March 25, 2021
NYS Budget Advocacy: The Final Stretch
The NYS Senate and Assembly released their one-house budget bills for FY 21-22. We are pleased to report that both houses included language to restore funding for OPWDD supports and services including the 1% COLA, 5% Aid to Localities reduction, 1% targeted reduction, and more! This is great news, and a direct result of everyone’s hard-fought advocacy on our budget priorities.

However we have not crossed the finish line yet! We ask that you contact your legislator, thank them for remembering us, and remind them to stay the course and support these restorations in the final budget bill. To assist, we have created a new budget message in our online advocacy tool to support our advocacy leading up to the April 1 budget deadline. Budget conference committees will be meeting now into next week, so today is the time! The requests detailed in the letter include:

  • Continue to reject the 1 percent Medicaid rate cut;
  • Ensure the inclusion of $26.9 million for Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA);
  • Restore $12 million for 5 percent Aid to Localities funding;
  • Restore $6.9 million Residential Reserve Replacement (RRR) Allowance;
  • Restore $20.8 million for Care Coordination Organization rates;
  • Accept OPWDD Residential Program Management proposals
March 24 Virtual Rally
In support of these goals, The Arc New York hosted a rally yesterday in partnership with New York Disability Advocates (NYDA) and family advocacy groups urging state leaders for #CareNotCuts for New Yorkers with I/DD We are thrilled to report that over 1,000 advocates, including State Legislators, family members, providers, and self-advocates joined the rally live, and thousands have viewed the recording since. Thanks to all who attended. If you missed it, you can still tune in here, and check out the media coverage below:


Register Now for the Annual Willowbrook Lecture
Lifelong advocates and members of The Arc New York family will bring their voices to the Annual Willowbrook Lecture on Wednesday, April 14 at 6 p.m. The lecture, titled “Avoiding the Next Willowbrook: Lessons Learned about Activism from Parents,” will be offered via Zoom this year, and presents experiences from parents whose children lived at the Willowbrook State School, including what happened to their children at Willowbrook and how these parents became the principal activists in leading the closure of the institution. Parents will also share their activism since, and insights into how to support people with disabilities, parents, students, and families today.
 
Willowbrook Parent Advocates: Willie Mae Goodman, Ann Nehrbauer, Diana and Malachy McCourt, Ida Rios, Jerome Isaacs and Mary Sullivan
Parent Advocates: Meri Krassner, Kathleen Nowak, Judy O'Rourke
Self-Advocate: Eric Goldberg
Special Guests: Dr. Bill Bronston, Dr. Michael Wilkins

You can register for this important event here, and view the full event flyer here.
Disability Policy Seminar Registration and Update
This year's Disability Policy Seminar may be virtual, but The Arc US is still bringing content you can't get anywhere else and won't want to miss! Participants will learn from Congressional insiders and seasoned grassroots advocates about expanding access to community living and how the disability community is navigating new realities in the midst of COVID-19. The seminar culminates in a Virtual Hill Day on Thursday, April 22. Advocates can bring their newly honed skills and knowledge straight to elected officials, virtually engaging with their Members of Congress and staff to advocate for important policy initiatives.

Each state will be organized into delegations led by State Captains. Philip Aydinian from The Arc New York will be one of our state captains. 

The past year has been a painful reminder that while we have made great progress in the fight for disability rights and inclusion, but there is still much work to be done. Register for the Disability Policy Seminar and add your voice to this critical effort!
Contact: Philip Aydinian, Associate Executive Director for Governmental Affairs 
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