Today is a momentous day for people with developmental disabilities and for those of us who care deeply about access to the quality, comprehensive healthcare that everyone needs and that many have struggled to find for far too long.
A year ago, Governor Hochul announced an historic $25 million investment for existing health clinics to expand access to healthcare services for people with developmental disabilities. Today, I was thrilled to be at New York University’s College of Dentistry to announce that the launch of this vital work, as we award a total of $25 million to 30 separate grantees across the state.
Announcing these grants at NYU’s Dentistry Oral Health Center for People With Disabilities was especially meaningful because, as the single largest grantee, the Center will dedicate its $5.5 million grant to expand its facility, already renowned for accommodating the physical and support needs of patients with disabilities. With the addition of eight new treatment rooms, that will nearly double the number of clinical areas dedicated to disability care, NYU will be able to expand dental services for New York City and the surrounding areas to more than 3,300 patients with disabilities per year. By incorporating elements to reduce anxiety and by including specialized dental equipment to meet the needs of patients with autism, other developmental disabilities, and/or complex medical conditions, the expanded facility at NYU’s Oral Health Center will be a shining example of what health care equity can look like and feel like. I am so excited for the people who will receive dental care here.
The work that will be done at NYU and across the 29 other clinic awardees is just the beginning, but it represents a giant step toward the health equity that self-advocates and family members have been appealing to us to provide for them. We hear you and your health matters.
I am so grateful for the leadership of Governor Hochul, who has committed not just words, but infrastructure and funding, to improve access to care for people with developmental disabilities. OPWDD was overwhelmed with interest in and applications for the health equity grants, reflecting a growing awareness and commitment to the need to provide equitable access to healthcare for people with developmental disabilities. In selecting the awardees, we prioritized projects focused on dental care, expanding physical diagnostic space to better accommodate wheelchair users, and improving access to physical health services in historically underserved areas. I hope you’ll take a moment to read the Governor’s full press release to learn more about all the awardees and their specialties. As we move forward with our work to achieve the health equity that people with developmental disabilities deserve, please know how much I appreciate your continued input and advocacy.
In Health,
Willow Baer
Commissioner
