Recognizing Direct Support Professionals
Direct Support Professional Recognition Week - September 10-17
 This month, OPWDD honors and recognizes the many Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who support people with developmental disabilities every day with dignity, compassion and commitment. OPWDD leaders recognized and thanked the agency’s Direct Support Assistants who work in OPWDD programs around the state and paid tribute to 26 DSAs and five teams who were selected as DSPs of the Year. OPWDD also applauds and thanks the dedicated frontline workers who provide care and support to people served by its many non-profit provider partners. Without all of these skilled and committed professionals, OPWDD could not fulfill its mission. Thank you for all you do and the difference you are making for people all across New York each and every day.
Read about how OPWDD is working to support our service system’s direct care staff to advance their skills and education and to be properly recognized for their vital role.
Take Part in a Discussion about Managed Care
 Using funds available through the American Rescue Plan Act, OPWDD has contracted with Guidehouse, Inc. to conduct a comprehensive review of the use of managed care payment systems and how managed care might support the agency to achieve its strategic priorities. The study, which began in 2022, will evaluate if managed care or a different payment model can help OPWDD services better meet people’s needs.
To inform its study and understand the needs and challenges facing New Yorkers with developmental disabilities and their families, this fall Guidehouse is holding stakeholder discussions and conducting an online feedback survey. Both the discussions and the survey will help OPWDD understand the service access and coordination challenges facing people today and what people like about the services they receive to help determine how a managed care system would support access and quality of services.
No decisions have been made to make any changes to how OPWDD services are currently paid. This study is meant to help inform the decision-making process, but no final decisions will be made without further discussion and planning with the people who get services, their families and service providers.
Stakeholder discussions will take place from September 26 to October 10. Visit the OPWDD website to register to participate in a stakeholder discussion. OPWDD will announce the availability of the stakeholder survey in the coming weeks.
Join Us on Tuesday, October 3!
Join us for New York State's 2nd Annual DREAM (Disability Rights & Employment Awareness Month) Symposium on Tuesday, October 3, hosted by Governor Hochul's Chief Disability Officer Kimberly Hill Ridley. The event will be held at the Empire State Plaza's Concourse from 8 am until 5 pm.
OPWDD is proud to be one of the state agencies sponsoring this symposium which celebrates the value people with disabilities bring to the workforce and provides an opportunity to match prospective qualified candidates with employers. There will be an in-person job fair and workshops on a range of topics pertaining to employment. Register for the event here. If you have questions, contact dream@exec.ny.gov
Voting Is Everyone's Right
Frontline Staff Can Help Everyone Vote
Voting in our national, state and local elections is the civil right of every citizen, including people with disabilities. OPWDD supports everyone’s right to vote.
If you or someone you know with a developmental disability needs help to vote, talk with the Care Manager or support staff. They are ready to help people exercise their right to vote.
Voting requires some planning. The Self-Advocacy Association of NYS has created “My Plan to Vote” which can help people get ready to vote.
For more information, see OPWDD’s Frequently Asked Questions About Voting.
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Dates to Remember
Election Day is November 7, 2023.
Accessible voting equipment is available at all polling places.
The deadline for registering to vote is October 28, 2023.
Voting Resources
- Register to Vote, Find Early Voting Information, Absentee Ballot Information and Identify Your Polling Place at your County Board of Elections
Look Beyond My Developmental Disability
Anti-Stigma Campaign Featured at NYS Fair
 OPWDD's new Anti-Stigma campaign called “Look Beyond My Developmental Disability” campaign was featured at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse which ran from from August 23-September 4. Fairgoers visited the OPWDD display in the Science & Technology Building. Learn more about the campaign and use our social media toolkit to help spread the campaign's important message on your own social media channels. Visit opwdd.ny.gov/LookBeyond
Mohawk Valley Community College Launches DSP Microcredential
 Commissioner Neifeld joined Mohawk Valley Community College for their announcement of their DSP microcredential program. MVCC will be working with Upstate Caring Partners, and The Arc, Oneida-Lewis to empower direct support professionals with the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to succeed and move-up in their careers by earning national certification from the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) through NADSP-accredited microcredentials. MVCC is among the 13 SUNY campuses that have chosen to participate in the partnership between OPWDD and SUNY to date that supports the academic and career success of Direct Support Professionals across New York State.
Learn more here: https://www.suny.edu/microcredentials/dsp/
New Hope Community Ribbon Cutting
New York State OPWDD Executive Deputy Commissioner, Willow Baer, was on hand for the official ribbon cutting of Andrew's Sensory Garden at the New Hope Community in Loch Sheldrake.
The sensory garden, named in honor of long-time New Hope community resident, Andrew Linden, is located in the heart of New Hope's campus and provides a tranquil space for all to enjoy. By engaging all the senses, Andrew's Sensory Garden is accessible to all people who encounter the world in different ways beyond sight.
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Upcoming Public Meetings
 OPWDD holds quarterly public meetings to share new information about services and supports, and to provide the people we support, their family members and the people who support them the opportunity to provide feedback.
Check the OPWDD website for the most up-to-date information about upcoming meetings.
Coming in October:
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