County Seeks Input on Services for Individuals with Intellectual and Development Disabilities
Poughkeepsie … The Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health will hold a public forum on Tuesday, March 28th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to discuss resources and services available for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Dutchess County. The forum will be held in a hybrid format, providing participants the option to attend either in person at 230 North Road in Poughkeepsie or via Microsoft Teams. Those living in the IDD community, families and caregivers are encouraged to participate in the forum to provide feedback and input for the development of the County’s 2024 Local Services Plan. Registration is required and can be done at dutchessny.gov/forumcomments.
Dutchess County’s All Abilities Director Dana Hopkins said, “We are looking forward to hosting this year’s forum to support our residents of every ability and are excited to offer participants a chance to interact in person again. The feedback we receive from this yearly forum is crucial and helps us to keep our fingers on the pulse of which programs and services are effective and where there may be gaps. I hope many can attend and contribute to this significant event.”
In addition to offering time for public comments and questions, the forum will feature speakers from different agencies who will provide updates on services as well as answer any questions the public may have. Presentations include:
- 2022 Accomplishments;
- The development of the County’s “All Abilities Action Plan”
- OPWDD frequently asked questions answered by Thomas DeHaan; and
- Dutchess County Dept of Emergency Response’s Mario Gonzalez and Trish Munk will discuss the Voluntary Access and Functional Needs Registry.
For those unable to attend, or do not feel comfortable during the forum, DBCH welcomes written comments and questions to be read aloud by the forum moderator. Individuals may submit comments online at dutchessny.gov/forumcomments, fax comments to 845-486-3448, or mail to: Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Forum, 85 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.
More information about Dutchess County’s efforts to ThinkDIFFERENTLY, as well as available resources for residents of abilities, visit thinkdifferently.net.
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