February 18, 2021

Call to Action: Online Advocacy Campaign 
Last week, The Arc New York launched a grassroots advocacy campaign against proposed New York state budget cuts and other actions affecting people with I/DD, families, and the providers who support them. This week, we are calling on you to share this with your family, friends, colleagues, and on social media. It will take less than two minutes to send your message to legislators and share with others! 

The Arc New York is advocating for:
  • Rejection of a $60M 1% targeted cut by OPWDD,
  • Restoration of the deferred $89.7M cost-of-living adjustment (COLA),
  • Support for enhanced pandemic pay for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs)
  • Statutory guarantees that all proposed cuts will be eliminated should New York receive the requested $15B in federal aid
It is vital for legislators know where we stand and it is our duty to inform them. We must hold our legislators accountable for what happens within state government. Please take a few minutes to share your story and convey the impact of these cuts.

A selection of background materials on the Executive Budget can be found below to help inform your advocacy. These include The Arc New York's budget testimony, and informational sheets developed in partnership with New York Disability Advocates (NYDA). 
We will continue to update you on matters concerning the budget as well as opportunities to join with us in advocacy efforts.


 
Joint Legislative Policy & Advocacy Forum
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2021 Joint Legislative Advocacy and Policy Forum held this past week from February 9-11. Over 350 people registered and attended forum events, which consisted of experts and advocates sharing knowledge, expertise, stories, and solutions. To view position papers, presentations, and speakers, visit the Forum landing page. We will update the page and share the recorded presentations as they become available. 

Virtual Rally
The Forum ended with a virtual rally, attended by nearly 500 people on Zoom and Facebook. It now has over 2,500 views online and continues to grow! We were joined by our allies in the legislature, DSPs, self-advocates, family members, and service providers. Our message to legislators is to make us a PRIORITY: 


Prioritize people with I/DD
Raise Wages for DSPs
Immunize People with Disabilities & Staff 
Object to Rate Reductions for Providers 
Restore the COLA 
Implement a Moratorium on All I/DD Cuts 
Target Investments in Workforce Development 
Yes to Saving Our Services
 


You can view the rally here, and share on social media with your friends and family to help spread our message!

A number of TV news segments aired on the rally, including stories from News1, News12 Brooklyn, News12 Bronx, and WIVB Buffalo

Fight for Federal HCBS Funding
Next week the House of Representatives is expected to vote on a budget package that includes a dedicated 7.35% Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) increase for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). This is in addition to the FMAP increase New York state will receive due to the extension of the federal public health emergency. Great news! 

The Arc of the United States continues to push for HCBS funding support to stay in the package as it moves through the House and Senate, but we need to keep the pressure on our federal representative to ensure that happens. The Arc US online advocacy campaign makes it easy to reach out to your legislators and let them know that #weareessential.  
 
Federal Minimum Wage Increase to $15
As part of the Disability Provider Group, The Arc of the US submitted a letter urging Congress to ensure that any increase in the minimum wage is accompanied by a commensurate Medicaid increase to cover additional labor costs for HCBS services. New York state included funding to support its own transition to a $15 minimum wage, but the adoption of federal law could change how this transition is implemented and funded. 

Members of the Disability Provider Group include ACCSES, the American Network of Community Options & Resources (ANCOR), the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE), Easterseals, Goodwill Industries, The Arc of the United States, and United Cerebral Palsy.

Opportunity to Present at the 2021 NCE Summer Leadership Institute 
The NCE Summer Leadership Institute, hosted by The Arc and the National Conference of Executives (NCE) of The Arc, is seeking presentation proposals for the 2021 SLI, which will be held in in Chicago July 12-14. This a two-and-a-half-day event unites executives, leaders, and professionals from across the disability sector in pursuit of a shared mission. You do not have to be an NCE member to submit a proposal, so start thinking about what you can share with our national network!

Are you working on an innovative program in your community that you think can be replicable across the country? Do you have a best practice to share? Have you heard a wonderful presentation that you think your peers would benefit from hearing? Are you working with a partner who is demonstrating some next level thinking on an issue? Or do you think it's time we sat down and had a serious discussion on what's next for the I/DD community in times of pandemic?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should highly consider submitting a proposal. Submit your proposal here by February 26 to have your presentation considered for inclusion. You can learn more about the SLI here

 
Contact: 
Philip Aydinian, Director for Governmental Affairs 

This email was sent to:
  • Board of Governors 
  • Chapter Presidents
  • Chapter Board Members
  • Executive Directors 
  • Chief Operating Officers
  • Chief Financial Officers  
  • HR Directors 
  • PR Directors 
  • Quality & Compliance Staff 
  • Joint Committee on Quality & Compliance 
  • Trust Services and State Office Staff