Project Impacts

What began as a pilot program supported by the CDD is now being embedded within New York’s service system. In March 2026, the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) awarded AIM Services, Inc. to lead the Supported Decision-Making model. As an alternative to guardianship, Supported Decision-Making allows people with disabilities to make choices about their own lives with support from a team of people they choose. This is an exciting step forward in empowering people with developmental disabilities to make their own informed choices.

The CDD funded Ramirez June Initiative began in 2019, designed to support new Americans with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families in New York State. Named in honor of the Ramírez family and the family of Siewling (June) Lum, two New American families residing in New York, the initiative reflects a commitment to culturally responsive support and inclusion. While the CDD grant ended in June 2025, the initiative has since been embedded with the NYS Department of State and continues to provide vital support to New Americans with disabilities throughout the state.