Category Archives: Action Alerts

Here’s What YOU Can Do NOW!

Action Alerts, Advocacy, Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Meeting Minutes & Handouts, Queens, Resources, Staten Island, , , ,

BE HEARD NOW:

OUR WORKFORCE MUST HAVE OUR SUPPORT

DOWNLOAD, CUSTOMIZE, MAIL, EMAIL THE 4 LETTERS BELOW TO GOVERNOR CUOMO AND YOUR NYS ASSEMBLYMEMBER AND NYS SENATOR
Letters can be edited 

Letters in Support of Direct Support Professional:

To Governor Coumo:
To NYS Assemblymembers and NYS Senate:

Letters in Support of 4410 and 853 Schools

To Governor Coumo
To NYS Legislators

Link to find your legislators:
NYS SENATE
NYS ASSEMBLYMEMBER


FORWARD THE LETTERS TO ALL YOUR RELATIVES, FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS

This is the information about the “Workforce Crisis” that was distributed at the Nov. 2nd Meeting

Data Sheet from #bFair2DirectCare
Statics about 4410 & 853 Schools supplied by IAC
Spending Patterns OPWDD supplied by DDWANY
Residential Survey by New York Lawyers for Public Interest (NYLPI)

 

ACT NOW

GET READY FOR ACTION

NYC FAIR Executive Committee Comments on “Parents’ lawsuit blames state for shortage of group homes”

Action Alerts, Advocacy, , , , , ,

IMPORTANT, EXCITING STATE-WIDE NEWS:
NYC FAIR Executive Committee Comments on the Buffalo Lawsuit

We have become aware of the recent filing of a lawsuit in Federal court in Buffalo to address the lack of residential options for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. As advocates, we support the people who have taken this action, and know that they have done so to ensure that their loved one’s health, safety, and quality of life is protected.

In February the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities reported that there are more than more than 11,000 people statewide who need long term housing and will not be able to live independently due to their Developmental Disability. New York State reported that 46% of these people live with a family caregiver who is 60 years old or over; 61% of caregivers are experiencing health issues themselves; and 48% of those at home need assistance with almost all basic activities.

It appears that New York State’s housing strategy for people with Developmental
Disabilities is crisis management; the state responds when the caregiver dies, is unable to, or refuses to care for their loved one. As advocates, we recognize that moving their loved one is one of the most difficult decisions that a family can make, but one that all caregivers will face one day. The best outcomes for our loved ones occur when caregivers are healthy and able to plan for this this move, with the state providing adequate supports and services to meet their needs.

We recognize the substantial need that exists to identify long term housing options for a continuum of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. It is for that reason there must be a variety of options including intensive support for those with the most complex needs.

It is unfortunate that families are faced with such uncertainty, and we applaud this group of families and their courage in taking this action.

Read the story as reported by the Buffalo News on September 13, 2016:
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/federal-court/parents-lawsuit-blames-state-for-shortage-of-group-homes-20160913

More Information : Read the complaint-class-action and memo-of-law-in-support-of-class-certa class action if you want to see all the details.

One House Bills

Action Alerts, Advocacy, NYS Legislative Information, opwdd

“Both the Senate and the Assembly printed their one-House bills on Saturday, March 12th. The one-House bills establish the opening positions of the two Houses and their Democratic and Republican majorities in the Assembly and Senate, respectively. The bills will not actually be passed by either House. Instead, each House passed a resolution proclaiming that the one-House bills represent its position on the state budget. Those positions must be negotiated into final budget by the three leaders: the Governor, the Assembly Speaker, and the Senate Majority leader.
Following are some highlights of what is in each of the one-House bills.”  from COPA

Click Here For Text: COPA – One-House Bill Highlights – march 19 2016
 Click Here For Text: NYSARC-Assembly and Senate print one house budget bills 3-14-16 FINAL

We have until April 1 to make a difference

Action Alerts, Advocacy, Bronx, Brooklyn, Events, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, , , , ,

We have until April 1 to make a difference

SAVE-THE DATE:

Michael Seereiter, Pres. & CEO of NYSRA and
Peter Pierri, Exec. Director of IAC

will meet with NYC FAIR on

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016,
6 to 8pm, @ IAC, 

150 West 30th Street, 15th Floor

What the landscape is now and going forward
Actions we can take, things we can do 

Translation Available

Light Refreshments

Call-in

Register Here:

ALERT: MORE CALLS NEEDED!

Action Alerts, Advocacy, Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, , , , , ,

COALITION OF FAMILIES FOR DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF

IN SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
c/o Margaret Puddington, 562 West End Avenue, 2A, New York, N.Y. 10024,  (212) 799-2042

FAMILIES, DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, EDUCATION STAFF

CALL THE GOVERNOR

AND YOUR LEGISLATORS  

RIGHT AWAY!!!!!

 

Governor Cuomo did not include funding to implement a minimum wage increase for low wage workers in programs for people with developmental disabilities or in school programs in his 30 day amendments.

Therefore, we are launching a second round of calls and letters to legislators and the Governor imploring them to include such funding in the final budget agreement.  

 

Governor Cuomo MUST add funding for his proposed minimum wage increase in his budget amendments.

  • Governor Cuomo has proposed a $15 minimum wage for all. But he failed to include funding to raise the salaries for Direct Support Professionals, Special Education staff, and other low-wage workers in non-profit agencies.  
  • Non-profit providers cannot raise wages without additional funding from the state.  These providers rely exclusively on the state for funding; they have no other sources of revenue (unlike McDonald’s, which can raise its prices or cut profits).   

CALL the Governor, Your Senator and Assemblymember, and SAY:

Governor Cuomo and our legislators MUST PROVIDE FUNDING in the budget for the $15 minimum wage proposal!

 

Non-profit organizations funded by the state provide services to people with developmental disabilities.  But non-profit providers cannot raise wages for their staff without additional state funding. 

Direct support and special education staff are highly trained and bear tremendous responsibility.  They deserve more than the minimum wage.   The state must provide funding for appropriate increases for the staff who work tirelessly caring for people with developmental disabilities.

CONTACT Information: 

  1. Governor (518) 474 -1041 and press 3 to speak to an assistant
  2. Senate switchboard  (518) 455–2800 – and ask for your Senator.  You can find your Senator at http://www.nysenate.gov/   Urge your Senator to call the Governor and tell him to fund his $15 minimum wage.
  3. Assembly switchboard (518) 455-4100 – and ask for your Assemblymember.  You can find your Assemblymember athttp://assembly.state.ny.us/ Urge your Assemblymember to call the Governor and tell him to fund his $15 minimum wage.

 OR

  1. Go to IACNY.org to automatically send emails andfind your local legislators to tell the Governor to fund his minimum wage proposal.  Click Legislative Action, then click Get Involved.
  2. Or send your own letter to:

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

 THANK YOU!

 

ALERT: MORE CALLS NEEDED!