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The Arc of the United
States Announces Sub-Grant Award for
Transitioning Youth from School to Adult
Life Funded by the Walmart Foundation
April 7, 2010
– Thanks to a $3
million grant from the Walmart
Foundation, The Arc of the United States
(The Arc) is awarding grants to 45 local
chapters of The Arc across the U.S. in
support of a new initiative designed to
help youth with intellectual and
developmental disabilities.
These Sub-Grants are
being awarded as part of the Walmart
Foundation School-to-Community
Transition Project. The project aims to
increase transition outcomes and to
build inclusion and involvement of youth
with intellectual and developmental
disabilities in independent living,
employment, post-secondary education or
vocational training, and community,
social and civic affairs.
To learn more, visit
www.walmartfoundation.org
The Lessons of Willowbrook
BY PETER SMERGUT
Executive Director Life's WORC
If
history teaches us anything, it is
not to repeat the mistakes of the
past. Governor David A. Paterson’s
recent directive to reduce state
allocation to the Office of Mental
Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities (OMRDD) by 10 percent
is a chilling reminder that what’s
old is new again.
A half century ago NYS was lauded
for it’s efforts in supporting
individuals with development
disabilities in what at the time
were considered state of the art
facilities such as Willowbrook.
We all know what happened in that
infamous institution when the State
repeatedly cut back on its funding.
The state of the art became a state
of despair and thousands of people
were forced to live in sub-human
conditions. There was never a
“public policy” to create such
appalling conditions but there was
misguided public policy, which
removed itself from responsibility
and voided its ethical and moral
compass.
Cuts of the magnitude proposed by
Paterson will surely lead us down a
similar path unless more reasoned
voices prevail. We all understand
that New York State is going through
difficult economic times and OMRDD
has already seen its fair share of
cuts over the past year. This latest
proposal, however, will jeopardize
the health and safety of the
vulnerable individuals we care for
and cause many agencies to close.
Since New York Sate is required by
law to care for these individuals,
the State will again become the
primary provider of support.
Massachusetts, facing a similar
economic crisis, rescinded cuts to
developmental disabilities service
programs from $60 million to $7.7
million. The Governor said he made
his budget decision based upon what
he believed to be the core
principles and values of the people
in his state.
Are individuals with developmental
disabilities less deserving in New
York State?
The Governor’s proposed cuts are
actually penny wise and dollar
foolish given that for every one
dollar he cuts in state aid, New
York State loses a matching 61 cents
from the Federal government. New
York State developmental disability
services has already agreed to $86
million dollars in reductions and
revenue enhancement. We cannot
absorb another reduction in funding.
The additional $159 million in
proposed cuts by Paterson for the
remainder of this fiscal year has
the potential to eliminate 6,000
jobs statewide. More importantly, it
has the potential to destroy the
lives of thousands of people with
developmental disabilities.
The incremental victories that this
community has begrudgingly won over
the past three decades will be
eliminated by one broad stroke of
the pen.
We cannot let this happen to our
most vulnerable citizens.
Read
the full article
here
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ACCESS Community Health Center (formerly AHRC Healthcare)
- The Article 28 medical clinic
can serve individuals has ongoing vacancies at the Maiden Lane Health Center in Manhattan and
the Pelham Parkway Health Center in the Bronx for primary medical care,
psychiatry, neurology, and
podiatry. Speech, physical, and occupational
therapy services are available in the Bronx and Manhattan. Contact clinical intake at 212/895-3410 for
more information. Most services available in bilingual
Spanish for both adults and children.
ADEPT
- Services available in AHRC's ADEPT
(Assessment Diagnosis Evaluation Planning and Treatment)
program. The interdisciplinary ADEPT team was created to
serve aging adults with developmental disabilities, who are
exhibiting sudden changes in behavior or geriatric syndromes.
If you know anyone who is suddenly exhibiting: memory loss;
sleeplessness; incontinence; falling; agitation; depression; or
other challenging changes in behavior, refer them to Jessica at
212/780-2575, for more information and to schedule an ADEPT
evaluation. Testing is based on the needs of the
individual and may include: a geriatric evaluation; an in-depth
examination of previous medical work-ups; psychological testing;
psychiatric testing; psychosocial assessment; and functional
assessment by rehab specialist.
Psychological/Psychosocial
Evaluations
- AHRC is offering Psychological
Evaluations and Psychosocial Evaluations at no cost for individuals who are
developmentally disabled that do not have Medicaid and are not
enrolled in the New York City Department of Education. Please call Clara at 212/780-2387 for more information.
HIRE - Supported
Employment. Placement in jobs
dependent on applicant's skills and abilities.
Brooklyn, call Natalya at 718/895-3325. Queens, call
Martha at 718/639-5500, x232. Bronx, call Ana at 718/944-5099. Staten Island, call Maria at 718/494-4385.
Blended Services Program -
Day Hab without Walls Supported
Employment or Day Hab without Walls Prevocational Program for
young adults ages 18-25 who graduated from Special Ed schools.
Monday through Friday between 9am - 5pm. The individuals
will be travel trained. Contact Melissa at 212/634-8673
for more information.
Youth Careers/ Janitorial
Training Program -
OCFS - Pre-Vocational training program for NYC residents with DD, or
LD only, 19-21 years of age.
15 weeks of training combines classroom instruction with an
internship at a major NYC institution. Upon successful
completion, graduates will be placed in janitorial careers with
high earning potential. Enrollment ongoing. Cycle
begins in July - there are 8 openings in Brooklyn and 7 openings
in the Bronx. For Brooklyn, call
Alexis at 718/895-3380 and for the Bronx, call Adriana at
718/944-5089 ext. 111 for more
information.
Overnight Respite
-
Guests must be age 4 and up, and
must be weight bearing if non-ambulatory. Cannot be
seriously medically involved where extra nursing staff would be
necessary. Families should apply for respite before the
need arises, since the application has to be approved
beforehand. Call Veronica at 212/780-2605 for more
information.
At Home Residential
Habilitation
- Waiting list for people from
birth (with EI Service Coordination) and up in all 5 boroughs.
Person must meet eligibility for Medicaid Waiver. Contact
Home Care Services at 212/780-2520.
In-Home
Respite
- Waiting list for people ages 3
and over in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Bronx, and Queens. Require
proof of developmental disability. Contact Home Care
Services at 212/780-2520.
AHRC is full of many talented individuals, each with their
own
 unique
voice and method of expression. To showcase many of these
works, AHRC's
Art Gallery
has expanded and now includes many more works of art created by
the
 artists at AHRC's Adult Day Facilities.
Please visit the growing
Art Gallery
to see a showcase of extraordinary talent and inspiration.
Check back frequently for updates!
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