The 19th Annual Westchester County Transitions Linkage Fair is a free event is for parents, educators and advocates to learn more about adult services and transition planning.
You’ll have the opportunity to visit with representatives from over a whopping 45 vendors serving Westchester County for information on:
Details
When: Monday, May 6, 2024
Time: 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Westchester County Center, 198 Central Ave., White Plains, N.Y., 10606
Parking: Event parking is $8; street parking is free or metered
Registration: Pre-registration is not required
Questions?: Contact Debbie Goddard (914) 493-8119, dgoddard@wihd.org; Matthew Faulkner (914) 995-5253, Mqf3@westchestercountyny.gov.
New Yorkers come out fighting for CDPAP, changes come to SSI, Disney changes its disability access program and more developmental disability news for the week ending April 13, 2024.
I’ve been curious/skeptical about sunny news reports showing employment rates for working-age people with disabilities have hit record highs, in part because I know so many people with developmental disabilities struggling to find jobs and because, when broken down, the numbers vary so much by state.
So, I was interested to see the study Disability, Immigration, and Postpandemic Labor Supply, which came across my desk via the Disability Debrief newsletter. It finds that “the increase in the disabled labor force largely reflects a change in self-reported disability status among those already in the labor force rather than an actual increase in labor supply.” Interesting! You can read more about the study here.
Opinion: New York must invest in people with disabilities An articulate, impassioned plea for a COLA for Direct Support Professional nonprofit providers and a DSP Wage Enhancement. (NYNMedia)
Podcast: NYC students speak out about special education (Chalkbeat)
Critics furious over Hochul, Heastie plan to crack down on NY’s $8 billion home care Medicaid program: ‘Recipe for corruption’ (New York Post)
Opposition to a single fiscal intermediary grows among disability rights community (nystateofpolitics.com)
Home Care, Consumer Groups Oppose Eliminating Fiscal Intermediaries Caring for the Elderly and New Yorkers with Disabilities across the State (Release posted by Empire Report)
Advocacy: Disability advocates condemn budget proposal to enrich an out-of-state corporation at the expense of the Disability community (empirereportnewyork.com)
Social Security: Food assistance no longer counted when calculating SSI benefit Starting Sept. 30, 2024, that is. The change is the first of several updates being put in place. (CNBC)
Exercise May Boost Cognition In Adults With Down Syndrome This small study finds that walking three times a week for 30 minutes could prompt meaningful improvements in cognitive activity within weeks. (Disability Scoop)
Disney changes its Disability Access Service (DAS) program: What to know Walt Disney World/Disneyland are changing their policies for guests with disabilities. (It also threatens lifetime ban for those who lie during DAS registration.) (USA Today)
Nonverbal Swimmer With Autism Has Shot At Paralympic Games In Paris (Disability Scoop via nj.com)
President Biden’s Remarks on the Care Economy He renewed his commitment to long-term care and family caregiving, a national Paid Family and Medical Leave Program and more.
In celebration of Disability Pride Month, Daniel’s Music Foundation and Bethel Woods Center for the Arts will be hosting a one-day inclusive music festival on the historic grounds of Woodstock 1969.
“Hello Inclusion: A Festival of Possibilities” will showcase musicians with disabilities and offer a wide range of activities throughout the day including dance parties, drum circles and songwriting workshops.
Artists from Daniel Music’s Just Call Me By My Name — a record label for people with disabilities — will perform on The Horizon Stage throughout the festival.
You can find the schedule of events here.
For those who need a ride, a “Hello Inclusion” bus departing from Daniel’s Music Foundation in New York City will be available. Contact Nadine McNeil at nadine@danielsmusic.org or 212-289-8912 to purchase tickets for the bus.
Details
When: Friday July 12, 2024
Time: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel, N.Y., 12720
Cost: $25 a ticket for all activities
Get your tickets here. IMPORTANT NOTE: Click the “Purchase Tickets Button” then press the “Unlock” button on the right side of the page and enter code HELLO into the offer passcode box. Select either $25 Lawn tickets or $45 Pavilion tickets, which includes the Jason Mraz concert at 7:30 p.m. This will serve as your ticket to Hello Inclusion.
Join Disability Unite and the NYC Commission on Human Rights for a free 34th anniversary celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in New York City.
The ADA, signed into law July 26, 1990, by former President George Bush, is the the country’s first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities.
This year’s hybrid event combines in-person festivities at the Central Park Naumburg Bandshell and an online experience. You can join in virtually via this website or in-person at the bandshell.
For virtual participants, the Disability Unite Festival will be livestreamed on the website with all access accommodations for those unable to travel or not located in NYC.
Offerings include Disability Inclusion Training and on-stage performances.
Details
When: Sunday, July 14, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Virtually and at the Central Park Naumburg Bandshell, Terrace Drive near W. 72nd St., New York, N.Y., 10019
Parents and families are an important part of the Special Education process. Participants in this free webinar will gain a foundational understanding of the entire IEP process, including but not limited to, the Committee on Special Education (CSE), the roles and responsibilities of all parties, the various components of the IEP, and the transition planning process.
New York State (NYS) regulations defines an IEP as a written statement for a student with a disability that is developed, reviewed and revised by a Committee on Special Education, Subcommittee on Special Education or Committee on Preschool Special Education. The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is the cornerstone of the special education process for each individual student with a disability.
Webinar listing first seen on WIHD’s community calendar. Check it out here for more.
Details
When: Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Time: 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Parent to Parent NYS is offering a virtual training on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It’s designed to provide parents with an understanding of the law, how it applies to educational programs and to students with disabilities.
FYI, Section 504 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability in any program or activity operated by recipients of federal funds. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), on the other hand, is the federal law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children. Section 504 does require development of a school plan, although this written document is not mandated. The Individualized Education Program (IEP) of IDEA may be used for the Section 504 written plan.
Tina Beauparlant, regional manager, Education Specialist, Parent to Parent of NYS, will present the webinar.
Details
When: Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Time: 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Omnium® Circus, an inclusive and accessible circus company, will be at the New Victory Theater this month with I’mPossible. It features a diverse cast of contortionists, acrobats, skilled dancers and more with a wide array of abilities and disabilities.
Every performance will incorporate audio description, captioning, sensory-friendly lighting and sound, and a calm environment where movement and vocalization are welcome. The theater will also have fidgets and ear defenders available, a calming corner and an activity area with a live feed of the show if audience members need a break from the excitement.
Additionally, one performance, on April 28, is exclusively sensory-friendly. It’s kept to 60 minutes with no intermission (the other performances are 90 minutes with a short intermission) and the seating capacity of the theater is reduced.
The circus says it’s the only one in the world to be presented in both English and American Sign Language.
Details
When: April 12 – April 28, details here
Sensory-friendly performance: Details here
Where: The New Victory Theater, 209 W 42nd St., New York, N.Y., 10036
Ages: 5+
Cost: Tickets start at $24 and are available at the New Victory Box Office (209 W 42nd Street) leading up to the performance and starting two hours before curtain time on performance days.
Tickets can also be purchased online at NewVictory.org and via phone: 646-223-3010.
The LIFT (Leadership, Internship, Friendship, Transition) internship program at Shames JCC for young adults with developmental disabilities provides a comprehensive and inclusive learning experience where participants will cultivate essential work skills and prepare for successful employment opportunities.
The program is free and runs from June 24 – Aug. 2. It has two cohorts from which to choose, Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday.
Each aspect of the curriculum, from group tasks and specialized topics of conversation to real-world opportunities for practice, is crafted to foster development of practical skills and confidence in the workplace environment.
Each day will start at the JCC for learning segments. In the afternoon, interns will transition into their internship placements. Participants will engage in a variety of hands-on learning opportunities aimed at honing vocational skills in the fields of food service, childcare and grounds keeping/custodial services.
Each participant will be paired with a job coach who will offer personalized guidance and mentorship throughout the 6 weeks. From resume refinement to interview preparation, our job coaches are committed to equipping participants with the tools and knowledge necessary to excel in their job search.
Each potential intern must complete the application linked here.
To set up an interview, email Brandon Roberts, supportive services program manager, at broberts@shamesjcc.org.
Ages
18+
Shames JCC on the Hudson, 371 S. Broadway, Tarrytown, N.Y., 10591
Identifying the agencies that work with students and their families post-high school is a critical component of transition planning. This webinar will explore self-determination and its impact on postsecondary success.
The discussion will include a look at adult service agencies and the different types of programs they provide.
Details
When: Thursday, April 11, 2024
Time: 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Organized by the Hudson Valley School-Age FACE Center and the NYSED OSE Partnership.
Descubra una comunidad acogedora adaptada a las necesidades únicas de los padres hispanos que crían niños con discapacidades. Nuestro grupo de padres proporciona un espacio culturalmente sensible donde pueden compartir experiencias, obtener conocimientos y establecer conexiones con otras personas que enfrentan desafíos similares.
Venga a compartir con nosotros en una reunión informal donde compartiremos información, recursos y encontrarás el apoyo que necesites mientras crías a un ser querido con necesidades especiales y/o médicamente frágiles, sin importar la edad de la persona. Después de registrarse usted recibirá el enlace de Zoom para ingresar a la reunión en el correo electrónico que provea al registrarse.
This Parent to Parent of NYS Zoom group is a welcoming community tailored to the unique needs of Hispanic parents raising children with disabilities. This parent group provides a culturally sensitive space where people can share experiences, gain knowledge and establish connections with others facing similar challenges.
Share information, resources and find the support you need while raising a loved one with special needs and/or medically fragile, regardless of the person’s age.
Details
When: Monday, April 15, 2024
Time: 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Si tiene preguntas por favor contacte con: Gabriela Burgos at gburgos@ptopnys.org.