CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership is honoring AHRC New York City with a 2025 CQL Award of Excellence. The prestigious distinction is in recognition of two organizational initiatives with a transformative impact. These programs help enhance the professional development of its employees and advance the utilization of technology in residential settings to improve the lives of people with disabilities.
“These are innovative, intentional efforts by AHRC New York City to better support staff and enhance quality of life,” says Mary Kay Rizzolo, President and CEO of CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership. “We want to congratulate everyone from AHRC New York City for receiving this award. It’s a testament to their continuous commitment to quality improvement.”
One of the programs being recognized is the Staff Development Initiative (SDI), which helps direct support professionals (DSPs) in identifying and attaining their goals. The other undertaking being acknowledged through the award is the Enhanced Supportive Individualized Residential Alternative (E-SIRA) Program, providing people receiving services with residential options rooted in technology to enhance independence. Both programs from AHRC New York City demonstrate the organization’s focus on supporting staff, improving services, and transforming lives.
“We are honored to have been selected for this year’s CQL Awards of Excellence. Our Staff Development Initiative and the E-SIRA program represent AHRC New York City’s commitment to reimagination, and meaningful innovation,” says Michael J. Weinberg, Senior Vice President of Residential Services for AHRC New York City. “We feel that both initiatives not only improve the supports and services we provide, but transform lives, whether promoting independence through enabling technology or engaging direct support professionals and front-line supervisors through positive and transparent feedback, with the goal of career development.”
The Staff Development Initiative (SDI)
The Staff Development Initiative (SDI) from AHRC New York City benefits direct support professionals (DSPs) by strengthening workforce skills, fostering career paths, and bolstering the voice of staff members. The organization works with DSPs to establish individual SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) to help staff in achieving their personal and professional objectives. The SDI program also creates a two-way feedback model between DSPs and supervisors to encourage open communication and transparency throughout the SMART goal process.
Enhanced Supportive Individualized Residential Alternative (E-SIRA) Program
AHRC New York City is taking part in the Enhanced Supportive Individual Residential Alternative (E-SIRA) Program. Through the initiative, AHRC New York City has been able to create new residential opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) by utilizing assistive or enabling technology and implementing innovative staffing solutions. The E-SIRA Program has provided people receiving services – especially as they age – with an opportunity to live more independently and benefit from supports that are more aligned with their unique needs and desires.
About AHRC New York City
AHRC New York City, a chapter of The Arc New York, supports more than 15,000 people annually under the guiding principle of equity for people with disabilities. The organization upholds the highest standards in supporting people to lead full and equitable lives and is part of a social justice movement grounded in common humanity. Its 5,000 staff are devoted to the highest levels of excellence and innovation in all aspects of their work to actively create a world where the power of difference is embraced, valued, and celebrated.
The organization’s vision is a socially just world where the power of difference is embraced, valued, and celebrated. Its mission is to advocate for people with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities to lead full and equitable lives.
About the CQL Awards of Excellence
Established in 2015, the CQL Awards of Excellence recognize individuals, organizations, and/or systems that demonstrate excellence in the support of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, as well as older adults. The 2025 CQL Awards of Excellence recipients were selected among numerous nominations by professionals and providers in the disability services sector, for exemplifying the very best practices, programs, and initiatives across human services. Over the past ten years, from 2015 through 2025, there have been a total of 23 award recipients.
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Since 1969, CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership has been a leader in working with human service organizations and systems to continuously define, measure, and improve quality of life and quality of services for youth, adults, and older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and psychiatric disabilities. CQL offers accreditation, training, certification, research, and consultation services to agencies that share our vision of dignity, opportunity, and community for all people.
AHRC New York City Receives 2025 CQL Award of Excellence