DDPC Announcements

Accessible Info and Plain Language Training

The New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council is announcing availability of grant funds to fund one grantee the amount of up to $150,000 per year for 2 years ($300,000 total) to develop a plain language training and toolkit for agencies and other organizations to translate their communications in more accessible ways, including but not limited to visual samples, audio recording, and plain language writing.

Proposal Due Date - Friday, September 30, 2022, 3:00 PM

Learn more about this opportunity by following this link: Accessible Info and Plain Language Training | Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (ny.gov)

Language Translation Funding

The New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) is seeking grant applications that support the translation of existing documents or materials related to the DDPC approved State Plan into other languages.

Grant Release: June 2, 2022

Application Deadline: July 12, 2022

Award Amount: Minimum $2,500, Maximum $5,000

Learn more about this opportunity by following this link: Language Translation Funding | Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (ny.gov)

Decision-Making Curriculum

The New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council is announcing availability of grant funds to fund a grantee the amount of up to $200,000 per year for 4 years ($800,000 total) to develop a decision-making curriculum for school-aged youth, and associated toolkits for parents and other service providers who support youth in the program.

Proposal Due Date - Friday, July 1, 2022, 3:00 PM

Learn more about this opportunity by following this link: Decision-Making Curriculum | Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (ny.gov)

Housing Resources for Independent Living

The New York State (NYS) Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) is announcing an opportunity to fund one grantee up to $720,000 ($240,000 per year, for 3 years) to develop a comprehensive online repository of information on non-certified housing options available for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The grantee will also provide education to families and caregivers on housing information and the range of non-certified housing options. Depending on grantee performance and Full Council approval, the DDPC will explore an additional 2-years of funding during the third year of this contract.

PROPOSAL DEADLINE EXTENDED:

Proposal Due Date - Friday, May 13, 2022, 3:00 PM

Learn more about this opportunity by following this link: https://ddpc.ny.gov/housing-resources-independent-living

The DDPC is delighted to share that Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared March 2022 Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. From the Proclamation, “New York State recognizes, respects, and depends upon the diversity of its people who strengthen our society through their inherent talents and skills, including people with developmental disabilities.” “People with developmental disabilities also make important and long-standing contributions to New York State through their advocacy, civic engagement, and community involvement.

Please join the DDPC and New York State in celebrating Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

PROCLAMATION

Vicky Hiffa, Acting Executive Director of NYS DDPC, presented Geraldo Rivera and Bernard Carabello with a proclamation recognizing March as Developmental Disability Awareness Month signed by Governor Hochul:

The DDPC Awards Funds to Support Conference Attendance for People with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families

The DDPC is pleased to announce that on March 15, 2022, over $50,000 was awarded to support the attendance of New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their families, and their caregivers at local and national conferences. These funds will enable people with IDD and their families to increase their access to information, training, and policy within the IDD field, with the goal of strengthening partnerships between people with IDD and state and federal service delivery systems.

The eleven (11) recipients of this small grant opportunity are: Advocates Incorporated, Brain Injury Association of NYS, Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York, Inc., Disability EmpowHer Inc., East End Disability Associates, Inc., HeartShare Human Services of New York, Inter-Agency Council for Developmental Disabilities Agencies, NYSARC Inc. Nassau County Chapter, Person Centered Care Services, Tourette Association of America, and Upstate Cerebral Palsy. Each organization will receive between $3,500-$5,000. The DDPC is looking forward to these partnerships.

The DDPC Awards Funds to Improve Outcomes for People with Developmental Disabilities Facing Domestic Violence

The DDPC is pleased to announce a new collaboration with the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) starting on January 1, 2022. The DDPC has awarded approximately $200,000 to OPDV to strengthen the capacity of both the domestic violence (DV) and the intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) systems to improve outcomes for people with disabilities who also experience domestic violence.

OPDV will work with an independent consultant that specializes in working with the IDD population to develop a comprehensive training on identifying and working with IDD individuals facing domestic violence, regardless of where the abuse was discovered. This training will help both DV and IDD provider staff gain skills to be able to respond appropriately to people with IDD who are victims of domestic violence. Ultimately, it will link survivors with available resources and supports accessible for their needs.

The DDPC Awards Funds to Support Advocacy Initiatives for People with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families

The DDPC is pleased to announce that on December 30, 2021, approximately $80,000 was awarded to support new and budding advocacy initiatives in New York State. These funds will be used to strengthen the capacity of both new and existing advocacy organizations run and led by people with developmental disabilities and their families, as well as support non-profit organizations to enhance advocacy opportunities.

The eight (8) recipients of this small grant opportunity were Western New York Independent Living, Nassau County Chapter (AHRC NASSAU), Special Olympics New York Inc., Self-Advocacy Association of NYS (SANYS), Supporting Our Youth & Adults Network Inc. (SOYAN), Tech Kids Unlimited, Alliance for Families with Developmental Needs Inc. (AFDN), and Center for Self-Advocacy Inc. Each organization will receive approximately $10,000 to support advocacy efforts. The DDPC is looking forward to these partnerships to strengthen advocacy across New York State.

In September 22-24, 2021, the DDPC sponsored a free Summit - "Improving Language Access in Developmental Disabilities Services: Bringing Leaders and Advocates Together to Drive Change". The  Summit brought together leaders, families, and advocates to inform and advance Language Access in the Developmental Disabilities field in New York State. 

The Summit was hosted by the NYS Community of Practice (CoP) in Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Developmental Disabilities.

To access the Summit materials, please click here: Improving Language Access in Developmental Disabilities Services: Bringing Leaders and Advocates Together to Drive Change

TECH Launch Program

The Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) in partnership with the NYS Digital and Media Services Center released a new video about the DDPC funded pilot project - TECH Launch. 

TECH Launch program engages transition aged youth and young adults in pre-employment tech skills training and character development. Program participants explore their own interests and strengths with a self-guided work plan tailored to their individual goals. If they wish to learn things like programming, website development, videography, digital recording, or robotics, Boundless Connections offers the equipment and connections to nurture those skills. Coupled with the globally renowned Virtues Project facilitated by Strength Solutions, participants also receive training in individual empowerment, to identify their own strengths and areas of growth, and build confidence in their selected areas of focus. For individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Tech launch not only teaches valuable skills but offers opportunity for greater community inclusion.

Follow this link to watch the video about TECH Launch program: TECH Launch | Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (ny.gov)

New Report: Pilot on Housing Navigation

Housing Grant: Housing Navigation Preliminary Report

“We work for the people we serve and if we aren’t going to support them in becoming the best version of themselves then new team members need to be identified.” - Master Housing Navigator

The NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) is pleased to announce the release of a new report entitled “Housing Navigation Preliminary Report.” In 2019, the DDPC funded a Pilot Project with the NY Alliance that tested an innovative approach to creating independent housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). As part of the project, the Alliance enlisted five "Master Housing Navigators," one for each OPWDD Region in NYS. Over three years, they worked with people to connect them with the apartment, house, or living arrangement that they wanted for themselves. The pilot project showed that Housing Navigation results in improved outcomes for people with IDD, and potentially significant savings for the taxpayer. This report provides details about the pilot, the results, and recommendations for the future.

To read the FULL REPORT, click here: Housing Navigation Preliminary Report 2022 

Acknowledgement: This project was supported, in part, by grant number 1901NYSCDD from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, the Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201 through the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (NYS DDPC). Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy or the opinions, interpretation, or policy of the NYS DDPC.

Reclaiming Innovation in Housing: Overcoming Institutionalized Models of Service in NY

The NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) is pleased to announce the release of a new report entitled “Reclaiming Innovation in Housing: Overcoming Institutionalized Models of Service in NY.” The DDPC funded this initiative through AIM Services, Inc., who led the project in collaboration with John Maltby, M.S., who served as the Primary Investigator.

As part of its long-term planning and policy initiatives, DDPC has examined ways in which housing options for people with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) could be increased. Recognizing that there are many barriers to expanding housing options for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, DDPC supported the development of a report to look at both the funding and regulation of housing in NYS. This timely report sheds light on regulatory and funding practices that may impede the creation of more housing, and makes recommendations for how to address those impediments.

To read the FULL REPORT, click here: Reclaiming Innovation in Housing: Overcoming Institutionalized Models of Service in NY

Acknowledgement: This project was supported, in part, by grant number 1901NYSCDD from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, the Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201 through the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (NYS DDPC). Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy or the opinions, interpretation, or policy of the NYS DDPC.