What is Supported Decision-Making (SDM)? How does SDM empower and support people with disabilities?

As the awardee of the state contract to facilitate New York’s Supported Decision-Making model for people with developmental disabilities, AIM Services will establish a structured and replicable model for use across New York State, work with people to develop Supported Decision-Making agreements, and help ensure that every person is afforded the respect, independence, and full legal recognition when making decisions about their lives.

Key takeaways:

• Learn about SDM, an alternative to guardianship, as a tool to support thoughtful, informed decision-making for the future.
• Attendees will learn how Decision Makers will be empowered to carry out decisions and navigate decision-making spaces.

Presenters:

Alexis Harrington: Chief of Program Implementation, AIM Services

Lace Miller-Kitchin: Director of Supported Decision-Making, AIM Services

Recorded on Tuesday, August 25

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 Additional Resources: Presentation PPT

American Sign Language (ASL) and human captioning will be provided.

There are many benefits and challenges to people with disabilities enjoying the outdoors. In this session, you will hear from a program coordinator in aging services, an ADA Coordinator for a state agency, and a volunteer advocate who all collaborate to improve access to the outdoors in New York State. We will provide examples of how programs, policies, and planning are improving accessibility and discuss ways disabled people can get outdoors or advocate for better access. This session will be useful for anyone who is interested in understanding outdoor accessibility or is advising others on resources for enjoying the outdoors.

Recorded on: Wednesday, July 29th

Presenters:

• Leah Akins, Statewide ADA Accessibility Coordinator: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
  Katy Carroll: Disability Training Coordinator, Association on Aging in New York
• Meg LeFevre Bobbin (Committee Member, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Accessibility Advisory Committee

American Sign Language and human captioning will be provided.

Click Here Watch the Replay and Subscribe to NYAIL's Youtube Channel

 Additional Resources: Presentation PDF

How is cross-sector collaboration in Lewis County building shared understanding to  help people across socioeconomic statuses  thrive? With cuts looming from the federal government cross-sector collaboration is more important than ever! Back by popular demand this webinar is a repeated session from our 2025 statewide conference.

Presenters:

Aileen Martin, Executive Director: Northern Regional Center for Independent Living
Stephanie Houser-Fouse, Public Health Specialist/Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator: Louis County Public Health

Recorded on: Wednesday, May 27th, 2026

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 American Sign Language and human captioning are provided.