·        Continued to advocate to increase the enforcement of the rights and responsibilities of schools under laws related to special education, especially Section 504 and IDEA. Specifically advocated with school administration and instructional staff at both the Newburgh Enlarged City School District and the Orange-Ulster BOCES to engage all special education students in a transition planning process that begins at age 14.

·        Provided disability awareness training and information about community-based post-secondary resources and opportunities for transitioning students families and teachers.

·        Continued to advocate to increase the number of parents and students actively participating in the IEP process in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District and in public school districts served by the Orange Ulster Board of Cooperative Educational Services.

·        Continued to advocate to establish a disability awareness track as part of the basic curriculum in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District.

·        Continued to advocate to increase options for preventing the need for segregated educational services among students with psychiatric disabilities by advocating for the adoption of inclusive educational practices and demand responsive supportive services that enable students to learn in regular classroom settings.

·        Continued to advocate for procedural changes at the Newburgh Enlarged City School District and the Orange-Ulster BOCES that result in providing equal access to extracurricular activities for students receiving special education services.

·        Continued to advocate for procedural changes to transition plans for students with disabilities in local school districts, to include information pertaining to PASS, VESID, Independent Living, advocacy and linkages to other community based agencies and organizations.

·        Assisted students and parents in learning about educational laws, rules, regulations, processes and procedures that govern the development of an IEP.

·        Taught students and parents to advocate on their own behalf both individually and in small groups.

·        Communicated with special education classroom teachers, the special education guidance counselor and other school personnel in support of the provision of appropriate educational services.

·        Provided students and families with independent living services including information and referral, benefit advisement, self-advocacy training and independent life skills training linked with the objective of empowering individual service recipients.

·        Continued to replicate a model of an existing youth transition center - as part of the Independent Living Services for School Age Youth with Disabilities Project. Advocated for continued funding to support these services on an ongoing basis.

·        Facilitated continuing communication among students, educators, employers, providers, and parents pertaining to the coordination of resources critical to successful transition.

·        Provided family support (1 - through continuing, active participation in parent organizations; 2 - through the continued implementation of a person centered transition planning process at the Newburgh Enlarged City School District; and Orange/Ulster BOCES).

·        Offered peer support (through our parent and student mentoring program’s support groups).

·        Offered classroom support (through teacher consultation, technical assistance and troubleshooting).

·        Provided community support (through consultation with, and technical support to 1 - school personnel; 2 - employers and prospective employers of students transitioning from school to work; 3 - service clubs and other community organizations).

·        Continued to offer work-learning opportunities at our Center, for students who are at risk of dropping out of school

·        Applied for funding (through a competitive RFP process) to establish an Mid-Hudson regional Early Childhood Direction Center.

·        Advocated for housing on behalf of 5 transitioning students.

·        Hosted organizational and planning meetings involving participation by Employment Transition Liaison and One Stop staff.

·        The One Stop Disability Program Navigator oriented and trained the Employment Transition Liaison as to the specific resources available at the One Stop. 

·        Implemented a schedule of regular meetings between One Stop staff and the Employment Transition Liaison.

·        The Employment Transition Liaison regularly provided direct services to students at the participating One Stop centers.

·        Conducted outreach aimed at unserved students and their family members and made presentations to schools, parent associates and groups of potential employers.   Prepared display materials and made presentations at neighborhood events in underserved communities (e.g. National Night Out).

·        Collaborated with the Newburgh Enlarged City School District on a Transition EXPO for students with disabilities and their families.

·        Conducted person-centered transition planning meetings attended by students, family members, teachers, advocates and supporters.

·        Introduced students to One Stop services and resources, during individual and small group visits.

Both the Orange-Ulster BOCES and the Newburgh Enlarged City School District have modified their policies pertaining to the engagement of parents in their child's transition planning process.

As a direct result of IL advocacy and resulting procedural changes, 37 students attending the Newburgh Enlarged City School District and 41 enrolled at the Florida, NY campus of the Orange Ulster BOCES actively participated in transition planning.

As a direct result of IL advocacy at the Newburgh Enlarged City School District and the Orange/Ulster BOCES, parents/guardians of these students were also participants and attended their children’s IEP meetings. There was over 95% participation (by parents/guardians) during this reporting period.

A disabilities awareness track was instituted as part of the school personnel-training curriculum of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District.

·        Disability awareness training has been successfully incorporated into teacher professional staff in-services at the Newburgh Enlarged City School District..

The Newburgh Enlarged City School District has modified bus routes to ensure participation by students with disabilities in after school activities. To date, this a resulted in the inclusion of 17 students.

The Newburgh Free Academy has begun implementing policy changes that will result in end the segregation of students with significant disabilities at the Newburgh Free Academy.

As a result of continuing advocacy to ensure that students with disabilities and their families fully understand their rights and options ILC staff have now been included in the annual new student orientation program offered at the Newburgh Free Academy.

The Newburgh Enlarged has made procedural changes that resulted in increased participation by students with disabilities in community/work learning experiences.

·        112 students and family members were linked with employers and supportive services at a regional Transition Fair organized by Independent Living, Inc. and hosted by the Newburgh Enlarged City School District.

·        27 students with significant disabilities obtained paid work experiences.

Transition plans developed at the Newburgh Free Academy and Orange/ Ulster BOCES now routinely incorporate information pertaining to PASS Plans, VESID, IL resources and linkages to community based resources. During this reporting period 76 transition plans included this information.

46% of transitioning seniors served by the ILC transition support team achieved competitive employment and 46% pursued self-determined post secondary educational goals.

The center was awarded state education department funds to establish a regional Early Childhood Direction Center in the City of Newburgh.

The center received a 5-year grant to provide after school family support services to at-risk junior high school students with developmental disabilities and their families.

The center’s Student Career Developer (SCD) continued to maintain a working relationship with One-Stop staff and meet regularly with the Disability Program Navigator (DNP) at the One-Stop. 

The SCD has attended staff trainings at the One-Stop and continued to participate in the Orange County Employment Alliance Network (OCEAN). In this context, participated in an event for National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This included a breakfast awards ceremony to honor employers who have hired individuals with disabilities.  The SCD has continued to work at the Newburgh One-Stop but is always available to assist any students at the Middletown One-Stop as well.

The Newburgh Enlarged City School District hosted a Transition EXPO for students with disabilities and their families.

The following organizations adopted a policy that commits their participation in a Transition Advisory Network that facilitates linkages between schools and providers.

• Orange County Chamber of Commerce
• Newburgh Enlarged CSD
• Orange County Comm. College
• Washington Heights Community Center
• Family Health Center of Newburgh
• Valley Central School District
• Accent on Ability
• Orange-Ulster BOCES
• Newburgh YMCA
• T.U.R.N. Family Resource Center
• Orange County Youth & Family Services
• Occupations, Inc.

·        CDI Head Start

• City of Newburgh Youth Bureau
• Orange County Mental Health Assoc.
• Emergency Housing Group

·        Orange County MH Association

·        Continued to advocate for a shift in funding that will provide greater financial incentives to programs and agencies providing integrated employment services, than to those operating sheltered, segregated employment programs.

·        Continued to advocate for an increase in the availability of supported work opportunities for persons with significant disabilities – that have historically been excluded from consideration as candidates for integrated employment.

·        Continued to advocate for policy and procedural changes that increase participation by students with disabilities in work learning programs offered by Orange County School Districts.

·        Advocated for physical and procedural changes at One-Stops in the Cities of Newburgh and Middletown that facilitate increase participation by persons with significant disabilities.

·        Advocated for on-site advocacy services for persons with disabilities at the local One-Stops.

·        In anticipation of the discontinuation of Employment Now funding provided through a 2-year grant from the NYS Office of mental Health, advocated for an increase in the availability of flexible, individualized supportive services (e.g. intensive vocational service coordination, flex funds, transportation and child care assistance) designed to address issues outside of work that directly bear upon placement stabilization.

·        Advocated for changes in hiring practices that would result in a measurable increase in the number of competitive employment opportunities that are made available to persons with significant disabilities, particularly by employers that have not previously hired persons with disabilities.

·        An ‘innovative vocational services’ grant awarded by the NYS Office of Mental Health enabled us to provide flexible financial support as necessary to facilitate successful employment outcomes.

·        Advocated with Orange County vocational service providers to increase integrated employment outcomes for persons historically not considered capable of sustaining competitive employment.

·        Advocated with funding and provider agencies and employers for the provision of novel employment supports directed to stabilizing external influences on long-term employment success (e.g. assistance with child care)

·        Continued to advocate for, and facilitated the inclusion of employers in person-centered planning linked with the preparing special education students for the transition from school to work.

·        Offered general information about programs, services, work incentives and post-secondary training and employment options to teachers and parents. Provided specific information essential to changing the attitudes of individual students and family members about future planning that embraces opportunities for employment that were previously discounted purely on the basis of disability.

·        Applied for funding to provide vocational services to formerly homeless individuals with psychiatric disabilities living in supportive housing units.

·        Worked with the Disability Navigator at the One Stop Career Centers in Newburgh and Middletown.

·        Utilized Medicaid Waiver funds to assist persons with significant developmental disabilities to become engaged in work readiness activities. In this context, provided daily community-based experiences linked with encouraging the acquisition of independent living skills, identifying career paths, understanding work culture and establishing specific vocational objectives.

·        Applied for funding to provide placement assistance to students with significant developmental disabilities during the transition from school to work.

·        Advocated for the employment of persons with disabilities at community centers, health fairs, job fairs, community expos, community colleges, hospitals, libraries, DSS offices and SSA offices in Ulster, Dutchess, Sullivan and Orange Counties.

·        Employed over 25 persons with significant disabilities in direct service and management positions.

·        Increased consumer knowledge of work incentives.

·        Facilitated consumer visits to the One Stop Center by advocating for improved accessibility including on-site orientations to One-stop services that enable consumers to understand and take advantage of the resources that are available (the Disability Program Navigator).

·        Recruited employers to enlist their support in identifying occupations having an unmet need, assisting with interview training exercises, and in providing applications and defining desirable applicant characteristics.

·        Enlisted employer support in providing job shadowing, trial work, situational assessment and employment opportunities for participating students.

·        Assisted consumers including transitioning students with job search activities at the One Stop and during visits to potential employers

·        Developed Extended Service plans for 50 individuals.

·        Linked consumers with peers for support in making the transition to work.

·        Participated in the Orange County Employment Alliance Network (OCEAN) advocating for accessibility and reasonable accommodation at the workplace, and for a broader range of competitive employment options and opportunities for persons with significant disabilities, including those who are Deaf.

·        Independent Living, Inc.’s Executive Director participated in the local WIB to cultivate alliances with area businesses, and to discuss issues and contribute to the development of strategies related to workforce development.

Established a formal arrangement whereby the local One-Stop provides on-site employment advocacy for persons with disabilities.

·        The Orange County Employment & Training Administration has entered into a cooperative agreement with the independent living center that supports on-site employment advocacy services for persons with disabilities at Orange County’s One Stop Centers.

·            The Orange County Employment & Training Administration has modified policies and procedures at the ILC’s request, that ensure that One-Stop services in Orange County are fully accessible and available to students transitioning from school to adult life.

·                    12 youth with disabilities registered with the Orange County One Stop system (no students were registered during the previous year).

WalMart in Newburgh has become a new employer of persons who are Deaf.

The Gap in Newburgh has become a new employer of persons who are Deaf.

Through continuing advocacy efforts directed to the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, 17 youth with significant disabilities were included in fully integrated community work experiences.

Moreover, 11 students with significant disabilities obtained part or full-time competitive employment involving employer-provided accommodations.

Orange County vocational service providers have instituted a cooperative process for sharing employer information and working collaboratively to improve outcomes for persons with significant disabilities. Participating organizations include the Orange County Employment & Training Administration, VESID, RSS, Newburgh Mental Health Clinic, Hudson House, Occupations, Inc., Restorative Management, DOL, Orange Works.

Received a grant from the Developmentally Disabilities Planning Council to provide vocational advocacy for students transitioning from school to work.

Valley Central School District has included a disability awareness-training program into the curriculum for elementary students.

The Newburgh Enlarged City School District has instituted a system (including an orientation program for students and parents at the beginning of each school year) that provides information about items for potential inclusion (e.g. benefits advisement services) in the IEP Transition Plans for special education students.

Received continuing funding from the NYS Office of Mental Health to sustain the provision of intensive vocational service coordination to individuals with psychiatric and co-occurring psychiatric and addictive disorders who were historically regarded as not capable of sustaining integrated, competitive employment.

Received funding from the Social Security Administration to extend benefits planning, assistance and outreach services pertaining to work incentives available to SSI and SSD recipients.

The VESID District Office (for Orange, Ulster, Dutchess and Sullivan Counties) changed its orientation curriculum to regularly include the provision of information about work incentives, presented by ILI staff.

Received funding from the Office of Temporary Disability Assistance and provided vocational services to 40 formerly homeless individuals with psychiatric disabilities living in supportive housing units.

Received funding from the NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council and provided placement assistance to students with significant developmental disabilities during the transition from school to work.

Old Navy Stores modified their local recruitment practice to include participating in the Transition EXPO for students with disabilities and their families hosted by NECSD.

The City of Newburgh Fire Department modified their recruitment practice to include participating in the Transition EXPO for students with disabilities and their families hosted by NECSD.

·        Advocated for changes in local institutional policies and practices that will result in increased referrals to community based living options.

·        Advocated for changes in local institutional policies and practices that will result in significantly increasing the number of nursing home residents engaged in discharge planning.

·        Advocated for changes in policies by local county departments of social services so as to allow as many hours as needed of home care to avoid placement in nursing homes.

·        Advocated for changes in policies and practices by local county departments of social services that would enable self-directing individuals to be fully responsible for the scheduling of their personal assistants.

·        Advocated with community organizations so as to produce a measurable increase in the number of such organizations referring consumers to the Center’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, that have not previously done so.

·        Advocated for changes in the policies and practices of providers in the local health care system that will ensure full access to health services by individuals who are Deaf.

·        Advocated for changes in the policies and practices of providers in the local mental health care system that will ensure equal access to mental health services by individuals who are Deaf.

·        Advocated with mental health practitioners to receive cultural competency training that would enable them to better serve the Deaf community.

·        Advocated for expanding the opportunities for self-directing individuals to choose consumer directed personal assistance services in Orange, Sullivan, Dutchess and Ulster Counties.

·        Provided information, training and technical support for DSS staff pertaining to consumer self-direction.

·        Trained consumers in institutional facilities to advocate for themselves.

The Orange County Department of Mental Health improved its practices pertaining to ensuring accessibility to people who are Deaf by institutionalizing Deaf culture training for mental health practitioners.

The Family Empowerment Council, Association for Retarded Citizens and Occupations, Inc, now mandate training in cultural competency mental health services staff.

St. Luke’s-Cornwall Hospital changed its policies and practices to ensure full access to health services by individuals who are Deaf, and has modified its facility to provide unencumbered access by persons with physical disabilities.

·        The hospital has modified its in-service training plan to include the subject of accessibility to medical/hospital services by persons who are Deaf.

·        The hospital is revising and expanding the disability policies section of its policy and procedure manual.

           The hospital has installed a ramp leading to the main (and previously inaccessible) entrance of the building.

·        There is a change in training policy and practice for Cornwall Hospital personnel requiring that disability awareness training become a part of the hospital’s in-service curriculum.

The Orange County Department of Social Services has modified its in-service training plan to include disability awareness training provided by the ILC.

15 self-determining persons with significant disabilities were diverted from institutions, remaining in their homes and receiving supportive services,

Persons who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing are receiving culturally sensitive mental health services at the Orange County Department of Mental Health.

The Orange County Department of Mental Health allocated funds to provide ongoing cultural competency training for mental health service practitioners and sign language interpreters on an ongoing basis.

·        Advocated with local building code enforcement officials so as to produce a measurable increase in the use of accessible/adaptable requirements in new construction.

·        Advocated for the immediate implementation of Orange County’s ADA & Section 504 Transition Plan & Self-Evaluation as adopted by the county on November 30, 2000 in accordance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

·        Advocated for increased accessible housing options for persons with disabilities.

·        Advocated for increased communication access to the local judicial system by persons who are Deaf.

·        Provided self-evaluation and ADA technical assistance consultations to municipalities.

·        Provided disability awareness training to local police departments and the Police Academy.

·        Worked with court officials to ensure courts are compliant with ADA standards.

·        Provided technical support to Safe Harbors of the Hudson pertaining to the renovation of the Cornerstone Residence (at the site formerly known as the Hotel Newburgh) for the purpose of providing accessible permanent housing opportunities for individuals with disabilities living in the City of Newburgh.

·        Coordinated with Orange County Executive’s Office, the Orange County Health Department and local law enforcement agencies in developing and implementing a strategy for disseminating information about reserved parking to businesses, public agencies and county residents.

There was an increase in the number of ADA Title III entities that are fully accessible to individuals who are Deaf.

·        Fully functional TTY machines are now in use at Port Jervis Mental Health Clinic, Bon Secours Hospital (Port Jervis), 2 Mental Health Clinics operated by Occupations, Inc. (New Windsor and Goshen), and at the Feeney Drive office Mobile Mental Health and Project Liberty.

A local public transit company has agreed to receive ADA self-evaluation and technical assistance and will adopt a policy assuring the proper training of all transit/driving personnel on disability sensitivity and awareness.

The Orange County Government Center in Goshen has made building modifications that improve access by people with physical disabilities.

The Drug Treatment Court has adopted a policy assuring the proper training of all court personnel on Deaf sensitivity and awareness.

There is disability representation on the Drug Treatment Court Steering Committee.

200 persons with significant disabilities received transportation services as a result of advocacy on their behalf in connection with maintaining competitive employment.

The Orange County DSS has adopted a policy that includes Deaf cultural competency/accessibility training for agency staff.

The regional Police Academy in Rockland County has adopted a policy  that includes disability awareness training as a part of its curriculum for new recruits.

The Orange County office of the Department of Labor has installed an accessible front entry door.

A City of Newburgh developer (Safe Harbors of the Hudson) has made structural modifications to their property (the site formerly known as the Hotel Newburgh) to improve access to housing for persons with significant disabilities.

The Orange County Executive instituted a change in practice at the Department of Health by allocating $10,000 for use in promoting compliance with reserved parking regulations.

81 Carson Ave. is made accessible by Habitat for Humanity.

Crystal Run Village agreed to require Deaf training of residential staff and provide sign language interpreter services to Deaf consumers in their residential program.

·        Advocated for changes in funding policies and practices as necessary to encourage the creation of an annual (“free-market” driven) process for providing individuals receiving day services the opportunity to evaluate and, potentially change service providers based upon individually determined criteria.

·        Advocated for changes in funding policies and practices as necessary to create incentives for day service providers to develop integrated community based program models and eliminate segregated day services.

·        Advocated for an increase in the number of community clubs and service organizations that are accessible by individuals with significant disabilities.

·        Advocated for increased availability of sign language interpreters at local theatrical performances and other cultural/recreational events.

·        Advocated with local municipalities to ensure that stadiums, auditoriums, parks and other public recreational facilities are fully accessible

·        Advocated for the inclusion of persons with significant disabilities in service organizations and social clubs.

·        Advocated for the inclusion of persons with significant disabilities community-based social events.

·        Provided ASL instruction to members of our local community.

·        Made disability awareness presentations to social clubs and community organizations.

·        Extended an agreement with Meals-on-Wheels that provides volunteer opportunities for 9 individuals with significant disabilities.

·        Sponsored fully integrated social events involving participation by community residents with and without disabilities.

·        Increased the center’s capacity to serve Orange County’s growing Latino community through the hiring of additional bilingual staff.

·        Advocated with 7 area health care providers regarding accessibility to persons who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing.

·        Advocated for Timothy’s Law at the Nov. 18, 2004 rally at the State Capitol.

·        Initiated a campaign to increase public awareness re: Reserved Parking  - “Be Parking Considerate.”

·        Advocated for the transformation of the mental health system, locally and statewide – to a system based upon evidence based practices dedicated to the principals of wellness and recovery

·        Advocated for the reallocation of OMH resources used to support MPC to the development of peer-based community infrastructure.

·        Participated in NYSILC’s mental health and housing subcommittees.

·        Provided written testimony pertaining to Kendra’s Law.

·        Attended the Assembly’s Disability Awareness Day (5/05) and met with one of our assemblymen, Tom Kirwan and staff members for other members of the assembly (Rabbitt, Gunther and Calhoun).   

·        Advocated to remove longstanding barriers that prevent equal access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals in the contexts of: mental health services, health care, state & local agencies, the legal system, education, employment and housing.

Two community services organizations initiated disability awareness-training programs for all members.

·        The Newburgh Lions Club has made a commitment to host an annual disability awareness presentation for its membership, conducted by ILI staff.

·        The Newburgh Rotary Club will host an annual disability awareness presentation conducted by ILI staff.

The Newburgh YMCA has adopted a policy assuring the proper training of all personnel in the areas of disability awareness and the ADA.

World Gym (Newburgh) is now able to accommodate persons with physical disabilities.

Sportsplex (Newburgh) is now able to accommodate persons with physical disabilities.

Police Departments in the Cities of Newburgh and Middletown have amended their personnel training practice to include Deaf/Disability Awareness Training.

12 individuals with significant disabilities were regularly engaged in community-based voluntary and social activities.

Orange County Legislature appropriated $10,000 to support a public awareness campaign pertaining to reserved parking, entitled “Be Parking Considerate.”

·        Advocated for the local Board of Elections to adopt policies and processes that ensure the training of all newly hired election officials about the rights of persons with disabilities at polling places.

·        Advocated for an increase in the participation of individuals with significant disabilities on governing boards of community organizations responsible for making decisions about the funding of disability services that previously have not had representation from the disability community.

·        Advocated for an increase in the participation of individuals with significant disabilities on governing boards of community organizations responsible for making decisions affecting the lives of persons with disabilities, in the areas of employment, recreation, citizenship, education, housing, and health care that previously have not had representation from the disability community.

·        Advocated for accessibility at 82 Orange County Polling Sites.

·        Inspected sites, reported findings to municipal and election officials.

·        Provided consumers with the locations of local polling places and information about accessibility.

·        Advocated for disability representation at Orange County meetings in order to ensure that the interests of persons with disabilities are fairly represented.

·        Provided self-advocacy training to students with significant disabilities resulting in increased participation in transition planning.

·        Continued to include voter registration materials in the Center’s “intake” packet.

·        Conducted voter registration outreach at public events, to maximize participation by persons with disabilities.

·        Responded to individual requests for Environmental Modification Consultation linked with the attainment of improved community access.

·        Initiated a process for planned a forum for educating candidates about disability issues, in collaboration with the League of Women Voters.

·        Responded to individual requests for information pertaining to home modifications.

·        Provided individual consultations regarding compliance with the ADA.

·        Facilitated voter registration for 86 persons with significant disabilities.

Advocated for the inclusion of disability awareness training while attending Orange County polling site workers training conducted by the Orange County Commissioner of Elections.

Represented the interests of the disability community at Candidates Night hosted by the League of Women Voters.

Maintained contact with the Orange County Board of Elections regarding polling site locations and accessibility.

Advocated with 21 Orange County legislators and the county executive seeking the inclusion of the disability community in the county’s process for the purchase of voting machines and appointing election inspectors.

As a direct result of the center’s advocating for the elimination of waivers 6 polling sites that were inaccessible last year have been made accessible.

98% of Orange County Polling Sites are now accessible.

The Orange County Board of Elections has adopted a policy assuring the proper training of all polling site workers, on disability sensitivity and awareness.

·        The Orange County BOE is now requiring disability awareness training for Poll Workers (that is being provided through partnership with the ILC).

Political action committees have committed to ensuring that meetings and rallies are held in accessible locations.

There has been increased representation by individuals with disabilities on community boards/ committees and task forces that previously had no previous disability representation.

·        As a direct result of ILC efforts, there is now disability representation at Leadership Orange, Cornwall Hospital, the City of Newburgh YMCA, the Family Health Center, and Orange County Meals on Wheels.

·        Individuals with disabilities had consistent representation at countywide meetings including the Multicultural Taskforce, the Orange County Housing Consortium, Newburgh Developers, Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Providers, Mental Health Services Committee, City of Newburgh Youth Bureau, Orange County Youth Bureau, “Closing the Gap” Council, SNAP committee,  Flex Fund Committee, Trauma Initiative, Dual Recovery Taskforce, Transportation Committee, Consortium for Worker Education.

·        34 persons with disabilities signed voter pledges and were educated about the value of their vote.