Dear Friends and Colleagues:
OPWDD joins our partners all across New York State in recognizing International Day of Persons with Disabilities today. This year’s theme is particularly fitting to the work we’ve been doing with self-advocates here at OPWDD: “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.”
I am proud to say that one of my first actions as Acting Commissioner of OPWDD was to welcome six Peer Specialists to our team:
- Christopher Bristler
- BJ Stasio
- Chester Finn
- Marilyn Stata
- Joshua Mirksy
- Elphie Kuzande
Acting Commissioner Willow Baer with Self-Advocate and OPWDD Peer Specialist, B.J. Stasio at the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State’s annual conference.
Peer Specialists are people with developmental disabilities who work for OPWDD at different locations across the state to advocate alongside and on behalf of people who receive services, educate people about their civil rights, and ensure that decision-makers consider the perspectives of people with developmental disabilities by participating in staff training, providing input on policies, and procedures, and working with OWPDD leadership. We are grateful to have their input and to be able to draw upon their experiences to benefit people who receive services.
We also recognize New York’s Chief Disability Officer, Kim Hill-Ridley, who was recently appointed to the National Council on Disabilities. Kim has helped amplify the voices of our state’s self-advocates for a more inclusive New York. She has championed the addition of Accessibility to the extensive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work being done within state agencies and offices and has helped Governor Hochul launch the DREAM (Disability Rights & Employment Awareness Month) Symposium, which celebrates the value that disabled New Yorkers bring to the workforce and assists in matching prospective qualified candidates with employers. We are grateful to have her voice – and the voice of the New York disability community – advising the President and Congress on disability rights, needs and advocacy.
I look forward to continuing to work with all of you in amplifying the leadership of people with disabilities in our system and in the state.
Sincerely,
Willow Baer
Acting Commissioner
ENYDDA 