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NEWS
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Occupy Wall
Street |
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Cuomo’s budget one giant leap for NY--The
governor is trying to remake New York State, formerly known as the
nation’s legislative laughingstock and a place where it’s extremely
hard to do business, largely due to its massive tax burden, into a state
that’s friendly to the entrepreneur and all the jobs he creates.
Wouldn’t it be nice to read one day that people are moving to New York
from other states, rather than read more about everyone leaving for more
business-friendly places from North Carolina to Arizona?
Click
here for article.
Cuomo proposes $132 Billion spending plan--Closes
$3.5B deficit without new taxes or 'gimmicks' governor says--Click
here for article. |
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NY Gov. Cuomo sets state on course for 2nd year --
 He set an aggressive, if less dramatic, agenda for his
second year after a first year widely praised as both fiscally conservative and
progressive in breaking years of political gridlock to legalize gay marriage.
It includes plans for the nation's largest convention center in New York City
and a $1 billion jobs initiative for the long distressed city of Buffalo.
Click
here for article.-Video
of Cuomo’s State of the State Address
Text:
2012 New York State of the State Address |
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NYC Must Make Taxis Wheelchair Accessible-- MANHATTAN
(CN) - New York City must make its taxicab fleet more wheelchair-accessible, a
federal judge ruled, after the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission conceded
that fewer than 2 percent of its cabs can serve the handicapped. U.S. District
Judge George B. Daniels laid out the dismal statistics in an 18-page ruling.
"Currently only 233 of the 13,237 medallion taxicabs in New York City are
wheelchair accessible. ... Thus, only 1.8% of the medallion taxicab fleet is
wheelchair accessible and over 98% is inaccessible. Click here for
article. |
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NYS Capitol Profile: Courtney Burke--Courtney Burke
Commissioner, Office for People with Developmental.Click
here for profile |
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Aiding Disabled, Nonprofits Rake in State Money --
Every day across New York State, thousands of part-time workers visit the homes
of developmentally disabled people to teach them simple tasks, like grooming or
how to take a bus.Click
here for article. |
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Matthew P. Sapolin, Who Led Bloomberg’s Office for
Disabled, Dies at 41 -- Mr. Sapolin, whose death was confirmed by the
mayor’s office, had served as commissioner for the Mayor’s Office for
People With Disabilities since the post was created in 2006.
Click
here for article..
Video and article. |
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My Medicaid Matters…whose Medicaid?--By Jamie
Louise Cooney, MSW Intern Click
here for more |
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Commission strengthens oversight, advocacy role on behalf
of disabled--“The changes I have made are designed to return the
Commission to an effective role as the State’s independent watchdog for
overseeing the care and treatment of New Yorkers with disabilities,” Roger
Beardon, chairman of the commission, said in a statement.
Click
here for article. |
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Bloomberg says suit to add handicapped-accessible cabs
unfair to 'average' riders, wastes gas, money --ALBANY - Mayor
Bloomberg
Wednesday brushed off the feds' effort to make more cabs handicapped-accessible
- saying it would inconvenience able-bodied passengers.
Click
here for article.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg needs to see reason about
wheelchair-accessible cabs --The Justice Department has concluded that the
Americans with Disabilities Act requires conversion of the city's 13,237 cabs
to vehicles that can accommodate wheelchairs.
Click
here for editorial |
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NASI Mourns the Loss of Board Member Susan M.
Daniels--WASHINGTON, D.C.—NASI Board member Susan M. Daniels, 62,
died Thursday, October 20 in
Washington, DC. She chaired NASI’s membership committee and was a
life-long champion of efforts to improve the lives of all Americans,
particularly those with disabilities.
Click
here for article. |
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Rensselaer County mulls job cuts--TROY -- Rensselaer
County Executive
 Kathleen
Jimino's proposed 2012 budget of $312 million provides for full county services
until April 1, but without relief from state mandates the county will then cut
70 positions to close a revenue gap.
Click
here for article. |
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Preserving 'social capital' for people with special needs
--New York State Medicaid has been subject to a far-reaching redesign
effort that will lead to cost savings. Yet not all change in Medicaid will have
good results. Some programs that now work may not continue to work under
mandatory managed care
Click
here for article. |
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Occupy Wall Street wins over union backing, more
protesters--Reporting from New York—
 In a sign that it is shifting from a loose-knit fringe group to a
bloc that could draw in mainstream America, the movement called Occupy Wall
Street brought thousands of people to the streets of New York on Wednesday
after major labor unions gave their backing to its anti-greed message.
Click
here for article. |
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N.Y. Still Pursues Case Against Whistle-Blower
--ALBANY — The Cuomo administration is continuing to pursue a
two-year-old disciplinary case against Jeffrey Monsour, a state employee at the
Office for People With Developmental Disabilities who has been an outspoken
critic of the agency’s management.Click
here for article. |
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Radio statement rattles Tupper --Courtney Burke, head
of the state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, told host Susan
Arbetter Monday on the WCNY radio show "Capitol Pressroom" that the department
plans to close its nine large developmental facilities. "We are seeking to
close all of our developmental centers by the end of 2014," Burke said when
Arbetter specifically asked her if Sunmount would close.
Click
here for article. |
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Bills to protect people with developmental disabilities
advance -- The Assembly approved a package of bills yesterday that would
protect people with developmental disabilities who are in facilities and
programs operated by the state Office of People with Developmental
Disabilities, including legislation that would mandate immediate reporting of
violent crimes, create a prior abuse notification system and standardize
training for providers of care, as well as make other changes.Click
here for article. |
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Mark Perriello Named AAPD's New President and CEO --Mark
Perriello, longtime civil rights leader and current Obama aide, was named
President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities
(AAPD), the country's largest cross-disability membership organization, by the
organization's board of directors.
Click
here for release.  |
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Cost-saving plans threaten vital clinical programs
--The New York State Department of Health and the Office for People with
Developmental Disabilities is currently holding "People First" forums
throughout the state to find out how Medicaid might be improved for consumers
with developmental disabilities and their families.
Click
here for article. |
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Disability rights group seeks to halt new cabs
--Disability Rights Advocates, in a suit filed in U.S. District Court in
Manhattan, argues that choosing the Nissan NV200 – which cannot
accommodate wheelchairs - as the standard taxi cab of NYC violates city law as
well as the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Click here for article. |
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In NYS; Which agencies are on the consolidation
block?--Department of Health, Office of Mental Health, Office of Alcoholism
and Substance Abuse Services, Office for People with Developmental Disabilities
and the Office for the Aging. Oversight agencies include the Office of the
Medicaid Inspector General and the Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy
for People with Disabilities.
Click
here for blog. |
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Disability Advocates Praise Governor Cuomo and
Commissioner Shah for Implementing the Community First Choice Option in New
YorkDisability advocates are praising Governor Andrew Cuomo and State
Health Commissioner Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H., who today endorsed the
Community First Choice Option offered to states as part of federal health
reform. Click here for press
release. |
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Lawmakers Express Outrage Over Abuse at State Homes
-- State lawmakers expressed outrage on Tuesday over a news report
detailing cases of abuse at state-run group homes for the developmentally
disabled, vowing to seek criminal prosecution of workers and to introduce
legislation improving oversight.
Click
here for article. |
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At State-Run Homes, Abuse and Impunity --A New York
Times investigation over the past year has found widespread problems in the
more than 2,000 state-run homes.
Click here
for article.
CSEA statement on NY Times OPWDD abuse
allegations--Charges made by an article in yesterday's Sunday New York
Times alleging systemic abuse in the state developmental disabilities system
are serious and disturbing. Abuse of clients under any circumstance is not
acceptable and should not be tolerated.
Click
here for release. |
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Plan that would save $90 million was ignored --
Written by Bruce Darling The disability rights community has been
calling for redesign of Medicaid in New York for over a decade. We understand
the impact of this system first hand. It not only wastes taxpayer money but
needlessly forces people into nursing facilities.Click
here for opinion. |
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EXCLUSIVE: Mental health care jobs shift in shake-up
--With no fanfare, Cuomo has installed a new chief at the Office for People
With Developmental Disabilities, formerly known as the Office of Mental
Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, and the Commission on Quality of
Care, the independent agency that oversees and polices complaints against
institutions that serve the disabled.
Click
here for article..
Listen
to article here. |
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Anner's dream to host TV program comes true  --Zach Anner, the comic filmmaker who grew up in
Kenmore, tied with Kristina Kuzmic-Crocco, and Oprah Winfrey awarded each a
show in the finale Friday night of "Your OWN Show," a reality TV competition on
the Oprah Winfrey Network.
Click here for
article. |
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News.Disabled employee wins discrimination suit against
Family of Woodstock--A jury ordered the not-for-profit human services
agency to pay Donna Hofler $85,000 in back pay, according to her lawyers. A
U.S. District Court judge will hold hearings to determine whether Hofler should
receive any additional money.
Click
here for article. |
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Cuomo Panel to Consider Major Cuts to NY’s
Healthcare Safety Net --NEW YORK - Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Medicaid Redesign
Team meets today to discuss proposed changes to the health-care safety net as
part of Cuomo's plan to cut $10 billion from the state budget
Click
here for article.
For a Medicaid Cost-Cutter From Wisconsin, a More
Complicated Job in New York
Click
here for article. |
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This time, Governor, heed the disabled-By Michael
Volkman-Most people with disabilities, no matter their age or their
disability, do not want to be put into nursing homes if they have the choice.
Click
here for article.
With State At A Crossroads, Cuomo Vows To Restore
Stability --During his first State of the State address
Wednesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo said that New York is at a crossroads and
outlined a plan of action to restore integrity and financial stability to the
state
Click
here for article. |
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A New Nursing Home Population: The Young By Joseph
Shapiro --There's one age group that's going into nursing homes at a higher
rate. And it's not the elderly. Young people ages 31 to 64 now make up 14
percent of the nursing home population, an analysis of federal data from the
Department of Health and Human Services by NPR's Investigative Unit found.
That's up from 10 percent just 10 years ago
Click
here for article and audio.
Youth In Nursing Homes Seek Alternative Care By
Joseph Shapiro -- With his twisted hand he hits a button on a small gray
box attached to the front of the chair and a machine speaks for him.
Click
here for article and audio. |
When Redesigning the Taxi, Don’t Forget Roof Romance
--Looking for a new single taxi design to replace the jumble of models now
on the street, the Taxi and Limousine Commission’s “Taxi of
Tomorrow” competition is down to three finalists chosen from a larger
group of contenders.
Click
here for article. |
Denise Figueroa, Executive Director of the Independent
Living Center of the Hudson Valley, smiles during a ribbon cutting ceremony at
the organization's new facility located at 15-17 Third St. in Troy on Thursday.
(J.S. Carras/The Record)
Independent Living Center officially opens its new Third
Street facility--TROY — Local advocates for the rights of the disabled
have a new place to call home, as the Independent Living Center of the Hudson
Valley celebrated its 23rd anniversary Thursday with a ribbon cutting at its
new location on Third Street.
Click here for article. |
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NY State defends highest cost in nation for mentally
disabled --NY: State Claims that Institution's $1.7 Million per Client per
Year Rate is too Low .Click
here for article |
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NY State seeking feedback from voters with disabilities
--The state Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with
Disabilities is conducting a survey to get feedback from people with
disabilities who voted in this week’s election
Click
here for article. |
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Deal responsibly with the Albany County home --It is
20 years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and 11 years
after the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Olmstead decision, requiring government
to serve people with disabilities in the most integrated setting available.
Click
here for article. |
President Barack Obama signs the
Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010,
Friday, Oct. 8, 2010, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in
Washington. Standing, from left are, Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., Sen. Jay
Rockefeller, D-W.Va., Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., Steve Wonder, Rep. Henry
Waxman, D-Calif., Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., and Sen. Byron Dorgan,
D-N.D.
Obama signs Video Accessibility Act-- U.S. President
Obama Friday signed the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act
of 2010, setting new accessibility standards for technology.
Click
here for article. |
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A life of advocacy for CDTA panel leader--ALBANY --
For Denise Figueroa, l eading
the Capital District Transportation Authority board of directors is a way for
her to continue assisting the disabled. Figueroa is the founder of the
Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley, which she has led for more than
20 years
Click here for article |
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Governor Paterson Vetoes 23 Policy bills --However,
the Governor did sign several bills into law today, including one that will
require gas stations to provide both full- and self-service sales to disabled
drivers at the cheaper, self-service price ,
Click here for
article |
20th Anniversary of the Americans with
Disabilities Act 
YouTube
video with Caption
President Barack Obama signs an executive order to increase
federal employment of individuals with disabilities at an event marking the
20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilites Act on the South Lawn of the
White House in Washington, Monday, July 26, 2010. |
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State agency removes "Mental Retardation" from its
name--The Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities is
now known as the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities .Click here for
article. |
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State of state budget --Technically, the budget could
be completed at 12:01 in the morning Thursday, since that would clear the
mandatory three-day "aging" period for the budget's revenue bill. It was
amended late Tuesday.
Click
here for article. |
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CNN.com: New York State Government Will Not Shut
Down--Julian Cummings reporting that three Republican New York state
senators crossed party lines Monday and voted "yes" for a week long budget
extension, stopping the threat of a government shut down in the state.
Click here for
article. |
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New York State Government Could Shut Down Monday
--State officials began preparing on Wednesday for what they said would be
the first government shutdown in New York history as prospects for the passage
of another emergency budget bill grew cloudy.
.Click
here for article. |
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Friends help disabled teen go to prom--Most people
don't arrive at their high school prom in an ambulance but most people haven't
beaten the odds like Tylar Zielinski has.
Click
here for article. |
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New York State Worker Furloughs Blocked by U.S. Judge
--Governor David Paterson is “temporarily and immediately enjoined
from implementing any furloughs,” Judge Lawrence Kahn of the U.S. District
Court for Northern New York said in his order.Click
here for article.
Legislators storm the governor's office Wednesday and
refuse to leave--A highly unusual scene played out at the Capitol Wednesday
night, as legislators stormed the governor's office and refused to leave.
Click here for
article. |
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Denise Figueroa elected chair of CDTA board--Denise
 Figueroa, executive
director of the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley, was elected
chairwoman of the board of Capital District Transportation Authority at its
meeting Wednesday. She represents Albany County on the board.Click
here for article. |
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Actress Marlee Matlin delights packed house in Nott
Memorial--"Despite what others tell us we cannot do, all of us have a right
to achieve our dreams," said the
hearing-impaired Matlin, a leading advocate for the deaf community. "As my
friend Stevie Wonder said to me, only when those who see can open their eyes,
those who can walk can open the doors, and those who can hear are no longer
deaf, can we finally stand side by side equally to one another and celebrate
our diversity."
Click
here for article. |
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Profile: Bethany Stevens, Disability rights
activist--Bethany Stevens, who holds both a law and sexuality studies
degree and works at Georgia State University’s Center for Leadership in
Disability.
Click here for article. |
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Civil Rights Legislation for People With Disablities
Passes In Albany --The civil rights bill passed in Albany this morning will
give disabled people the same protection that vulnerable elderly people already
have from abusive caregivers. It will officially take affect in 60 days, as
written in the law, and there will be two levels of felony offenses for
caregivers that either physically harm or seriously physically harm people with
disabilities in their careClick
here for article. |
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Health Reform Passed! What's Next for New York? Click
here for article. |
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Congress completes overhaul of health
care--WASHINGTON – Capping an epic struggle, congressional Democrats
put the final touches Thursday to historic legislation enshrining health care
as the right of every citizen. Republicans vowed to campaign for repeal in the
fall election season, drawing a quick retort from President Barack Obama: "I
welcome that fight." Click here for
article. |
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Health care victory for Obama in
House--The House delivered Sunday night on President Obama's top
priority, a historic restructuring of the nation's health care system that has
eluded his predecessors for more than a century.
Click
here for article.
For Consumers, Clarity on Health Care
Changes
Click
here for article. |
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Mentally disabled 'self-advocates' oppose use of word
'retarded'--A national movement to purge the word "retarded" from lawbooks
and medical terminology is nearing success, gaining support this week from
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who apologized to advocates for the
disabled for using the term during a private meeting last summer
Click
here for article. |
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NY City Finally Poised to Give Up Lever Voting Machines
--After years of delays and missteps, the city’s Board of Elections is
expected to choose new electronic voting machines on Tuesday that will be
rolled out in time for the September primary.Click here
for article. |
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NY governor directs cut in state aid payments--Gov.
David Paterson said Wednesday that New York has run out of cash and he's
directing budget officials to reduce state aid payments to schools, local
governments and nonprofit service providers until things improve.
Click
here for article. |
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Protect those with disabilities --I am troubled by
Gov. David Paterson's veto of vital legislation that would give disabled people
the same rights and protection from abusive caregivers as elderly people have.
Click
here for opinion |
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Breslin plan supported -- But the demonstrators
waving signs and chanting outside county offices Thursday -- moments before
Breslin was scheduled to unveil what turned out to be a dire 2010 budget
proposal -- were, at least this time, friendly Read more: . Click
here for article. 
Constance Laymon and Denise Figueroa |
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Council for integrating disabled persons into the
community developing 2010-2011 plan . Click here for
article. |
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Our beloved Governor, not so beloved! On the evening
of Thursday September 17, 2009 our beloved governor struck a double blow
against disability rights in this state by vetoing not only the Title II bill,
but also the polling place accessibility bill.
Click here for article. |
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President's visit to HVCC: Obama
 touts efforts to help economy, colleges
. Click here
for text and video. |
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Helping Elderly Leave Nursing Homes for a Home
--Walter Brown never wanted to live in a nursing home, but when he had a
stroke two years ago, he saw little choice. Mr. Brown, 72, could not walk, use
his left arm or transfer himself into his wheelchair.
Click
here for article. |
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Brooklyn Federal Judge orders state to find new housing
for thousands of mentally ill adults .
Click
here for article. |
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Census finds national, state poverty rate rising-More
Americans -- as well as New York State residents -- are living in poverty and
without health insurance, the Census Bureau reported Thursday .
Click
here for article. |
Senior White House Advisor Valerie Jarrett, left, and
Annebeth Rosenboom, right, Chief of Treaty Section Office of Legal Affairs of
the United Nations, watch as Susan Rice, center, U.S. ambassador to the UN,
signs the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Thursday,
July 30, 2009 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
US signs disabled rights treaty--The United States on
Thursday signed a U.N. treaty enshrining the rights of the world's 650 million
disabled people, saying it symbolized President Barack Obama's commitment to
upholding human rights through international agreements.
Click
here for article. |
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Make home care the norm -By
SIMEON GOLDMAN -.Do you want to spend the last days, months or years of
your life in an institution, with a roommate chosen for you, eating when told
to and have your intimate personal care needs met by staff who you may not know
or like?
Click
here for article. |
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Little People File Complaints With FCC--Little People
of America is petitioning the FCC to add the word “midget” to the
list of what cannot be uttered on broadcast television.
Click here for
article. |
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Stephen Hawking says 'disgraceful' EU tax ruling will hit
the disabled .
Click
here for article. |
Supreme Court victory for parents of disabled
students. Click here for more. |
Gillibrand sworn in to Clinton's Senate seat--The
Senate was down to one vacancy Tuesday as Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand was sworn
in on the Senate floor to take the seat vacated by new Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Click
here for articfle. |
 Senator
Hillary Rodham Clinton , N.Y. with Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman of the
20th Congressional District.
Two published reports say Rep. Gillibrand likely to get
Clinton's Senate seat.
Click
here for article. |
ONLINE DISABILITY TALK SHOW HOSTED BY
MOTHER FROM BUFFALO.Click
here for more. Or for www.disabilitynewsradio.com ,click here for
radioshow. |
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