Long Island Leaders Reveal Their Predictions for the Year Ahead
By: LIBN Staff | web-admin@thedolancompany.com
Friday, January 3rd, 2025
Long Island Business News [LIBN] | www.libn.com
We are at a critical juncture, witnessing a surge in the number of people diagnosed with developmental disabilities. Moreover, the life expectancy of individuals with disabilities now matches that of the general population, highlighting the urgent need to enhance their overall health and well-being.
Unfortunately, the New York State budget does not adequately support the growing population of people living with disabilities and their increased longevity. For more than seven years, the current Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) budget has not kept pace with the rising cost of living. As a result, funding for human service agencies supported by OPWDD has led to a generalized standardization of care, rather than “Person-Centered Care” that focuses on individual support and care needs.
In 2025, we will continue to advocate with NYS OPWDD to allow provider agencies a voice in deciding what, when, how much, and where budget dollars should be allocated. This is to ensure that all people can live their best lives. This can be achieved through the concept of Integrated Care, which involves coordinating all aspects of a person’s care to improve health outcomes and quality of life.
We will also advocate for increased funding to support housing modifications and adaptive equipment. Additionally, we will aim to increase staffing levels to help individuals living with disabilities remain in their homes at the end of life, thereby reducing unnecessary costs to the state and enhancing the quality of life for people living with disabilities.