picture of wooden sign for consumer directed choices incorporasted.
Consumer Directed Choices, Inc.

 
Welcome!

Hello, and welcome to the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program created by, for and with Consumers who use personal assistance services. We have designed a user-friendly model empowering Consumers to control their lives and manage their personal assistance while the logical “checks and balances” keep the pieces of bureaucracy on track.

Consumer Directed Choices’ staff are here to facilitate and assist with your program needs. You design your own Program. We are here to help you live the most fulfilling life possible by enabling you to manage your personal assistance services in the way that you choose.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact us right away – you can call, fax, email and feel free to come to our office to meet with us face to face! To ensure that your staff person is available it is best to set up an appointment or to call ahead of time!


History

Several people with disabilities came together to create an organization that would serve the community-based needs of disabled persons within the Greater Capital Region. In 1997, Constance Laymon, Fran Robbins and Dave Whalen (all Consumers!) incorporated Consumer Directed Choices (CDC). Over the next several years, many people worked tirelessly to build all the pieces of CDC. As of December 29, 2001, Consumer Directed Choices began providing the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program to Consumers.


Structure

Consumer Directed Choices is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization which means that all surplus funds are “reinvested” into the organization instead of distributed among stockholders, etc. As a nonprofit organization, CDC is exempt from local, state and federal taxes; contributions to CDC are tax-exempt as well. CDC must pay the employer portion of payroll taxes even though it is a nonprofit organization.

CDC operates as a Fiscal Intermediary for the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program. As a Fiscal Intermediary, CDC provides the administrative infrastructure necessary to allow Consumers / Surrogates to direct their own care. Consumers / Surrogates employ their workers by recruiting, hiring, training, supervising and terminating their own Personal Assistants. CDC handles such administrative tasks as payroll (withholding taxes), Workers’ Compensation, Disability, Health and Dental Insurance, Unemployment, benefits, etc. There is no employer / employee relationship between Consumer Directed Choices and Personal Assistants.

Consumer Directed Choices’ Mission

“To provide and advance community-based supports to promote self-determination for people with disabilities and their families.” In the future, the Board of Directors will explore other services and programs that enhance this important mission.

Office Hours

CDC is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The office will be closed for the following holidays:

New Year’s Day (January 1), [Also a paid PA Holiday]
Martin Luther King Jr’.s Birthday (January 20), [NOT a paid PA Holiday]
President’s Day (3rd Monday in February), [NOT a paid PA Holiday]
Memorial Day (end of May), [Also a paid PA Holiday]
Independence Day (July 4), [Also a paid PA Holiday]
Labor Day (1st Monday in September), [Also a paid PA Holiday]
Thanksgiving (4th Thursday in November), [Also a paid PA Holiday]
The day after Thanksgiving [NOT a paid PA Holiday]
Christmas Day (December 25) [Also a paid PA Holiday]
 
 
Consumer Directed Choices, Inc.
7 Washington Square
Albany, NY 12205
518-464-0810
800-335-0810
518-690-7153 Fax
866-335-7153 Fax
 
Email questions to: info@cdChoices.org
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