A message from our executive director

 

“Change presents opportunities for growth and innovation, concepts at the very heart of our mission. We are thankful for the leadership and support of our Council members, State agency partners and grantees as we advanced many key initiatives in 2023 to enhance the lives of people with developmental disabilities and their families, while we also transitioned to our new name and my new role as Executive Director. The Council continues our collective efforts and work toward more opportunities to create systems change and  promote self-determination, integration, and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities throughout the State.”

-Kristin Proud, CDD Executive Director

By the Numbers
Participation

The Council funded more than 40 grants last year connecting with more than 15,300 self-advocates, family members and other stakeholders. 7,560 + professionals in the developmental disability community received training through CDD grants. 

Outcomes

More than 80% of individuals and family members were satisfied with grant-related experiences and nearly 700 people with DD and family members say their ability to self-advocate after participating in grant projects improved.

Growth

In the past year, the CDD revamped and increased its communications efforts with our social media presence increasing an average of 200%. YouTube views of our documentary The Path Forward: Remembering Willowbrook top 140,000, which include the fully captioned English, Spanish, Chinese and Audio Description versions.

ADVOCACY
We Work to Represent and Advance Your Voice

The Council funded four grants and several small grants to create greater independence and self-confidence for people with developmental disabilities, including its first-ever NYS Advocacy Institute, a day-long, immersive experience for first-time and new advocates. 100 percent of Institute participants said they were better able to tell decision-makers what is important to them. More than 90 percent said they are now more interested in seeking leadership opportunities.

 

Two program participants pose for a photo.

 

“I loved the table groups and how you put it together...I feel everyone had a voice (that wanted to). Great job! Hope this continues.” 
-Advocacy Institute Participant

Self-Advocates Leading the Way
Self-Advocates Leading the Way, an AHRC Nassau grant, was designed to develop new pathways of advocacy across NYS by training and elevating a team of DEI Advocacy Ambassadors. In addition to the ambassadors expanding education and training to create a team of self-advocacy leaders, other materials like a DEI handbook, video project and workshops were developed.
WRI Solutions
Through a CDD-supported grant, WRI Solutions, created a series of accessible guides, written in plain language and intended for self-advocates to learn more about a variety of life topics. Short publications, known as "Quick Guides,” are meant to empower young adults with developmental disabilities to make decisions about housing, employment & volunteering, relationships, and transitioning after high school and feature answers to common questions, checklists, information about New York State resources, and more. Quick Guides are free, easy to use, and are available in Spanish.

INNOVATION We Develop Groundbreaking Projects to Create Real Solutions

By Collaborating

Through connections with other state agencies and departments, the CDD has been able to address several intersecting issue areas impacting people with developmental disabilities. A collaboration with the NYS Office of Mental Health and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities will expand existing home-based crisis intervention services with pilot intervention teams focused on youth with co-occurring developmental disability and mental health diagnoses. Additionally, a grant with the University of Rochester seeks to address barriers to care and develop a training curriculum for nurses who provide inpatient or emergency care to people with developmental disabilities who also have a mental health diagnosis.  The CDD and the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) are collaborating with DD providers, domestic violence prevention programs, as well as other stakeholders to increase access to domestic and sexual violence services for survivors with developmental disabilities. Through a series of listening sessions held this last year, OPDV was able to gain valuable input that will lead to comprehensive trainings and curriculum development.

Mental Health Resources
By Initiating Opportunity

Through CDD-supported programs, people with developmental disabilities are finding options for a path to meaningful employment. One grant, through the Small Business Development Center at Farmingdale State College has developed an entrepreneurship program to assist people with disabilities in starting a business.  Nearly 800 self-advocates, family members, caregivers and others participated in virtual workshops, trainings and other support on topics like evaluating best business practices, writing a business plan, and financial planning.Advance 2 Apprenticeship is a CDD-supported employment initiative through the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities to improve access to apprenticeship programs for people with developmental disabilities within the manufacturing industry. The project is a collaboration with Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC), Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), Center for Workforce Development at Monroe 2–Orleans BOCES (CWD) and Rochester Technology & Manufacturing Association (RTMA).

Watch the Video Here

Housing for People with Developmental Disabilities: A Success Story

A new video from the CDD highlights a grant with the NY Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation to develop ‘Regional Housing Collaboratives’, which brings together housing-related professionals interested in helping people with developmental disabilities by supporting creative housing solutions.

INCLUSION
We promote choice and independence in all facets of community life

CDD contracted with The Young Adult Institute (YAI) to develop "plain-language translations" of documents commonly used by people with developmental disabilities and their advocates. Since people sometimes miss critical information only because of the way it is presented, this project helps agencies bridge those communication gaps. It empowers people with disabilities and their families to better advocate for themselves and understand information and resources. YAI surveyed people with developmental disabilities and their family members to identify documents and information to be prioritized for translation into plain language. They specifically met with members of the Chinese American community to learn about the needs of this underserved community, where it became evident how cultural and language barriers increase the challenges when navigating a complex application and service delivery system at point of entry and again during all service transactions. Although this grant is in the initial phase, YAI has already reached more 100 self-advocate and family members, and has future plans for plain language translation curriculum, guide, tool kit and trainings.

Last year, the CDD adopted a five-year Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Strategic Plan to increase and support the diversity of council members and staff, grantees and grant projects, advocacy efforts, and all aspects of the agency’s work. We are proud to say we are one of the first developmental disabilities councils in the country to implement a DEIA plan and hope to be an example to other organizations across the state and nation. The Plan seeks to address contemporary racial, socioeconomic, and gender inequalities, by committing to the long-term work of diminishing disparities, changing policies that promote inequities, and driving positive systems change.

 

See the accessible deia plan here

“People with disabilities are diverse, we aren't just one thing. That's why it's so important to think about race, background, culture, and disability together. It's important to remember there is not just one size fits all when it comes to disability, it can be seen through many lenses. As a self-advocate, I bring my full self to my advocacy work."

- Ketrina Hazell, CDD Cultural Competency Workgroup Member

With a CDD-supported grant, Abilities First is working to create an online platform and mobile app where individuals and families can get information in both written and video form, find relevant resources, share others’ first-hand experiences, participate in online discussion, and get news of advocacy measures and events from across New York State. Still being developed, the app called AbiliBee, seeks to help families anticipate and embrace each step in the journey of education, independence and inclusion with warmth, humor, and reliable information empowering them in their decision-making. 

A photo of a person using the Abilibee app on a tablet.

Disability and Sexuality
CDD funded a project with the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) to develop a curriculum, deliver virtual trainings and to create awareness to better support people with developmental disabilities who identify as LGBTQ+. The project, called "Proud and Supported," offers training and support to DSPs, people with developmental disabilities, family members, and any other interested stakeholders, and addresses topics such as what it means to be LBGTQ+, various ways people can present and identify themselves, types of discrimination, stereotypes, and how to find community support. As a result of the grant's success, the Proud and Supported project was featured nationally last year, when it was presented to other state council leaders who are part of the National Association for Councils on Developmental Disabilities.