Page 20 - Tom Steyer Issue

20 ABILITY
Antoinette Powell, senior supervisor at the Woodside residence
Giving Care During a PANDEMIC
ABILITY Magazine contacted three large organizations and their members about the changes in how they operate during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. YAI, located in New York State, discussed their current situation in their housing facilities as well as their COVID-19 data- base, which offers information for people with (intellectual) disabilities. NEXT for AUTISM described what the pandemic means to their members with autism and how they adapted to social distancing and isolation. And Cure SMA shares a very unique way of supporting their members with spinal muscular atrophy during these challenging times. Additionally, commu- nity leaders and members of these organizations provided the perspective people who rely on these essential services.
YAI
YAI was founded in 1957, and since then, it has grown to be one of the largest organizations supporting people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD). Their early mis- sion statement of a “total life adjustment approach, emphasizing personal growth, social responsibility, employment goals, and the development of independence for the individual” still holds true. Today, YAI offers more than 200 different programs, everything from housing to health care to schools for the I/DD community. Since most of their programs are based in the greater New York area, they have been impacted particularly hard by COVID-19.