OMRDD Changes Name to OPWDD

    Governor David A. Paterson officially signed OMRDD’s name change into law July 13, 2010.   The name of the agency is now the New York State Office For People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)!

           This historical legislation not only removes the words “Mental Retardation” from OMRDD (The Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities), but also from State statute and regulations, excluding clinical references. The new name was chosen in March 2010 by consensus of representative stakeholders.  It eliminates the stigmatizing language which was part of the agency’s name and instead reflects the #1 guiding principle of “Putting People First.”  It is consistent with the People First language law enacted in 2007 which mandates that in statutory language the emphasis is placed where it should be – on the people served, not the disability.  The agency will now continue its vital mission of helping people with developmental disabilities live richer lives – going forward as OPWDD!