August 3, 2021
CP State News
We're here for you! 
Long Island workforce crisis event will be livestreamed
Tune in on Wednesday, August 4, 11 a.m. as we
Stop the Cuts, Raise the Wage, and Fund the Future!
The existing workforce crisis has escalated dramatically in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Without adequate funding, I/DD providers are unable to offer competitive wages to recruit and retain the skilled direct support staff that provide the foundation of care for more than 140,000 New Yorkers with I/DD.
Last week's event in Schenectady drew a lot of attention, with stories in the Schenectady Gazette, Albany Times Union, CBS and more.
If your Affiliate is interested in holding a regional event around the workforce shortage, please contact Barbara Crosier (bcrosier@cpstate.org) or Bill DeVoe (wdevoe@cpstate.org). We're happy to help with all aspects of planning and executing a successful event.
HR Conference - Deadline for hotel discount is August 6
Don’t forget to register for the CP of NYS 4th Annual Human Resources Professionals Conference for the Disability Provider Community on September 14-15, 2021. The deadline to receive the special conference hotel rate at the Embassy Suites is August 6!
This two-day conference will feature HR subject matter experts who will discuss trending topics ranging from cultural diversity to recruiting in the current employment market. Rich Landau, a principal with Jackson Lewis, will join us once again as the Opening Session Speaker. A dynamic presenter, Rich has a wealth of practical knowledge about current labor and employment law practice. These information-packed sessions will also provide informal time to catch up with peers. 
Final Registration deadline is September 6.
Reserve your hotel room today! To reserve an overnight room at our special rate, CLICK HERE.  
There are a limited number of rooms available for this event – early registration is encouraged. Deadline to receive the special conference rate is August 6, 2021.
Questions? Contact Tim Ferguson (tferguson@cpstate.org) or Deb Williams (dwilliams@cpstate.org).
More information to come. . . we look forward to seeing you this fall!
Thursday, August 12, 7:30 p.m.
Bengali/English vaccine webinar for people with I/DD and Their Families
VaxFactsDDNY and the Autism Society Habilitation Organization (ASHO) are hosting a Bengali/English vaccine education webinar for people with IDD and their families on Thursday, August 12, at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Vincent Siasoco is the featured speaker and ASHO will provide simultaneous interpretation.
Register here.
OPWDD memo on Care Planning and Service Options post pandemic
OPWDD has released new guidance regarding care plans as we return to in-person delivery of services. This memo outlines the person-centered care planning discussions and activities that will be required for individuals who have had Life Plan service and support changes resulting from the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), and the responsibilities of OPWDD-certified providers and CCOs in that process. These discussions and related activities must take place between July 1, 2021 and six months after the end of the PHE. Read more.
New OPWDD ADMs posted
Please take note that OPWDD has posted the following new ADMs on their website:
This ADM updates the existing requirements for Community Habilitation-Residential (CH-R) services delivered in an individual’s certified residence so that service delivery responds to the unique needs of the elderly, medically frail, and individuals with complex behavioral needs who are enrolled in the HCBS Waiver, and when transportation and participation in Community Habilitation programming outside of the residence would be contrary to the needs of the individual. 
This ADM describes the requirements for using technology to remotely deliver the following services authorized under OPWDD’s Comprehensive Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) 1915(c) Waiver: Day Habilitation, Community Habilitation, Prevocational Services, Supported Employment (SEMP), Pathway to Employment, Support Broker and Respite Services.
Save the Date: Clinical Conference is Friday, Nov. 12
Join us for the 3rd Annual Conference on Multi-Disciplinary Clinical Care for Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities on Friday, November 12, at The Embassy Suites, 86 Congress Street, Saratoga Springs.
Topics to include:
  • Interdisciplinary Oral Healthcare
  • Dysphagia and Common GI Issues
  • Mental Health: Co-Occurring Conditions
  • Palliative Care and End-of-Life
  • Skin Integrity
This program has been designed to meet the interest of physicians, dentists, clinicians, therapists, nurses and administrators who provide services to people with intellectual/developmental disabilities or are interested in doing so.
Click here to register for the conference. (Discounts available for students and nurses.)
Check cpstate.org for program details.
Students with disabilities deserve equitable funding!
In a year that saw more than $14 billion dollars in federal funding, an 11.3% overall increase and a 7.6% foundation aid increase to New York State public school districts, students with disabilities served by 4410 and 853 schools received only 4%!Urge the Governor to sign S.6516-A/A.8013 which would ensure that 4410, 853 and Special Act schools receive funding increases commensurate with public school foundation aid. S.6516-A/A.8013 would correct a long-standing inequity and show the public school students served by 4410, 853 and Special Act schools that they matter too.
Help individuals with impaired speech use voice-activated tech
Project Euphonia is a Google Research project started two years ago with the goal of helping people with speech impairments communicate faster and gain independence. A few months ago, they reached a milestone of 1,000 hours of recordings from 1,000 participants! Their next goal? Collect speech samples from an additional 5,000 participants! For the type of research Project Euphonia is doing, having data from a large number of speakers representing a broad spectrum of speech characteristics helps the most. Learn how you can help - and maybe make some money recording speech samples for Project Euphonia - by visiting bit.ly/CPStatePE.
DSPs and other staff can get paid for their time too!
See how it works: Click the thumbnail to hear Mike from Ability Beyond talk about his experience with Project Euphonia.
Don't forget, we're back in-person for this year's conferences!
CP of NYS | cpstate.org