Developmental Disabilities

New York Contacts

State Agency Responsible for Providing Services to the Developmentally Disabled

The New York Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) operates 13 regional Developmental Disabilities Services Offices (DDSOs). The DDSOs provide person-centered assistance to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to most appropriately meet their needs. In addition voluntary not-for-profit providers whose programs are authorized and/or certified by OMRDD offer similar support and services statewide.

People who are seeking services for themselves or for a family member with mental retardation and developmental disabilities should contact the DDSO responsible for services in the county of their residence or a local voluntary agency.

As part of OMRDD's integrated system of services for persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities, the state of New York relies on a partnership between the public and private sectors, in order to best meet the needs of its citizens with developmental disabilities. Voluntary provider agencies are located throughout the State of New York, and run programs for people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities that are authorized or certified by the State.

State Agency Responsible for Overseeing Employment Opportunities for the Developmentally Disabled

In New York's Department of Education is the Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID). VESID offers supported employment services through their 15 local district offices. Initial supported employment funding is provided by VESID. After an individual has stabilized on the job, funding is transitioned to OMRDD for the ongoing supports needed to maintain employment. OMRDD funding is made available through the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver or for persons not eligible for the HCBS waiver, through 100% state funding.

Sheltered Employment

All programs that serve individuals with developmental disabilities are certified by the New York State OMRDD. Though some sheltered workshop programs are accredited by CARF, New York does not require programs to be CARF accredited. CARF requires providers to conduct an annual comprehensive safety inspection, emergency procedures, personnel training on safety issues, and critical incident reporting, among other things.

New York Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disability (OMRDD) provides access for workers with developmental disabilities through 13 regional offices overseen by, Developmental Disability Services Offices (DDSOs). A list of these regional offices can be viewed at their website.

Competitive Employment

In New York, through the authority of Chapter 515, of the Laws of 1992, The Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID), has been assigned the responsibility for administering, establishing standards, and monitoring the service component of competitive employment services for workers with disabilities. VESID starts with the presumption that all persons with disabilities can benefit from vocational rehabilitation services and should have opportunities to work in jobs integrated within their communities. VESID provides vocational rehabilitation services to eligible individuals to prepare them for suitable jobs. These jobs might be in the competitive work force, in self-owned businesses, or in supported employment on employer sites.

Health and Safety

The Department of Labor's On-Site Consultation Program provides free advice and assistance to small business employers to help them comply with Federal Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Standards. There is no charge to business for the assistance provided under the program. All safety, industrial hygiene and training services are entirely free and confidentiality is maintained to the extent permitted by law.

The Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau oversee workplace protection of public employees at the state and municipal level. If a sheltered workshop participant in a public setting believes a violation of worker health and safety has occurred, they should file a complaint with the Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau.

Private sector employees in New York are covered by federal OSHA. To report concerns about safety and health in competitive employment, contact your area federal OSHA office.

Reporting Abuse and Neglect

New York's Commission on Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled handles complaint about care or treatment at a sate operated/licensed facility or programs with disabilities. The Commission handles cases that can not be solved at the site of the problem.

If an adult or child is in immediate danger, you should first contact your local police department and the OMRDD district office (http://www.omr.state.ny.us/document/hp_contacts.jsp) responsible for your area. In addition, help is available at each county's Department of Social Services Adult Protective Services, which will investigate reports of adult and elder abuse. To obtain specific telephone numbers, call, 24 hours:

Protection and Advocacy

The Office of Advocate for Persons with Disabilities is a systems advocacy agency whose primary mission is to ensure that persons with all disabilities of all ages have an opportunity to be productive and participating citizens. As a systems change agency, the Advocate's Office role is often as collaborator with other state agencies to ensure the needs of persons with disabilities are addressed in other agencies policies and provision of services.

The Developmental Disabilities Planning Council is responsible for developing new ways to improve the delivery of services and supports to New Yorkers with developmental disabilities and their families. The Council focuses on community involvement, employment, recreation and housing issues faced by New Yorkers with developmental disabilities and their families.

The Commission on Quality of Care also offers the Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities program (PADD). PADD serves person who have a developmental disability who are at risk of having their rights violated.