Training and Technical Assistance

The Commission offers various training programs to meet the needs of a variety of audiences. Some of the specific offerings are described below. For more information or to request training, please contact the specific resource listed or the Commission's webmaster who will forward your request to the appropriate contact.

  

Training Brochure

Training offerings are currently under review.  For additional information, please click the “Contact Us” link, on the left side (acrobat icon) to submit your inquiry.  It will be forwarded to the appropriate staff member who can assist you.

 

 Division of Advocacy - Training and Technical Assistance

Division of Advocacy - This Division was created to foster internal and external collaborative efforts around advocacy and other types of training, and technical assistance and outreach to individuals with disabilities, their families, advocacy organizations, community agencies, local governments and other groups regarding issues of concern to people with disabilities. Although this Division serves all individuals with disabilities, it is especially concerned with addressing advocacy needs of people with physical and/or sensory disabilities to help ensure that they are afforded the opportunity to exercise all of the rights and responsibilities accorded to all citizens of the state by providing information, technical assistance and training on a myriad of disability issues.

Training - Numerous trainings, including ADA, accessibility, guardianship, special education advocacy, assistive technology, disability/diversity awareness/conflict resolution are offered in various school, community and workplace settings. They are outlined in the agency training brochure [text or pdf format] on our website. Trainings can also be customized to meet a particular audience's needs.

Future Planning

This workshop concentrates on the three critical elements of a plan, wills, guardianship and trusts. The goal of the training is to have the participant become an informed consumer who will be able to hire an attorney knowledgeably and additionally to have the ability to complete some of the work pro se or as their own representative. Time is spent in the workshop dealing with procrastination which some people may exhibit when completing the plan. A method is suggested for dealing with the task in a reasonable way. Some Future Planning Resources:

  • Commission on Quality of Care Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PADD) 1-800 624 4143. Ask to speak to a PADD representative to answer questions on future planning and the guardianship process.
  • NYSARC, Inc. (518) 439-8311. Ms. Erica Berman has amassed the largest resource file on all aspects of future planning. Materials and consultation are available at no cost.
  • NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (518) 432-8233. The Council has published two resource manuals on future planning. One is geared towards parents to assist them in considering all the information necessary to create a plan. The second manual is for attorneys, and it provides all the technical information necessary for them to draft appropriate legal documents necessary for future plans.
  • Brookdale Center on Aging (212) 481-4433 The staff at the Center have become expert on Elder Law and estate planning. In particular, emphasis has been placed on Community Guardianship as a means to protect vulnerable adults who are living in the community.
  • The National Institute on Life Planning for Persons with Disabilities has a WWW site with valuable information for people interested in future planning.

Pro Se Guardianship

A "hands on" workshop in the legal procedure, including the forms necesary to petition for an Article 17A Guardianship in Surrogate Court. Forms may be found on this site.  The training guides individuals through the completion of each section. The goal for the workshop is that each participant will leave the session and apply for guardianship pro se as their own representative without the need for an attorney.

Client's Rights

This workshop focuses on the "Bill of Rights" granted to residents of facilities administered or licensed by the Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities. These rights are contained in 14 New York State Codes, Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) Section 633.4. The goal of the training is to inform parents, consumers and advocates about the "real rights'' in facilities and ways to insure that these rights are protected. This training continues to be required for new ombudsmen in Westchester County.

Board of Directors Training

This workshop is directed toward self-advocacy groups of individuals with disabilities which recently have incorporated as non-profit entities. The workshop concentrates on the fiduciary responsibility of Board members and the avoidance of conflict of interest as well committee development and the conduct of meetings. The goal is to have inexperienced individuals become fully conversant as to their new responsibilities on a Board of Directors.

Board of Visitors Training

CQC provides orientation training to all new members upon their appointment and continuing education to members re-appointed to the Boards of Visitors (BOV) which focuses on the roles and responsibilities of BOVs. Included in the training is information on how to conduct a site visit, how to review incidents and how to develop the skills and techniques to be a qualified BOV. [More information on training provided by the Commission may be found at the Commission's Speakers' Bureau page.]