NY's Advocacy Network
ARISE is part of the New York Association of Independent Living (NYAIL) [This link will open in a new window].
NYAIL is a collaborative organization representing independent living centers throughout New York. NYAIL provides support to strengthen independent living centers, serves as the foundation for a strong statewide network, and is a leader in the civil rights movement for people with disabilities. NYAIL works to:
- improve the quality of life and safeguard the rights of people with disabilities
- promote the philosophy and vision of independent living both within the disability community and among the general public
- advocate for the resources necessary to support independent living centers
- provide information, group purchasing programs, and technical assistance to member centers
NYAIL coordinates the Statewide Systems Advocacy Network (SSAN). As member of the SSAN, ARISE joins statewide efforts to achieve the goals of annual NYAIL legislative agenda (PDF format).
The SSAN achieved significant successes during the past three years, including:
- Enactment of the federal Ticket to Work and the Work Incentives Improvement Act (TWWIIA)
- Reversal of a New York State Building Code Council decision that would have limited the construction of accessible dwelling units
- Enactment of a state Medicaid Buy-In program
- Enactment of the Most Integrative Setting Coordinating Council (MISCC)
- Enactment of the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA)
- Restoration of the Supplemetal Security Income Cost of Living Adjustment (SSI COLA)
These results are proof that when a network of committed people pool their talents, they can and do generate substantial system changes.
How Can You Get Involved?
One easy way to get involved is to respond to Action Alerts. Action alerts are calls for action that are part of a statewide strategy to promote full integration of people with disabilities in the community. An Action Alert asks you to call or write elected officials – usually the person who represents you – to support or oppose a certain bill.
ARISE works to ensure you are taking action with the right information at the right time. When an Action Alert comes to you, it means your help is needed right away. Often we have only a short window of opportunity to sway public officials.
Why use Action Alerts? Because they work.
Participating in an ARISE Action Alert takes only a few minutes and has a major impact on how our officials view our causes. If each person who receives an Action Alert makes at least one call, that’s hundreds of your friends and neighbors. Add that to the thousands of people responding statewide and together we have a very loud voice!
Sign up for our Action E-List and Take Action Now! to make a difference in your community!