Human Resource Blog

New York Workers with Disabilities

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What resources are available for disabled workers in

New York? Where can I go to find them?

You’re in luck! New York is one of a handful of states that pioneered an innovative federal program to bring more services and resources to workers with disabilities. The Disability Program Navigator or DPN is a pilot program to steer workers through the myriad federal and state resources available to them.

Under this program, a number of individuals were given the newly-created position of Disability Program Navigator. DPNs in each region serve as a guide to available services for disabled workers. Many of these services are available through the New York Department of Labor’s One-Stop system. They are available throughout the state. DPN specialists help workers to increase their employment opportunities and self-sufficiency through jobs. In particular, DPNs focus on linking diabled workers to employers, allowing them to enter or re-enter the workforce.

A number of programs are available through regional DPNs. These range from help with resemes and job skills, to problem-solving for specific job duties. 

The coordinator for the state DPN program is Cathy Reardon of the New York Department of Labor. She oversees regional DPNs in Troy, Schenectady, Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Orchard Park, Olean, Belmont, Cortland, Auburn, Jamestown, Corning, Oneonta, Malone, Plattsburgh, Elizabethtown, Hudson, Amsterdam, Albion, Hempstead, Rome, Herkimer, Watertown, Rochester, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Bronx, New York, Jamaica, Niagara Falls, Syracuse, Waterloo, Newburgh, Fulton, Hicksville, Spring Valley, Nanuet, Canton, Hauppauge, Monticello, Ithaca, Kingston, White Plains, and Yonkers.

As you can see, no matter which part of the state of New York you are in, there is probably a trained DPN specialist nearby. 

The DPN pilot program was recently expanded to include Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah and Washington.  It currently includes 45 states nationwide. A total of 5 states have declined to participate in the program.