Senator Gallivan Joins Advocates in Calling for New Satellite Office for OPWDD

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan, (R-C-I, Elma) joined local residents living with developmental disabilities, their families and advocates on Tuesday in calling on the Cuomo Administration to fulfill its promise to provide a fully accessible Office of People with Developmental Disabilities satellite location at 1021 Broadway in Buffalo.  The proposed facility would be centrally located and accessible by public transit.

In the meantime, Senator Gallivan said it is imperative that shuttle service to OPWDD’s existing satellite office located on the campus of the West Seneca Developmental Center be increased to ensure easier access for individuals who depend on agency services.  Earlier this year, the state eliminated a critical shuttle service, requiring individuals with disabilities to travel nearly a mile from a public transit line to the regional office.

“Forcing residents to make their way from a bus stop to OPWDD’s office in West Seneca on their own is unacceptable,” Senator Gallivan said.  “In order to support inclusion and full participation, it is imperative to ensure that workers, service recipients and families have easy access to OPWDD’s facility.”

In a letter to the governor, Senator Gallivan also called for creation of an inclusive task force to develop a long-term plan to move the OPWDD Region 1 office from its West Seneca location.  Senator Gallivan said keeping this facility at the largely vacant West Seneca Developmental Center will do little to serve those with developmental disabilities and further limits their inclusion in the decision making process.   

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