Thanks to a Balancing Incentive Program grant from the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, YAI has developed an interview assessment tool and a comprehensive Senior Resource Guide to help people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities I/DD envision what retirement could look like.

"This is an aspect of aging we have not really focused on," said Fred Feibusch, Vice President of YAI’s Residential Services, as he approaches his own retirement on July 1. "Zeroing in on a meaningful quality of life and planning retirement is a very important aspect of aging."

The tool allows staff to have more meaningful conversations with people we support who are 50-years-old and over. Focusing on interests and different activities seniors want to explore in their lives, the tool also identifies supports that may be needed.

The Senior Resource Guide, which is broken down by regions, explores existing community resources, rather than OPWDD-funded programs.

"Once we started to look beyond our own world of OPWDD,  we discover there’s another world of services out there," said Joan Leinwand, Medicaid Service Coordination Support Specialist, who spearheaded the guide. "This is an excellent start."