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
After many years of disinvestment, this year’s Governor’s, Senate and Assembly budget proposals give us great hope and signal a new day of partnership in rebuilding supports and services for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families.
However, NOW is the time to ensure that our priorities are included in the final budget that is due April 1st.
The Governor’s budget provided an historical investment and the Senate and/or the Assembly have built upon that by: reprogramming the funding for a 11% Human Services COLA; including language to allow special education schools to get and keep the promised investment; repealing the discriminatory MRT #26; providing an 11% Early Intervention increase; including I/DD employers in the Nurses Across NY Loan forgiveness and other critical priorities.
Tell the Governor and Legislators to include all of the critical priorities for individuals with I/DD, their families, staff, friends and volunteers these proposed investments in the final budget!
Copy the text below and email your NYS Legislators now!
After many years of disinvestment, this year’s budget proposals give us great hope and signal a new day of partnership in rebuilding supports and services for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. I am grateful for the Governor’s proposed investment, along with the Senate and Assembly One House budget proposals. Together they represent a welcome commitment to New Yorkers with I/DD!
I urge you to include all of these critical investments in the final budget:
Health & Mental Hygiene S.8007/A.9007
• Include the Assembly One House Part DD which increases the 5.4% COLA to 11% by eliminating the one-time salary bonuses
• Include the modifications in both the Senate and Assembly One House proposals for Part A – Nurses Across NY – to specify that eligible employers for loan forgiveness include those that support underserved populations, which include I/DD agencies.
• Include the modifications in both the Senate and Assembly One House proposals for Part K – the Statewide Healthcare Facilities Transformation Program – to include all OPWDD funded community-based providers.
• Include the Senate proposal in Subpart C to repeal MRT#26 that discriminates against those with I/DD
• Include the Assembly proposal to increase Early Intervention rates by 11%
• Include the Senate Part V proposal on telehealth payment parity
• Include and enact S.7643/A.9200 the refundable tax credit for direct care staff
Education S.8006/A.9006
I appreciate the Governor’s commitment to an 11% increase for the 2022-2023 school year but, unless the following are included, most 4410, 853 & Special Act schools will not be able to get and keep that increase:
• Include the proposals in both the Senate and Assembly One House budgets to
o Discontinue rate reconciliation for five years
o Hold harmless for enrollment changes of more than 5%
o Support tuition rate methodology reform with stakeholder input
• The final budget must also include language to implement Interim-Plus Rates or most schools will not receive the 11% increase in their 2022-2023 school year rates.
Additionally, include the Assembly proposal for tuition parity for 4410, 853 & Special Act schools
On behalf of children and adults with I/DD, their families, staff and volunteers, I thank you for your support and urge you to enact the proposed investments above in the final New York State 2022-2023 Budget.
Rise Up Together!
Click HERE to send a letter to the Governor
which will be printed out and delivered to her personally by BJ Stasio, Self-Advocate Extraordinaire, in a meeting with her to discuss our workforce crisis.
Below is a video message from BJ and an explanation of his initiative.
