NYC Council Passes Resolution Expanding IDGS Funding Access for Underserved Communities

The New York City Council has passed a landmark resolution urging Albany to expand access to Individualized Day and Residential Supports (IDGS) funding for underserved communities — a major step forward for families navigating OPWDD services in neighborhoods like Jackson Heights, the Bronx, and Central Brooklyn.

What Is IDGS Funding?

Individualized Day and Residential Supports (IDGS) is a funding stream administered by the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). It provides flexible, person-centered funding that families can use to pay for day programs, residential supports, community habilitation, and skill-building services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Unlike traditional OPWDD service models where a state-contracted agency delivers services directly, IDGS gives families more control over how and where their loved ones receive support — making it a natural complement to the Self-Direction model that many Chishti Care New York families already use.

What the Resolution Says

The resolution, introduced by Council Member Shahana Hanif and co-sponsored by 18 additional council members, calls on the New York State Legislature and Governor's office to take three specific actions:

• Remove the waitlist backlog for IDGS enrollment, which currently affects an estimated 4,200 individuals statewide — with a disproportionate share in New York City's immigrant-majority neighborhoods.
• Expand language access for IDGS applications, including translated materials and bilingual support coordinators for families whose primary language is not English.
• Increase outreach funding to community-based organizations in underserved ZIP codes to ensure families are aware of and able to access IDGS benefits.

The resolution passed 42–7, reflecting broad bipartisan support for expanding disability services access across the five boroughs.

Why This Matters for Families in Jackson Heights

Jackson Heights and the surrounding neighborhoods of Queens are home to one of the most linguistically and culturally diverse populations in the United States. Many families here are first- or second-generation immigrants who face compounded barriers when trying to access disability services: language gaps, unfamiliarity with the OPWDD system, and a shortage of culturally competent service providers.

The NYC Council resolution directly addresses these barriers by calling for bilingual outreach and translated application materials — changes that could meaningfully increase IDGS enrollment among South Asian, Latin American, and Southeast Asian families in our community.

At Chishti Care New York, we have seen firsthand how families who are eligible for IDGS funding often go without it simply because they did not know it existed or found the application process too difficult to navigate alone. This resolution is a recognition that the system needs to meet families where they are.

What Families Should Do Now

While the resolution is a call to action directed at Albany — not a law that takes effect immediately — there are steps families can take right now to position themselves for expanded access:

1. 1

   Check your IDGS eligibility

   If your family member has an OPWDD eligibility determination, you may already qualify for IDGS funding. Contact your Support Coordinator to ask whether IDGS is part of your current Life Plan.

2. 2

   Get on the waitlist now

   Even if IDGS slots are not currently available in your area, getting on the waitlist ensures you are in line when new allocations open up — which the resolution is designed to accelerate.

3. 3

   Request language support

   You have the right to request translated documents and a bilingual support coordinator from OPWDD. If your current coordinator cannot provide this, ask to be reassigned.

4. 4

   Connect with a community-based provider

   Organizations like Chishti Care New York can help you understand how IDGS funding can be used to pay for life skills, vocational training, and creative arts programs — and can provide documentation your broker needs.

How Chishti Care New York Can Help

Our team speaks Bengali, Urdu, Hindi, and Spanish — and we are deeply familiar with the OPWDD system and the specific challenges faced by immigrant families in Queens. We work alongside families to help them understand their funding options, navigate plan amendments, and connect with the right support coordinators.

If you believe your family may be eligible for IDGS funding and want to understand how it could be used to enroll in our Catalog A or Catalog B programs, we encourage you to reach out. There is no cost to an initial consultation, and we are committed to making our services accessible to every family in our community.