Empowering Self-Direction in New York.
We fight for the fundamental right of individuals to make their own choices. Our advocacy transforms lives by ensuring people with disabilities can direct their own services and futures.
The C4SD Community
Answered Our Call to Advocacy!
Over 600 Public Comments
Sent Directly to OPWDD!
Our entire Community is deeply concerned about a series of proposed rule changes (ADMs) that OPWDD recently issued, and the profoundly negative impact they’ll have on the delivery of Self-Directed Services across the State!
So C4SD asked our Community to send OPWDD public comment emails to push back against these mis-guided policy proposals as a show of our solidarity and committment! To help out, we created a one-page resource to make it easy for you to join us as a partner in advocacy, and our Community’s response blew us away, and blew up OPWDD’s Inbox!
Thanks to Everyone Who Participated in This Advocacy!
Remember - This is just the first important step in our campaign to stop these mis-guided and unnecessary policy proposals in their tracks
Watch Part One of our Sept. 16th C4SD Town Hall Meetings - Focus on ADMs. We present some compelling positions followed by lively and informative discussions with our C4SD Community!. See https://www.c4sd.org/opwdd-draft-adms to join us in advocacy!
Our Detailed Analysis of Draft Rule Changes to OPWDD’s Housing Subsidy & Our Common Sense Solutions Are Now Available!
We urge OPWDD to revise draft ADM-2026-02, in line with our recommendations, prior to issuance. This will greatly enhance the possibility that all people have “the ability to make their own choices and set their own goals when choosing where to live.”
This includes people who have 24/7 needs, people who choose to have a Provider as their landlordthose and people who choose to pool resources. All people should include people who choose to live in settings that we personally would not select, such as an intentional community. We may not want to live on a commune, but we support the right of anyone else to make that choice, including people with developmental disabilities. It would be wonderful if the NYS Housing Subsidy policy supported these choices.
Our Detailed Analysis of Draft Rule Changes to Contemporaneous Service Documentation Requirements & Our Common Sense Solutions Are Now Available!
“…we are deeply concerned that this policy, as written, will cause significant, negative disruption of our critical Independent Support Broker workforce.”
“…we are concerned that this disruption will create serious, unintended downstream consequences that will be measured in both financial and human costs for years to come.
Mission:
We advocate for the constitutional right of people with disabilities to live in the community on their own terms and to choose the services they receive.
Vision:
We aim to protect and improve the system of individual Self-Directed budgets in New York State, as a key pathway to fostering integrated lives rooted in freedom of choice.
Goals:
We aim to make Self-Direction accessible, empowering individuals with developmental disabilities to choose where they live, their services, and goals, ensuring the freedom of choice.
Protect the Right to Choose Self-Directed Services
Every day, families across New York fight to keep Self-Direction accessible. Your gift powers advocacy, family training, and rapid response when policies threaten choice.
Upcoming Events
Change starts now.
C4SD is working tirelessly to make Self-Direction accessible to anyone who chooses it. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to voice your ideas and to advocate for people with disabilities to make their own choices.
Before finding C4SD, we felt powerless navigating the changes in self-direction policies. The Coalition gave our family a voice — and real support.
Sarah
email@email.comC4SD helped me understand my rights and speak up about my needs. I feel respected, capable, and free for the first time.
Jane
email@email.comWorking with C4SD has shown me what true inclusion looks like. They build community and empower individuals.
Bob
email@email.comThe support we received was beyond anything we expected. Highly recommended for anyone seeking independence.
