New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2024-25 budget proposal and amendments have set the stage for the usual disputes with legislators and advocates, including, of course, those who advocate for the intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD) community.
One major issue affecting this population and their families are the changes and cuts the governor is proposing to the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance (CDPA) program. Another is the non-living wage being offered, again, to Direct Support Professionals.
RELATED NEWS: State budget ‘corrections’ once again make no sense
For CDPAP, the no less than 15 changes “would, in many cases, fundamentally change” the program, writes CDANY executive director Bryan O’Malley in a statement. They include eliminating Designated Representatives (DRs) and setting maximum daily and weekly limits on the hours PAs can work. Read all about the proposed changes here.
For DSPs, advocacy groups are demanding a minimum of a 3.2% cost-of-living-adjustment and the passing of a proposed $4,000 Direct Support wage enhancement bill to retain and recruit essential staff.
If you’d like to make your voice heard, below are some (mostly) one-click action items.
CDPA asks that you take this survey on the impact of CDPAP cuts
New York Alliance for Developmental Disabilities (NYADD) suggests reaching out to your representatives:
Image: Freepix
Every March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and its partners collaborate to lead Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM). The annual campaign highlights how people with and without disabilities come together to form strong communities.
This year’s theme is “A World of Opportunities.”
Organizations have begun to share videos and resources in honor of the month. The Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), for instance, has released three sets of videos focusing on empowerment:
And here are some resources from the Autism Society:
Stay on the lookout for other ways to celebrate and honor the month.
In good news, disability employment is at the highest levels since record keeping began in 2008. As of January 2024, the labor force participation rate of people with disabilities was 40.5%, up from 32.7% in April 2020.
With this data as the backdrop, the Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing on Feb. 29 called “All Means All: Empowering People with Disabilities to Thrive in Careers and the Workplace.” You can find a video of the hearing here, which includes individuals with autism who successfully transitioned into competitive integrated employment, and data that shows people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can be successful in the workplace with the right supports.
In other news, U.S. Senator Bob Casey, chairman, Special Committee on Aging, is once again sponsoring the Disability Employment Incentive Act, which would expand three existing tax benefits to businesses that successfully hire and retain people with disabilities.
“The Disability Employment Incentive Act would help support businesses that hire people with disabilities in competitive integrated employment,” he said in a statement. “This bill supports the transition to a fully integrated workforce where people with disabilities work alongside people without disabilities, for equal compensation, and have the same opportunities for advancement as their peers.”
Photo: Peoplecreations/Freepix
Researchers, therapists and autistic adults push back on ABA, the continued push to get DSPs a living wage, Love on the Spectrum raises concerns and more developmental disability news to know for the week ending March 9, 2024.
The 74 recently published a fascinating deep dive on Applied Behavior Analysis, titled America’s Most Popular Autism Therapy May Not Work — and May Seriously Harm Patients’ Mental Health. Its premise: Researchers, therapists and autistic adults who themselves were ABA patients as children are pushing back on the highly controversial practice.
It writes that, “the U.S. Department of Defense, among other research organizations, has [also] called into question whether ABA actually works. And scholars are investigating whether it causes harm to the children subjected to it. Some who experienced the intervention say it absolutely does.”
Plus, it also posted No More Cures, No More Fixes: How Autistic Leaders are Changing the Therapy Debate, which looks at how the “medical model” of meeting the needs of people with disabilities is moving to a “social model,” the goal of which is to make the environment more inclusive and hospitable to everyone.
Commentary: Inadequate funding for caregivers is hurting New Yorkers with disabilities Low pay for DSPs has led to high turnover and leaves jobs unfilled. (Times Union)
Should a NY library ban a man with autism from children’s room? This petition says no (lohud.com)
How the NYS budget could impact the Special Olympics The Disabilities Beat podcast interviews Special Olympics New York CEO Stacey Hengsterman. (WBFO.org)
Yonkers schools, facing $86 million deficit, urge community to aggressively lobby Albany Reportedly 19% of students have disabilities, and 846 students with specific needs be will educated out of district next year; 310 students in district schools will need one-on-one aides. (lohud.com)
Dept. of Justice Finds Florida School District Discriminated Against Students with Disabilities It routinely relied on suspensions and referrals to law enforcement. (k12dive.com)
NC School District Admits It Restrained Or Secluded Students 864 Times In 6 Months (Disability Scoop)
Alabama’s care net for elderly, disabled people is ‘crumbling,’ suit alleges “The State creates such extreme barriers to access that obtaining the services to which recipients are entitled is nearly — or, in many cases, actually — impossible.” (al.com)
VCU-led initiative to expand disability awareness for teachers, curricula in early childhood ed Workforce Ready is a five-year, federally funded program that partners with four Virginia community colleges. (news.vcu.edu)
New Data Finds High Absenteeism Among Kids In Special Ed Minnesota data points to bigger problem. (Disability Scoop)
It May Get Even Harder To Access Community-Based Services For Those With IDD An annual report out this week, the “Case for Inclusion,” reinforces what we know all too well: The nation’s system of disability services remains under severe pressure. (Disability Scoop)
An Employer’s Guide to Supporting Workers with Autism (Harvard Business Review)
Disabled Actors Deserve To Blend Into The Background, Too (huffpost.com)
‘Love on the Spectrum’ reveals the challenges of autism representation (CNN.com)
The Coalition For Self-Direction (C4SD)’s next two roundtable discussions will focus on housing.
C4SD was started in November 2023 “to protect the constitutional right of choice” for New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities who rely on Self-Directed services, including issues surrounding Community Class topics.
Note: If Zoom links don’t work, click this link.
Current Self-Directed Housing Models in NY State
Presenters will include SD housing models/programs that are up and running.
Details
When: Friday, March 8, 2024
Time: 9 a.m.
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83545854967
Housing Projects – How do we get them started, approved, and moving?
Trish Albanese and Marilyn Jeffery of Smokey Hollow in Syracuse will talk about their experience of almost getting approvals for their project. They will discuss the ins and outs of Albany.
Details
When: Friday, March 15, 2024
Time: 9 a.m.
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83545854967
All are welcome to attend this free webinar about New York State voting rights with an emphasis on info for people with disabilities, presented by the League of Women Voters of Westchester County (LWVW).
Panelists
LWVW President Kathy Meany will moderate the discussion.
The purpose of “What is an IEP? For Families of School-Age Students” is to gain a foundational understanding of the entire Individualized Education Program (IEP) process, including but not limited to, the Committee on Special Education (CSE), the roles and responsibilities of all parties, the various components of the IEP, and the transition planning process.
New York State, according to the NYS Education Department, defines an IEP “as a written statement for a student with a disability that is developed, reviewed and revised by a Committee on Special Education, Subcommittee on Special Education or Committee on Preschool Special Education. The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is the cornerstone of the special education process for each individual student with a disability.”
The organizers of this virtual webinar are the Hudson Valley School-Age FACE Center, the Lower Hudson Early Childhood FACE Center and the NYSED OSE Partnership.
Details
When: Thursday, March 14, 2024
Time: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Despite decades of progress for disability employment protections and civil rights, it’s still legal to pay people with disabilities less than minimum wage in most states.
Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act has allowed employers to pay disabled workers subminimum wage for close to 90 years. Recent data has shown that disabled employees working under a 14(c) certificate earned an average of $3.34 per hour with many workers making even less than this.
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), The Autistic Self Advocacy Network, and The National Council on Independent Living are hosting a webinar to discuss and educate the public on why advocacy is necessary to end this harmful practice.
Details
When: Thursday, March 14, 2024
Time: 1 p.m.
The New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is responsible for coordinating services for New Yorkers with developmental and intellectual disabilities. It’s also a big entity with a lot of parts, and navigating it can be intimidating.
The Westchester Institute for Developmental Disabilities (WIHD) workshop on OPWDD services and eligibility could help. Through this workshop you’ll learn about the range of OPWDD services available to you and your loved one, and about the requirements for service eligibility.
Details
When: March 15, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Parent to Parent of NYS has a group specifically for parents with children with special needs who speak Spanish.
Discover a welcoming community tailored to the unique needs of Hispanic parents raising children with disabilities no matter the age. This group provides a culturally sensitive space where you can share experiences, gain knowledge and establish connections with others facing similar challenges.
¿Sabías que tenemos un grupo específicamente para padres con hijos con necesidades especiales que hablan español? Descubra una comunidad acogedora adaptada a las necesidades únicas de los padres hispanos que crían niños con discapacidades. Nuestro grupo de padres proporciona un espacio culturalmente sensible donde pueden compartir experiencias, obtener conocimientos y establecer conexiones con otras personas que enfrentan desafíos similares.
When: Monday, March 18, 2024
Time: 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
For questions, contact Gabriela Burgos at gburgos@ptopnys.org, 646-766-3460