Who We Are
The Queens Council on Developmental Disabilities is a group of professionals, parents, and advocates concerned about people with developmental disabilities living in Queens. The Council is authorized by Mental Hygiene Law to advise local and state government on service development and local priorities in regards to city and state resource allocations.
The mission of the Queens Council is to advise, inform, pioneer, identify needs and problems and to work toward their resolution.
The meetings of the Council and its committees provide a forum for discussion about situations which impact on the individuals with developmental disabilities and on the service systems.
The Council’s work often leads to positive changes in the service delivery system providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities.
The Council consists of several committees focused on addressing unmet needs of Queens residents with developmental disabilities.
The Council is charged with assisting and advocating for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
Who Are The Individuals We Serve?
The purpose of the Queens Council on Developmental Disabilities is to assist and advocate for children and adults who live in Queens and who have an Intellectual and Developmental Disability diagnosis which began before age 22. The disabilities include autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, neurological impairments and learning disabilities. The Council is equally concerned with the families of those individuals.
The Queens Council on Developmental Disabilities is the voice of people with developmental disabilities, their families, and the provider system that supports them in Queens.
We…
Educate, Inform, and Support people with developmental disabilities and their families on:
- Available Services
- Current service initiatives in New York State.
- Obtain appropriate services.
- Creating opportunities for family to family discussions and support families during times of need.
We…
Advocate for people with developmental disabilities and their families by:
- Advising and alerting our State and Elected representatives to the current needs and areas of concern in the provision of supports to people with developmental disabilities and their families.
- Assisting our representatives in developing legislation and/or supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families.
We…
Accomplish this by:
- Holding regular meetings
- Full Council meetings once per month
- Specific Committee Meetings, usually once per month
- Holding Special Events
- Family Support Services Fair
- Aging Conference
- Town Hall Meetings
- Celebrating Success (an event recognizing the success of people with developmental disabilities)
- Legislative Breakfast
- Service Coordination Seminar
- Health Care Symposium