Director Spotlight: Willow Baer (NY)

1. What inspired you to enter the IDD field?

To be honest, I rather stumbled into the developmental disabilities field as a young professional who was interested in government and policy. As a lifelong public servant, my entire career has been committed to serving marginalized or vulnerable populations, first in the field of child welfare and eventually finding a home in the IDD service system.

My sister-in-law, who has a developmental disability, showed me what is possible when people have opportunities to thrive and just how underestimated people with IDD can be. Working to build systems that expand opportunity, dignity, and belonging for everyone inspires me each and every day.

2. Which priorities are guiding your work this year?

As New York State gears up toward our next five-year strategic plan, we are laser-focused on building a more person-centered system by expanding community inclusion, strengthening the workforce, advancing equity, and improving the customer experience for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

A couple of initiatives we are excited about in NY are making access to free, facilitated supported decision-making agreements available to anyone in the state with a developmental disability who is interested; expanding access to specialized and preventive healthcare for people with disabilities; and implementing the use of technology to support people in a more individualized and independent way, with less reliance on unnecessary staff support.

3. What place best reflects the spirit of your state/territory?

Perhaps New York’s best-kept secret is that a vast majority of the state is rural, covered with rolling farms and vast parkland. The Adirondack State Park itself covers approximately 6 million acres of mountains, lakes, and forest. To me, the Adirondacks reflect New York’s resilience and bold nature, offering unlimited opportunities to explore, belong, and live your best life.