[NYAPRS Enews] Today! Urge Gov Hochul to Reinstate the Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities (A.3130/S.1836)!

[Harvey Rosenthal]

Now is the time for Governor Hochul to establish permanent and coordinated disability representation in state government by signing authorizing legislation for the OAPD (A.3130/S.1836) into law, or by issuing an amended Executive Order 26 (still on the books, but unfunded), either will get the job done, but the clock is ticking!

Call the  Governor today at 518-474-8390 (then press 3 and then press 1)
and urge her to Reinstate the Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities

Thank You!
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NYAPRS Calls for the Reinstatement of the NYS
Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities

Take Action Now, Call the Governor’s Office Demand Reinstatement of the Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities!

The New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) joins our cross-disability advocacy partners in calling for the reinstatement of the State Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities (OAPD) led by a Chief Disability Officer to coordinate a collaborative system of services and supports for all New Yorkers with disabilities and to bring New York State into full compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and the State’s Most Integrated Setting Law. The Governor’s Executive Budget has identified some resources to fund an Office of the Chief Disability Officer office, 3 FTEs and $330,000 per the Assembly Yellow Book.  What it doesn’t have is any details on the mission or location of the Office.  The Governor’s decision date on the bill is this Friday, February 4th.

Currently there is no single state office responsible for representing cross-disability issues that affect all people with disabilities in New York, including hundreds of thousands of older adults and people with significant disabilities who currently fall between the cracks of our fragmented system.

Creating a Chief Disability Officer with substantive staff and resources will help to address many of these concerns and help close the gaps that have existed for far too long. This Office will assist the Governor’s office and relevant state agencies on disability related matters and assist them in developing meaningful policies and procedures that help to improve service delivery and outcomes for all people in need of such services.

The OAPD and Chief Disability Officer will also work with the state’s Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council to update New York’s 2013 Olmstead Plan to ensure that New Yorkers with disabilities will have full access the integrated housing, employment, transportation, and support services necessary to succeed in the community.[1]

Now is the time for Governor Hochul to establish permanent and coordinated disability representation in state government by signing authorizing legislation for the OAPD (A.3130/S.1836) into law, or by issuing an amended Executive Order 26 (still on the books, but unfunded), either will get the job done, but the clock is ticking…

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[1] https://www.ny.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/Olmstead_Final_Report_2013.pdf<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.ny.gov_sites_default_files_atoms_files_Olmstead-5FFinal-5FReport-5F2013.pdf&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=RZKMmiODsL8lW1CvoyvccXL03-Qr4iqDejsjr8b_Vqs&m=9XIPVTJ0G5c225dm4Xdd_Hw2jQQgFoqHKuw9pCpsnP0&s=83GzDXJJ7HFSCnz6V59C5weN3kKIy6y9Rokt60BgxeU&e=>
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