YAI

Mission

YAI and its network of affiliate agencies offer children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) a comprehensive range of services. YAI is committed to seeing beyond disability, providing opportunities for people to live, love, work, and learn in their communities.

Founded in 1957, YAI remains at the forefront of an extraordinary movement aimed at empowering people with I/DD and their families. YAI’s 4,000 employees provide supportive housing, education, medical, dental, and mental health care, job training, community integration, and social enrichment for more than 20,000 people with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities, and their families, throughout downstate New York, northern New Jersey, and California, every year.

Services Provided

YAI has grown into one of the nation's most comprehensive networks of programs and services to support and empower people with disabilities and their families. YAI has developed extensive, person-centered services that provide long-term housing and day programs, employment services, outreach and referral support, education, medical care, socialization and recreation opportunities, camp, and travel.

For a list of the different services and programs YAI provides, click here.

How Many People Reached

YAI provides services to more than 20,000 people annually in New York City, Long Island, Westchester and Rockland counties, Northern New Jersey, and California.

How Donations Are Used

Donations are used to fund YAI programs that provide effective, person-centered care to the I/DD community. Tax-deductible donations will have an immediate, powerful, and positive impact on YAI’s ability to provide opportunities for children and adults with I/DD.

Project Spotlight

YAI will host its 2020 Hudson Valley Autism Conference virtually this year on Friday, November 20, from 9-1:30 p.m. This year’s theme is “Supporting the journey to emotional regulation.” The online format enables YAI to make the conference available to people living outside of the region. The conference will feature leading autism voices in the application of autism research including emotional self-regulation expert Dr. Dan Tomasulo. 

Awards or Accreditations

• 2010 ANCOR Advocacy Award, DSP Capital Challenge
• 2010 Excellence Awards from the New York State Association of Community and Residential Agencies (NYSACRA)
• 2010 Crain’s New York Business #1 not-for-profit “Best Places to Work in New York City” Award
• 2010 “#1 Best Companies to Work For” Award from the New York State Society for Human Resource Management
• 2010 “National Psychologically Healthy Workplace” Award by the American Psychological Association
• 2010 Ernest & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award
• 2010 “Outstanding Employer” Award from the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals
• 2018 Employer Partner of the Year from the Institute for Career Development
• 2018 START National Training Institute First Place Research Poster Presentation
• 2019 Newsday Top Long Island Workplaces
• 2020 Crain’s New York Business, Top Health Care Nonprofits

Interesting Facts

YAI takes pride in its person-centered approach, which relays a “nothing about us, without us” mentality. YAI’s mantra is not “doing for,” but rather “doing with.” YAI focuses on informed decision-making and helping people remain in control of their own lives to achieve a higher quality of life.