Westchester Institute for Human Development

Working While Receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits
2026-06-04 18:00 - 19:15 (America/New_York) | Zoom
This workshop will offer a basic understanding of how working impacts benefits. Learn how to keep track of your earning, reporting your earning and how Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) can be used. Additionally, how to continue to receive your Medicaid benefit if you earn too much income and your cash benefit is discontinued.
Zoom Registration: Click Here

Agency 101-An Overview of Services to Support Students with Disabilities into Adulthood
2026-06-09 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
This session will provide an overview of the primary State and community agency providers available in New York state (NYS) and the services each agency offers. Participants, including students and families, will gain knowledge of available resources, appropriate referral options, and related processes. The goal is to increase appropriate referrals, as these supports are shown to correlate with improved outcomes for students with disabilities.
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Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) Services and Eligibility
2026-06-09 13:30 - 14:30 | Zoom
Please join us for a workshop on OPWDD services and eligibility. The New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is responsible for coordinating services for New Yorkers with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Through this workshop you will learn about the range of OPWDD services available to you and your loved one, and about the requirements for service eligibility.
Zoom Registration: Click Here

Positive Solutions for Families (series)
2026-06-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Join us for a four-session workshop series for parents, families, and caregivers. These sessions will provide strategies to support your children’s social and emotional development and address challenging behaviors in a positive, effective way.
Workshop Details: Four sessions*, once a month on a Wednesday from 10am-12pm
Dates:
March 11 Making the Connection & Keeping it Positive
April 15 Behavior Has Meaning & the Power of Routine
May 13 Teach Me What to Do & Responding with Purpose
June 10 Putting It All Together with a Plan
*Attending all four sessions is encouraged but optional. Resources and tools will be provided before each session.
Zoom Registration: Click Here

Self-Direction: An Overview
2026-06-10 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Learn about OPWDD’s self-direction services which allows for more choice in OPWDD-funded supports and services. The individual must be eligible for OPWDD services and participating in Care Management services through a Care Coordination Organization (CCO) to be approved for self-direction. Therefore, it is recommended that you first attend a workshop on OPWDD eligibility if the person with the disability does not already have it.
Zoom Registration: Click Here

An Introduction to Transition Planning
2026-06-11 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
The purpose of this training is to provide participants with a high-level understanding of student- centered transition planning, including its purpose and significance in supporting students with disabilities as they prepare for life after high school. The training covers relevant New York State (NYS) regulations and federal requirements, highlights where transition is addressed within the Individualized Education Program (IEP), and explores the role and types of transition assessments. Additionally, the training will cover multiple graduation pathways, diploma, and credential options. Families will learn strategies to meaningfully engage in the process. The training also introduces the range of agencies and services available to support successful post- school outcomes.
Zoom Registration: Click Here

EI (Early Intervention) to CPSE (Committee on Preschool Special Education) for Families
2026-06-17 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
This presentation will guide families through the process of transitioning their child from Early Intervention (EI) to the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE).
Zoom Registration: Click Here

Supporting Children Through Trauma and Big Emotions
2026-06-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual

Office for People with Development Disabilities (OPWDD) Future Planning Forum
2026-06-22 17:00 - 19:00 | WIHD, 20 Plaza West, Valhalla, NY, 10595, United States
This summer, OPWDD will be holding forums across New York State to share updates about their work and hear from you. This year is especially exciting as it will officially kick off their work on the next five-year OPWDD Strategic Plan. This year, forums will be more interactive and give you more opportunities to share your thoughts with OPWDD. At each forum, they will give you a chance to share your thoughts on:
Navigating the OPWDD system
What High Quality Services Mean to You
Planning for the future of OPWDD
You can come in-person or join us online. You can find event details and sign up using the links below.
Click Here for Event Details
Click Here to Register

Supported Decision-Making (SDM), Guardianship, and other Alternatives
2026-06-30 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
In this workshop we will present instruments and methods used to support loved ones with disabilities in making choices as they approach the age of adulthood.
Supported Decision-Making (SDM), Guardianship, and other Alternatives
Many parents and caregivers have questions about how best their loved one with intellectual and developmental disabilities may be supported in making decisions as an adult. What are the concerns around guardianship? What about Supported Decision Making? How do advance directives such as health care proxies and durable power of attorney factor in? This workshop should be taken before the Guardianship and Digging into Supported Decision-Making workshops. If you have already taken this WIHD zoom workshop, please register instead for the Digging in to Supported Decision-Making workshop.
Zoom Registration: Click Here

Guardianship Workshop
2026-06-30 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom
Applying for Guardianship: Requirements and Process
This workshop is intended for individuals who have already attended our monthly Supported Decision Making, Guardianship, and other Alternatives workshop, and have determined that guardianship is the most appropriate alternative. We will review the process of putting together a petition for guardianship and the documentation requirements.
Zoom Registration: Click Here

Tools for Supporting Mental Health in Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
2026-07-01 13:30 - 14:45, 2026-08-05 13:30 - 14:45 | Zoom
We are pleased to present a summer series on promoting good mental health for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, through our partnership with YAI NYSTART/CSIDD. NYSTART/CSIDD is an OPWDD certified program which provides crisis prevention and response services to the Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) community. Join us for three engaging sessions on addressing mental health for children and adults with IDD.
Wed June 3 @ 1:30 -2:45 pm
Positive Psychology – Caregivers will learn practical, strengths-based strategies to promote resilience, well-being, and a more positive daily experience for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Wed July 1 @1:30 -2:45 pm
Executive Functioning – Join us for an insightful session on understanding how executive functioning – the mental skills that help us plan, organize, manage time, regulate emotions and control impulses- impacts mental health
Wed August 5 @1:30 -2:45 pm
Calming Techniques – This workshop will equip caregivers of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities with effective strategies to support emotional regulation and reduce stress in everyday situations.
Zoom Registration: Click Here

Specially Designed Instruction: A Guide for Families and Caregivers
2026-07-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
What makes special education “special”? Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) is the individualized teaching, strategies, and supports that help students with disabilities access learning and make progress toward their educational goals. This workshop will help families develop a foundational understanding of SDI, including what it is, how it is developed through the IEP process, and what it may look like at school and at home. Participants will learn how SDI is tailored to a student’s unique strengths and needs and gain tools to become informed, engaged, and meaningful partners in their child’s education and special education planning.
Zoom Registration: Click Here

Explicit Vocabulary Instruction for Parents
2026-07-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Participants will be able to explain the importance of vocabulary instruction for their children and describe ways to incorporate explicit instruction and vocabulary instruction in the home.
Zoom Registration: Click Here

What is an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for Families of School-Age Students
2026-08-04 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
Participants will gain a foundational understanding of the entire IEP process, including but not limited to, the Committee on Special Education (CSE), the roles and responsibilities of all parties, the various components of the IEP, and the transition planning process.
Zoom Registration: Click Here

What is an Individualized Education Program (IEP) For Families of Preschool Students
2026-08-10 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a written plan that outlines the special education services and supports a preschool student with a disability will receive. This session provides an overview of the preschool IEP, including its key components, how it is developed, and how families can participate as members of the CPSE team to support their child’s learning and development.
Zoom Registration: Click Here

Pre-Employment Transition (PRE-ETS) Informational Webinar
2026-10-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Join us to learn about Pre-Employment Transition Services offered through Access-VR!
The Goal of Pre-ETS are to:
*Improve transition results for students with disabilities in post-secondary education or employment.
*Become prepared for the workplace through experiences in integrated work settings
*Increase opportunities to explore post-secondary training option
Click Here for Flyer and Registration
