News – James Doherty, Samrawit Tadesse
- Planning Advance planning document PAPD=- 90/10 modernizing our Medicaid systems
- November 4th the plan has been approved and they hope to start by the summer of next year
- 50% fair reduction to people with disabilities (OMNI)
- New accessing Life POD Cast was launched in July 2024. Two OPWDD employees host people who are making the world more accessible to everyone. There are 3 episodes available- link-
- OPWDD has linked a partnership with Georgetown university update: leading family listening session over zoom and phone. This is getting information from families about trying to access services. $25.oo gift card is entitled 1 per family to honour the time you are providing to the survey. The sessions will be in January and February 2025. The sessions will be in English as well as the 12 languages and ASL.
- CMS Access rule and Medicaid Children’s access rule
- States must publish their rates by July 2026. And must …..
- Person cantered planning must be in place by July 9th 2027.
- Incident management must be implemented by July 9th 2027.
- Grievance System OPWDD is working towards that as well
- OPWDD is implementing the IDD ombudsmen program (IDDO) Authorized under 32.28
- Conflict free ombudsmen’s services. CSS was awarded the program.
- IDDO services that can be provided-front door, to explain role of CCO and care managers, look into housing options, help with due process. Does not replace CCO or give educational services.
- Anything they can’t connect with they will help connect you
- Helpline staffed by 4 counsellors and 2 lawyers for all of NY state not just OPWDD
- Vocational training-December 5th . One of the 13 states that will be part of the cre states for employment.
IV. Reyana Mckenzie, DOMHM
Community Service Board subcommittee position open for self-advocate
- Contact Reyana Mckenzie, rmckenzie@health.nyc.gov
- No updates this month
V. IAC Report – Richard Bosch
Updates
- January 14th State of the State of the state Address-a week later the Governor releases the budget
- Housing ADM was supposed to be release yesterday-keep eyes open for that short term housing strategy -12 month plan to address the needs of the people on the waiting list
- OPWDD strategic plan has been updated PPA for residential and Day programs has been moved to the front burner so programs can be moved and started quicker
- State operated programs will be targeting more challenging people to serve
- Future of the MEDICAID waiver-starting ageing task force in the spring
- Guide House survey on Self Direction need feedback from salt advocated by 1/6 and agencies by 1/17
- Ombudsmen program warrants it’s own presentation and discussion as to show how it will be implemented. (CSS will be in charge)
- NYPI are involved in the ombudsmen program
- ADM on the CRO
- January will be training on the CCO
- Emergency procedures is required under the IRA’s
Lobby Days
- 2/25 & 2/26
- Education lobby days 5/6
DSP wages are not in line with the level of skills and responsibility. Legislature should create a wage study as we need to be competitive.
Enhance capital funding.
Compensation to state op staff get $28.00 to start vs $17.00 per hour. Upstate $25.00 hr vs $16.54 hour
V. Manhattan DD Council Reports
Membership Dues
- Resuming dues collection for member provider agencies, email coming soon
- Dues had been on pause during Covid while events were slower
- Provide funding for annual events including Family & Professional Resource Fair & Legislative Breakfast
- Member agencies receive benefits: agency info and events posted on Manhattan DD Council website, discount on resource fair vendor table fees
VI. Committee Reports:
Manhattan FSS Advisory Council: Co-Chairs: Jackie Goldberg and Mary McGuire-Weafer
meeting wase on Tuesday December 3rd, 2024
the Topic was be Travel Training 101. It was well attended. We had 7 new people who attended.
December 4th Mary and Jackie attended the Statewide meeting where the new RFP’s were announced
Family & Provider Information Committee: Co-chairs: Wendy De Leon & Luisa Eusse-Roché
Family Reimbursement Meeting – 9/18 @ 10am, co-sponsored with MFSSAC
We meet meet every odd numbered month starting in October
- Next meeting will be November 20 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. The topic will be:
“Applying for Waiver and Family Support Services: What You Need to Know”
Applying for services through OPWDD is a multilayer process that has not only changed over the last few years, but also become a process that isn’t possible without the whole team working together. We’ll discuss the steps, strategies and answer any questions you may have.
Transition Committee: Co-Chairs: Andrew Harris and Pat Liu Chang
Our last meeting was on 12/11 hybrid meeting Future planning by Paola Martinez Boone, NY Lawyers for the public Interest. It was well attended and everyone enjoyed. Thank you for Sinergia for hosting
Our next meeting will be on 2/12 . This will be our annual adult meet and greet via zoom. Everyone will learn about Day Hab employment services and more. This is a wonderful meeting and everyone should attend
Meeting second Wednesday of every other month (even numbered months)
- Planning to hold April & June meetings in person
- Stay tuned for Zoom & in-person meeting info!
Save the Date!
- Adult Services Meet & Greet
- Wednesday, February 12th @ 10am (Zoom)
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us:
Andrew Harris, P138M, aharris27@schools.nyc.gov
Pat Liu Chang, GHO, pat@ghoinc.org
New Business
Save the Date!
March 6th will be the 5-borough annual Legislative breakfast