Brooklyn Developmental Disabilities Council
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.
Thank You 2026 Family Support Fair Sponsors:
Wellbound For Special Needs
NeuSpark PDS
ACANY
Strive High ABA
Personal Touch Home Care
Join Advocacy Efforts TODAY!
Look Up Who Represents YOU!
https://www.mygovnyc.org/
or Scan the QR Code Below!
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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.
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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
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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:
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