Let's all do our part to help protect the funding and availability of services for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities including paying our valued staff the living wage they deserve!
How to Help
Tell the Legislature: Support the Disability Community in the One-House Budget Bills
The Problem: Costs Are Rising Faster Than Funding
What We Are Asking For
- 2.7% Targeted Inflationary Adjustment – Increase Medicaid reimbursement rates so funding better reflects real costs of care.
- Restore the OPWDD Healthcare Enhancement Program – Ensure people with I/DD have consistent access to coordinated healthcare.
- Support Affordable Housing Initiatives – Include housing bills S.8676, S.8672, and S.8675 to expand affordable options for people with disabilities and the workforce who support them.
- Strengthen the Child and Dependent Care Credit – Accept Revenue Bill Part A to help working human service professionals afford childcare.
Why This Matters
Take Action Today
Together, we can make sure New York’s budget reflects the true needs of the I/DD community.
Disability Voting Rights Week Guide — Sept. 8-12
What is DVRW?
Disability Voting Rights Week, hosted by the American Association of People with Disabilities and REV UP, is a movement that advocates for ensuring that every person with a disability has the opportunity, support, and access needed to exercise their right to vote.
DVRW is about empowerment, access, and self-advocacy. The Venture Together community and leaders play a crucial role in creating space for education, supporting staff and individuals in their right to vote, and reinforcing our mission to build extraordinary lives through advocacy and inclusion.
Why It Matters
- 40.2 million eligible voters with disabilities in 2024 – 1 in 6 voters.
- Nearly 72.7 million voters (⅓ of the electorate) are disabled or live with someone who is.
- If disabled voters cast ballots at the same rate as nondisabled voters, there would be 2 million more voters nationwide.
- Barriers remain: inaccessible polling places, strict ID laws, inaccessible information, lack of transportation, and harmful prejudice.
How You Can Assist
Educate & Share Resources
- Have conversations about DVRW and why voting rights are important for people with I/DD.
Encourage Engagement
- Help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities make a plan to vote (know deadlines, polling locations, ID requirements).
- Promote self-advocacy by discussing how voting connects to issues like housing, transportation, and healthcare.
- Empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to support one another in registering and planning to vote.
Create Inclusion
- Listen with empathy if someone shares frustrations with voting. Validate feelings and encourage participation.
- Stay nonpartisan—focus on rights, accessibility, and the power of choice.
Senate Sends “One Big Beautiful Bill” Back to the House — ACT BEFORE JULY 4!
There are three links below to send email letters and make calls – even if your House member is a Democrat, please call each member of the NY Republican delegation (listed below) as well, to let them know that we depend on Medicaid and SNAP to live!
If the House votes down the Senate version, passage of the bill will be delayed which buys advocacy time that we NEED.
Please contact these four New York Republicans TODAY:
Rep. Mike Lawler, NY-17 (parts of Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties)
DC office: 202-225-6506
District office in Pearl River: 845-201-2060
District office in Mahopac: 845-743-7130
Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram
Rep. Nick LaLota, NY-1 (far eastern Suffolk Co.)
DC office: 202-225-3826
District office in Hauppauge: 631-289-1097
Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram
Rep. Andrew Garbarino, NY-2 (eastern Suffolk Co.)
DC office: 202-225-7896
District office in Patchogue: 631-541-4225
Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, NY-11 (Staten Island and part of Brooklyn)
DC office: 202-225-3371
District office in Staten Island: 718-568-2870
District office in Brooklyn: 718-306-1620
Additional Outreach Resources:
What happened?
- Nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts. That’s about 20% of the federal Medicaid budget. It would cause nearly 17 million people to lose coverage.
- Nearly $200 billion in cuts to SNAP. Less food assistance means more people will go hungry, including millions of kids.
- A new private school voucher program that redirects public education funding to private schools. This will make it even harder for children with disabilities to access essential special education services.
What’s next?
We need every voice to be heard.
1) Contact Your House Representative Today
- Urge them to vote NO on H.R. 1
- Highlight the devastating impact on I/DD services in your family
- Explain why work requirements and redeterminations create barriers
2) Use These Advocacy Tools
3) Share Your Story
Your experience is powerful. Share how Medicaid supports life and independence.
4) Tell Others
Ask families, friends, and providers to join—share tools, links, and reminders. The more voices, the stronger our impact.
URGENT: Act Now to Protect Medicaid & SNAP!
A dangerous budget bill is moving fast, and we need to act now!
The Senate is voting any day on a bill that would cut $1 trillion from Medicaid—a reduction of nearly 20%! The House of Representatives has already passed a version of this bill, and the Senate’s plan makes even deeper cuts.
Can you please take 2 minutes today to contact your members of Congress?
If this bill becomes law:
- Nearly 17 million people could lose health insurance over the next 10 years.
- States simply won’t have the money to fund the care and services that people with disabilities need.
- More people will go hungry, including millions of kids.
This is not about line items in a budget. It’s about real people—children, people with disabilities, older adults, and families who need health care and food to live.
"Big Beautiful Bill" Deadline Looms—Action Needed by July 4
The Senate is preparing to vote on its version of the House-passed “One Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1), a sweeping budget reconciliation package containing nearly $880 billion in Medicaid cuts over ten years. With a potential vote as soon as July 4, there’s little time to make our voices heard.
What’s in the H.R. 1 Bill?
The House’s proposal threatens New Yorkers with $13.5 billion in annual federal Medicaid funding losses.
Hospitals in New York would lose $1.3 billion annually in funding, which may force many smaller and underfunded hospitals to close
Up to 1.5 million New Yorkers could become uninsured, disrupting continuity of care and closing channels to support
Read the full bill here: H.R.1 – 119th Congress (2025-2026): One Big Beautiful Bill Act
How Does This Affect the Venture Community?
Medicaid funds nearly all of our services that keep individuals with I/DD supported, connected, and thriving:
- Residential care, day programs, vocational support, and community-based habilitation are all underwritten by Medicaid. Cuts would directly threaten program availability and quality.
- The hiring and funding for much-needed Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) could face further constraints, undermining staff recruitment and the potential retention of care.
Our families across Rockland County depend on Medicaid to keep the I/DD community safe and engaged; any cuts could deeply impact the well-being and sustainability of the services that Venture provides.
Learn More:
How You Can Help BEFORE JULY 4!
Time is running out to influence the Senate vote and protect funding for I/DD services.
Reach Out to New York’s Delegation
Urge Senators Gillibrand, Schumer, and your Representative to oppose deep Medicaid cuts and support essential I/DD services.Use These Resources
Share Your Story
Personal narratives highlight how these services sustain independence. Your voice can make a difference.
With a Senate vote expected before July 4, this is our last and best opportunity to protect Medicaid funding that supports the health, independence, and dignity of people with I/DD in Venture Together and beyond. Without action, essential services are at risk.
Raise your voice. Share this message. Stand with our I/DD community.
Save Our Services: Join the June 23 SOS Virtual Rally to Protect Medicaid
Medicaid-funded services are essential to the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Right now, they are under serious threat from the House-passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, which aims to cut nearly $880 billion from Medicaid, change eligibility, impose work requirements, and slash the vital matching funds that support states like New York.
On Monday, June 23 at 10:00 AM, we invite our entire community—families, staff, and self-advocates—to join the SOS (Save Our Services) Virtual Rally to raise your voice and learn what’s at stake.
This event is a critical opportunity to learn how proposed Medicaid cuts could directly impact the people we support and the core services Venture Together provides, including Community Habilitation, Day Programs, Residential Care, and more.
What to Expect at the Rally
During the SOS Virtual Rally, we will:
- Hear about the real-world impact of Medicaid cuts
- Listen to stories from individuals, families, and support staff
- Receive tools to take immediate action and advocate effectively
How You Can Help
✅ Attend the Rally: Mark your calendar for Monday, June 23 at 10:00 AM and join us on Zoom.
✅ Share the Event: Tell coworkers, family members, and others who care about disability rights and community inclusion.
✅ Speak Up: After the rally, use the tools provided to contact your elected officials and urge them to protect Medicaid.
The Federal and State Landscape: Medicaid and I/DD Services
At Venture Together, our mission to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) is deeply entwined with the stability of Medicaid funding. As we move through 2025, both Federal and State budget proposals present significant challenges that could impact the services we provide.
In May 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” proposing substantial cuts to Medicaid— approximately $880 billion over the next decade. These cuts include stricter work requirements and eligibility verifications, potentially resulting in 14 million Americans losing health coverage. The cuts in the Federal bill could ultimately impact individuals with disabilities, who depend on Medicaid for essential services and supports.
Further, the proposed reductions could lead to the rollback of Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers, which are vital for enabling individuals with disabilities to live independently within their communities. The potential loss of these services threatens to diminish the quality of life for many individuals across the country.
New York State Budget: Insufficient Adjustments for I/DD Services
At the State level, New York’s FY 2025-2026 Executive Budget includes a 2.1% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for providers serving individuals with I/DD. While this increment acknowledges the need for increased funding, it falls short of addressing the escalating operating costs and workforce challenges faced by service providers.
Service providers, like Venture Together, have called for a 7.8% Medicaid rate increase to sustain essential services, modernize facilities, and ensure fair compensation for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). Currently, nonprofit providers across the State are grappling with a 16.9% staff vacancy rate and a 35.4% annual turnover rate among DSPs, which threatens the continuity and quality of care for individuals with I/DD.
In these uncertain times, your voice and support are more critical than ever. Here’s how you can help Venture continue our mission:
- Send a Letter to Congress: Urge your Federal representatives to oppose any budget proposals that threaten Medicaid and the services it funds.
- Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with developments in Medicaid policy and funding to understand how changes may impact individuals with I/DD and the services they rely on. ANCOR & The Arc
- Engage with Venture Together: Participate in our biannual Family Forum sessions to understand and discuss the funding landscape and its impact on services. Your insights and experiences are invaluable in shaping our advocacy efforts and ensuring that the needs of individuals with I/DD are met.
Together, we can work to ensure that individuals with I/DD continue to receive the support and services they need to thrive.
Protecting Medicaid: Advocating for People with Disabilities
On February 25, 2025, the U.S. House passed its FY 2025 budget resolution, directing at least $880 billion in spending cuts. These drastic reductions predominantly target Medicaid, jeopardizing essential services for individuals with disabilities and the provider networks that support them. If enacted, these cuts will force states to scale back programs, placing vital community-based services in jeopardy.
More than 511,000 people are already on waiting lists for services nationwide—a number that will only rise if Medicaid funding is slashed. Without adequate resources, individuals with disabilities may be forced into crisis situations, unable to access the support they need to live independently, maintain employment, and participate in their communities. In the past year alone, 90% of community providers faced severe staffing shortages, and 39% had to discontinue programs and services. Further reductions will only exacerbate this workforce crisis, leaving people with disabilities without necessary support or forcing them into costly institutional settings.
Now Is the Time to Advocate
At the state level, we are urging Governor Hochul to:
Include a 7.8% Targeted Inflationary Increase in the NYS 2026 Budget to stabilize provider funding. Establish a Human Services Wage Commission to address workforce challenges. Return the Rate Setting function to the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).
At the federal level, we must stand against Medicaid cuts that threaten to dismantle essential services for our most vulnerable citizens. This is not a partisan issue—it is about protecting the rights, dignity, and well-being of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
- Call or email your Governor, State Legislators, and Congressional representatives. Tell them to invest in Medicaid, not cut it.
- Share this message. Spread awareness about the impact of Medicaid cuts on people with disabilities.
- Stay engaged. This budget reconciliation process is ongoing, and our voices must be heard every step of the way.
Our communities thrive when everyone has the opportunity to develop skills, gain independence, and achieve their goals. Medicaid is the foundation that makes this possible. Let’s work together to ensure continued investment in the services that uphold the dignity and potential of people with disabilities. Advocate today to protect the promise of community living for all.
Learn More
Mike Lawler, Chief Program Officer of the NY Alliance, provided a briefing on what’s happening in Washington, D.C. and a status update on NY Alliance’s advocacy efforts to educate members of Congress about the importance of Medicaid to New York’s I/DD sector.
Medicaid Cuts Threaten Disability Services – Take Action!
On February 12th, Congressional leaders released a budget draft that calls for at least $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, with Medicaid likely facing some of the deepest cuts. If Congress is successful in passing its budget resolution, it would direct further legislation to make these drastic cuts, which could:
Shift Medicaid costs to states, forcing them to cut provider rates or reduce essential services. Threaten home and community-based services (HCBS), leading to longer waitlists and higher rates of institutionalization. Put individuals with I/DD at risk of losing critical supports like Venture Together that allow them to live independently.