Blog Stories

Back in 2015, Wendy L. began her journey toward employment. DSP Lorraine Myers and Supervisor Petal Morris worked with Wendy to procure an internship at CVS. After successfully completing the interview and hiring process, Wendy's internship lasted from January 2016 through June 2016. At the end of her internship, she was interviewed again and was hired as a stock clerk! After this accomplishment, Wendy set her sights on her next goal. She asked staffers Siddiqua Alleyne and Licha Leonce to be...

Did you know that falls are a leading cause of injury for seniors and people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD)? Falls cause more than 90% of all hip fractures, and 80% of those who survive a hip fracture lose their ability to perform many of the functions of everyday living.

Last Tuesday, 33 people from across YAI went to Albany to join the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation in their lobbying efforts. With such wide representation from the agency, we were able to meet with 40 different elected officials or their chiefs of staff! The group was able to thank their elected officials for supporting a living wage for Direct Support Professionals. YAI's representatives advocated for our elected officials continue to support the #bFair2DirectCare Campaign and...

Julie M. first moved into a YAI residence in 1978. In 1982, she began fundraising for YAI. Ever since, she’s been one of the biggest individual fundraisers each year for Central Park Challenge , raising an astonishing total of $29,051! In 2017 alone, she raised $4,164.

There are significant upcoming changes to New York State’s Medicaid Service Coordination (MSC) service commencing July 1, 2018, and introduce you to Care Design New York, LLC (CDNY), one of six entities within New York State designated as a Care Coordination Organization / Health Home (CCO). CDNY is a partnership of several I/DD agencies that operate throughout OPWDD Regions 3/4/5. Starting this summer, the CDNY member agencies -- all of which provide quality, person-centered supports to people...

Having a child can be the most rewarding yet scary experience for anyone. Doubt and uncertainty are common feelings that emerge. The idea of being responsible for another life is overwhelming to say the least. Some ask the question, “can I do it?”

Who better to describe what YAI does than a person we support? Here is Howard S.’s story, which he recently shared at the BIP Conference in Albany .

Lorena Sarria, Ms. Latina International Colombia, continued a family tradition from her childhood when she celebrated the holidays with a group of MSA students this week.