New York State PROMISE is one of six PROMISE awards granted nationwide by the US. Department of Education in October 2013. The PROMISE intervention model was jointly developed by the US Department of Education (USDOE), the Social Security Administration (SSA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), and the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). This state research demonstration project is being coordinated by the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH). The contract is administered by the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene. The research and capacity building activities of the project are being conducted by Cornell University's Employment and Disability Institute.
New York City Approved Employment Plan (2024 to 2025)
The Plan outlines the administration of employment services for Temporary Assistance (TA) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Progran1 (SNAP) applicants and recipients for the period January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2025.
New York OPWDD Statewide Comprehensive Plan (2012-2016)
October 2010 report indicating that “OPWDD is promoting Employment First as a preferred outcome for all people with developmental disabilities.
OPWDD continues its efforts to greatly expand the number of people with developmental disabilities who are employed and earning at least minimum wage. Individuals with disabilities must have opportunities to work in the community with people who do not have disabilities, and earn wages that are at or above minimum wage. As of July 2012, participation in supported employment programs grew to over 9,800 people, and OPWDD’s goal is to achieve continued growth through various initiatives.
New York State OPWDD Report “The Road to. Reform: Putting People First” (2013)
Road to Reform Report: April 2013 report from New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) that delineates specific policies regarding policies and goals for improving employment outcomes, under a transformation agreement with CMS, including ending new admissions to sheltered workshops on July 1, 2013.
New York Executive Order Number 136: Employment First (2014)
New York Executive Order Number 136: Establishing the New York Employment First Initiative to Increase Employment of New Yorkers with Disabilities
”NOW, THEREFORE, I, ANDREW M. CUOMO, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of New York, do hereby order as follows: …
B. Employment First Commission
There is hereby established the Employment First Commission (the “Commission”) to provide guidance and advice to the Governor regarding the competitive integrated employment of individuals with disabilities.
The members of the Commission shall be the Governor’s Deputy Secretary for Health; the Governor’s Deputy Secretary for Civil Rights; the Governor’s Deputy Secretary for Human Services; the Chief Diversity Officer; the Counsel to the Governor; the Director of the Budget; the Commissioner for Developmental Disabilities; the Commissioner of Health; the Commissioner of Mental Health; the Commissioner of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services; the Commissioner of Children and Family Services; the Commissioner of Labor; the Commissioner of Economic Development; the Commissioner of Transportation; the Commissioner of Temporary and Disability Assistance; the Director of Veterans’ Affairs; the Director of the State Office for Aging; and the Executive Director of the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Additional members may be appointed to the Commission at the discretion of the Governor.”
New York Employment First Commission Report and Recommendations (2015)
Everyone has the right to work. It is this underlying premise that is the driving force behind the development of an Employment First policy in New York State. On September 17, 2014 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed Executive Order 136 to create a commission to establish an Employment First policy for New York State. The state seeks to build on important economic development investments the governor has made to ensure that individuals with disabilities equally benefit from the improving economy and have sustained opportunities to engage in the competitive labor market. Specifically, the state aims to increase the employment rate of individuals with disabilities by 5%; decrease the poverty rate of individuals with disabilities by a comparable 5%; and engage 100 businesses in adopting policies and practices that support the integrated employment of individuals with disabilities.
This report outlines the recommendations of the Employment First Commission, which held two statewide public listening sessions and received verbal and written input from more than 30 advocacy, trade, and provider organizations, as well as several individuals.
“Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “New York achieving a better life experience (NY ABLE) savings account act”.
§ 2. Legislative intent. The legislative intent of this act is to encourage and assist individuals and families in saving private funds for the purpose of supporting individuals with disabilities to maintain health, independence and quality of life; and to provide secure funding for disability related expenses on behalf of designated beneficiaries with disabilities that will supplement, but not supplant, benefits provided through existing sources.”
“NYDEI will hire four Disability Resource Coordinators and focus on health care and technology/manufacturing and:
increase employment, retention and wage outcomes through aligned services and expanded partnerships;
assist jobseekers through training and support in navigating Career Development (WDBs/AJCs), Education and Training (Community Colleges) and Disability Service Resources (VR, developmental services, benefits counseling, Ticket to Work, etc.);
increase credential attainment through strengthened academic transitions incorporating innovative program design and delivery through postsecondary and/or industry-recognized credentials; and
increase work- based training approaches.
Systems change activities include:
expanded access to technical training and education in industry sectors;
increasing the number and type of businesses employing individuals with disabilities with a focus on emerging and in-demand job clusters;
expanding AJC capacity to use core, intensive, and training services as a part of Integrated Resource Teams;
increasing partnerships to strengthen alignment, braid and blend resources, integrate expertise, and actively engage businesses to improve services and outcomes; and
developing policies and practices to increase participation in job training and career pathways by all New Yorkers including those with disabilities.”
“This handbook is meant to provide you with the information you need to begin employing people of all abilities, including financial and tax incentives, how and why hiring people of all abilities is good for your business and where to find qualified employees….
The Employability Toolkit was compiled by a consortium of New York State agencies and disability organizations to assist you. We are joined by the New York State Business Leadership Network, New York’s chapter of the US Business Leadership Network® (USBLN®), a national non-profit that helps business drive performance by leveraging disability inclusion in the workplace, supply chain, and marketplace.”
