U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Elise Stefanik
@EliseStefanik
New York 21st Congressional District
Washington DC Office
318 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4611
Plattsburgh Office
23 Durkee Street Suite C
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Phone: (518) 561-2324
Fax: (518) 561-2408
U.S. Senate
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
@SenGillibrand
Washington DC Office
478 Russell
Washington, DC 20510
Tel. (202) 224-4451
Fax (202) 228-0282
North Country Office
PO Box 273
Lowville, NY 13367
Tel. (315) 376-6118
Fax (315) 376-6118
Sen. Chuck Schumer
@SenSchumer
Washington DC Office
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6542
Fax: (202) 228-3027
Albany Office
Leo O'Brien Building, Room 420
Albany, NY 12207
Phone: (518) 431-4070
Fax: (518) 431-4076
New York State Legislature
Assemblyman Billy Jones
@Jones_Assembly
NYS 115th Assembly District
Albany Office
LOB 639
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5943
District Office
202 U.S. Oval
Plattsburgh, NY 12903
518-562-1986
State Senator Betty Little
@bettylittle
NYS 45th Senate District
Albany Office
Room 310
Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247
Phone: (518) 455-2811
Fax: (518) 426-6873
Plattsburgh Office
137 Margaret Street
Suite 100
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Phone: (518) 561-2430
Fax: (518) 561-2444
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Action Alert: Act Today to Ensure Paratransit is Affordable
Now that the State has decided to allow transportation network companies to operate statewide without any mandate for accessibility, they must at minimum ensure that people with disabilities can still afford to take public transportation! Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), counties can charge people with disabilities twice the fare of the fixed route bus to take paratransit. Paratransit enables those with the most significant disabilities to get to work, appointments, and generally participate in community life. However, fares in some counties are charging as much as $10 for a round trip, making it too expensive to leave the house!
ACTION: Urge your Assembly member and State Senator to co-sponsor A.3980 (Sepulveda) and S.2382 (Alcantara), which would cap fares for paratransit at levels no higher than the base fares for transportation of non-disabled adults using the public transit system.
Take Action!
Monday, April 24, 2017
Action Alert: Pooled Trusts
This alert comes to the New York Association on Independent Living from the Center for Disability Rights.
NEW YORKERS! A new bill has been introduced which will help Medicaid enrollees use their own money to pay for necessary expenses! This bill requires the New York State Department of Health (DOH) to notify new Medicaid enrollees that they can use a pooled trust. People with Disabilities use a Pooled Trust if their monthly income is higher than the limits to qualify for Medicaid. The pooled trust is the best way to assist disabled people to maximize their resources and their ability to live and thrive in the community. It saves the State money because it prevents Medicaid enrollees having to choose between their health care needs and other necessities such as food. The State should encourage people to use the pooled trust, not hide it from them.
ACTION
Contact your Senator and Assembly Member and urge them to support this bill!
Take Action
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Disability Policy In The U.K.
Scroll down for a list of articles on disability policy in the United Kingdom during the last several years. A lot has happened and is still happening there that could signal trends that could take hold here in the U.S. For example:
Austerity
The UK government's main response to the 2008 financial crisis was to go into deficit reduction mode, by cutting spending. Cuts reached across every sector of the British government, but some of the must notable cuts were made to long-established disability support programs.
Restructuring
The government argued for many of it's cost-savings in disability programs by saying they would restructure and improve these programs. They claimed that existing programs provided more than necessary to some, and not enough to others. They also embraced the idea at least of more employment of people with disabilities. However, their main approach in this was to hire a handful of consulting firms to do a complete work ability reassessment of everyone getting benefits, with the idea of finding possible savings and motivating disabled people to go get paid work. They also eliminated and consolidated independent living benefits in ways that were supposed to be more sensible, but of course almost always resulted in people losing benefits, and independence.
"Scroungers"
Part of the backdrop for all of this was a rise in popular resentment of people receiving disability-related benefits. Everyone suddenly knew three neighbors who were "benefits scroungers," people getting disability benefits who maybe? / perhaps? / who knows? / might not be "properly" disabled according to the limited understanding of their nosy neighbors. I saw her stand up out of her wheelchair and walk! He went to a movie, how can he be too mentally ill to work? Us working people are strapped because of all these scroungers!
So far, problems with disability benefits and services here in the U.S. seem to have more to do with neglect than purposefully harmful or wrongheaded ideas. But in this volatile political climate, we need to watch out for these themes. Read more about disability in UK politics in this collection of articles:
Austerity
The UK government's main response to the 2008 financial crisis was to go into deficit reduction mode, by cutting spending. Cuts reached across every sector of the British government, but some of the must notable cuts were made to long-established disability support programs.
Restructuring
The government argued for many of it's cost-savings in disability programs by saying they would restructure and improve these programs. They claimed that existing programs provided more than necessary to some, and not enough to others. They also embraced the idea at least of more employment of people with disabilities. However, their main approach in this was to hire a handful of consulting firms to do a complete work ability reassessment of everyone getting benefits, with the idea of finding possible savings and motivating disabled people to go get paid work. They also eliminated and consolidated independent living benefits in ways that were supposed to be more sensible, but of course almost always resulted in people losing benefits, and independence.
"Scroungers"
Part of the backdrop for all of this was a rise in popular resentment of people receiving disability-related benefits. Everyone suddenly knew three neighbors who were "benefits scroungers," people getting disability benefits who maybe? / perhaps? / who knows? / might not be "properly" disabled according to the limited understanding of their nosy neighbors. I saw her stand up out of her wheelchair and walk! He went to a movie, how can he be too mentally ill to work? Us working people are strapped because of all these scroungers!
So far, problems with disability benefits and services here in the U.S. seem to have more to do with neglect than purposefully harmful or wrongheaded ideas. But in this volatile political climate, we need to watch out for these themes. Read more about disability in UK politics in this collection of articles:
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Who Speaks For The Disability Community?
Another answer is, "People with disabilities ... all of us, each of us ... represent ourselves." Others who care about us can help, and do their best to speak up for our needs and interests. But families, friends, doctors, teachers, and disability professionals can only do so much to speak for us. In the end, we need to speak for ourselves.
A more practical answer is that there are several disability organizations that in various ways do a pretty good job of speaking for what matters to Americans with disabilities of all kinds. Here are a few disability organization that are worth knowing about, especially now when politics and policy-making are in turmoil and hard-won progress is in doubt.
National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)
The national organization representing independent living centers all over the country. In addition to advocating for centers, NCIL has a strong voice in nationwide disability policy advocacy.
American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT)
The premier organizer of large-scale disability rights protests. ADAPT actions are legendary, but it also does smart, sophisticated policy analysis and traditional legislative advocacy. ADAPT is mainly focused on home care, while it's origins were in advocating for accessible public transportation.
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
A national organization aimed at encompassing the broadest range of disability issues and types of disability community.
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
This California-based organization focuses on defending disability rights in the courts, and development of sound policy. DREDF was instrumental in crafting the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
Although ASAN focuses on autism issues, in particular advocating for more humane and autistic-person-centered approaches to autism, it has also become one of the most committed, razor-sharp advocates on the full range of disability issues.
The Arc
ARCs haven't always been on the forefront of disability rights, and many chapters are still heavily invested in sheltered workshops and segregated programs. However, the national Arc organization has recently been a powerful, progressive voice on issues like health care and Social Security.
These are just a few national organizations. There are also organizations at the state level, and, of course, Centers for Independent Living in every state and territory ... all of which strive to amplify the voices of people with disabilities.
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Urge Congress To Vote Against The AHCA!
This Action Alert is from the New York Association on Independent Living ...
A
little over a week ago, Republicans were unable to pass the American
Health Care Act, thanks in large part to your opposition. However, they
have decided to take it up again and may vote on it this week! The new
version of the AHCA is even worse! It would still gut Medicaid, putting
the lives and independence of New Yorkers with disabilities at risk!
In addition to the harmful provisions in the original version of the AHCA, this bill would also eliminate the requirement that insurers charge the same price regardless of health status and would eliminate the requirement that insurers cover a standard minimum benefits package (essential health benefits).
Congress can't pass this bill without virtually all Republicans voting in support. In New York, we can stop this by ensuring that our more moderate Republicans vote no!
ACTION:
Contact your Representative in the House today and tell them to vote no on the American Health Care Act. Dial 844-898-1199 to put in your zip code and get routed to the right Representative.
Talking Points:
- The AHCA changes the way that the federal government funds Medicaid-setting a cap on federal funding instead of paying states based on the actual costs of healthcare. This change cuts 25% (or $880 billion) of Medicaid funding and uses that money to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
- AHCA Per-Capita Medicaid Caps will force States to cut services for people with the most significant disabilities, forcing people into institutions.
- The Community First Choice Option (CFCO) will sunset under AHCA, the major incentive for states to provide community-based services which enable people with disabilities and seniors to live in the community.
The
latest Republican repeal effort would gut protections for people with
pre-existing conditions, allowing insurance companies to charge them
whatever they want.
- It would also let insurance companies deny coverage for basic services such as prescription drugs, doctor visits or maternity care.
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