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Q&A
Inquiry into disability services funding and programs
2:17:45
ยท
160 sec
Council Member Linda Lee raises concerns about the budget for disability services, including the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) and DOHMH's disability programs. She questions DOHMH officials about their involvement and specific services provided.
- Discussion on MOPD's budget and DOHMH's coordination with the office
- Inquiry into DOHMH's disability services funding and programs
- Questions about the number of people with disabilities served by DOHMH programs
Linda Lee
2:17:45
Okay perfect and I'm just gonna end this round for myself with questions around disabilities and then I'll wait till round two.
2:17:54
So I know this is obviously not your department but the mayor's office of people with disabilities, moped, has in my opinion an atrociously low budget.
2:18:03
It's $678,657 so I just want to be very clear.
2:18:08
Dollars $678,657 it's not even a million, which is $138,254 more than at adoption.
2:18:18
But there's been ups and downs with that budget number.
2:18:22
And so I know moped obviously is not technically under DOHMH, but it does provide services to 1,000,000 New Yorkers with disabilities.
2:18:30
And was DOHMH involved in any discussions or has there been any coordination with MOPD about the budget?
Michelle Morse
2:18:39
Thank you for the question.
2:18:40
We are also in the health department very much aligned with prioritizing New Yorkers with disabilities.
2:18:48
We don't have any say over the budget of other agencies or other offices.
Linda Lee
2:18:54
Okay, so let's talk about the DOHMH Disability Services funding then because in DOHMH's budget for FY26 for developmental disabilities program area, it's about $9,500,000 which is only 1.3% of the mental hygiene budget for FY twenty six and in addition the developmental disabilities program area is 883,545 less than it was at adoption last year.
2:19:21
So quick question, is all of that funding contracted out for the 09/2005?
Michelle Morse
2:19:29
I'm the Chief Financial Officer for that question.
Aaron Anderson
2:19:32
Yeah, thanks for the question, Chair Lee.
2:19:34
The vast majority of that funding contracted out.
Linda Lee
2:19:36
Okay.
2:19:37
And what are the if you could just go through, what are the disabilities related services that DOHMH provides for the record?
Aaron Anderson
2:19:46
I think we'll have to get back to
Lynn Schulman
2:19:47
you on specifics.
2:19:50
Okay.
Linda Lee
2:19:53
Sorry, I'm just kind of pausing because I'm like how do we I feel like we should know the answer to that question, but okay.
2:20:00
How many people with disabilities did DOHMH work with in the calendar year 2024?
2:20:05
If possible, can you provide a breakdown of the number of people that were treated by each disability related program?
Michelle Morse
2:20:12
I'm gonna have to just tell you that we'll get back to you with the specific numbers for the number of people treated.
Linda Lee
2:20:20
Okay, all right I'm gonna pause for now there, sorry.
2:20:24
Thank you.
Lynn Schulman
2:20:24
Right, so I'm gonna ask some questions and then we're gonna do a second round with folks.