2024 Brooklyn Family Support Fair June 5th, 2024
Register Now for the 2024 Brooklyn Family Support Fair!
The Brooklyn Developmental Disabilities Council is excited to announce the return of our in-person, 31st Annual, Family Support Fair!
The 2024 Brooklyn Family Support Fair provides one-stop shopping for families and professionals looking to learn about services and support for people with I/DD in Brooklyn. In addition to providers, you will be able to meet OPWDD staff, DOE staff, and much more!
Tired of speaking to people through little boxes on your screen, come meet them face to face!
When: Wednesday June 5th 2024 from 9:30am – 2pm
Where: Brooklyn College Student Center (Bldg 1) 2705 Campus Road, Brooklyn NY 11210
Registration: 2024 Family Support Fair Registration
Registration Details:
Attendance is free for people with I/DD, family members, and professionals (unless you want a table)
Non-Profit Agencies – $150 – 4ft Half Table (Shared) / $250 – 8ft Full Table (Not Shared)
For-Profit Agencies – $250 – 4ft Half Table (Shared) / $350 – 8ft Full Table (Not Shared)
Each agency who registers and pays prior to the deadline will secure 1 half table or 1 full table for the event. Agency table setup begins at 8:30am on the day of the event.
Checks Must Be Made Payable To: Heaven’s Hands Community Services (You must include BKDDC Family Support Fair in the memo/for section)
Payments Must Be Sent To: Bryan Rothenstein 67-10 Myrtle Ave, 2nd Fl. Queens NY 11385
Payment must be sent upon successful registration and received prior to May 24th, 2024.
*If you would like to be a sponsor to help support the event, please contact the Brooklyn Developmental Disabilities Council Chairperson, Bryan Rothenstein, via email at brothenstein@hhcsny.org*
Questions? Please contact:
Bryan Rothenstein: brothenstein@bkddcouncil
Rachelle Kivanosky: rkivanoski@gmail.com
Marjory Antoine: marjory.antoine@birchfamilyservices.org
Marion Resnik: mage922@gmail.com
Christopher Greif: bfssac@yahoo.com
Recently Released/Updated ADM’s
OPWDD has released a number of new and/or revised Administrative Directive Memoranda (ADM’s):
- ADM 21-ADM-02R Requirements for Community Habilitation-Residential (CH-R) Services Delivered in the Individual’s Certified Residence
- The purpose of this Administrative Directive Memorandum (ADM), updated November 9th 2023 with an effective date of November 11th, 2023, is to update existing requirements for Community Habilitation-Residential (CH-R) services. CH-R services are Community Habilitation services delivered to individuals living in certified residences (Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRA), Community Residences (CR), or Family Care Homes (FCH)). Individuals living in certified residences may receive CH-R services either inside the residence or outside the residence, depending upon the needs of the individual.
- ADM 06-ADM-01R Group Day Habilitation Service Documentation Requirements
- This memorandum, updated on November 9th 2023 with an effective date of November 11th, 2023, describes the service documentation requirements for Group Day Habilitation and Supplemental Group Day Habilitation. Day Habilitation services can help people to acquire, retain or improve their self-help skills, socialization and adaptive functioning by working on skills like communication, travel and other areas in adult education to help people gain independence. Providers of Day Habilitation services must document service provision in order to bill for it. This ADM describes the service documentation requirements for appropriate Day Habilitation service billing.
- ADM 2015-07R Pathway to Employment Services
- This Administrative Memorandum (ADM) issued by the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) describes the Pathway to Employment service documentation requirements that support a provider’s claim for payment. This service is available only to individuals who are enrolled in the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver; have expressed an interest in competitive employment or self-employment; and have competitive employment or self-employment identified as a goal in their Individualized Service Plans (ISPs). In addition to the claim documentation requirements specified in this ADM, Pathway to Employment providers must continue to comply with quality service standards set forth in OPWDD regulation and any other standards published by OPWDD in regulation or guidance.
- ADM 2020-01R2 Prevocational Services
- Prevocational Services prepare individuals with developmental disabilities for paid employment or meaningful community activities, including volunteering. This Administrative Directive Memorandum (ADM) seeks to describe how prevocational services have been redesigned to include new service delivery and documentation requirements.
- ADM-2023-09 Supported Employment (SEMP)
- This Administrative Directive Memorandum (ADM) describes requirements applicable to Supported Employment (SEMP) services, including program and reimbursement standards. These requirements apply to SEMP services delivered to individuals who are enrolled in OPWDD’s Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver as well as non-waiver enrolled individuals.
- ADM #06-ADM-01R Group Day Habilitation Service Documentation Requirements
- This ADM, ADM #2006-01R, revises and replaces ADM #2006-01. These edits reflect that on November 11, 2023, when the COVID-19 Appendix K authority ends, Day Habilitation services can no longer be provided in Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRAs), Community Residences (CRs), or Family Care (FC) Homes. People who require in-residence services may qualify for in-residence Community Habilitation-Residential. Requirements for in-residence Community Habilitation-Residential (“CH-R”) are outlined in ADM 2021-02-R.
- End of the Appendix K Coverage & ADM Revisions
- ADM #2023-07 Guidelines for Positive Relationships Offer More Opportunities To Everyone (PROMOTE)
- This Administrative Memorandum (ADM) outlines the approved curriculum and training program, Positive Relationships Offer More Opportunities To Everyone (PROMOTE), and establishes the requirements for training, certification, implementation, and monitoring of this program.
- ADM #2023-04 Choking Prevention Initiative
- This Administrative Directive Memorandum (ADM) sets forth the requirements of the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) Choking Prevention Initiative (CPI). Choking can occur very rapidly, but potential incidents of choking can be avoided using proper supervision, observation, and training. The Choking Prevention Initiative training ensures uniformity and continuity of training for food and liquid consistency terminology and definitions for all applicable staff statewide. Together we can enhance the health and safety of the individuals served in the OPWDD system, while creating an enjoyable dining experience.
- 23-ADM-06 Individual Eligibility and Enrollment for the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) 1915(c) Waiver and Requests for Service Authorization
- This ADM describes how OPWDD establishes HCBS Waiver eligibility including level of care, appropriate residential settings, and New York State residency status. The Guidance further describes how OPWDD evaluates the requirement that a person’s need for HCBS Waiver services is demonstrated through a “Reasonable Indication of Need” evaluation.
- ADM #2023-03 Right to Sexual Activity and the Role of Consent
- The purpose of this Administrative Memorandum (ADM) is to affirm that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (“individuals”) have rights regarding sexual expression and sexual activity and to ensure that these rights are not unnecessarily denied. Additionally, this ADM outlines the procedures used for determining or assessing an individual’s capacity to make an informed choice regarding sexual activity if concerns are raised in this regard. Finally, this ADM offers guidance for providers regarding the development of training and supports for individuals who require additional education and supports on this topic.
Tell Your Congressional Representative We NEED the SOC Bill to Pass the House!
This easy one click letter will help our voices be heard in our advocacy for proper and necessary funding for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs).
Take the 1-2 minutes and let your voice be heard right now!
The Ask:
Use our advocacy tool to tell your members of Congress that direct support professionals need a standard occupational classification!
The Details:
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) leverage the services of direct support professionals (DSPs) in order to live and work in their homes and communities. However, low wages due to stagnant reimbursement rates have led to high turnover and vacancy rates in the DSP workforce. The loss of DSPs across the field has left many people without stable access to home- and community-based supports.
Because we need data to understand the scope of the workforce crisis before we can fully solve the problem, the creation of a standard occupational classification (SOC) for DSPs is foundational to ensuring people with I/DD have access to critical supports and services. A unique SOC for DSPs would help states and the federal government collect data on demographics and turnover rates. This, in turn, will help inform policies to address the workforce shortage. A DSP SOC will also help states more accurately set rates, which could positively impact DSP wages.
Tell your members of Congress today to support the bipartisan “Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act”, which requires the Office of Management and Budget to consider a separate category within the Standard Occupational Classification system for DSPs.
National Roadmap for Disability-Inclusive Healthcare
The National Roadmap for Disability-Inclusive Healthcare (the Roadmap) is a plan created for clinicians to give the best healthcare possible to people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD).
The Roadmap provides clear goals and commonsense actions that different groups can take to inspire change among both practicing clinicians and clinicians-in-training.
About the Roadmap
The Roadmap is a plan for clinicians to learn how to give the best healthcare possible to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Created by the Action to Build Clinical Confidence and Culture (ABC3) Coalition, the Roadmap included input from people with IDD, their care partners and caregivers, clinicians, and other healthcare leaders.
IEC, a national nonprofit committed to making healthcare better and safer for people with IDD, formed the ABC3 Coalition.
Why it Matters
We all deserve the best possible healthcare. However, approximately 60% of U.S. physicians say they don’t have the training and skills to properly care for people with disabilities.
This is especially true for clinicians – individuals such as doctors, nurses, and dentists – who treat people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). IDD includes people with conditions such as autism, Down syndrome, intellectual disability, and more.
Reasons for the lack of confidence include:
- Medical students spend an average of just 11 minutes learning about IDD.
- A number of misconceptions exist about how disability affects the length and quality of life for people with IDD.
- Successfully serving people with IDD may mean using some tools and equipment that are not yet the standard for healthcare offices.
- Clinicians may not know where to go to get the training and support they are seeking.
- Clinicians may not know how to correctly charge insurance companies, so they can pay for any extra costs. For example, an appointment for a person with IDD can take extra time, which costs more.
The Roadmap was created to address these and other challenges.
For more information, visit the link below:
MTA Public Meetings and Hearings on Fare Changes
The Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA), doing business as MTA Bridges and Tunnels, will hold four hybrid public hearings to solicit comments on the proposed toll rate schedule for the Central Business District Tolling Program (CDBTP).
The hearings will be held in a hybrid format with options to participate in-person or via Zoom. A livestream will be available on the MTA YouTube channel.
You can register to speak or find more information about these hearings below.
Brooklyn Developmental Disabilities Council 
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