On May 12, Syracuse University’s Burton Blatt Institute (BBI), in partnership with the CEO Maggie Mortali of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) New York City, and CEO Marco Damiani of AHRC New York City, convened at the NYC offices of Cozen O’Conner with firm member Josh Tuman, a groundbreaking stakeholder meeting to examine the development of digital Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs) in New York State.
In New York State, PADs are legal documents that promote individual rights and self-determination by allowing individuals to specify their treatment and support preferences in advance of a mental health crisis. The convening explored how digital PADs can improve person-centered behavioral health supports in New York State.
The meeting brought together persons affected by mental illness, peer supporters, CEOs, and NYS leaders. Speakers included Dr. Ann Sullivan, the Commissioner for the NYS Office of Mental Health and Dr. John Barbuto, the NYS Executive Deputy Commissioner Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. Also participating were representatives from nonprofit organizations, peer support networks, law enforcement, and provider associations focused on behavioral health services.
Dr. Peter Blanck, University Professor at Syracuse University and Chairman of BBI emphasized that digital PADs align with BBI’s longstanding mission to advance the civic, economic, and social participation of people with disabilities. “The convening resulted in a collaborative discussion among individuals dedicated to the rights of individuals affected by mental illness,” Dr. Blanck said. “Digital PADs algin with a core mission of BBI to ensure that new technologies are available to people with disabilities.”
Kiran Sahota, project director for California’s breakthrough digital PADs project (https://www.myplanmyvoice.com), the first in the country, and partner with BBI on the California digital PADs project, said “Digital PADs are a rights document that speaks for the individual during a mental health crisis to others such as family and mental health specialists that the individual voluntarily chooses.”
BBI and its partners are planning follow-up discussions and convenings among the partners to advance the use of digital PADs in New York State, with the shared goal of building more responsive, equitable, and person-centered systems of care.
About BBI
The Burton Blatt Institute (“BBI”) at Syracuse University reaches around the globe in its efforts to advance the civic, economic and social participation of people with disabilities. Through education, research, public policy guidance, and outreach, BBI advances the full inclusion of people with disabilities. BBI builds on the legacy of Burton Blatt, a pioneering disability rights scholar. Learn more at bbi.syr.edu.