BKDDC is group of family members, people with disabilities and professionals who volunteer their time to improve the lives of people with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities living in Brooklyn.
On behalf of OPWDD and the American Institutes for Research, I am pleased to share an opportunity for people with lived disability experience and their family members to provide feedback on your experiences with care management.
OPWDD currently has a contract with the American Institutes for Research to conduct an independent evaluation of the Care Coordination program. The goal of the evaluation is to learn what parts of the program are working well and what areas could be improved.
We know that those of you who interact on a regular basis with Care Coordination Organizations and care managers can help us understand how we can strengthen care management going forward. We hope you will take a few moments to participate in the Care Coordination Evaluation survey. The online survey will be open until August 26, 2024.
Introduction Prevalence: Nearly one in six New York City residents has a disability, with a higher rate among those aged 25 to 55. Barriers: People with disabilities face significant barriers to employment, including discrimination and inadequate accommodation. Focus: The report highlights employment issues among New Yorkers aged 25 to 55 with disabilities, in recognition of Disability Pride Month and the ADA.
Defining Disability ADA Definition: Disability includes physical or mental impairments that substantially limit major life activities. Survey Method: The report uses data from the American Community Survey (ACS) which categorizes disabilities into cognitive, ambulatory, independent living, vision, self-care, and hearing difficulties.
Disability and Employment in NYC Employment Gap: Disabled workers in NYC have a significantly lower employment rate (41%) compared to non-disabled workers (81%). This gap is wider than the national average. Income: Disabled workers earn less than their non-disabled counterparts, with a median income disparity both in NYC and nationally. Variation by Disability Type: Employment rates vary by disability type, with those having vision and hearing difficulties faring better than those with cognitive, ambulatory, independent living, or self-care difficulties.
Occupational Distribution Over/Underrepresentation: Disabled workers are overrepresented in service and administrative roles but underrepresented in management, business, and financial occupations.
Disability and Employment Disparities Racial/Ethnic Differences: Employment rates are lower for Black and Hispanic individuals with disabilities compared to their white and Asian counterparts. Gender Disparities: Disabled men face a greater employment penalty than disabled women, reflecting broader occupational trends.
Impact of COVID-19 Increased Disability Rates: The proportion of disabled individuals in NYC increased post-pandemic, possibly due to long COVID. Remote Work: While remote work opportunities have increased, the rise has been less pronounced for disabled workers, who are often in occupations that cannot be performed remotely.
Conclusion Ongoing Challenges: Despite some improvements, significant employment gaps remain for people with disabilities in NYC. The pandemic highlighted and somewhat alleviated some issues, but further efforts are needed to achieve equitable employment outcomes.
The report underscores the need for continued advocacy and policy efforts to improve employment opportunities and outcomes for people with disabilities.
Brooklyn Senator, and amazing disability advocate, Roxanne Persaud in partnership with The Campaign Against Hunger is hosting a Food Distribution tomorrow, July 11th, 2024 starting at 12pm. Please see the attacher flyer for details!
Disability Pride Month is celebrated every July and is an opportunity to honor the history, achievements, experiences, and struggles of the disability community. Why July? It marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landmark legislation that broke down barriers to inclusion in society.
Brooklyn Developmental Disabilities Council 
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