- Introductions were completed.
- Minutes from the last meeting were approved; if you would like to refer to past minutes, they are always available on the DD Council website: (www.manhattanddcouncil.org).
III. Announcements : See PDF Flyers Here
Esperanza
See attached for information on day hab services, pre-vocational, respite get away trips upstate, and Wednesday and Saturday recreation programs for people living in Manhattan and the Bronx.
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
Workshops are held for parents of children ages 0-21 in the DOE or who are receiving CPSE services. See attached for details on upcoming special education trainings for parents in October, being held in English and Spanish.
NYPLI has an intake line available from 9am to 3pm, where people with any disability can call for information. If the staff at NYLPI can’t assist, they will refer the person to the appropriate provider. Call 212-244-4664 for details.
YAI
Information is attached for service vacancies, including Mindfulness Training for Parents (no OPWDD eligibility required), “Transition to Independence” programs for young adults on the autism spectrum, and Crisis services. For information about any YAI programs, please call 212-273-6182, or email link@yai.org.
Ohel Bais Ezra
Reimbursement for goods and services for families living in Manhattan. See attached for details.
ADAPT Community Network – formerly UCP of New York City
Information for an upcoming free Family Forum on 10/20 on Conflict Free Case Management, which will be replacing MSC early next year, and on Partners Health Plan (PHP), which is for people over 21 who have both Medicaid and Medicare.
Information is also attached regarding program vacancies and family reimbursement.
Call 718-436-7979 ext. 704, or email familyconnect@adaptcommunitynetwork.org
AHRC NYC
Program vacancy list is attached, along with information on Family Reimbursement.
Include NYC
There will be a six-week advocacy training and networking opportunity for parents, held on Saturdays from 10am to 3pm. Parents will learn about laws and changes in Special Education services, gain effective communication skills, and gain knowledge on how to work with schools. The goal is to have parents find education and community resources, so that they can become experts and leaders in their communities, and be able to help others and share information. Go to www.includenyc.org for more information.
NYC FAIR – Family Advocacy Information Resource
A meeting is being scheduled for October, to discuss CCO’s and CAS. Any parents who want to become involved should go to www.nycfair.org, or email questions@nycfair.org.
Other
Joshua Trost is looking for ways to get music and computers to people with disabilities. See attached for details, and contact him if you can help, or would like help.
The Bronx DD Council’s Children’s Committee would like to invite parents to a presentation on Saturday, October 21. Topics will include transition preparation, due process rights, negotiating the IEP, and employment services. See attached for registration details.
Council Dues Are Due! See attached for the invoice for non-profit agencies to pay dues. Paid members will have any non-fundraising events listed on the Council’s calendar of events.
Presentation: Jennifer Smith, Outreach Director, NY Connects at CIDNY
Newly launched in NYC, this statewide service connects people of all ages with any disability, and caregivers, with information on care and support, I/DD services, mental health and substance abuse services, services to help people remain independent, transportation, supports for caregivers, supported employment programs, Medicare, Medicaid, other benefits, durable medical equipment, home health aides, legal services, and more. Their website includes a resource directory. The goal of NY Connects is to enable people to remain at home longer. NY Connects provides seamless access for benefits and services – one-stop shopping, where you make just one call to NY Connects and they forward the information to the appropriate agency. Family members and caregivers can call on behalf of the person. NY Connects counselors are trained; there is a translation phone line. For more information and assistance: www.nyconnects.ny.gov or 844-862-7930.
Presentation: Alex Elegudin, Accessibility Program Manager, NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission
Alex explained that as a result of a lawsuit settlement, 50% of yellow taxis and 33% of green taxis are required to be wheelchair accessible by 2020. A proposal has been put forward to require for-hire taxis, such as Uber and Lyft, which are subject to TLC rules, to send 25% of their dispatched trips to wheelchair-accessible vehicles. This would create parity between the for-hire and yellow taxi sectors. The goal is to ensure equivalence in waiting time and fares between disabled and non-disabled riders.
The Commission will hold a public hearing September 21, 2017, at 10:00 am, in the hearing room at 33 Beaver Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10004. The hearing room is wheelchair accessible. To comment on the proposed rule at the public hearing, you must sign up to speak by calling 212-676-1135. You can also sign up in the hearing room before the hearing begins. Speeches are limited to three minutes. Or you can send written comments by September 21 to the Taxi and Limousine Commission, Office of Legal Affairs, 33 Beaver Street, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10004 or tlcrules@tlc.nyc.gov.
- State News – Liz Cambra
- OPWDD disseminated an RFS for development of new certified residential opportunities for people with emergency and substantial need. NYC was allocated 113 opportunities, out of 455 statewide. Proposals are due to OPWDD by October 6. Notification of awards is expected November 10.
- High needs funding: CMS has given verbal approval to OPWDD’s proposal. Agencies in need of this special funding can submit a request. Guidance from the DDRO will be available.
- The RFS for Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs) was released in September. Proposals are due by the end of November. CCOs are projected to launch July 2018.
- The hearing for OPWDD’s 5.07 plan will be September 25, 3-7 pm, at OPWDD, 25 Beaver St. To register, contact Lopez@opwdd.ny.gov.
- Helene De Santo, Executive Deputy Commissioner of OPWDD, is retiring in December. Jay Kionaga, formerly at OPWDD and currently at the Justice Center, will assume her responsibilities.
- Donna Limiti, Director of Region 4, OPWDD, is retiring September 20. Liz Cambra will be Acting Director. Donna sent an appreciative farewell letter to the DD Council.
- City News – Sandra Piggee
City Council contracts are being returned to the City.
- IAC/Federation – Richard Bosch
Richard mentioned the small proportion of new certified residential opportunities to be developed in NYC—only 25%, essentially the same as the amount for Western NY. NYC used to get 40% or more of NYS’s new development opportunities. It is essential that NYC not be undercounted; we need to rev up outreach to people in need of certified residential opportunities. Currently, there are two waiting lists, the Residential Request List (RRL) and the Certified Residential Opportunity (CRO) list, which are managed locally. People needing residential services soon must be on the CRO list. To get someone on the CRO list, MSCs/families should contact Evette Herdsman at 646-766-3298; Evette.herdsman@opwdd.ny.gov. Matchmaking between agencies and individuals occurs at the regularly scheduled borough meetings (see attached list).
IAC is continuing its joint efforts on the bFair2DirectCare campaign.
VII. Committees
Family Support Services: Wendy De Leon and Yesenia Estrella reported that at the committee’s meeting on September 12, Carol Lincoln, Adapt Community Network, presented on CCOs. Planning for the Fair has begun. It will be held December 14 at the NY Academy of Medicine. Yesenia Estrella is overseeing work on the Directory. Agencies will be getting copies of their entries to update. They are asked to respond promptly. Volunteers are needed for the day of the Fair, as well as for the preparation of the bags the day before. The next meeting will be Tuesday, October 19, 2017, 10:00 am – noon, Sinergia, 2082 Lexington Ave., 4th floor. Information: Yesenia Estrella (212) 928-5810; yestrella@esperanzacenter.com.
Legislative: Jim Malley reported that upcoming advocacy efforts around the budget will likely center on DSP salaries. The call letter for state agencies to submit proposed budgets is not yet out. There is no indication yet of what we can expect in the Governor’s Executive Budget.
Transition: Kathy Kelly stated that there are 15 June, 2017, graduates without opportunities. Some are awaiting eligibility, one person who uses a wheelchair is seeking site-based services in lower Manhattan. Next meeting: Wednesday, October 11, 2017, 9:30 am – noon, AHRC, 83 Maiden Lane, 11th floor board room. Information: Kathy Kelly (212) 780-2724; kathy.kelly@ahrcnyc.org.
Manhattan FSS Advisory Council: Margaret Puddington reported that Kate Bishop, OPWDD, is presenting on Self-Direction: Questions & Answers at the next meeting: Monday, September 25, 2017, 5:30-7:30 pm, SUS, 305 7th Ave., 11th floor. Location may be changed due to the overwhelming response and the need to find a larger space. Information: Margaret Puddington (212) 799-2042; margaret.puddington@gmail.com.
MSC Committee: Carol Lincoln stated that at the next meeting, there will be CASA and START presentations: Friday, September 29, 2017, 10:00 am – noon, Adapt Community Network (formerly UCP), 80 Maiden Lane, 4th floor. Information: Carol Lincoln (718) 859-5420 x 225; clincoln@adaptcommunitynetwork.org.
VIII. New Business
Marco Damiani explained that DD Council Executive Committee meetings were held over the summer, where the Council’s committee structure was examined with a view to strengthening advocacy and reaching more people. At the next DD Council meeting, October 12, we will discuss this fully.