People with Developmental Disabilities, Office for
skip breadcrumbsAgency Web Site: https://opwdd.ny.gov/
Mission
The mission of the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is to help individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities live richer lives. OPWDD’s vision is to ensure that individuals enjoy meaningful relationships with family, friends, and others; experience personal health and growth; live in homes of their choice; and fully participate in their communities.
Organization and Staffing
OPWDD has a Central Office in Albany, which oversees State and Local programs. OPWDD has six State Operations offices, which are responsible for State-delivered programs and services. OPWDD also staffs five Regional Offices that oversee the provision of community-based services delivered by not-for-profit providers. The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 19,115 FTEs for OPWDD, reflecting a 173 FTE increase for the FY 2024 Intensive Treatment Opportunity (ITO) proposal.
Budget Highlights
The FY 2025 Executive Budget recommends approximately $7.6 billion in All Funds appropriations, including $5.1 billion for Aid to Localities, $2.4 billion for State Operations and $139.4 million for Capital Projects, which represents an increase of $161.7 million from FY 2024. The year-to-year increase is primarily due to the inclusion of a 1.5 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) and the continued investment in new service opportunities.
OPWDD will utilize this funding to support a comprehensive system of care that serves nearly 135,000 New Yorkers and their families. These resources will continue to support OPWDD's person-centered model, which delivers services through a network of State-operated and not-for-profit (NFP)-operated settings.
The Budget honors the State’s pledge to support individuals with developmental disabilities in the most appropriate community-based settings. Specifically, the Executive Budget will:
- Support Access to Employment. The Executive Budget will include a $6.7 million investment to support New York’s commitment to becoming an Employment First State as it pertains to people with disabilities. This effort will offer New Yorkers with disabilities employment opportunities first before recommending alternative supports and services, through a multi-agency collaboration led by OPWDD.
- Support Access to More Independent Living Settings. The Executive Budget includes legislation that would allow greater flexibility for the performance of certain nursing tasks by unlicensed employees of providers certified by OPWDD in non-certified community-based settings, such as a person's private home or apartment. This would allow more people with developmental disabilities to remain in or transition to more independent settings, decreasing the reliance on certified residential settings, like group homes or intermediate care facilities (known as ICFs).
- Commit an Additional $15 Million to Develop Housing. The FY 2025 Executive Budget continues to expand independent living opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Since FY 2016, the State has invested $125 million in capital resources to develop safe and accessible residential opportunities, and the Executive Budget raises this investment to a total of $140 million. These funds are distinct from, and in addition to, resources that are available from the five-year, $25 billion affordable and supportive housing plan, which is also helping support the development of residential opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Invest in New Service Opportunities. The Executive Budget invests new State resources ($30 million in FY 2025, $60 million annualized) to fund OPWDD priority program reforms and new services opportunities that enable individuals to receive the services they need. This includes individuals who are entering the OPWDD service system for the first time and seeking access to services, and individuals already receiving services, but whose needs have changed. These State funds leverage federal resources for a gross increase of $120 million annually.
- Expand Special Olympics NY (SONY). The Executive Budget includes a $1 million annual funding increase to SONY in FY 2025. SONY provides not only inclusive sports training, skill building, and competition, it also offers free health screenings and health education to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Olmstead Plan. The FY 2025 Executive Budget includes $250 thousand for New York's Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council (MISCC) to issue an Olmstead Plan. This will ensure that people with disabilities receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. Under the Office of the Chief Disability Officer and the new Olmstead Director, this plan will include people with physical, sensory, developmental, and/or intellectual, mental, and behavioral disabilities.
For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:
https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy24/ex/book/briefingbook.pdf
For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:
Briefing Book – Mental Hygiene (PDF)
Program Highlights
- Residential Services. Residential programs are licensed by OPWDD to provide varying levels of housing and related services, and are operated by OPWDD or not-for-profit agencies. Residential services include, but are not limited to: adaptive skill development; assistance with activities of daily living; community inclusion and relationship building; training and support for independence in travel; adult educational supports; and development of social, leisure, self-advocacy, informed choice, and appropriate behavioral skills.
- Day Programs. Day programs include: day habilitation, community habilitation, and employment type services, each focused on giving participants the personal, social and vocational supports needed to live in their community. Programming varies depending upon each person’s unique needs and interests. These services aim to assist individuals to acquire, retain or improve their self-help, socialization and adaptive skills; including communication, travel and other areas of adult education.
- Clinic Services. Clinic Services include: physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, speech and language pathology, medical/dental services, and health care services. These services assist individuals with developmental disabilities in maintaining the effectiveness of the treatment, enabling the individual to remain in his/her current residential setting, and enhancing the individual’s quality of life.
- All Other Services. These include a variety of different service options for individuals and families, such as Self-Direction, respite, care coordination, and family counseling.
| Category | Available FY 2024 |
Appropriations Recommended FY 2025 |
Change From FY 2024 |
Reappropriations Recommended FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Operations | 2,356,875,000 | 2,361,225,000 | 4,350,000 | 2,756,000 |
| Aid To Localities | 4,993,192,000 | 5,130,574,000 | 137,382,000 | 3,100,660,000 |
| Capital Projects | 119,450,000 | 139,426,000 | 19,976,000 | 523,882,000 |
| Total | 7,469,517,000 | 7,631,225,000 | 161,708,000 | 3,627,298,000 |
| Program | FY 2024 Estimated FTEs 03/31/24 |
FY 2025 Estimated FTEs 03/31/25 |
FTE Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Coordination and Support | |||
| General Fund | 1,178 | 1,178 | 0 |
| Community Services | |||
| General Fund | 15,198 | 15,198 | 0 |
| Capital Projects Funds - Other | 385 | 385 | 0 |
| Institutional Services | |||
| General Fund | 2,087 | 2,260 | 173 |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | |||
| General Fund | 94 | 94 | 0 |
| Total | 18,942 | 19,115 | 173 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2024 |
Recommended FY 2025 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Funds | 2,657,000 | 2,657,000 | 0 |
| General Fund | 2,352,346,000 | 2,356,696,000 | 4,350,000 |
| Internal Service Funds | 348,000 | 348,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 751,000 | 751,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 773,000 | 773,000 | 0 |
| Total | 2,356,875,000 | 2,361,225,000 | 4,350,000 |
| Program | Available FY 2024 |
Recommended FY 2025 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Coordination and Support | |||
| General Fund | 139,812,000 | 140,262,000 | 450,000 |
| Internal Service Funds | 348,000 | 348,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 751,000 | 751,000 | 0 |
| Community Services | |||
| General Fund | 1,707,307,000 | 1,707,307,000 | 0 |
| Institutional Services | |||
| Enterprise Funds | 2,657,000 | 2,657,000 | 0 |
| General Fund | 475,582,000 | 479,482,000 | 3,900,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 502,000 | 502,000 | 0 |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | |||
| General Fund | 29,645,000 | 29,645,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 271,000 | 271,000 | 0 |
| Total | 2,356,875,000 | 2,361,225,000 | 4,350,000 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Central Coordination and Support | 83,519,000 | 200,000 | 82,865,000 | 200,000 |
| Community Services | 1,510,654,000 | 0 | 1,368,863,000 | 0 |
| Institutional Services | 363,000,000 | 3,900,000 | 347,604,000 | 3,900,000 |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | 26,492,000 | 0 | 26,151,000 | 0 |
| Total | 1,983,665,000 | 4,100,000 | 1,825,483,000 | 4,100,000 |
| Program | Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried) |
Holiday/Overtime Pay | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Central Coordination and Support | 489,000 | 0 | 165,000 | 0 |
| Community Services | 1,792,000 | 0 | 139,999,000 | 0 |
| Institutional Services | 1,061,000 | 0 | 14,335,000 | 0 |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | 0 | 0 | 341,000 | 0 |
| Total | 3,342,000 | 0 | 154,840,000 | 0 |
| Program | Total | Supplies and Materials | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Central Coordination and Support | 56,743,000 | 250,000 | 2,072,000 | 0 |
| Community Services | 196,653,000 | 0 | 77,040,000 | 0 |
| Institutional Services | 116,482,000 | 0 | 69,865,000 | 0 |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | 3,153,000 | 0 | 1,333,000 | 0 |
| Total | 373,031,000 | 250,000 | 150,310,000 | 0 |
| Program | Travel | Contractual Services | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Central Coordination and Support | 2,268,000 | 0 | 48,445,000 | 250,000 |
| Community Services | 5,656,000 | 0 | 89,295,000 | 0 |
| Institutional Services | 1,694,000 | 0 | 32,757,000 | 0 |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | 6,000 | 0 | 1,651,000 | 0 |
| Total | 9,624,000 | 0 | 172,148,000 | 250,000 |
| Program | Equipment | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Central Coordination and Support | 3,958,000 | 0 |
| Community Services | 24,662,000 | 0 |
| Institutional Services | 12,166,000 | 0 |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | 163,000 | 0 |
| Total | 40,949,000 | 0 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Central Coordination and Support | 1,099,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Institutional Services | 3,159,000 | 0 | 383,000 | 0 |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | 271,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 4,529,000 | 0 | 383,000 | 0 |
| Program | Nonpersonal Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Central Coordination and Support | 1,099,000 | 0 |
| Institutional Services | 2,776,000 | 0 |
| Research in Developmental Disabilities | 271,000 | 0 |
| Total | 4,146,000 | 0 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2024 |
Recommended FY 2025 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 4,993,192,000 | 5,130,574,000 | 137,382,000 |
| Total | 4,993,192,000 | 5,130,574,000 | 137,382,000 |
| Program | Available FY 2024 |
Recommended FY 2025 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Services | |||
| General Fund | 4,993,192,000 | 5,130,574,000 | 137,382,000 |
| Total | 4,993,192,000 | 5,130,574,000 | 137,382,000 |
| Comprehensive Construction Program | Available FY 2024 |
Recommended FY 2025 |
Change | Reappropriations FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community and Institutional Services Program | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 41,600,000 | 41,600,000 | 0 | 55,034,000 |
| MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds | 20,850,000 | 32,826,000 | 11,976,000 | 98,050,000 |
| Design and Construction Supervision | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 6,000,000 | 6,000,000 | 0 | 35,734,000 |
| MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds | 7,000,000 | 7,000,000 | 0 | 13,044,000 |
| Facilities Maintenance and Operations | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 44,000,000 | 52,000,000 | 8,000,000 | 27,603,000 |
| Institutional Services Program | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,623,000 |
| MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 84,988,000 |
| Non-Bondable Projects | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 954,000 |
| State-Operated Community Services Program | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4,259,000 |
| MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 90,605,000 |
| Voluntary-Operated Community Facilities | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22,598,000 |
| MH Capital Improvements - Authority Bonds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 89,390,000 |
| Total | 119,450,000 | 139,426,000 | 19,976,000 | 523,882,000 |
Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/16/2024