A Fond Farewell to Commissioner, Kerri Neifeld
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Earlier this year Commissioner Kerri Neifeld announced that she would be leaving her role as Commissioner of OPWDD at the end of June. Read Commissioner Neifeld's announcement here.
It is time to offer Commissioner Neifeld a fond farewell, thank her for incredible leadership during her more than two-year tenure and wish her well in her future endeavors.
Thank you, Commissioner Neifeld. You will be missed.
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A Warm Welcome to
Acting Commissioner, Willow Baer
As of July 1, Executive Deputy Commissioner Willow Baer has assumed the role of Acting Commissioner of OPWDD. Having served as the second in command at the agency for the last year after returning to OPWDD from an interim position as Assistant Counsel to the Governor and from her role as Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel at the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Willow Baer is well prepared to lead the agency as it meets the stated goals of its Strategic Plan. Prior to working with OCFS, Willow spent six years at OPWDD, most recently serving as Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel.
Willow initially joined OPWDD in 2015 as an Associate Counsel after serving as General Counsel at the NYS Justice Center.
Willow has spent much of her career working to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families are afforded the best service system possible. Welcome, Acting Commissioner Baer!
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#MoreThanWork Campaign is Working!
In March, OPWDD began partnering with non-profit service providers in a statewide Direct Support Professional recruitment marketing campaign called #MoreThanWork. The campaign promotes awareness of the vital role DSPs play in people’s lives and in our communities and of the rewarding career opportunities that exist throughout New York for people who are looking for meaningful work. Multi-media advertising is currently giving #MoreThanWork visibility in all parts of the state ─ through ads in bus shelters, subway cars, billboards, on radio and tv, on social media platforms and more. The campaign after just three months is now seeing robust traffic from job seekers to the #MoreThanWork website (www.directsupportcareers.com). Campaign videos have been viewed to completion more than 13 million times, and #MoreThanWork is driving potential DSP candidates to reach out directly to more than 225 participating provider agencies across the state.
This spring focus groups were held to hear constructive feedback on how the #MoreThanWork message is being received. Participants confirmed the message and imagery is on target and offered helpful suggestions for future enhancements. The campaign is now working to promote increased publicity as well as increased presence and engagement on social media. To learn more about #MoreThanWork and how an agency you know can join the campaign to boost their recruitment efforts contact Communications.Office@opwdd.ny.gov.
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Tell Us What You Think!
2024 Strategic Planning Forums Are Continuing
OPWDD’s 2024 Strategic Planning forums are well underway, with stakeholders offering candid feedback on the agency’s ongoing initiatives and progress. One in-person forum remains, and two statewide, online forums are now scheduled for July 22nd and July 24th. This year, the in-person forums follow a more interactive format than in previous years, with participants invited to make public comments and to submit questions in advance many of which will be addressed at the forum.
OPWDD will use the feedback gathered through the forums to inform future agency priorities and direction. Please register to participate in a forum using the links below.
In-Person Forum
Registration: OPWDD Strategic Planning Forum Registration (office.com)
- July 9, 11 am – 1 pm, Lefrak Auditorium of the Price Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine,1301 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461
Virtual Forums
Staten Islanders Celebrate the Joy of Spring with a Live, On-stage Production
 Above: A scene from the May 24, 2024 production of The Joy of Spring.
Inspired by OPWDD’s ongoing anti-stigma campaign “Look Beyond My Developmental Disability,” a group of people from Staten Island recently took their ability and message to the live stage in a monologue play entitled “The Joy of Spring,” which they performed at the St. George Theatre on Staten Island. The group members wanted to share their career dreams and let people know that they have the same ambitions as everyone else.
The acting school, Moonlight Productions, worked with the group to help them act out their dream jobs for all to see. While the actors had previously performed in small venues, OPWDD’s Staten Island Recreation Team and staff at the St. George Theater helped them bring their message to the bigger stage. OPWDD Commissioner Kerri Neifeld and Executive Deputy Commissioner Willow Baer attended the May 24th production where Commissioner Neifeld was recognized with an award from the Staten Island self-advocates.
Look Beyond My Developmental Disability Campaign Enters its Final Months ─
But its Message Continues
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The year-long anti-stigma campaign “Look Beyond My Developmental Disability” is entering its final month, encouraging people to recognize that people with developmental disabilities are like all of us ─ with unique abilities, strengths, goals and interests. What we have in common is so much more than our differences. Beginning last July, OPWDD has promoted this important understanding through a public awareness campaign and invited people to join in sharing the message. Through gathering personal statements, we have been able to showcase many identities of people with developmental disabilities. From entrepreneurs, to athletes, musicians, employees and more, their self-proclaimed identities have helped us all to see that people with developmental disabilities are so many things. Together, we challenged the public to look beyond the disability and see everything that makes the person.
Using a wide variety of media, the campaign advertising put the message in front of people throughout the state over 68 million times and led people to click on the campaign’s webpage more than 106,000 times. Now, as the campaign enters its final official month, OPWDD encourages everyone to continue to battle stigma and confidently remind people to look beyond a person’s developmental disability to see them for all that they are.
OPWDD Shows its Pride
  OPWDD staff and self-advocates celebrated Pride Month by marching in Pride Parades held across the state. Here, OPWDD staff are shown participating in the 2024 Capital Pride Parade in Albany's Washington Park and in New York City.
 The above Pride poster was created by a program participant at the state operated Kenwood IRA in the Capital District.
Become a Family Care Provider
OPWDD is seeking new people to open their homes and their lives to people with developmental disabilities by becoming a Family Care provider. Family Care offers people the opportunity to live with a family and experience the benefits of a family home and environment. It offers an alternative to other residential services such as group homes and more support than living independently. Family Care providers provide people the support they need to be safe and active.
Family Care homes are certified by OPWDD. Providers can be households of any size, with adults who are single or married and who own or rent their home. They come from every religious, ethnic and social background and are reimbursed for room and board, mileage and other expenses of providing care. Family Care providers also receive training in a range of subjects.
To find out more or express your interest in becoming a Family Care provider, please contact: info@opwdd.ny.gov.
Get Outdoors & Get Together Day
Event a Success!
 Get Outdoors & Get Together Day events were held at 22 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 OPWDD and the NYS Department of Veterans’ Services, hosted these free events at State Parks and DEC educational centers across the state to connect people to nature and provide increased access to the outdoors. Get Outdoors & Get Together Day succeeded in its mission to 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. See more photos from the event on NY State Parks Flickr page.
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