Finding affordable housing can be difficult for people with disabilities, who may have special housing needs or limited funds. However, there are a number of resources available to help:
The Center for Independence of the Disabled (CID-NY) is a primary resource. In addition to providing individuals with referrals and resources related to affordable and accessible housing, CID-NY can provide assistance with applying for disability related programs. The phone number for the main intake line is 646-442-4186.
The Medicaid Waiver Program provides help for individuals who need managed long-term care to find housing in the community and the home services they need. In addition to housing, the program provides services such as meals and home care. For more information, contact the Regional Resource Development Center at 718-816-3555.
Home of Your Own Program
The Home of Your Own Program is a project of the New York Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to help individuals with developmental disabilities, their families who are income-eligible, and direct support professionals to find a home of their choice. The program and its network of partners provide counseling and resources for home ownership and other independent residential opportunities. Contact OPWDD at 518-473-1973.
Rent Freeze Program
New York City tenants with disabilities may qualify for the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) program. Eligible people with disabilities living in rent-stabilized, rent-controlled, Mitchell-Lama and other eligible apartments can have their rent frozen and receive an exemption from future rent increases. Their landlords are provided with tax credits to make up the difference.
In New York City, affordable housing lotteries are held for renovated or newly constructed buildings with subsidized apartments. Usually, 2 percent of the units in a development are set aside for people with visual and hearing disabilities, and 5 percent are set aside for people with mobility impairments. Call NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) at 212-863-7990.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the ways that people with disabilities strengthen the workforce, the nation, and the communities in which they live, and to commit to a society in which all people can build bright futures for themselves and their families.
In New York State, the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) will honor selected businesses in the state that have shown that employing people with developmental disabilities is great for business, and that these workers are valued.
On Thursday, October 22 at the New York State Museum in Albany, OPWDD will host an event called Works for Me, which will highlight the inspiring stories of workers with developmental disabilities who add to the success and productivity of businesses across the state. For more information, visit opwdd.ny.gov.
The Neighborhood Network of New York (NNNY) is set to develop an innovative, community based service network for adults with autism, thanks to a grant from the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). The program will provide individualized services to clients, including remote support technology and community activities.
NNNY will launch a prototype of the program to serve Medicaid beneficiaries in Westchester County. In time, the organization will develop protocols to launch similar networks throughout the state.
The NNNY program is intended to provide greater independence and empowerment for adults with autism through supports within the community, including remote support in private apartments. The program will be more affordable than traditional models, while also providing services which are appropriate to the individual’s needs and more fully integrated into the larger community.
With a record 1 in 68 children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as of 2010, services like these will be essential in serving an unprecedented number of children with autism reaching adulthood. This transition often represents a challenge for people with autism and their families, as they leave the support of parents and the school system and struggle to identify appropriate supports within the adult service system. Traditional full service options, like group homes and day services, are expensive, and for many individuals with autism who do not need such a high level of staffing, unnecessarily restrictive. These traditional, segregated models may represent a stark contrast to the integration into the school community that the individual with autism previously experienced in school, where they were mandated by law to be educated in the Least Restrictive Environment, together with students without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate.
The NNNY program will take a three-pronged approach. Individualized Living Services for All Levels of Need allows clients to live alone or with a roommate in apartment complexes where both clients and non-clients reside. Clients who need more support may live with a professional family. All NNNY homes will include Proprietary Remote Support Technology that can be used to monitor residents’ safety and provide real-time coaching. Finally, the Communiversity will provide lifelong learning, teaching job skills and life skills along with community and recreational activities.
Clearly, parents of a child with a developmental disability experience stress far beyond what most parents of neuro-typical children experience.In fact, a recent study noted that mothers of children with autism experience as much stress as combat veterans.
I didn’t need to see the data to believe this.I am the mother of a 9 year-old neuro-typical daughter, and a 13 year- old son who is diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum, along with ADHD and anxiety.When my daughter started getting older, I noticed how easy it was to do things with her, compared to my son.This is when I began to realize how different and challenging my life was compared to the average mother.
Since many children with developmental disabilities require a tremendous amount of one-on-one support, it’s difficult to take them on basic errands or to places where a child may have to sit for a period of time.Many parents take for granted the fact that they can bring their typical children to appointments or make a quick run to the store or send their child into the yard to play so they can get things done in their home. Parents of children with disabilities cannot often do this.The most basic of tasks – the supermarket, the pharmacy, a haircut, or a visit to a friends’ home – can be stressful, frustrating or simply avoided.
Respite Care Can Help You Be a Better Parent
Too often, parents are homebound and lose patience and time with their other children and relationships with family and friends suffer. I did not want to feel that I had to escape.I wanted to be a better mom, a healthier mom, a happier mom.I wanted to feel rested in order to enjoy the times I would be taking both of my children on an outing and to have some time to myself as well, to build and maintain my own relationships.I required time during the week or weekends to engage in activities without the stress automatically attached to each venture. I needed someone to engage my son and keep him properly occupied so I could have some time for whatever I needed to do.
Help is Available!
The good news is help is available for parents in this situation.If you are married or a single parent, respite care can help you maintain or build a relationship.It also benefits the siblings and allows them to access your time and attention.It allows for down time to re-group and re-energize yourself.Many parents feel that our needs are not as important as our children’s needs.They are!The stress, anxiety, frustration, anger and solitude aren’t healthy and do not help make you a stronger parent.
The goal of respite care is to provide relief to parents so they can find free time to take care of needed tasks or simply to maintain balance. The Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) Home and Community Based Medicaid Waiver may be an option to assist you in accessing this service through Medicaid, despite parental income level.There are limitations to the hours you are approved for, but even a few hours a week can make a significant difference in your family’s quality of life.
Don’t Give Up
I had always known respite care was available but had a difficult time finding a provider and, quite frankly, the thought of looking for someone on my own was daunting.I am so happy that I didn’t give up because since hiring my respite worker almost a year ago, I have never looked back.In fact, it has prompted me to make additional changes in my life that have benefited not only myself, but more importantly my children.I’m able to run out of the house at the last minute for something at the market, give my daughter some well-deserved attention, enjoy a bath or work on my personal relationships.My respite worker helps with homework and interacts with my son by playing games or doing some outdoor activities.This time not only allows me to have some freedom but provides the necessary one-on-one interaction my son requires.It also provides him with healthy alternatives to play.He’s no longer sitting in front of video games or movies, which in all fairness, may be the only respite I was getting.I challenge anyone to try to perform the daily tasks parents have to accomplish while simultaneously providing the constant attention required for their child.It’s impossible!
I cannot imagine how I was able to do it for so many years without this help.It’s important for every parent to know about the Medicaid waiver and the many services it provides.The initial set up or application process may seem daunting but the reward is tremendous.
Contact OPWDD Office
There are eligibility requirements through the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).You must contact your local OPWDD office and explain that you have a child with a developmental disability and would like to apply for eligibility for OPWDD services. You can get information at http://www.opwdd.ny.gov/
Once your child is found eligible for OPWDD, you will be directed to attend a Front Door Session for individuals and families of people with Developmental Disabilities.Here, you will learn about the different services OPWDD offers and how you can obtain respite services through the Medicaid waiver or through the many different Family Support programs offered throughout New York State.
This article does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon. If you need legal advice concerning this or any other topic please contact our offices to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys at 914-684-2100 or 212-490-2020.
The Home of Your Own Program is a project of the New York Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to help individuals with developmental disabilities, their families who are income-eligible, and direct support professionals to find a home of their choice. The program and its network of partners provide counseling and resources for home ownership and other independent residential opportunities. Contact OPWDD at 518-473-1973.
Our latest guest blogger is Nanette Saturn, Educational Advocate, 
