New York State Council on Developmental Disabilities

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New York State Council on Developmental Disabilities This is the page for the New York State Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD)

The NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (NYSDDPC) is a federally-funded, New York State Agency operating under the direction of the Governor. The NYSDDPC is one of 56 Councils across the United States and its territories which work to address identified needs of individuals with developmental disabilities by conducting advocacy, systems change, and capacity building efforts that promote self-determination, integration, and inclusion. Councils focus on empowering individuals through activities that teach self-advocacy skills and support self-determination. By empowering individuals and their families to both advocate for themselves and seek long-term solutions through systems change, Councils are creating an environment of self-sufficiency, self-determination, inclusion, and acceptance. Councils also play a critical role in quality assurance and as innovators in the development of person-centered systems.

CDD Staff recently visited CP Unlimited to observe the CDD supported 'Together We Work' program. Together We Work is pil...
10/17/2026

CDD Staff recently visited CP Unlimited to observe the CDD supported 'Together We Work' program. Together We Work is pilot program offering training for people with developmental disabilities to pursue a meaningful career as a Peer Specialist.

Peer Specialists are trained to support other people with developmental disabilities during activities, outings and errands, and assisting with other tasks in day programs and group homes. The Peer Specialist curriculum is similar to a DSP curriculum and includes CPR, conflict resolution, and how to provide person-centered support.

Program participants are required to complete 6 weeks of training before preparing for an internship placement. Learn more about Together We Work here: https://www.cpunlimited.org/programs-and-services/together-we-work/

10/16/2026

This Disability Employment Awareness Month, we are sharing the importance of disability employment in the words of our incredible Council Members!

This week, Council Member Simcha Weinstein encourages us to tap into the potential of everyone who is interested in working and finding employment.

Yesterday, the CDD convened in Albany for a productive day of business, discussion, and collaboration, led by IFC Chair ...
10/15/2026

Yesterday, the CDD convened in Albany for a productive day of business, discussion, and collaboration, led by IFC Chair Ketrina Hazell. As always, a huge thanks to our incredible Council Members for lending their perspectives and experiences to help move systems forward! 💜

New Yorkers must register to vote by October 24th in order to vote in the November 3rd General Election.1 in 6 eligible ...
10/14/2026

New Yorkers must register to vote by October 24th in order to vote in the November 3rd General Election.

1 in 6 eligible voters in the U.S. have a disability, which is over 40.2 million people, according to the Rutgers Program for Disability Research (2024).

But voters with disabilities still face barriers to getting their voice heard. In 2024, they turned out at rates nearly 10% lower than voters without disabilities, and close to 1 in 6 had trouble voting, twice the rates of other voters (Rutgers, National Disability Rights Network & Center for Civic Design, 2025).

Check out the resource below to help you plan to vote this election season.

Click here: https://ow.ly/E8R250ZXkTm

Happening today from 5:00-6:30!Advocacy starts with the student. For students, self-advocacy means knowing your needs an...
10/13/2026

Happening today from 5:00-6:30!

Advocacy starts with the student. For students, self-advocacy means knowing your needs and being able to state them. This training will build these skills through self-knowledge, rights awareness, communication, and follow-through, using tools like an “elevator pitch” and situation-specific scripts. For parents, advocacy means showing up as an equal team member rather than a guest: preparing before meetings (reviewing drafts, writing down top concerns and asks), speaking up during them, and following up after (email summaries, dated records, and tracking whether services are actually delivered). For both, the goal is the same: turning knowledge of rights into the confidence to use them.

This workshop is a part of a series to provide self-advocates, parent/family caregivers and others an opportunity to learn strategies to advocacy. The NYS Disability Advocacy Training Network is hosted at The Center on Disability and Inclusion (CDI) at Syracuse University and supported through a grant from the NYS Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD).

To learn more and register, click here: https://ow.ly/8ZpG50ZXkBv

10/09/2026

This Disability Employment Awareness Month, we are sharing the importance of disability employment in the words of our incredible Council Members!

This week, Council Member Bin Feng shares the confidence that came from his son, Vincent getting a job.

Seven years ago, Siân Heder learned on the fly with her crew how to design a house that a deaf family would live in for ...
10/08/2026

Seven years ago, Siân Heder learned on the fly with her crew how to design a house that a deaf family would live in for her Oscar-winning film “CODA.” But her latest movie, “Being Heumann,” had a much steeper learning curve as the filmmaker was tasked with creating a production environment for dozens of actors with various disabilities.

“Being Heumann” is an upcoming film based on disability rights activist Judith Heumann and recounts the famed 504 sit-in protests in which dozens of disabled people took over the San Francisco offices of the U.S. Health Department and remained inside for four weeks. The protests were a major steppingstone to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act more than a decade later.

“Being Heumann” will be released on Nov. 6.

To learn more, click here: https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/being-heumann-crew-built-accessible-set-disabled-actors/

Happening soon!Are you curious about how laws are made, or interested in having input in the spaces where they are made?...
10/08/2026

Happening soon!

Are you curious about how laws are made, or interested in having input in the spaces where they are made? In this workshop, the NYS Disability Advocacy Training Network will discuss the lawmaking process, why it is important to advocate in government spaces, and how to talk to the people who make the laws. The workshop includes information specific to New York State and opportunities to practice speaking up to protect your rights. It is for self-advocates (those with a disability) as well as family caregivers. This workshop will be offered on October 8th, from 10 - 11:30am via Zoom.

This workshop is a part of a series to provide self-advocates, parent/family caregivers and others an opportunity to learn strategies to advocacy. The NYS Disability Advocacy Training Network is hosted at The Center on Disability and Inclusion (CDI) at Syracuse University and supported through a grant from the NYS Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD).

To register for this session, and learn about other upcoming opportunities, click here: https://ow.ly/HoVG50ZTfXG

Funding Available!The NYS Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD) is seeking to fund one grantee up to $350,000 per ...
10/06/2026

Funding Available!

The NYS Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD) is seeking to fund one grantee up to $350,000 per year for four years ($1,400,000 total, subject to availability of funding) to identify and eliminate gaps in Customized Employment (CE) services across New York State. The goal of the grant project is to increase and sustain employment for people with developmental disabilities (DD). The grantee will work with providers of customized employment services for people with DD to effectively develop appropriate employment opportunities for them.

Learn more here: https://cdd.ny.gov/grant-opportunity-announcement-customized-employment-initiative

Address

99 Washington Avenue, Suite 1230
Albany, NY
12206

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+15184867505

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