Self Advocacy

Voices Heard in Albany

Wed, February 20, 2019

(From left to right) Loretta, YAI Self Advocacy President Janice, Lee, Kevin, Kisha, and Jennifer in front of the Capitol Building On February 11, a group of 47 people including people we support, YAI self advocates, family members, and staff braved the cold weather and took the trip to Albany to join the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation in advocating for the needs of people with disabilities. Upon arriving in Albany, the group from YAI received a briefing from Queens Regional...

L-R: George Contos, Delia Tucker, Rocio Ruiz, Kat Pheysey, Consuelo Senior and Ravi Dahiya

YAI Sets Stage for Return of International Conference

Tue, November 13, 2018

YAI has over 60 years of experience and expertise in supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) locally, throughout Downstate New York and Northern New Jersey. Our outstanding training program is renowned on a national level. However, YAI is taking bigger, and further, steps toward expanding its international reputation. Over the past few weeks, YAI has sent in-house experts to both Chile and South Korea to share their diverse knowledge on I/DD issues. We are also...

A group of people from YAI at the disability pride parade

How to Best Support Self Advocates

Thu, August 30, 2018

A great part of my job at YAI has been collaborating with, supporting and learning from the many people who are self advocates. This opportunity has not only enriched my professional and personal world, but it has also provided me with the opportunity to challenge and question myself in ways that have only enhanced my learning about people and myself. When involved in supporting a person who is a self advocate I try very hard to “not take away their power.” This is easy sometimes but very...