Parent to Parent of New York State (P2P NYS) is a statewide nonprofit organization that connects families caring for individuals with developmental disabilities through peer support, education, and advocacy. Founded in 1994 and funded by New York’s Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), the organization operates five regional offices covering all 62 counties in New York State.

What makes P2P NYS unique is that every regional coordinator is a parent or close relative of someone with special needs. This means families receive support from people who truly understand the challenges, paperwork, and emotional journey firsthand. The organization offers one-to-one parent matching with over 1,300 trained volunteer support parents, virtual and in-person support groups, workshops on navigating disability services, and help understanding OPWDD eligibility and special education rights.

Best For: Families in New York State who have children with cerebral palsy or other developmental disabilities caused by birth injuries and need peer support, guidance navigating state disability services (especially OPWDD), special education advocacy, and connection with other parents who have been through similar experiences.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths	Limitations
Authentic Lived Experience – All staff members are parents or relatives of individuals with special needs, ensuring genuine peer-to-peer support from people who understand your journey	Information and Referrals Only – P2P NYS doesn’t provide direct therapy, medical care, or clinical services; they connect you with providers but don’t deliver those services themselves
Completely Free Services – All support groups, parent matching, training workshops, and information services are provided at no cost to families	Limited Financial Assistance – The organization doesn’t provide direct financial grants, though they can help you access OPWDD’s Family Reimbursement Program (up to $3,000 annually)
Statewide Coverage – Five regional offices serve all 62 New York counties, plus virtual support groups make services accessible regardless of location	OPWDD Focus – Primary expertise is in developmental disabilities that qualify for OPWDD services; families whose children don’t meet OPWDD criteria may need additional resources
Cerebral Palsy Explicitly Included – Cerebral palsy is a qualifying condition, and the organization is listed on the CP Family Network as a cerebral palsy resource	Virtual Groups Require Advance Registration – Zoom support groups need registration at least one day before the session, and meeting links are sent by email
Culturally Responsive – Dedicated Latino/Hispanic and BIPOC parent support groups, with staff speaking Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, Hindi, and Gujarati

Services & Support

Peer Support

One-to-one parent matching with trained support parents who have children with similar conditions
Caregiver Connection virtual support groups (statewide)
Regional in-person support groups
Latino/Hispanic virtual support group (monthly, in Spanish)
BIPOC virtual support group (monthly)
Text4Caregivers: free 10-week text messaging support program in English and Spanish

Education & Training

Workshops on OPWDD eligibility and services
Special education and IEP/504 training
Medicaid service coordination guidance
Record-keeping and health care notebook training
Online Training Center with self-paced courses
Community presentations

Navigation & Advocacy

Information and referral services
Care coordination guidance for OPWDD services
Early Intervention program navigation
School representation and special education advocacy support
Family to Family Health Information Center
Help accessing OPWDD Family Reimbursement Program (up to $3,000)

Resources

Guide to Understanding OPWDD Eligibility
Health Care Notebook templates
Written guides and materials
Regional e-groups for updates and announcements

Locations & Contact

Statewide Main Office (Upstate East)
500 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY 12304
Phone: (518) 381-4350
Toll-Free: (800) 305-8817
Counties Served: 33 counties including Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Essex, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Ulster, and others in eastern upstate New York
Languages: English, Hindi, Gujarati

Upstate West Office
620 Westfall Road, Rochester, NY 14620
Phone: (585) 424-7211
Counties Served: 23 counties including Erie (Buffalo), Monroe (Rochester), Niagara, Onondaga (Syracuse), and other western and central New York counties

New York City Office
25 Beaver Street, New York, NY 10004
Phone: (646) 766-3461
Counties Served: Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Rockland, Westchester
Languages: English, Mandarin, Spanish

Staten Island Office
c/o IBR, 1050 Forest Hill Road #108, Staten Island, NY 10314
Phone: (718) 494-3469
Counties Served: Richmond (Staten Island)
Languages: English, Arabic

Long Island Office
415 A Oser Ave., Hauppauge, NY 11788
Phone: (631) 434-6196
Toll-Free: (800) 559-1729
Counties Served: Nassau, Suffolk

General Contact
Website: www.ptopnys.org
Email: info@ptopnys.org
Facebook: facebook.com/ParentToParentNYS
Twitter: @PtoPofNYS

Who Can Access Services

Age Range: All ages, from infancy through adulthood

Geographic Area: Must reside in New York State

Eligible Conditions:

Cerebral palsy (all types)
Intellectual disability
Autism
Epilepsy and seizure disorders
Neurological impairments
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
Perinatal stroke
Any developmental disability diagnosed before age 22

Cost: All services are completely free

Income Requirements: None

Documentation Needed: No documents required for support services; OPWDD eligibility documentation may be helpful for waiver guidance discussions

Accessibility:

All offices are wheelchair accessible
Virtual support groups available statewide
ASL and communication accommodations available upon request
Multilingual services in Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, Hindi, and Gujarati

How to Get Started

Contact your regional office by phone or email info@ptopnys.org to introduce your family and describe your child’s needs.
Complete a referral form with information about your family member’s special needs and the type of support you’re looking for.
Get matched with a Support Parent who has a child with the same or similar condition for one-to-one peer mentoring and guidance.
Register for support groups through the website or by contacting your regional office; virtual groups require registration at least one day before the session.
Access training resources through the Online Training Center for self-paced courses, or register for upcoming workshops on topics like OPWDD eligibility and special education.

Typical Wait Time: Initial contact receives same-day or next-day response. Support Parent matching typically takes a few days to two weeks depending on availability of a matched parent.

Bottom Line

Parent to Parent of New York State is best suited for families anywhere in New York who need emotional support, practical guidance navigating state disability services, and connection with other parents who truly understand what they’re going through. The organization’s greatest strength is authentic peer support from staff and volunteers who are themselves parents of children with special needs, plus comprehensive coverage of all 62 New York counties through regional offices and virtual groups.

While P2P NYS doesn’t provide direct therapy or clinical services, it excels at helping families understand OPWDD eligibility, access Medicaid services, advocate in school settings, and reduce the isolation that often comes with caring for a child with disabilities. If your child has cerebral palsy or another developmental disability from a birth injury, P2P NYS offers knowledgeable, welcoming support at no cost and can be an invaluable first stop for families newly navigating the disability service system or seeking community with others on the same journey.

Parent to Parent of New York State