TO:                   News Editors

DATE:              March 11, 2025

CONTACT:      Missy Smith, Director of Marketing and Community Development

                         607.734.6151 x122 or email SmithML@arcofcs.org

 

RE:                    The Arc Chemung-Schuyler Awarded OPWDD Western Region Contract for Home Enabling Supports for People with Disabilities

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

 

Elmira, NY | Watkins Glen, NY – The Arc Chemung-Schuyler announces that it has been awarded the home enabling support contract for the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) Western Region of New York State.

 

“This contract is the latest in our agency's attempt to take a leadership role in helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities improve their independence through assistive technology,” said Salvatore Garozzo, Chief Executive Officer. “In collaboration with national vendors and universities, we hope to offer alternative solutions to residential living opportunities, which will support self-determination for people choosing this way of living.”

 

Since 2016, The Arc Chemung-Schuyler has offered a variety of assistive technology supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are served by the agency. Currently, The Arc Chemung-Schuyler offers services throughout all of OPWDD’s Region One as the CSIDD/START provider in this area. The main administrative office for the CSIDD/START program is in Buffalo, New York located within the administrative offices of The Arc Erie. In addition, The Arc Chemung-Schuyler’s article 16 clinic expands beyond its Chemung-Schuyler community by offering services in various satellite locations, in collaboration with The Arc Allegany-Steuben in Hornell and Bath, New York.

 

In anticipation that the assistive technology program needs capacity to grow, The Arc Chemung-Schuyler has received commitments from The Collaborative of New York to help expand clinical assistive technology evaluation supports throughout OPWDD’s Region One. The Collaborative of New York is a group of 15 Arc Chapters covering 17 counties throughout Region One. The Chapters have programming which includes professionals in Article 28 clinics, Article 16 clinics, and Article 31 clinics.