Our Voice Today

Our Voice Today, commonly abbreviated OVT, is a publication associated with NYSARC, Inc. that provides information, resources, and organizational updates concerning people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Its editorial scope combines developments in the disability-services field with news about the activities of NYSARC's chapters across New York State. The publication began in March 1949 under the title Our Children's Voice. Its early identity was that of a print newsletter serving an advocacy and information function within the New York disability community. Over time, it developed a continuing role in reporting on public policy, service systems, institutional conditions, and issues affecting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Among the subjects covered in its historical reporting was the effort during the 1970s to establish a separate Office of Mental Retardation in New York State. The publication also reported on the national attention directed toward conditions at Willowbrook State School. Coverage of Willowbrook was associated with reporting by WABC, including work led by Geraldo Rivera, as well as advocacy by NYSARC, Inc. These subjects placed the newsletter within the broader history of disability-rights advocacy and institutional reform in the United States. In 2011, Our Voice Today moved from print to an electronic newsletter format. At that time, its circulation was described as approximately 2,000 subscribers. The digital transition allowed the publication to continue distributing field information and organizational news while retaining its New York State focus. Its stated purpose is to keep readers informed about developments in the field and about the activities of NYSARC's 55 chapters. Our Voice Today is best understood as an organizational and advocacy publication rather than a conventional consumer media brand. Its value lies in communicating sector knowledge, policy developments, resources, and chapter activity to a defined audience connected with intellectual and developmental disability services. Available reference material does not establish a current editor, executive team, ownership structure beyond its NYSARC association, or confirmed present-day publication status.

Our Voice Today is the successor to a publication originally titled Our Children's Voice. The newsletter began in March 1949 in connection with NYSARC, Inc., an organization involved in advocacy and services for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. From its origins as a print newsletter, the publication served as a channel for sharing information relevant to individuals, families, service providers, advocates, and others engaged with disability issues in New York State. The publication's historical subject matter reflects major policy and institutional questions in the disability field. During the 1970s, it reported on efforts to create a separate Office of Mental Retardation in New York State. It also regularly covered national attention surrounding conditions at Willowbrook State School. Willowbrook became a prominent subject of public discussion through media reporting, including WABC coverage led by Geraldo Rivera, and through the advocacy efforts of NYSARC, Inc. By documenting these developments, the newsletter connected local organizational communication with wider debates over institutional care, public accountability, and the rights and treatment of people with disabilities. At some point in its development, the publication adopted the name Our Voice Today. The title positioned it as a continuing voice for current information and advocacy rather than solely as an internal organizational circular. Its coverage included developments in the intellectual and developmental disability field as well as activities undertaken by NYSARC's chapters throughout New York State. A significant format change took place in 2011, when Our Voice Today was converted from a print publication into an electronic newsletter. The available reference describes the resulting e-newsletter as having approximately 2,000 subscribers. The digital format represented a distribution change rather than a change in the publication's basic mission: to inform readers about developments in the field and the work of NYSARC's 55 chapters. The available sources provide limited information about the publication's current editorial operations, frequency beyond the description of it as bi-weekly, staffing, budget, or present circulation. They also do not establish a separate corporate entity for the title. Accordingly, Our Voice Today is documented here as an NYSARC-associated publication brand whose historical importance comes from its long-running information and advocacy role in the New York intellectual and developmental disability community.

• 2011

  Transition to e-newsletter

  [1]Our Voice Todayen.wikipedia.org

  Our Voice Today changes from a print newsletter to an electronic newsletter with an indicated circulation of about 2,000 subscribers.

• 1970

  Coverage of New York disability-policy and Willowbrook issues

  [1]Our Voice Todayen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1970s, the publication reports on efforts to establish a separate New York State Office of Mental Retardation and on national attention to conditions at Willowbrook State School.

• 1949

  Publication launches as Our Children's Voice

  [1]Our Voice Todayen.wikipedia.org

  The predecessor newsletter begins publication in March 1949 as Our Children's Voice.

A nonprofit-sector information and advocacy publication serving readers concerned with intellectual and developmental disabilities in New York State.

• Bi-weekly disability-sector newsletter · 1949

  Our Voice Today

  The principal publication associated with NYSARC, Inc. It provides information and resources concerning intellectual and other developmental disabilities, reports on developments in the field, and covers activities involving NYSARC chapters across New York State. It was originally distributed in print and became an e-newsletter in 2011.

• Historical print newsletter · 1949

  Our Children's Voice

  The original title of the publication that later became Our Voice Today. It began publication in March 1949 and established the newsletter's long-term role in communicating disability-related information and advocacy issues.

• 2011

  Conversion from print newsletter to e-newsletterGeneration change

  Background

  Our Voice Today had historically been published in print and was intended to keep New York readers informed about disability-field developments and NYSARC chapter activities.

  Action taken

  NYSARC converted the publication to an electronic newsletter. Reference material associated with the change describes circulation at approximately 2,000 subscribers.

  Aftermath

  The digital edition continued the publication's information and advocacy role, although current circulation and operating details are not established in the available sources.

  Source

• 2011

  Our Voice Today moves to an electronic newsletter format[1]Our Voice Todayen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation · Other

  Our Voice Today transitioned from a print newsletter to an e-newsletter, with reference material describing a circulation of approximately 2,000 subscribers.

• 1949

  Our Children's Voice begins publication[1]Our Voice Todayen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The publication that later became Our Voice Today was launched in March 1949 under the name Our Children's Voice.

1. 1Our Voice Todayen.wikipedia.org
2. 2NYSARC official websitenysarc.org