March 7, 2025
The Boost News
An executive order to close the Department of Education, NYS’s CDPAP transition fiasco goes down to the wire, clothing for the tactile-sensitive, and more for the week ending March 7, 2025.
SPOTLIGHT on CDPAP: Isn’t It Romantic
Is there a contingency plan should all those served by the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program not be registered with PPL by the March 28 deadline? No one seems to know. In the meantime, Assemblymember Carl Heastie gave a whopper of a quote, and more CDPAP news:
One-house budget proposals not expected to delay N.Y. Medicaid home care changes (Spectrum News 1)
“‘You’re always going to have some tough spots when you make a huge change like this,’ Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie told reporters. “‘[As of] March 5, I’m not willing to entertain (a delay) at this point. … My romantic wish would be to see everybody who needs this program and the services to get signed up and there to be a smooth transition.'”
Several other state lawmakers, Spectrum News 1 reports, “said they don’t expect the Senate or Assembly’s counter budget offer to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s spending plan will amend the controversial change.” The news site writes that “last-minute legislative action is common in the state,” and that it could be “the witching hour of the April 1 deadline” before a delay is considered.
Senate Disabilities Committee Chair Patricia Fahy noted that there’s still time. “We know how to do things at the last-minute,” she said. “Right now, the pressure needs to stay on getting those enrollments in. … As difficult as that may be, we’re all trying to give it a few more weeks here.'”
Home care at risk for thousands in NY as April 1 deadline looms (Times Union)
NY says 88K people enrolled in home aide program as deadline looms (Times Union)
MEDICAID
Democrats say threat of Medicaid cuts not a factor in NY’s budget Lawmakers have signaled that they are not accounting for any potential future federal spending reductions.
Republicans need to cut Medicaid to hit budget savings target, Congressional Budget Office finds (The Hill)
Fact check: The war of words over Medicaid cuts (Roll Call)
Uncertainty over federal funding could mean ‘world of trouble’ for NY Medicaid (Buffalo News via Empire Report)
EDUCATION
Draft executive order set for Thursday calls for closing Education Dept. The department administers federal grant programs. including the $15.5 billion program that helps cover the cost of education for students with disabilities. (Washington Post)
After monthlong pause, Trump admin resumes investigating disability complaints at schools (USA Today)
What schools can do to prepare students with disabilities for college success Weaving supports across general ed curriculum and working with local colleges to create workshops are key. (K-12 Dive)
STATE NEWS
Problems Nag Illinois’ Efforts to Move Disabled to Group Homes Among the 50 states, Illinois trailed only Texas in the number of people housed in state-run residential facilities for people with I/DD in fiscal 2020. (Chicago Tribune, paywall)
Colo. State department apologizes to families, promises to maintain funding for young kids with disabilities State officials apologized for a memo sent last week that indicated services would be cut. (Colorado Public Radio)
Supplemental budget saves Maryland Developmental Disabilities Agency funding The I/DD community in Maryland has had a brutal time of it, and challenges still lay ahead. (WYPR)
An Illinois county’s disability group offers new mobile changing unit for local events The unit aims to improve services for people who use wheelchairs at community events. (Springfield News Sun)
SOCIAL SECURITY
What Social Security Shake-Up Could Mean For People With Disabilities (Disability Scoop)
AUTISM
Trump’s war on DEI comes for programs helping autistic students find jobs in STEM (The Independent)
Student’s View: I’m Autistic. Special Education Failed Me (The 74)
CAREGIVING
The Crisis of Special Needs Parent Support: Author Post “Parents and caregivers of children with disabilities and special needs face a relentless, two-front war.” (Forbes)
INNOVATIVE CLOTHING
Feeling Anxious? There’s a Sweatshirt for That There’s a growing market for clothing brands that promise options for the tactilely sensitive. (Wall Street Journal)
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Meet the Westchester Team Competing in the Special Olympics World Games
Queensberry’s Liza Ambrosini Heading to Italy for Special Olympics World Games
Wappingers Falls Resident to Compete in Special Olympics World Games