Blog | Archive Blog
Getting up at 3:00am to catch a bus from NYC up to Albany may sound like a harrowing start to a day. However, I make this pilgrimage annually because it is of utmost importance in keeping indepe........
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2018-08-14 19:22:28
It was an evening of song, accolades and fun! … With a puzzle thrown in the mix. For those of you at the Gala who want to peak at the answers to the Scavenger Hunt crossword puzzle, check out t........
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2018-01-29 21:32:39
In culmination of our musical blog series, here is a mix tape of tunes by people with disabilities who create and perform right here in NY. From hip hop to rock to jazz, this mix tape revels in the ta........
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2018-01-29 21:32:39
We wanted to send out a huge thank you to the major sponsors of our 2017 Gala: The Sound of Independence. The contributions of our donors are a beautiful expression of value for independence, freedom ........
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2018-01-29 21:32:39
Music is an incredible addition to life at all stages – from the childhood right on up through senior citizenship. Case in point? Four year old Concepts Consumer Rohan’s life was changed w........
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2018-01-29 21:32:39
You may remember Tabitha Haly (then known as Tabitha Estrellado) from a blog post of ours back in January. Today Concepts is excited to share more about Tabi’s musical life as a singer and songw........
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2018-01-29 21:32:39
This week in our music blog series we are checking out 4 Wheel City: two hip hop artists from the Bronx who rap about their lives with disabilities. Namel “Tapwaterz” Norris and Ricardo........
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2018-01-29 21:32:39
With a truly unique and beautiful voice, Concepts Consumer Cort Cheek has been serenading the world since he was a child. And through massive obstacles, music has remained core to his being.
One o........
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2023-02-21 02:21:39
When Concepts recently put a call out to our Consumers to let us know about any musical talents and endeavors of theirs that they’d like to share, we were delighted to hear from the mom of Franc........
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2023-02-21 02:25:58
Concepts of Independence had a great time marching, rolling and enjoying the Disability Pride Parade in NYC on Sunday. Here are some photos from the day. Thanks to Concepts staff Beata Jakubowski and ........
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2023-02-21 02:13:51
What does independence sound like? We invite you to find out. Save the date to join us for a Gala of a different kind on October 19, 2017 in Brooklyn, and hear the sounds that embrace the spirit of in........
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2023-02-21 02:15:03
In a perfect world, you would hire a PCA and the relationship lasts forever. You could work out any differences and everything is fine. Well, the world is far from perfect. You will ........
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2017-09-11 13:48:37
The Concepts 2017 NYC Personal Assistant Awards Luncheon took place in Brooklyn last month, and was a resounding success. Each year, Concepts honors a group of Personal Assistants who were nominated b........
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2017-09-11 13:48:37
On Sunday, July 9, 2017, the Disability Pride NYC Parade will take place. The purpose of the parade “is to promote inclusion, awareness, and visibility of people with disabilities, and re........
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2023-02-21 06:38:23
Training is an aspect of the employment process that goes on continuously because you simply cannot foresee all scenarios and predicaments.
It is best to give your employee a written copy of your Ter........
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2017-09-11 13:48:37
Many Concepts members struggle with transportation as provided by the Access-A-Ride program. For those interested, here is a possible way to get involved in an effort to improve service. You can join ........
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2017-09-11 13:48:37
My name is Luz Cantres and I am Concepts of Independence’s newest Recruitment Assistance Specialist and Peer Mentor. I’ve been working for a month now with Concepts and it’s been qui........
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2017-09-11 13:48:37
Concepts of Independence has a resource for Consumers to use when you’re looking for a new Personal Assistant. Over the last year Concepts of Independence has improved its website to make it mor........
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2017-07-05 13:20:27
Concepts of Independence, Inc. was created by the very people who wanted and needed it, over 37 years ago. Our founders were and still are Concepts Consumers – people who fought hard to live ind........
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2017-07-05 13:20:27
I have been a Concepts Consumer for 22 years, so I have been through my share of finding and hiring Personal Assistants (PAs). Finding the right PA is a very personal process, unique to each individua........
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2023-02-21 06:22:15
About eight years ago I realized that something very subtle was missing in my life. Gradually, over the previous years, my disability had progressed to the point where reading hard copies of books was........
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2017-05-04 15:52:54
Concepts is pleased to have guest blogger Alyssa Cottone this week. She writes this piece from SAGE Long Island.
For many LGBT identified people with disabilities or who are older, it is a challenge........
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2017-05-04 15:53:22
Many lives will drastically change unless New York State properly funds the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance (CDPA) program, which allows people with disabilities to maintain their independence i........
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2017-05-04 15:53:43
When placed with the responsibility of hiring and supervising Personal Assistants, your inner manager has to come though and shine. I'm far from perfect and have had major missteps along the way. Howe........
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2017-05-04 15:53:58
A number of people have forwarded this article and video to me. Anyway, let me summarize: A 41-year-old performance artist with ALS/MND/Lou Gehrig's Disease for roughly three years, invited her closes........
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2017-05-04 15:54:15
Every Concepts Consumer is unique in the disability that they have. There is a portion of Concepts Consumers and Surrogates who are dealing with Alzheimer’s and other memory loss diseases. The A........
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2017-03-16 14:32:23
I remember the time when I moved to the Bronx in Spring 2007 from Putnam County in upstate New York. One of the many things I had to take care of was ensuring that I would have home health care ........
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2017-05-04 15:54:50
Former Ms. Wheelchair NY 2016 recently made a guest appearance at the Concepts of Independence Gala in November. Since most of her advocacy work focuses on children with disabilities, we were thrilled........
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2017-05-04 15:55:13
With all the changes that have been happening with the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services program, Consumers have had a difficult time finding qualified Personal Assistants to take care of........
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2017-05-04 15:55:31
Back on November 3rd, Concepts hosted our 2016 Annual Gala: A Growing Community. This event is an expression of the value we place on independence, freedom and dignity. These aspects of life are a giv........
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2017-05-04 15:55:48
My name is Joann Vitiello and I am a member of Concepts. I am single and have been for many years following a six year marriage. I am also a survivor, having to overcome two occurrences of cancer. My ........
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2017-05-04 15:56:07
Like most people throughout the United States, we at Concepts of Independence have been working to digest and understand the consequences of the recent election. In my capacity as the Director of Poli........
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2017-01-17 15:20:30
Earlier this year, Concepts put a call out for artistic expressions of what community means to you. We received a wonderful array of poetry, visual art, stories, and personal essays, all of which come........
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2017-01-17 15:20:30
This is it, your last day to buy Concepts Gala tickets! There are a million reasons to support Concepts and participate. Five of our favorites? Here they are:
Reason #1
Experience an array of artist........
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2016-12-27 16:34:35
This Friday marks the deadline to sponsor Concepts 2016 Gala! Celebrate with us, and support CDPAS in New York’s communities. Our goal is to raise $50,000 and you can help us get there. In doing........
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2016-12-07 14:01:51
Concepts of Independence applauds this strong letter of support for the consumer directed program throughout New York State from New York State Senator Kemp Hannon, Chair of the Senate Health Committe........
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2016-11-28 18:31:22
…. and how you can help grant more wishes.
Every year, Concepts asks the parents & guardians of the kids in our program to send us a wish for something that would improve their child&rsqu........
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2016-11-16 13:18:28
This week I had the pleasure of interviewing David Friedman who writes a blog called The Disabled Foodie. David goes to different restaurants and reviews not only the food, but the service and accessi........
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2017-05-04 15:57:28
Members of the Community to be Honored at Gala Celebration
On November 3, 2016, Concepts of Independence, Inc. will celebrate the fact that more and more New Yorkers with disabilities live and thrive........
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2023-02-21 06:32:24
Want to have your work published with us? Concepts is accepting photographs, poems, paintings, drawings, short stories (just about anything that can be printed) for publication in an online collect........
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2016-11-15 00:09:30
Many members of the Concepts community are passionate about the freedom, independence, and dignity that being a part of consumer direction allows. Because our program is so unique, it means differe........
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2016-10-24 16:43:37
It has been so fun keeping up with this year’s 2016 Olympics in Rio and we are also incredibly excited about the Paralympics coming up in September! We thought we would share a list of some athl........
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2023-02-21 06:28:57
Do you want to have your work published with us? Photographs, Poems, Paintings, Drawings, Short Stories, … Anything!
Concepts of Independence will be hosting our 2016 Gala this Fall, where ........
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2016-09-19 15:45:25
How I StartedMy name is Elizabeth Ramos I've been active with Concepts since 1992. Before that, I decided to do my homework when I found out my aide, while I was in a traditional agency, could not hel........
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2017-05-04 15:58:47
Long time Concepts Consumer and advocate Rosemary Gianuzzi speaks about her own story, and why funding PA wages and overtime is so vital to her and to the community at large.
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2016-09-06 13:03:26
It’s not too late to sign up to march with Concepts at the Disability Pride NYC Parade! We will be marching on July 10th as a united group of Consumers, Personal Assistants, staff, family and fr........
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2016-08-31 12:38:03
Concepts of Independence is pleased to announce our 2016 Annual Gala: A Growing Community. Please mark your calendars for Thursday, November 3, 2016 for a celebration of people with disabilities growi........
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2016-08-26 20:02:55
I have been a Concepts consumer for nearly 22 years. I was a client of a traditional home care agency for 13 long and disappointing years.
I found out about Concepts through a neighbor and friend. He........
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2017-05-04 15:59:20
Recently, New York State passed a law that now allows parents of adult children in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) to potentially be enrolled as PAs. However and very importa........
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2023-02-21 06:41:23
Find out what our Consumers are saying about Concepts, about their Personal Assistants, and about their own lives. We could wax on forever about how Concepts changes lives, but we’ll let our Con........
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2016-07-13 16:56:17
When you want to find a new PCA, there are several avenues to explore: word-of-mouth (asking friends and family members), posting a flyer in a community center, or using the Internet. I pr........
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2017-05-04 16:00:14
The stereotypical view of people with disabilities is one that is highly detrimental. We are often thought of as helpless, with no goals, no desires, no ability to think, unable to become productive c........
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2017-05-04 16:00:31
My life has been forever changed, and its because of my Personal Assistant Josefa Molina. She has been my PA for the past 16 years, since I was 20 years old. Now, at 36, after college, love, and ha........
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2017-05-04 16:01:22
The Disability Pride NYC Parade is coming back to the streets of NY this summer. At Concepts, we are very excited to participate in this important annual event. We invite our Consumers, Personal Assis........
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2016-07-06 14:05:14
Of the thousands of Personal Assistants that are employed by Concepts Consumers in New York City, ten were recently recognized for their outstanding work that goes above and beyond the call o........
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2017-05-04 16:01:49
Deciding to join a CDPAP (Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program) can be both exciting and scary. You have accepted the responsibility to take control of your life. You are rejectin........
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2017-05-04 16:02:51
Concepts is very excited to introduce the world to our blog, which will be updated weekly with news, tidbits, tutorials, advocacy action alerts, and other updates regarding Concepts and consumer direc........
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2024-03-02 02:36:43
coiny
Independence is both a right and a responsibility.
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contact
Concepts of Independence, Inc. 120 Wall St, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10005
info@coiny.org
844-NY-CDPAS (844-692-3727)
Concepts serves the following counties: the 5 boroughs of New York City, plus Albany, Clinton, Delaware, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Suffolk, Warren, Westchester.
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