511NY TransLinks (Paratransit Providers)

The NYS DOT TransLinks search engine offers the interactive map or use drop-down boxes for selections and search for available public paratransit in New York State. 

A Comparison of ADA, IDEA, and Section 504

This fact sheet offers a comparison of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

About Autism and Other Autism Resources

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a nonprofit organization run by and for autistic people. The About Autism page lists common characteristics of autism spectrum disorder. This website also has a catalog of publications serving the cross-disability community.

Arc Fact Sheets

The Arc has compiled a series of brief, two-page fact sheets for family members, advocates, professionals, media, researchers, policymakers and others that provide an overview of a specific topic related to intellectual disability. A wide variety of topics are covered, from the causes of intellectual disability to various types of syndromes to criminal justice/victimization issues.

Article 16 Clinic

The Shield Institute's Article 16 Clinic provides diagnostic, evaluation and clinical services for children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual/developmental disabilities. Psychological, social work, speech, occupational and physical therapy, rehabilitative counseling and nutritional counseling are provided individually and/or in group settings. Specialty services include augmentative communication evaluation and treatment, eating and swallowing evaluation and treatment and psycho-sexual assessment and treatment. All services are provided by our licensed and experienced staff.

Learn more about the Shield Institute's Article 16 Clinic.

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

Youth Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a program designed to address the significant needs of children ages 10 up to 21, who are at risk of entering, or returning home from high intensity services, such as inpatient settings or residential services, through the use of a multi-disciplinary team. Children with significant psychiatric needs, who are at risk of institutional level of care, require intensive interventions in order to adequately support the child and family’s complex needs, to avoid high end services or facilitate and support a successful transition back to community. Youth ACT serves as a critical component in the children’s continuum of care.

Assistive Technology Basics / Finding an Assistive Technology

This web page provides comprehensive information on assistive technologies for children with learning and attention issues. The resources on this page include:

• Who Pays for Assistive Technology? Parents or Schools?
• Checklist: What to Consider When Looking at Assistive Technology
• Assistive Technology that's Built into Mobile Devices
• Checklist: What to ask the School before Choosing a Tool or Device
• 10 New Apps for Grade-Schools with Learning and Attention Issues

Child Mind Institute

The Child Mind Institute contains a wide variety of useful information resources for families and educators. The site explores concerns and challenges faced by parents, family members and educators. Learn how to effectively respond to emotional, behavioral and learning challenges. This website also contains many personal story videos.

Th Child Mind Institute is available online or in person (in New York City), offering evaluations, treatment and neuropsychological testing for children, teens and young adults.

Developmental Disability Respite for Bronx & Manhattan

This program offers day, overnight and weekend respite services for families who reside in Manhattan and the Bronx with children or adults who have developmental disabilities.

Consumers will be cared for at a freestanding site to allow families some rest time or to take care of personal issues, or in the event of an emergency.

Developmental Disability State Operations Offices (DDSOOs)

Developmental Disabilities State Operations Offices (DDSOOs) administer and oversee state operations for the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), including the direct delivery of services and supports to people with developmental disabilities by state staff.  By focusing on local supports and services, statewide quality and consistency, and enhanced networking to promote best practices, DDSOOs are able to provide a consistent approach and culture, so that individuals and their families can expect continuous quality improvement in all services delivered directly by OPWDD across the state.

DDSOOs are responsible for the following activities:

• development and monitoring of OPWDD systems improvement (e.g., continuous quality improvement processes, plans of corrective action (POCAs), informed consent and Behavior Management Committees);
• offering specialized supports/services and service delivery in the areas of clinical and food services, waiver services and volunteers/senior companions;
• acting in the capacity of advocate when responding to stakeholder questions and legislative inquiries;
• oversight of support services (e.g., Medicaid compliance, HIPAA compliance and clinical records review);
• oversight of the Statewide Technical Assistance Team, which provides pre-survey and focused technical assistance activities to campus-based ICFs and other state-operated community-based residential programs in which quality improvement issues have been identified; and ensures ongoing compliance with federal requirements and  that program certification is maintained;
• management, on the local level, a variety of OPWDD statewide electronic billing and recordkeeping systems
• oversight of the day-to-day administration of State-operated Family Care; and
• oversight and coordination of fire safety initiatives, including development of evacuation plans in state-operated programs, and establishing and maintaining working relationships with local fire departments.

Eligibility for services is determined by the Developmental Disabilities Regional Offices (DDROs). Please contact the Eligibility Coordinator of the Regional Office representing the county in which the individual/family lives.

Lastly, DDSOOs act in a supporting role to DD Regional Offices in the areas of service development, local management of individual and community supports and crisis intervention.

View DDSOOs using our MSNavigator Mapping Tool.