This month’s Guest Blogger is Wendy McCarthy. As Association Director of the Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York (DDAWNY), Wendy oversees operations, budgeting, program administration, event planning, and board strategy, while building strong relationships with member organizations, stakeholders, and elected officials. Wendy has a long history of creating and developing robust volunteer programs and relies on volunteer leaders to support DDAWNY’s mission.
For more than 75 years, Mary Cariola Center has been a cornerstone provider of services and supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in New York State. Founded in 1949 in Rochester, Mary Cariola Center began as a small educational program and has since grown into a comprehensive provider of services for individuals and families and is now entering an exciting new era of growth with plans for a transformative new school campus at the former Marketplace Mall, supported by the Golisano Foundation.
Today, Mary Cariola Center continues to be recognized for its strong commitment to person-centered supports, innovation in service delivery, and its focus on helping individuals achieve meaningful outcomes in their lives and communities.
As a valued member of the Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York, Mary Cariola Center is also an important partner in broader statewide advocacy efforts that support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the nonprofit providers who serve them.
DDAWNY is a nonprofit membership association representing provider agencies that deliver supports and services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across New York State. Our work focuses on advocacy, collaboration, and public policy engagement aimed at strengthening the provider system and ensuring services remain stable, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of individuals and families.
In addition to our regional work in Western New York and the Finger Lakes, DDAWNY collaborates closely with statewide provider associations and advocacy partners to align priorities and strengthen collective advocacy efforts. Working together across regions and provider networks creates a stronger, more unified voice on issues impacting the entire service system.
Mary Cariola Center’s strong network of engaged families plays an essential role in that advocacy. Families bring lived experience and real-world perspective that help inform policymakers and highlight the impact of funding and policy decisions on daily life. Their voices remain central to ensuring that individuals and families are reflected in state-level discussions.
Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to visit several Mary Cariola program sites, including residences, school programs, and respite services. These visits offered a firsthand look at the dedication of staff across programs and the individualized, thoughtful approach used in supporting each person. The commitment of Mary Cariola staff is evident in every setting and reflects the strength of the nonprofit provider community.
This year, advocacy efforts are especially important as New York State finalizes its budget.
Investments made last year are already making a difference across provider agencies, helping stabilize programs and strengthen staffing after years of workforce challenges and rising costs. However, without continued investment, that progress remains at risk.
Providers continue to face staffing shortages, rising operational expenses, and growing demand for services. Recruiting and retaining qualified staff remains one of the most pressing challenges across the field.
That is why DDAWNY and our statewide advocacy partners are strongly advocating for a full 4% Targeted Inflationary Increase (TII) in the final New York State budget. This investment is necessary to stabilize services, support the workforce, and ensure providers can continue delivering high-quality, consistent supports to individuals and families.
Action cannot wait.
Together, through strong provider partnerships, engaged families, dedicated staff, and coordinated advocacy efforts across New York State, we can continue working toward a stronger and more sustainable future for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
