More Voices, More Choices: Expanding Community Participation and Employment Opportunities

More Voices, More Choices: Expanding Community Participation and Employment Opportunities A Developmental Disabilities Watch Forum.

Despite popular rhetoric and policy initiatives in support of consumer-friendly services and greater individual choice, many city residents with developmental disabilities still struggle with unemployment, segregation and services tailored to the broad-brush needs of the population, not to individual people. Will the latest state efforts to encourage person-centered planning open up valuable new alternatives? How do people with disabilities, parents, policymakers and service providers describe the barriers and opportunities for individualized services and a more supportive community life?

Speakers: Michael R. Dillon, Assistant Professor of Special Education, Dowling College Joel M. Levy, CEO, YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities Gary Lind, Director of Policy, Planning and Individualized Initiatives, NYS OMRDD Hanns Meissner, Chief Operating Officer, Rensselaer County NYSARC Yvette Watts, Board Member, Interagency Council of New York City

Moderator: Andrew White, Director, Center for New York City Affairs

Supported by The FAR Fund/Fund for Social Change.

Government & CommunitiesAbigail Kramercity government, communities, community infrastructure, community life, community organizations, community participation, developmental disabilities, Developmental Disabilities Watch, disabilities, human services, inequality, policies, public policy, segregation, support systems, unemploymentComment