Westchester County is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Office for People with Disabilities (OFPWD), marking five decades of service, innovation and leadership in accessibility and supporting residents with disabilities across the County.
The Office, which was formally established on January 1, 1975, was originally named the Westchester County Office for the Handicapped/Disabled. Created to help the County comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, it opened as one of the earliest local government offices of its kind, setting a statewide standard for accommodations and support for people with disabilities.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said, “For 50 years, the Westchester County Office for People with Disabilities has been a driving force in ensuring that every resident — regardless of their unique abilities — can access the services, programs and opportunities they deserve. This Office has led the way in this space since before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) existed, and it continues to shape a more inclusive Westchester County today. Celebrating this milestone reaffirms our commitment to removing barriers, expanding access, and uplifting the voices of people with disabilities across our County.”
Director of OFPWD Carin Horowitz said, “It is an honor to join the Office for People with Disabilities in its 50th year. I am dedicated to continuing its legacy of access, advocacy education and inclusion.”
Advocate and Community Work Assistant for OFPWD Jeffrey Zitofsky said, “This anniversary is deeply personal to me. Because I live with the challenges and triumphs of disability, I know it’s vital to have a place that listens, advocates and acts. This is what our office does and I’m honored and grateful to not only include, but seek out and embrace our constituents with these same lived experiences to inform our work shaping policy.”
Westchester County Board of Legislators Chair Vedat Gashi said, “Fifty years ago, the Westchester County Board of Legislators led the creation of an office dedicated to ensuring access, dignity, and opportunity for residents with disabilities. That leadership helped set a standard that still guides our work today. As we celebrate this milestone, we remain committed to building a more inclusive and accessible Westchester.”
Chair of the Board’s Human Services Committee and Legislator Nancy Barr said, “Congratulations to the Office for People with Disabilities on reaching this milestone; this Office is a valuable resource which has only become more important over time. In 2020, I was pleased to help formalize the Advisory Council for People with Disabilities, which serves as a voice from people with lived experiences to help guide the County’s policy and programs. The result has been improved and expanded programs, additional partnerships, and the inclusion of new voices from the impacted community.”
In its earliest years, OFPWD focused on program accessibility, employment opportunities for people with disabilities, physical modifications to public facilities, and ensuring equal access to County-administered services. Early achievements include a survey of all County-owned buildings to identify and eliminate physical barriers (1979), the provision of sign-language interpretation for public programs and appointments, and program design for Westchester County’s ParaTransit System (1983). The Office also published resource guides to help residents more easily identify services available to them.
In 1977, the Office was recognized by the New York State Department of Health, Education and Welfare as a leader in service provision for the disability community. In 1978, the Office formed a council made up of community members with disabilities, County staff and service providers, ensuring that the voices of people with lived experience guided its mission and priorities. In 2020, Westchester County reinstituted the Advisory Council on People with Disabilities.
Fifty years later, OFPWD continues to serve as a critical resource for information, referrals, technical assistance and advocacy for individuals with disabilities and their families. The Office also serves as the ADA Coordinator for Westchester County, advising on compliance with State and Federal disability rights laws and supporting local government activities to prevent discrimination on the basis of disability.
The Office’s services include:
• Information and referral
• ParaTransit application processing
• Advocacy for constituents, County staff and County departments
• Service connections
• Site surveys to ensure equal access
• Education and community outreach
For more information about OFPWD, you can call 914-995-2957.
