Willow Baer Confirmed As OPWDD Commissioner

Willow Baer was officially confirmed as Commissioner of OPWDD after a full vote of the New York Senate on May 21 after being nominated for the position by Governor Kathy Hochul. Click here to read the Commissioner's message after her confirmation.

Commissioner Baer has been making appearances on several media outlets while advocating on behalf of the people OPWDD serves. You can hear her discuss proposed federal funding cuts and how they could affect New Yorkers along with other issues relevant to the developmental disabilities community on the most recent episode of Senator Patricia Fahy's podcast "Chat With Pat," Listen to the conversation on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Most recently, Commissioner Baer sat down with David Lombardo, host of The Capitol Pressroom, and discussed issues including boosting the direct care workforce, responding to federal Medicaid cuts, and promoting access to dental services. Check out the interview on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.