April 16, 2021
CP State News
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DQI to phase back in routine activities starting May 1
The following was sent by OPWDD on April 16: Due to the demands placed on agencies related to responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic, for approximately the past year, OPWDD’s Division of Quality Improvement (DQI) reduced or suspended some of its routine activities while expanding its activities to include oversight of COVID-19 reporting and response efforts. Please be advised that, beginning May 1, 2021, and over the months to come, DQI will be phasing many of its routine activities back in. DQI will eventually resume all routine oversight functions, while continuing to monitor agencies’ COVID-19 response efforts, as appropriate. 
To the extent possible, DQI will continue to conduct some oversight activities remotely. When conducting onsite monitoring, DQI’s Bureau of Program Certification staff will take all necessary precautions to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19. 
OPWDD will continue to review oversight activities and make adjustments where necessary throughout the months to come.
Wellness resources for staff and individuals
OPWDD has compiled a list of resources to support the emotional health needs of individuals with I/DD, direct support professionals, and other agency staff. Click here for the list.
In addition to the list, an online recorded training entitled "Supporting the Emotional Needs of Individuals with I/DD and Direct Support Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic" is available on SLMS.
Justice Center seeking best practices choking prevention
The Justice Center is launching an abuse prevention initiative on choking related incidents in residential and day habilitation programs serving people with developmental disabilities. We are asking for help with identifying promising practices or resources that provider agencies are using to prevent incidents of choking. The information provided will help us to develop resources for providers in our shared effort to safeguard people receiving services from harmful choking incidents. The link for the survey is here. Deadline for submissions is May 14, 2021.
NYC FAIR hosting town halls on April 19 and 22
On Monday April 19, 7 p.m. NYC FAIR will host a virtual town hall meeting on Moving from School To Adult Services. This will be a forum to hear from those who help on the transition and those who have made it safely to the other side.
Also, on Thursday, April 22, 7 p.m., our own Susan Constantino will join a panel on the final State Budget. Click here to register. Participants are welcome to send questions in advance on the registration form or by email to info@nycfair.org.
Fight chronic underfunding of special education!
New York’s special education preschool 4410 and school age 853 programs are in trouble! Our schools serve children with disabilities whose local public school district cannot provide a free and appropriate public education as required by law. In this year’s budget, school aid funding was increased by $3 billion, but schools for children with disabilities are historically neglected.
NYC Ballet offering FREE workshops in May
The NYC Ballet is once again conducting Virtual Access Workshops throughout the month of May. The workshops are free and are geared toward either children or teens and adults with disabilities. 
Advocacy sessions continue on April 20
CP State is proud to offer “Teena’s Trunk,” a series on Individual Advocacy presented by Teena Fitzroy. Teena is a wife, mother of three, and grandmother of six, who just also happens to have cerebral palsy.
“Teena’s Trunk” poignantly recounts Teena Fitzroy’s often funny, sometimes heart-breaking, personal journey. Audiences experience Teena’s struggles and successes in growing up while learning to live with a disability.
These sessions are free and open to everyone. This series is great for family members and self-advocates, so please share this information widely in your communities.
Participants should email Tim Ferguson at TFerguson@cpstate.org for the seminar links. All sessions are on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. 
  • April 20: Family Members with I/DD
  • April 27: Guardianship & SSI
  • May 11: Medical Advocacy.
  • May 25: Domestic Abuse
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