Self Advocacy Association of New York State

SELF DETERMINATION

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START-UP BROKER DIRECTORY

 1. WHAT IS SELF-DETERMINATION?
2. IS SD A GOOD MATCH FOR YOU?
3. HOW DO YOU BEGIN?
4. HELP IS AVAILABLE!-Start-up Brokers
5. HOW ARE SERVICES PAID FOR?
6. POTENTIAL REWARDS
7. FIND OUT MORE

 WHAT IS SELF-DETERMINATION?

Self-Determination (SD) is an idea that came from people with developmental disabilities and their families who wanted more control over their supports and services. While SD can be achieved in many ways, one important way is through a new option offered by OMRDD called the Self-Determination Pilot Project.

It's about personal choice. People in OMRDD's Self-Determination Pilot Project decide, with friends and family, what they want to do. They identify the supports they will need. Together they decide who to interview and hire to assist them, and they provide training to those they hire. They arrange their own service schedules. This is often called self-directed services.

The Self-Determination Pilot Project is also about flexible funding. Individuals actively manage their own budget using a new waiver service called Consolidated Supports and Services (CSS). The person authorizes payment for the supports and services they've chosen. Participants agree to use their budgets safely and wisely, but they are in control.

 IS SD A GOOD MATCH FOR YOU?

Look First … Think about these points before you leap

… To enroll in SD, an individual will have to have a clear idea about his or her major life goals. If you're that person, for example, you should know:

How, where, and with whom you want to live. What work, volunteer, or other activities interest you.

How you want to spend your free time (days, nights, weekends). SD is best-suited for individuals and families who are willing to take on:

More self-direction.
More control of their lives.
More responsibility.

 HOW DO YOU BEGIN?

As a participant in the Self-Determination Pilot Project, here is what you would do.

  1. Form a circle of support. (A circle of support is made up of people you encounter in your
    everyday life that you trust and can depend on to help you.)
  2. With the help of your Circle, develop a person centered plan that tells what you want to do.
  3. Identify the supports and services you need.
  4. Create an individualized budget to pay for your supports and services.

 HELP IS AVAILABLE!-Start up Brokers

Funds are available to pay for someone to help you with the application process. These people are called "Start-up Brokers."

A directory of start-up brokers who are located in your area can be obtained by:
  • Contacting your local OMRDD district office (DDSO) - see below for telephone numbers,
  • Visiting the NYS Self-Advocacy website at www.sanys.org and clicking on the Start-Up Broker button, or
  • Calling OMRDD at 518/474-5647.
  • Click to go to the Start-up Broker Directory

 HOW ARE SERVICES PAID FOR?

For each person approved for SD, an individualized budget, called a a personal resource account, is set up.

Money from this account is used to buy supports and services traditionally provided by agencies.

the approved participant works with a fiscal intermediary- which is an accounting service - to hire staff and pay other bills from this account. 

 POTENTIAL REWARDS

Self-Determination may help make it possible for you to discover and share more of your natural gifts and talents - by forming new friendships, working or volunteering in your community, and living more independently.

 FIND OUT MORE

If you or some one you know is interested in OMRDD's Self - Determination Pilot Project, you should contact the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State or a DDSO staff liaison at one for the phone numbers listed at the right.

The Self-Advocacy Association or a DDSO representative can answer your questions, help you figure out if SD is right for you, and assist you through the application process.

Self-Determination Contacts and Telephone Numbers

If you want to know more about self-determination, contact the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State or your local DDSO at the numbers listed below.

CALL TODAY!!!!!


Consolidated Support Services/Self-Determination Project
 
Self-Advocacy Association of New York State Contacts: Steve Holmes or Cynthia Gilchrist: 518-382-1454
Capital District:  Patricia Feifer  518-382-1454
New York City:  Alexandra Haselbeck  212-627-2104
Long Island:  Angela Sobotker  631-434-7241
Hudson Valley:   Jordan Jankus  845-382-1899
Buffalo:  Sophia Roberts  716-517-2342
Rochester:  Lyn Zyla  585-461-8776

DDSO Contacts:
Bernard Fineson
Regine Petigny 718-217-5980
Karen Freeman

Brooklyn:
Michael Gilbert  718-642-8546

Broome:
Timothy Humphrey  607-770-0217
Kathy Creagh  607-771-0586

Capital District:
Deborah Murphy  518-370-7507

Finger Lakes:
Elaine Peckham 607-734-6135 xt. 23
Ed Dobrowski  585-241-5719

Hudson Valley:
Peter Fella  845-947-6059
Janice Tritton

Long Island:
Michelle Zoldak  631-493-1804

Metro NY/Bronx:
Marjorie Allen  718-430-0371

Metro NY/Manhattan:
Sharlon Joseph  212-229-3606

Staten Island:
Jack Lawrence  718-982-1944

Sunmount:
Mary Borst  518-359-2962

Taconic:
Richard Schmidt  845-473-5050 xt. 156

Western New York:
Stephanie   716-517-3523

NYC Regional Contacts:
Maureen Abrams, SD Coordinator:  212-229-3299

OMRDD Central Office:  518-473-6255
Janice Stevens, Director Innovative Solutions and Practice Implementation
Doris Moore, Statewide CSS/ISS Coordinator
Emily Wright, Assistant Coordinator
Lou Rossi, CSS/ISS Training Specialist
Michael Muller, Budget Coordinator:  518-402-4107

Statewide Coordinator:
Shelly M. Okure 518/474-4904

For general information on the SD/CSS Pilot Project, contact Dee Richardson at 518/474-5647.

Brochure funded in part by the NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.
Helpful Links

Principles of Self-Determination

Summary of Self-Determination

Declaration of Self-Determination

Self - Determination Newsletter

A brief update on Self-Determination in NY State 6/5/2001
 
SANYS, Self-Advocacy Association of NYS, Inc.