New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) awards $100,000

ALBANY, NY (09/19/2008)(readMedia)--

George E. Fertal, Sr., Chairperson, today announced that on September 18, 2008 the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) awarded $100,000 to the Support Center for Nonprofit Management to support the continued development of the New York State Disabilities Advocacy Association and Network (NYSDAAN).

The goals of NYSDAAN are to create an "advocacy network" and strengthen advocacy systems for people with disabilities and their families by connecting and coordinating advocacy resources throughout the state. During its first two years NYSDAAN contracted with four non-profit agencies to create regional hubs with the goal of offering a wide range of activities which would market the formation of NYSDAAN and begin to develop a statewide database of advocacy services and supports, sponsor cross-system regional forums and trainings and actively recruit members to the association.

NYSDAAN has held seven regional forums to engage people with disabilities, family members, service coordinators, agency directors, and direct service advocates to identify common barriers across systems including: availability of services, waiting lists, lack of access to advocacy services because of language and cultural barriers, and lack of knowledge and understanding of what other agencies and organizations are doing. Grant activities have been designed to support sustainability and include membership recruitment, fundraising, and grant development.

Kathryn Cappella, Executive Director of NYSDAAN, comments on NYS DAAN and some of its accomplishments. "NYSDAAN is emerging as a responsive statewide, cross-system independent association for advocates, advocacy groups and organizations. We engage people with disabilities, family members, service coordinators, agency directors, and other stakeholders to find innovative strategies to address common barriers across service systems including availability of services, waiting lists, and lack of knowledge and understanding of what agencies and organizations offer. We sponsor and provide technical support, and design regional and statewide conferences, forums and trainings to identify and present best practices to address system problems. NYS DAAN membership is growing and includes representation from all fields of advocacy, including health, housing, education, employment, technology, aging, and recreation. "

"Key accomplishments of NYSDAAN include the development of a unifying set of advocacy standards to improve services; a resource website and database; and regional projects designed to increase access and address cross systems barriers at a local level. During 2009, NYSDAAN will continue to provide technical support for members; develop cross system forums at a statewide and regional level; develop assessment tools to support the standards; and expand its website and clearinghouse of information and resources. It is our hope that all advocacy groups and organizations will become members in 2009."

The DDPC is a federally funded state agency dedicated to designing and implementing new programs that serve New Yorkers with developmental disabilities and their families in the most effective way possible. Sixty percent of the Governor-appointed membership of the DDPC are parents and people with developmental disabilities. For more information on the DDPC, go to: www.ddpc.state.ny.us.