ALERT in bold white letters on a red background
PRESS RELEASE, December 14, 2021
GOV. HOCHUL MUST SUPPORT UPSTATE NY COMMUNITIES BY SIGNING THIS BILL NOW!
GIVE US A VOICE WITH THE OFFICE OF THE ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK: Earlier this year, the New York State Assembly and Senate unanimously passed bills A.3130 (P. Steck)/S.1836 (Skoufis) to reinstate the Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities into the New York administrative structure of agencies. Originally established by Governor Mario Cuomo through Executive Order, the Office of the Advocate:
Provided a voice within state government for New Yorkers with disabilities;
Helped to develop policies to ensure the State met the access needs of people with disabilities; and
Served as the State’s coordinator for the implementation of Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and compliance with the United States Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. L.C. (1999) which concluded that unjustified segregation of persons with disabilities constitutes discrimination in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Under Governor Andrew Cuomo, the advocacy functions of this office dissolved altogether. Some state agencies address specific diagnoses, but there is no state agency that supports the broader Disability Community to address their needs and represent their interests in state government.
Colleen Downs, Systems Advocate at the North Country Center for Independence (NCCI) stated “We sometimes forget that people with disabilities are our parents, children and friends. Our loved ones in Plattsburgh and surrounding communities in upstate New York deserve to have input and support to ensure more of our communities’ needs are met.”
A.3130/S.1836 will address this problem. The Office of the Advocate will serve as the state's coordinator for the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, coordinate state activities to ensure that state programs do not discriminate against and are accessible to persons with disabilities, and ensure that such programs provide services to individuals with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate. Additionally, the Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities will represent the interests of the Disability Community in state government by reviewing proposed legislation and regulations to determine their impact on persons with disabilities.
Andrew Pulrang, Board Member for NCCI responded to news of the bill’s passage: “The disability community in New York State is hoping that Gov. Hochul will sign their bill, paving the way to reestablishing the New York State Advocate’s Office,” said Andrew Pulrang, member of the North Country Center for Independence Board of Directors. “Most of us at NCCI can remember when the Advocates Office was an important resource and voice for New Yorkers with Disabilities. Our needs never went away, and it’s long past time for them to be addressed again in this important and powerful way.”
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If you are interested disability advocacy issues, contact Colleen Downs, Systems Advocate at:
colleen@ncci-online.com
518-563-9058 Ext. 110
The Mission of the North Country Center for Independence is to help people with disabilities to live more independent and productive lives, and promote better policies and community understanding of disability issues. NCCI serves people with disabilities, families, and the community on issues related to physical and mental disabilities. NCCI is led and staffed mostly by people with disabilities. It is one of the 41 Independent Living Centers in New York State. There are also hundreds of similar centers throughout the United States. NCCI serves Clinton and Essex Counties, New York.