Advocates Make A Difference at NYS Legislative Day
On January 26, 2009, Independent Living Centers from all over New York State met in Albany on Legislative Day to advocate for positive change. A total of 18 people from ARISE, both staff and advocates, visited the offices of our area’s elected officials and invited them to discuss ways to improve community inclusion of individuals with disabilities.
During meetings with legislators, ARISE advocates discussed the need for home care funding, specifically support for the consumer directed non-medical models of home care, such as the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) at ARISE. CDPAP and programs like it are a more cost-efficient way to transition people with disabilities out of costly long-term care facilities into the community. Advocates also educated legislators by stressing that fact that CDPAP is more cost-effective than traditional medical home care.
Staff and participants advocated for budget priorities of interest to people with disabilities, explaining potential negative effects. Some of these budget priorities include:
- Restoration of funding for Independent Living Centers
- Restoration of the proposed state budget cuts to SSI, which if passed will affect the ability of people with disabilities to pay for essentials such as food, utilities, public transportation and medical co-pays
- Prevention of budget cuts to public transportation, where already limited suburban routes will probably disappear, drastically reducing the ability of people with disabilities to move freely within the community
- Support for integrated employment programs
ARISE also urged legislators to pass the Visitability Bill, which requires that all newly constructed single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes built with government funding have basic accessibility features such as at least one no-step entrance, wider doorways and hallways on the main floor, and a bathroom on the main floor able to accommodate a person who uses a wheelchair.
Other legislation discussed included support for the bill to notify parents when physical restraint is used in school, the bill to eliminate the waiver of polling place accessibility requirements, and the bill requiring transportation providers to purchase accessible vehicles for their fleet.
ARISE advocates were met with support from area legislators, and several pledged to support the Bills. ARISE advocates will follow up with the elected officials in the next several months. At the end of the long day, everyone enjoyed the trip and celebrated their Legislative Day accomplishments!