Long Island, NY – Today, Care Design NY held a pop-up vaccine clinic exclusively for people in the I/DD community in an effort to remove barriers to vaccine access for individuals with I/DD during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Long Island pop up was one of many events Care Design NY is holding in an effort to serve the I/DD community as New York works to vaccinate its most vulnerable populations. The Pop-up clinics were held in Bohemia, Brockville, Plainville and Westhampton Beach and provided vaccinations to 500 individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their caregivers. The pop-up comes on the heels of threatening budget cuts to CCOs statewide that would leave programs like Care Design NY without the funding to continue.

Staten Island, NY – Today, Care Design NY held a pop-up vaccine clinic exclusively for people in the I/DD community in an effort to remove barriers to vaccine access for individuals with I/DD during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Staten Island popup was one of many events Care Design NY is holding in an effort to serve the I/DD community as New York works to vaccinate its most vulnerable populations. The pop-up comes on the heels of threatening budget cuts to CCOs statewide that would leave programs like Care Design NY without the funding to continue.

The Bronx, NY – Today, Care Design NY in partnership with Partners Health Plan held a pop-up vaccine clinic exclusively for people in the I/DD community in an effort to remove barriers to vaccine access for individuals with I/DD during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bronx pop up was one of many events Care Design NY is holding in an effort to serve the I/DD community as New York works to vaccinate it’s most vulnerable populations. The pop-up comes on the heels of threatening budget cuts to CCOs statewide that would leave programs like Care Design NY without the funding to continue.

ALBANY, NY – Some 250 Capital Region residents with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) received COVID-19 vaccines today at a special vaccination clinic held at SEFCU’s Corporate Center.  This I/DD-specialized clinic is made possible by a unique partnership of community-based organizations dedicated to bringing COVID-19 vaccines to populations challenged with access to the vaccine.

As a parent who knows firsthand the challenges of a loved one with an intellectual disability, and as a newly elected State Senator and the new Chairman of the New York Senate Committee on Disabilities, I understand the role government must play in supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Although the overall budget for the state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities is expected to increase nearly 3 percent, those who provide direct services to people with disabilities say the cuts are falling on them.

Family members and service providers supporting some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers say a state agency is secretly slashing funds for New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Albany is now finalizing that state budget, and slashes to care management programs are looming. Some families with loved ones living with developmental or intellectual disabilities worry their case managers will have to go.

Advocates say they are afraid the upcoming New York State budget could see major cuts to programs for the developmentally disabled.

CCOs are absolutely essential to provide the support and specialized care for people like Vincent to enable success and allow him to take pride in having the dignity of work.

New York State is at a crossroads when it comes to caring for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD). Government officials have a choice to continue divesting from the system leading to irreparable harm for our most vulnerable citizens or they can right the ship by maintaining the investment in the organizations providing support to the majority of individuals in the state with I/DD.

Care Coordinated Organizations, which advocate for the needs, desires and rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, are facing a nearly 40 percent cut in the state’s executive budget.