Announcements in bold white letters on blue background
The following alert was posted this afternoon by the New York Association on Independent Living, NYAIL …
It’s official! Governor Hochul has signed the bill to reinstate the Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities!!!
Just moments ago, Governor Hochul officially enacted A.3130 / S.1836 to reinstate the Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities, which will now be known as the Office of the Chief Disability Officer. Despite the name change, all functions will remain the same as in the legislation, putting into statute essential advocacy functions that have been absent for many years. The Office of the Chief Disability Officer will represent the rights and interests of all disabled people in New York. It will also serve as the State’s ADA Coordinator, ensuring better access. We hope this is a sign that Governor Hochul will make the needs and rights of disabled people a higher priority under her administration.
We are extremely grateful to our sponsors Senator Skoufis and Assemblymember Steck for championing this issue up until the very last minute. And of course, thanks to all of you for making phone calls, sending emails, generating media attention, passing local resolutions, and helping organize others in your local communities to do the same.
This is a MAJOR win and we have all of you to thank for making it happen!
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If you are interested this or other 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.