Celebrating OPWDD Advocates During Black History Month
Yvette Watts
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As we celebrate Black History Month, OPWDD also celebrates the Black Americans working in and around the developmental disabilities space.
Meet Yvette Watts, Executive Director of the New York State Association of Emerging and Multicultural Providers. Learn about Mrs. Watts' personal journey, her perspective on Black History and her thoughts on our service system.
Read Yvette Watts' story
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Engelic Everett
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Meet Engelic Everett, a self-advocate, poet, published author, podcast host and content creator from Buffalo, New York. Learn about Ms. Everett’s journey, which historical figures inspired her writing and what she hopes to achieve for herself.
Read Engelic Everett's story
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New Front Door Videos Now Available!
 OPWDD is now providing new Front Door Information Session videos for viewing on the OPWDD website.
These short videos provide easy-to-understand information about OPWDD services and supports and how to get started receiving services. The videos provide an overview of key topics and replace the practice of requiring people seeking services to attend Front Door Information Sessions either in person or online. The video topics include:
- Getting Started with OPWDD
- The Front Door Process
- Eligibility
- Services
- OPWDD Residential and Housing Supports
- OPWDD Employment Services
- Self-Direction
- OPWDD Care Management
- Assessment
- Funding
The videos are currently available in English, Spanish and Mandarin and will be translated into other languages over the next several months. Until those translated videos are available, OPWDD will provide translation services for anyone who needs a different language.
The Front Door videos were created in partnership with Titanium Linx Consulting, Inc., a Minority Women Business Entity and the Niki Jones Agency, an advertising agency focused on visual identity and branding. OPWDD partnered with the Chinese-American Planning Council and Sinergia, Inc. to ensure cultural and linguistic authenticity. The Chinese-American Planning Council and Sinergia work extensively with families with limited English proficiency and underserved communities. The video project was funded with a grant from the NYS Council on Developmental Disabilities.
Celebrating the 1,000th DSP to Earn National Certification
 'A Celebration of Excellence’ was held for 30 DSPs at AHRC Nassau, a participating provider in the NADSP E-Badge Academy. Congratulations to the 1,000th certified DSP, Tiajuana Gardner, and to all of the E-Badge Academy graduates who have completed this credentialing.
OPWDD and The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) gathered at AHRC Nassau recently to celebrate the 1,000th DSP to earn accreditation from the NADSP E-Badge Academy in New York State since the professional development program began in July 2023.
The E-Badge Academy offers Direct Support Professionals and Frontline Supervisors the ability to earn national certification through stackable electronic badges. These badges demonstrate the knowledge, skills and values that these professionals use every day to support people with developmental disabilities and provide national recognition for the contributions and competence of Direct Support Professionals who meet the certification standards. The program provides cash bonuses to the participants and reimburses employers for training hours for their participating DSPs.
To date, 39 providers have DSPs participating in the program, and new students are continuing to enroll.
The NYS Department of Health has applied to renew OPWDD’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Comprehensive Waiver agreement with the federal Medicaid program effective October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2029. The public is invited to comment on this proposed HCBS Waiver renewal through February 26, 2024.
The renewal application is available on the OPWDD website at: Home and Community Based Services Waiver | Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (ny.gov)
Paper copies of the renewal application are also available at any local (county) social services office and at OPWDD’s Developmental Disabilities Regional Field Offices.
The renewal proposes several updates to the waiver agreement. Once approved, it will:
- Expand the number of people OPWDD can support with waiver services
- Allow OPWDD to begin contracting with providers for a new service called Home-Enabling Supports, which was authorized in October 2023
- Align how OPWDD measures quality improvement with federal requirements
- Update OPWDD’s Medicaid payment descriptions. (Please note this will not affect service provider reimbursement)
OPWDD will accept written comments by email at peoplefirstwaiver@opwdd.ny.gov or by mail at: Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, Division of Policy and Program Development, 44 Holland Avenue, Albany, NY 12229. All comments must be postmarked or emailed by February 26, 2024. Please include “OPWDD 1915(c) Waiver Renewal Comments” in the subject line.
Executive Budget Hearings
Commissioner Neifeld Testifies on Governor Hochul's Proposed 2024-2025 Executive Budget
 Commissioner Neifeld testified before members of the Legisature at the 2024 Mental Hygiene Budget Hearing on Tuesday, February 13. If you missed her testimony, you can see it here: https://www.nysenate.gov/calendar/public-hearings/february-13-2024/joint-legislative-public-hearing-2024-executive-budget
Commissioner Meets with Self-Advocate
 Self-advocate Matthew Hofele of Long Island visited Albany and met with Commissioner Neifeld to discuss a number of issues affecting people with developmental disabilities as well as the Governor's proposed Executive Budget.
Promoting Access to Quality Health Care for People With Developmental Disabilities
 OPWDD Commissioner Kerri Neifeld is pictured at a taping of the DOH podcast NY Public Health Now. Also pictured is DOH Executive Deputy Commissioner, Johanne Morne, DOH Commissioner Dr. James McDonald and DOH Acting Deputy Director for Multimedia, Mike Wren.
Last month, the Commissioners talked about the barriers people with developmental disabilities face in accessing quality health care and how to improve experiences. Tune into the podcast and other DOH podcasts.
Save the Date for the Eclipse on April 8, 2024!
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On April 8, 2024, New York State will be directly under the path of a total solar eclipse, an event that won’t occur for New Yorkers for another 400 years. More information will be forthcoming in a future edition of People First News. In the meantime, find out more on the I Love New York webpage. |
 Get Outdoors & Get Together Day events will be held at select locations across New York on Saturday, June 8. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks), in partnership with the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and the NYS Department of Veterans’ Services, are hosting free, low-cost events to connect people to nature and provide increased access to the outdoors. Get Outdoors & Get Together Day will bring people of all abilities, ages, identities and backgrounds together for fun, healthful activities as part of the state's initiative to ensure all New Yorkers have the opportunity to enjoy the state’s public lands. Learn more
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.
March Meetings:
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