Invest In New Yorkers with Disabilities!

For decades, The New York State Legislature has not made adequate investments to sustain the essential programs and services people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) rely on. This systemic underfunding has driven us into a critical staffing crisis and eroded the core of New York's system of supports for its citizens with I/DD. Within their One-House Budget Bills we are calling on the NYS Legislature for:  

• Investment in I/DD services through a 7.8% Medicaid rate increase to proactively invest in non-profit provider agencies. A 2.1% Targeted Inflationary Increase (TII) was included within the Governor's Executive Budget, but we need legislators to make up the difference. 
• Creation of a Wage Commission to examine the roles and responsibilities of human service workers and establish fair, sustainable compensation standards commensurate with that work. 
• Move the responsibility and authority for rate setting back to OPWDD to ensure appropriate and timely funding. 

These are more than just budget requests, they are a commitment to providing the stable care system that people with I/DD deserve.