Funded Projects

The Council funds innovative projects for people with developmental disabilities and their family members across New York State. These programs are supported in part by funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living.
Available Funding
Project Impacts

Latest Award Announcments

Current Projects
Project NameGranteeProject StartProject EndProject DescriptionURL
Court Personnel TrainingNYS Unified Courts System20262028This project will work to improve the capacity of the NY Court Systems to serve people with developmental disabilities. Many officials and professionals who encounter individuals with IDD are only tangentially aware of the needs and circumstances of this population. Even those who have a greater awareness of the general issue are largely uninitiated on current best practices. This project will work to educate court personnel across the state.Court Personnel Training | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Conflict Management Training & Circles of SupportNYS Unified Courts System20262028Care managers play a critical role in supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, yet the complexity of service systems, high emotional demands, and frequent conflict among service teams can lead to stress, burnout, and turnover. CCO case managers and OPWDD staff are frequently caught in the middle of conflicts between their clients and landlords, employers, family members, and other. Building their conflict competency, and their awareness of CDRC services, will ultimately support individuals and their families access needed services and supports.Conflict Management Training & Circles of Support | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Healthy Athletes ScreeningsSpecial Olympics New York (SONY) 20262030This funding will support Special Olympics New York’s Inclusive Health Program, an initiative to address persistent health disparities experienced by people with DD. Individuals with DD have lower rates of preventive health screenings and higher rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and obesity. This is due to a range of challenges, including inadequate provider training and inaccessible medical equipment, and communication difficulties. Through this program, CDD and SONY aim to reduce these disparities by increasing access to inclusive and high-quality services.Healthy Athletes Screenings | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Together We WorkConstructive Partnerships Unlimited (CP Unlimited) 20252028The Together We Work project will empower people with DD to use their lived experience to provide support, mentorship, and connection to others receiving services, while also building meaningful career paths. By participating in the program, Peer Specialists will gain valuable training, support, and opportunities to contribute to their communities in new and impactful ways.Together We Work | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Mental Health Literacy ResourceSyracuse University20252027Syracuse University will develop a multimodal resource (available both in print and online) to strengthen the response of professionals in the field, as well as family members, in responding to the mental health needs of people with developmental disabilities. This resource will be comprised of a guide and complimentary video animated/live action series discussing mental health and disabilities.Mental Health Literacy Resource | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Advocacy Training and Statewide NetworkSyracuse University20252028The Syracuse University Advocacy Training and Statewide Network will be a bold, inclusive initiative that will establish a comprehensive, sustainable, and culturally responsive framework for advocacy training, network-building, and real-world engagement. This project will equip self-advocates and families across all regions of New York State with the tools, connections, and confidence to communicate their perspectives, lead change, and drive equity.Advocacy Training and Statewide Network | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Onondaga Nation CollaborationUniversity of Rochester20232028This project aims to diminish health disparities for Onondaga children with developmental disabilities by increasing the capacity to serve and connect the Onondaga Nation to developmental services.Onondaga Nation Collaboration | Council on Developmental Disabilities
ASCEND - Advancing Supportive Care through Education for Nurses on DisabilitiesUniversity of Rochester Medical Center (URMC)20232028This project will look at health disparities for people with Developmental Disabilities across the state, including barriers to care. Then they will develop a training curriculum for nurses who provide inpatient or emergency care to people with developmental disabilities and mental health diagnosis. Training will include an emphasis on patient-centered care and shared decision making, as well as disability history and ableism. It will improve patient-nurse interaction and leading to better medical outcomes for this population.ASCEND - Advancing Supportive Care through Education for Nurses on Disabilities | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Housing Resources for Independent LivingNew York Alliance for Innovation and Inclusion, Inc.20232027This project is building a centralized, easy to use website to help people with developmental disabilities, families, and providers find and understand community-based housing options. The website will identify statewide and regionally based resources on housing options and supports available, including supportive apartments, paid neighbors, and live-in caregivers.  Many people want to live more independently but don't know what housing options exist outside of certified settings. This project makes those options easier to find, understand, and access.Housing Resources for Independent Living | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Decision Making Curriculum for People with Developmental Disabilities (DD) K-12CUNY Hunter College20232026One of the most important purposes of school is to give students the skills to become successful adults who make informed decisions. But often schools do not provide students with developmental disabilities the decision-making skills to make essential life decisions. This project will create a curriculum for students in grades K-12 building these skills from a young age, leading to greater independence and self-confidence for people with developmental disabilities.Decision Making Curriculum for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities’ (IDD) K-12 | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Family Employment Awareness Training (FEAT) in New York StateIndiana University and Chinese American Planning Council (CPC)20232026FEAT has been implemented in several states. It introduces families to employment possibilities by giving them knowledge, discussion, and real-life success stories. Through FEAT, people with disabilities, their family members, and the professionals who serve them increase their expectations for competitive employment. And FEAT shows them the resources they have available to help them achieve it. In New York, the FEAT team will be working with the Chinese American Planning Council (CPC), a non-profit organization based in New York City, to bring FEAT to underserved populations in New York. Family Employment Awareness Training (FEAT) in New York State | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Yes She Can: Work Mentorship for Women with Developmental DisabilitiesYes She Can20232026Women with developmental disabilities are under supported by employment programs. This mentorship program will pair young women with developmental disabilities with a structured mentor. They will learn valuable workplace skills from their mentor including effective communication and being comfortable reaching out to workplace peers when they need help or guidance. This 3-year program will help these women gain and retain jobs.Yes She Can: Work Mentorship for Women with Developmental Disabilities | Council on Developmental Disabilities
SANYS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)Self-Advocacy Association of New York State, Inc.20222027The Self-Advocacy Association of New York State, Inc., is the largest self-advocacy organization in NYS  led by people with developmental disabilities for people with developmental disabilities. This 5-year award tasks SANYS to strengthen the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) of New York’s self-advocacy network.SANYS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Apprenticeship ProgramStrong Center for Developmental Disabilities at the University of Rochester (SCDD)20212026This project will improve access for people with developmental disabilities to employment opportunities in the manufacturing industry through pre-apprenticeship training and wrap around supports that leads to employment and registered apprenticeship with business partnersApprenticeship Program | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Archived Projects
Project NameGranteeProject StartProject EndProject DescriptionURL
AbilibeeAbilities First20222024Abilities First developed Abilibee, a website and app for people with developmental disabilities and their caregivers. Abilibee includes step-by-step navigation through each transition stage, a glossary of terms and acronyms to unravel the language, and a curated library of resources to explain and help you be an informed advocate and more.Abilibee | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Accessible Information and Plain Language TrainingYoung Adult Institute (YAI)20232025This project will create a training that supports organizations to communicate important information to people with developmental disabilities and their families more accessibly. People sometimes miss critical information only because of the way it is presented. This project will help agencies bridge those communication gaps. It will empower people with disabilities and their families to better advocate for themselves and understand information and resources.Accessible Information and Plain Language Training | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Building Capacity for Spanish and Chinese-Speaking AdvocatesSinergia, Ibero-American Action League, Chinese-American Planning Council20212023This project aims to give Spanish and Chinese-speaking families the tools they need to advocate for people with developmental disabilities in their communities.Building Capacity for Spanish and Chinese-Speaking Advocates | Council on Developmental Disabilities
CDD COVID-19 Response Small GrantsVarious20212023The NYS Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD) awarded $600,000 for COVID-19 response activities to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) during the pandemic. This initiative recognizes that people with IDD and their families have faced numerous challenges as a result of COVID-19, including social isolation, being disconnected from services and supports and facing additional barriers to employment, transportation and housing.CDD COVID-19 Response Small Grants | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Community Needs Assessment: People with Developmental Disabilities (Bronx & Chautauqua Counties)Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH)20242024The Corporation for Supportive Housing will conduct a community needs assessment of people with developmental disabilities and their families who are low-income in Bronx and Chautauqua Counties. The community needs assessment will identify strengths, needs, key partners, and potential strategies to help address our agency’s targeted disparity.Community Needs Assessment: People with Developmental Disabilities (Bronx & Chautauqua Counties) | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Community of Practice: Reentry for Youth with Developmental DisabilitiesCornell University, Yang Tan Institute20192024Through this five-year grant, Cornell University developed, implemented, and evaluated a New York Statewide Community of Practice (CoP) on Reentry for Youth with Developmental Disabilities. For this grant, reentry is defined as a process that helps justice-involved youth (ages 14-24) transition out of detention facilities and back into community settings in a safe and productive manner. Members of the CoP participated in events ranging from a “prepare to launch” event to ongoing technical assistance, all produced by Cornell University. Community of Practice: Reentry for Youth with Developmental Disabilities | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Disability Awareness Training (Aging)New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA)2020 2021New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) developed and implemented a Disability Awareness Training curriculum and a Train-the-Trainer model for the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) network in NYS. NYSOFA currently oversees AAAs and communicates with the entire network regarding emerging needs, directives, and other programmatic and administrative technical support.Disability Awareness Training (Aging) | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Ensuring Access to Front Door ServicesNYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities 20212023This project was designed to help make accessing services through the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) more accessible for people from different cultures and whose primary language may not be English. Ensuring Access to Front Door Services | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Entrepreneurship for People with Developmental DisabilitiesFarmingdale State College20232025This project will develop a NY Statewide program to assist people with disabilities in starting a business.  A series of workshops will be developed and presented Statewide to introduce entrepreneurship to persons with disabilities.  Consultants will provide accounting and legal assistance to those participants who need additional support in registering their businesses and to ensure they are following mandates according to their disability benefits. Ultimately, they will increase their employment options and independence.Entrepreneurship for People with Developmental Disabilities | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Innovative Technology in Housing InitiativeWestchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD)20212024The Westchester Institute for Human Development (WIHD) is pilot testing a project that, though partnership with local Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (TRAID) sites, assesses individual needs, identifies and supplies appropriate enabling and/or assistive technology (ET/AT), and continually evaluates and provides support for people with developmental disabilities (IDD) who are living in non-certified housing options.Innovative Technology in Housing Initiative | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Proud and SupportedNational Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)20212024This project will provide Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) with knowledge, experience, and training to better work with people with developmental disabilities who identify as LGBTQ+.Proud and Supported: LGBTQ+ Trainings for DSP's | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Purposeful Connection: Building Cross Collaboration Between DV and DD ProvidersNYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (NYS OPDV)20222025The goal is to increase the capacity of DD providers working with survivors/victims of domestic violence and to increase capacity for Domestic Violence (DV) and Sexual Violence (SV) providers working with survivors who have DD.Purposeful Connection: Building Cross Collaboration Between DV and DD Providers | Council on Developmental Disabilities

 

Quick Guides: Tools for Independence
 


 

WRI Solutions20202023The goal of this project is to empower young adults with developmental disabilities to make decisions about the topics of housing, employment & volunteering, relationships, and the transition after high school. Information is presented in “Quick Guides,” which are short publications written in plain language.Quick Guides: Tools for Independence | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Ramirez June InitiativeOffice for New Americans (ONA)20192024The ONA Ramirez June Initiative was created to assist new Americans with developmental disabilities and their families in connecting with vital resources, information, and services in New York State. Ramirez June Initiative | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Re-imagining Transitions during COVID through Mindfulness

Mount Saint Mary


 

20222023Applying the ProActive Caring program’s MBSR tools to transition planning may help individuals with I/DD and their families reduce their fear and anxiety.  Further, by taking a person-centered approach, the program may help families create self-directed opportunities that are more attractive and fulfilling than the range of options typically available.Re-imagining Transitions during COVID through Mindfulness | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Rural Outreach and AdvocacyCerebral Palsy Associations of New York State, Inc.20202022The Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State, Inc. (CP of NYS) will work with six (6) local affiliates, prioritizing OPWDD Region 2 (Central NY and the North Country) and other rural areas of the state, to establish regularly occurring self-advocacy groups.  These groups will meet regularly, identify standing and emerging agenda items, focus each meeting on a particular advocacy topic, and formalize recommendations to the service delivery system (OPWDD, CCOs, service providers, county-level government, local community-based organizations, etc.). Rural Outreach and Advocacy | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Restraint and Seclusion Landscape AnalysisThe Center for Discovery, Inc.20202022This program will conduct a landscape analysis to better understand all sides of the restraint and seclusion equation, especially in the complex populations. The analysis will also encompass an inventory and evaluation of alternative practices and models and if warranted, will include opportunities to bring these practices to the various key systems across NYS.Restraint and Seclusion Landscape Analysis | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Sexuality TrainingElevatus Training, LLC20202022Elevatus Training will provide trainings throughout NYS on the topics of sex and sexuality. Trainings will be focused on educating people with DD, their families and provider agencies.Sexuality Training | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Smiles UnitedTouro College of Dental Medicine20202023Touro College of Dental Medicine, along with their faculty and students are implementing a phased project to help diminish access to dental care obstacles by connecting virtually with group homes. In phase one, students and faculty will connect with group homes and agencies in order to schedule virtual small-group sessions with the homes, their patients, and their caregivers.Smiles United | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Statewide and Regional Housing CollaborativesNew York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation (NY Alliance)20192024This project aims to assist in developing non-certified housing options available to people with developmental disabilities through establishing regional collaboratives, Statewide communities of practice and educational programs for stakeholders.Statewide and Regional Housing Collaboratives | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Supported Decision-making Process and Participant Outcomes EvaluationBurton Blatt Institute (BBI)20192022In 2016, the CDD awarded a five-year grant to a Hunter College-led project to develop and pilot a supported decision-making (SDM) model in New York City, Westchester and four (4) other geographically diverse sites in NYS called SDMNY. To fully evaluate SDMNY, the CDD awarded this three-year grant to Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) to assess the process, program implementation and long-term impact of SDMNY.Supported Decision-making Process and Participant Outcomes Evaluation | Council on Developmental Disabilities
TECH Launch ProgramStrength Solutions Incorporated20182021With this three-year grant, Strength Solutions Incorporated will implement a program called, Tech Launch. This program is a community-based school to employment program. Tech Launch will provide career exploration opportunities for individuals both with and without I/DD in the high demand field of information technology. TECH Launch Program | Council on Developmental Disabilities
TechknowledgeMeThe Self-Advocacy Association of New York State, Inc20212023This project aims to bridge the gap of the digital divide that impacts people with developmental disabilities to participate in virtual events by producing a series of videos training self-advocates to use  videoconferencing. TechknowledgeMe | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Travel Training Curriculum for People with DisabilitiesRural Health Network of SCNY, Inc.20202022Getthere, the Mobility Management Program of Rural Health Network of SCNY, Inc. (RHN), will develop a curriculum that will provide a comprehensive travel training program designed to meet the unique needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)Travel Training Curriculum for People with Disabilities | Council on Developmental Disabilities

 

Youth Leadership Forum


 

Families Together of New York State / YOUTH POWER!20172022The awarded grantee, Families Together of New York State / YOUTH POWER! developed, piloted, and implemented statewide a five-day, four-night Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) for youth participants, ages 14-24. The program was modified to account for NYS-specific context, and to reach diverse communities.Youth Leadership Forum | Council on Developmental Disabilities
Youth Leadership Forum (Technical Assistance)Cornell University20172022With this five-year grant, Cornell University provided technical assistance to the Youth Leadership Forum and Network grantee – Families Together of New York State Incorporated / YOUTH POWER! Youth Leadership Forum (Technical Assistance) | Council on Developmental Disabilities