About Us:   Mission | President's Message | Board of Directors | Best Practices | History

The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Association of New York State (CDPAANYS) began as a forceful grassroots effort.  Many advocates, people with disabilities and individuals supportive of this burgeoning model began meeting in 1997.  Fresh from the legislative victory that created the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) in New York State (section 365-f of the Social Services Law), this dedicated group met regularly, sharing information and supporting each other through the early years of CDPAP infrastructure building across New York State. 

The New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) awarded CDPAANYS with two grants, the second of which provided the seed money to formalize the organization into a legal entity.  In 2000, the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Association of New York State, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation, was born.

CDPAANYS retains its grassroots heritage through the continued support of key stakeholders such as people with disabilities who are users of home health care services and individuals who fervently believe in CDPAP.  These stakeholders continue to build, brick by brick, CDPAANYS infrastructure.  The association began a new phase of its evolution by establishing a staffed office in Albany, the capital of New York State.

As of July, 2011, CDPAANYS membership represents over half of the counties in New York.  The members of CDPAANYS work with about 5,000 consumers, and these consumers employ about 9,000 personal assistants.