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Mission Fulfillment Standards

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  • We advocate for people with any type of disability of any age and economic status to help dispel fears, myths and misconceptions, foster positive attitudes, and promote easier integration in all aspects of our community.

  • We encompass services, programs, advocacy, and assistance for individuals with all kinds of disabilities – physical, emotional, social, learning, developmental, and sensory – visible and imperceptible.

  • We encourage, counsel, and assist individuals with disabilities in their pursuit of independent living, employment, education, benefits, and recreation.

  • We serve individuals, family members, schools, businesses, other not-for-profits, community groups, faith-based organizations, and government agencies.

  • We coordinate a system of services including child and adult protective, mental health, emergency and low-income housing, health care, long term care, transportation, and self-help support groups.

  • We include individuals with disabilities in all aspects of our organization, beginning with a majority representation on our Board of Directors.

  • We provide extensive services and programs, including disability awareness, support groups, peer counseling, lending library, service coordination, independent living skills training, transition planning, economic benefits advisement, home modifications, voter participation, community education and awareness, and an equipment loan closet.

  • We advise and support individuals with disabilities in actively developing and securing their legal, social, economic, educational, and civil rights.

  • We help parents and guardians of students with disabilities work with their local school district to ensure that their student receives the services he or she needs to achieve academically.

  • We educate teachers and other professionals through special education, disability-related seminars, and consultation.

  • We provide information and direction about accessibility and state and federal building code specifications for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

  • We develop marketing strategies for businesses to attract disabled customers and employees.

  • We offer a review of personnel practices to assist employers who seek compliance with the ADA.

  • We market our programs and services through print, broadcast and electronic media, and personal interaction throughout Ulster County.

  • We foster community involvement through a volunteer Board of Directors representing a broad spectrum of geographic, business, disability and community experiences, knowledge and involvement, and through senior staff involvement and participation in other community organizations.

  • We contribute to the accessibility of Ulster County and the Mid-Hudson Valley by providing educational programs and services that assist businesses, community organizations, public facilities, and government agencies in understanding the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

  • We welcome public opportunities to speak and participate in state and regional panels and consortiums to heighten awareness of disability issues, and ADA understanding and compliance.

   

Ethics & Values Statement

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  • We believe that people with any type of disability can and should make their own choices and decisions, and take control of all aspects of daily living – education, employment, housing, health care, recreation, and community participation.

  • We actively pursue our philosophy of consumer self-determination at all levels of capacity and participation.

  • We serve all persons with disabilities regardless of ethnicity, economic status, age, or type of disability.

  • We possess a commitment to serve others as core to our work and volunteer efforts.

  • We respect the worth and dignity of individuals in need of and seeking our services, and amongst each other in our professional and volunteer capacities.

  • We are accountable to the public in all of our programs and services.

  • We work toward those values and ideals that demonstrate compassion and care for others.

  • We have a commitment to the public good as we serve and work under an assumption of public trust.

  • We apply the principles of openness and honesty in reporting, fund raising, and relationships with our constituencies.

  • We assure our own financial viability through prudent management and investment of resources; financial support from individual, corporate, foundation, and government supporters; and revenues generated from the promotion of programs and services.

  • We work to network and coordinate, not duplicate.

  • We support and encourage personal and professional development of skills, knowledge, and understanding of issues and practices related to our mission and vision.

  • We obey the laws governing tax-exempt philanthropic and voluntary organizations.

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