December 10, 2021
CP State News
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Continued investment in Direct Support Professionals’ (DSP) salaries is vital to the ability of the field to recruit and retain staff, and for future viability of the field. This year, New York State will use federal money to provide a one-time 20% wage enhancement to some direct care workers, but we need to expand and maintain that investment to draw people to the essential, life preserving, and demanding career of being a direct care worker.
Urge the Governor and ask your other elected officials to urge the Governor to fund the full 5.4% COLA for not-for-profit I/DD nonprofit providers and to commit to a sustained workforce investment. This funding is reasonable and required to reflect the current level of inflation, fight years of underfunding, address the significant fiscal impact of COVID-19, and ensure services for New Yorkers with I/DD are sustained into the future.
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Build Back Better Act -
Action Alert & Rally Call!
The Federal Senate is continuing its negotiations over the Build Back Better Act, which includes $150 billion for enhanced Medicaid for HCBS , and looking to advance the legislation for a vote by Christmas. As the bill moves closer to passage in the Senate, ANCOR is urging everyone to:
  • Use the ANCOR  action alert to Contact Senators Schumer & Gillibrand to thank them and urge their continued support for Home and Community Based Services through the Build Back Better Act and
  • Join Senator Casey and Representative Dingell for a virtual rally on Monday 12/13 at 6:15pm.
Details: Join Senator Bob Casey (PA) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12th) for a virtual rally to support the passage of the Build Back Better Act. Senator Casey and Congresswoman Dingell will highlight policies in the Build Back Better Act supporting people with disabilities and older adults and efforts to secure final passage of the bill.
Date: December 13
Time: 6:15-6:45 p.m. EST
Dial-in: 415-527-5035, access code: 2760 179 5336, passcode: 2357 6985
Send the Governor a Workforce Crisis Letter & Rise Up Together!
Tell your Story! Rise Up Together to Address the DSP Workforce Crisis!
Watch this message from self-advocate BJ Stasio and then click HERE to send a letter to Governor Hochul!
The letters will be printed out, in addition to being emailed, and personally delivered to the Governor by BJ.
Join BJ and Rise Up Together to meet with Governor Hochul and present her with 10,000 letters/stories to discuss our workforce crisis.
It’s only fair! Give kids with disabilities the same opportunities as other students!
Students with disabilities need your help.
They have a right to a free and appropriate public education just like everyone else. But for years, the 4410 preschools and 853 schools that serve students with disabilities have received less funding than their public-school counterparts.
This has caused more than 60 schools to close, unprecedented teacher and staff turnover, and will cost taxpayers more down the line as these students will need more expensive supports later in life.
Urge the Governor and other elected representatives to correct this disparity in funding by supporting bills S.6516-A/A.8013, which would provide equity for these schools by aligning their annual increases with annual foundation aid increases for public schools.
Click here to get started. It only takes a few moments and it means the world to students with disabilities, their families and their teachers.
Thank you!
Share this far and wide!
Send your self-advocates, staff, families and other supporters to cpstate.org\advocacy.
Copy the QR code below for newsletters, flyers or other print material. Advocates simply scan and go right to our action center!
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