Stop the Closure of Sheltered Work Environments in New York State

Affording dignity to all

What a shame NYS! I encourage everyone to make a visit to a sheltered workshop and see the truth. It's a wonderful place for people with developmental disabilities to make friendships, socialize and learn skills needed. I truly hope for the 8,000 being affected that the sheltered workshops will remain open.

My sister in law will be devastated if she loses her workshop job. This is how she feels useful and dignified.

The Workshop at Achieve is a safe community atmosphere necessary and appropriate for my som

Having work brings to individuals a level of competency, individuality, independence, sense of worth and value.

People with disabilities need the human interaction and need to feel like they are worth something too in this world, help them have a voice!

After working in the sheltered workshop for 18 years this would be so devistating for our People we Serve. Call your local sheltered workshop and see what they do. Go visit if you can.

Legislators, go visit a sheltered workshop and you will understand the need. They must not be closed!

Essential to my daughter's well-being as a human being. Do not close even one of the Sheltered Workshops.! ! ! ! ! !

Save the Sheltered Workshops!

If you care about people with IDD, please do not close their only place of employment!

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A Letter to ARC Livingston-Wyoming Executive Director Chris Peterson from Congressman Chris Collins with enclosures including a response received from the Director of CMS and a letter the Congressman wrote to Governor Cuomo: May 9, 2014 Mr. Chris Peterson Executive Director The ARC Livingston-Wyoming 18 Main Street Mt. Morris, NY 14510 Dear Mr. Peterson: As someone deeply invested in the future of sheltered workshops in New York State, you deserve an update on my search for answers regarding the State's decision to cease new admissions into its sheltered workshops. While it is true that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is encouraging states to adopt strategies to achieve competitive employment for the disabled, it now appears that CMS never directed New York to close admissions into sheltered workshops, as the State has claimed. As you may remember, I began pressing CMS for detail on this issue last year. After several rounds of follow-up and an inexcusable delay, CMS has responded to my initial inquiry and specifically addresses New York State's decision to cease new admissions into its sheltered workshops. As you will see from the enclosed letter, New York State voluntarily indicated to CMS its desire to "close the front door" to sheltered employment for all new admissions for fiscal reasons. Earlier this week, I sent a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo expressing my concerns and urging his Administration to consider the implications of its actions (enclosed). While New York has maintained that gradually eliminating sheltered workshops and transitioning all disabled persons into competitive and fully integrated employment is in response to the 1999 Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. L. C., it is now clear New York is deliberately choosing an extremely liberal interpretation of the ruling to serve its fiscal goals. While the ruling requires employment choices for the disabled, it does not call or mandate for

To close sheltered workshops would be a huge mistake. There are very limited employmenr opportunities in the area and even less public transportation. Even if a person with developmental disabilities could find a job the taxi fares would probanly be more than their earnings.

A Letter to Governor Cuomo from Senator Patrick M. Gallivan: September 25, 2014 The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo Governor of New York State N YS State Capitol Building Albany, New York 12224 Kerry A. Delaney, Acting Commissioner NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities 44 Holland Avenue Albany, NY 12229 Dear Governor Cuomo and Commissioner Delaney: As the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities moves ahead with its plan to phase out sheltered workshops, I continually hear concerns about the future of our citizens who have flourished in a sheltered workshop setting and those who could flourish in such a setting. No one who opposes the eventual closure of sheltered workshops disagrees with your agency's goal to provide persons with disabilities with the most integrated environment possible. Many could, should, and will benefit from the transition to competitive employment. However, according to your May 1, 2014 Employment Transformation Plan, this transition is not for everyone: While all workshop participants will be educated about competitive employment options, OPWDD estimates that 50% of individuals and families will not be interested in transitioning to competitive employment, have medical , adaptive or behavior support needs that create barriers to employment, or are ready to ret ire. Alternative options for these individuals include: Community Habilitation, Self Direction , or Day Habilitation. My constituents and I are concerned that the alternatives, for those who cannot transition to competitive employment, are inferior to many of the existing sheltered workshops. These alternatives do not appear to provide an environment where individuals can get a sense of pride and purpose by performing their job each day as well as increase their self confidence and independence by earning wages. While I maintain my concern that the closing of sheltered workshops will have a disproportionate impa

To close our workshops would be a crime! These jobs give our folks a purpose and desire to go to work. For them to hold jobs in the general work force would not be possible. Stat officials should come and visit our workshop settings and see how are individuals perform and love what they do!

Sheltered workshops are a means for individuals with intellectual disabilities to learn a trade, gaining skills that are life long. To close the sheltered work shop will be devastatung not only for those individuals currently employed in this setting but for individuals in years to come.

I have seen the smiles and how proud these individuals are to show off thier accomplishments at work. To take this away would deflate and devastate some.

This is a great opportunity for these individuals.

Sheltered worksops are a key component in the lives of the individuals we serve. They provide a vocational option that if taken away would be detrimental to services.