FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 4, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Jessica Shearer, Chief of Marketing and Communications | Jessica.Shearer@yai.org | 646.970.8110
YAI Names David Stafford as Board Chair
NEW YORK, NY, November 4, 2026 — YAI, a nonprofit serving more than 20,000 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and behavioral health needs across New York, New Jersey, and California, announced that its Board of Trustees has named David Stafford as Board Chair, effective November 2, 2026. Formerly the Vice Chair of the Board, Stafford has served as Acting Chairperson since June, following the passing of former Board Chair Jeff Mordos, and has provided steady leadership throughout the transition.
A member of the Board since 2007, Stafford is the General Counsel of McGraw Hill. He is a longtime advocate for people with I/DD, with a deep personal connection to YAI’s mission. He believes that people of all abilities should be able to maximize their potential and live with contentment and optimism about the future, and he has helped create opportunities for the people YAI supports through his work at McGraw Hill.
Stafford’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment, as YAI begins developing the framework for its next strategic plan.
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About YAI
Founded in 1957, YAI remains at the forefront of an extraordinary movement aimed at empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. YAI and its network of affiliate agencies offer children and adults with I/DD a comprehensive range of services. YAI is committed to seeing beyond disability, providing opportunities for people to live, love, work, and learn in their communities. YAI’s 4,000 employees provide supportive housing, education, medical, dental, and mental health care, job training, community integration, and social enrichment for more than 20,000 people with I/DD, and their families, in New York, New Jersey, and California.