Who we are

Community of Practice

The NYS Community of Practice (CoP) on Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Developmental Disabilities began in 2017, initiated by a federal grant opportunity through the Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NYS DD Network applied and was one of ten states and territories competitively selected to participate.  

The NYS Community of Practice (CoP) on Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Developmental Disabilities began in 2017, initiated by a federal grant opportunity through the Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NYS DD Network applied and was one of ten states and territories competitively selected to participate.  
The national CoP was facilitated by the Georgetown National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC), who provided technical assistance, training, and ongoing support to each state team, including the NYS CoP. The original membership included the NYS Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD) who served as the lead, along with the Chinese-American Planning Council, Disability Rights NY, Ibero-America Action League, the Office for New Americans, OPWDD, Rose F. Kennedy UCEDD, Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities UCEDD, and the Westchester Institute for Human Development UCEDD. To read more visit: https://nccc.georgetown.edu/cop/ 
The federal opportunity led by NCCC was a 6 year initiative that ended in August 2022. The NYS CoP team continued its work, and in 2023 the CDD voted to grow the Community of Practice in New York and expand its work to involve a wider network of professionals, providers, advocates, and families in the DD field. In January 2024, AHRC Nassau was competitively selected to lead the Community of Practice in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) for 5 years.
AHRC Nassau, through this grant made possible by the NYS Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD) has joined with WRI Solutions,  NY Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation, and the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals in establishing a NYS Community of Practice (CoP) on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Developmental Disabilities. This initiative seeks participation from Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) provider agencies, self-advocates, and Care Coordination Organizations (CCOs) who are passionate about or want to contribute to DEI efforts.
By joining, participants will engage in forming teams focused on DEI strategy development and implementation, aiming to elevate care quality and establish DEI best practices within their organizations and throughout New York State.
This collaborative effort is designed to foster a culture of dignity, respect, and equity for all people supported, their families, and staff.
As part of this statewide initiative, team members will gain foundational DEI knowledge through expert-led workshops and webinars, create a comprehensive toolkit of resources for ongoing support, and enhance their organizational capacity for inclusive policies and practices.
This is a unique opportunity to be part of a dedicated network of leaders and stakeholders working together to ensure equitable treatment and advance DEI across New York’s human services system.

Regional Teams

Region 1: Buffalo Region:

Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Geneseo, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates.

Region 2: Ithaca Area:

Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Clinton, Cortland, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Otsego, Tioga, Tompkins, St. Lawrence.

Region 3: Capital Region:

Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Westchester.

Region 4: NYC Region:

Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond.

Region 5: Long Island:

Nassau, Suffolk.

Region 6: Out of State:

Counties outside of New York State

Regional Team Application

will be open till end of year for referrals from our regional team members