Blog Stories

As Americans get used to thinking in terms of “essential” and “non-essential” roles, two members of YAI’s supported employment workforce have soldiered on through the COVID-19 crisis. Housemates Richard Clolery and Jordan Kraus live in a supported apartment in East Meadow, Long Island. They have stepped up to the challenges of the pandemic, providing essential services to people experiencing the stress of this public health emergency.

YAI is having significant success using a crisis support model that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) cope with behavioral health challenges in their homes and avoid hospitalization or arrest. Over the past four years, YAI has used START (Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources, and Treatment) to serve nearly 600 individuals and their families across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens.

YAI's Direct Support Professionals are working around the clock to provide comfort and care for over 800 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) living in YAI residences. These programs are staffed 24/7 and often involve close contact with people with different physical, social and medical needs. #yainevercloses

When Jerry Robinson first found a supported employment opportunity at YAI affiliate school iHOPE almost six years ago, he had no idea what to expect. It was Robison’s first time working with students with traumatic brain injuries. “When I first came to iHOPE it was kind of challenging because I’ve never worked at a place like this before,” Robinson said. “I had to get used to it. But I got the hang of it.”

Dementia has deprived Tiina Mills of many of her memories and she is often confused. That changed for an instant one day in February when a YAI caregiver turned on her iPad to play the music of opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, beloved by Mills for most of her life.

Social stories can be used with adults and children; they are a tool to help provide directions and examples of appropriate ways to respond to social situations. The goal of a social story is to illustrate and clarify expectations while building skills such as coping and emotional regulation. Social stories provide framework and should serve as a clear example of expected behaviors. Social stories consist of directive sentences (sentences that tell a person what to do) and descriptive sentences (sentences describing the situation).

Navigating how to explain COVID-19 to someone with I/DD and the swift changes to everyday life can be overwhelming. At YAI, we believe that the people with I/DD should be treated with dignity, respect, and honesty. We recommend that caregivers take a calm and matter-of-fact approach to explain what COVID-19 is and how to prevent it.

During the COVID-19 emergency we want to help you find resources to assist during this challenging time. YAI LINK has gathered some important information and resources for families to access which are shared below. For additional information please feel free to call us at 212.273.6182 or email link [at] yai.org .

With the digital revolution accelerating on all fronts, YAI is launching the region’s first center dedicated to evaluating how assistive technology can improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). YAI’s Center for Innovation and Engagement kicked off the two-year pilot program in February.

To help people with I/DD retain their parental rights—and upend a disturbing trend--YAI launched the Parents with Special Needs (PWSN) program. Since 1995, PWSN has empowered parents through one-to-one instruction and community-based support and skills groups.