Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Milestones are important.  They give us a chance to look back at where we started and appreciate how far we’ve come over a distinct period of time.  This week, we are observing 5 years of partnership working together with Governor Hochul and her administration to advance our mission to create richer lives for people with developmental disabilities.  I created a short video outlining what I believe are a few of our most significant wins over the past 5 years.

These wins belong to all of us because you advocated for them.

It is your voices that have helped us to achieve:

• More specialized healthcare for you that’s closer to you through $25 million in grants for the creation of regional health clinics that offer accessible dental, clinical care, and healthcare services
• More independence through Supported Decision-Making
• Financial support for research and remembering the past with a $75 million commitment to the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities and the creation of the Willowbrook Center for Learning
• More investment in our Direct Support Staff with more than $4 billion for staff wages and through professional development with State universities and the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals
• A belief that people with developmental disabilities can and should work through the establishment of Employment First

I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together over these last five years, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.  We’ve heard some great ideas from you through our Future Planning Forums and meetings with people we support and families all across the state, and we look forward to all that we can achieve together over the next 5 years.  Thank you for your ongoing advocacy that keeps us moving forward.

Sincerely,

Willow Baer
Commissioner

Five Years of Progress for People With Developmental Disabilities | Office for People With Developmental Disabilities