Blog Stories

As COVID cases steadily rose in New York in early December, Betsy Williams, Director of Clinical Services, and the other members of YAI’s respiratory infection mitigation committee kept moving forward with the same detailed organization and determination that they had employed throughout the pandemic. Even before the vaccine was available, they had a plan in place. Even with meticulous planning, the team faced obstacles every step of the way.

Jimmy Else is a person with a disability who looks forward to his monthly Uber rides. The 36-year-old, who has lived in the Ames South Manhattan Supportive Apartments for 15 years, uses the ridesharing services to get to and from his medical appointments in the city.

Shakar Hollins, like many, lost his job due to COVID-19 last year. He is part of the often overlooked and underrepresented community of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) seeking meaningful employment in workplaces across the country.

Imagine you’re planning the most important party of the year. You line up the perfect venue and gourmet catering, you confirm spotlights from the Board Chair, the Mayor, and Beyonce, and you watch as week by week, expectations for a good time soar... And then the world abruptly shuts down.

Providing residential services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) takes focus, organization, and lots of patience long before the first resident moves in. From housing permits to community resistance to increasingly bureaucratic reimbursement regulations, the road to offering residential services is long.

As soon as the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines were approved in December, many in the disabilities community saw a bright light at the end of the tunnel. But Hope Levy, Executive Director of Premier HealthCare, YAI’s clinical affiliate, made it a personal crusade to get priority access for New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

“All kids need a family around them,” said Jeffrey Darling, YAI’s California Project Manager. When a child in the foster care system has an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD), a family placement may not be able to meet complex behavioral or mental health needs. But because California regulations no longer permit foster kids to live in licensed group homes, the state had to devise a solution.

For students at the International Academy of Hope (iHOPE), YAI’s school for children with brain injuries, working to increase their independence is an essential part of the curriculum. When iHOPE staff saw one of their students taking steps with the help of a cutting-edge mobility device, they wondered how many of the other students could also benefit from it.

Sexual assault is one of the most traumatic, isolating experiences a person can go through. According to the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), 94% of women who are raped experience PTSD symptoms over the two weeks following their assault. For many, these symptoms can last a lifetime or get worse with time. Pair this trauma with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD), and victims are routinely dismissed, overlooked, or further traumatized by the reporting process. Project Shield, a collaboration between the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office and YAI, has been working to support sexual assault victims since 2004.

Sarah Shanderson is passionate about using smart technology, often turning on her lights from her smartphone and counting her steps with her Fitbit. Now she is sharing her zeal for tech with people served by YAI with the goal of empowering them to live safer, healthier, and more independent lives.