Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb today announced the passage of a comprehensive package of legislation to empower individuals with disabilities by providing greater protection and accessibility under New York State law. The measures were taken up in honor of Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day.

Silver and Kolb applauded Task Force on People with Disabilities Chair Michael Cusick, Mental Health Committee Chair Felix Ortiz and Mental Health Committee Ranking Minority Member Steve Katz for their unwavering dedication to improving conditions for men, women and children with disabilities.

"The approval of these legislative initiatives empowers New York's disability community. By reducing these barriers, we are promoting full participation in all aspects of life for all New Yorkers." said Silver. "I applaud my colleagues in the Assembly - on both sides of the aisle - for recognizing that equal access and treatment for all individuals is the cornerstone of our democracy."

"It is a great honor to take part in this annual event, which raises awareness for those who overcome obstacles each and every day to excel in their daily lives," said Kolb. "Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day allows us to celebrate these inspiring individuals and to offer our gratitude to those who support and champion these important issues in our local communities throughout the state."

Eliminating Discriminatory Practices from Everyday Life

A key bill included in the Disabilities Awareness Day legislative package is (A.9848-A), sponsored by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, that would further protect the rights of individuals with disabilities by amending the state's Human Rights Law to clarify the definition of place of public accommodation, resort or amusement to include state-and locally-owned government facilities.

Under the bill, if it is determined that a proposed accommodation poses no undue burden on state or local governments, the state or municipal government would be required to remove certain barriers to ensure individuals with disabilities have access to transportation or government services and buildings.

Additional legislation geared toward eliminating discriminatory practices would:

• require that sign language interpreters be made available at the request of individuals with hearing impairments at public hearings and meetings (A.1932/Wright-passed earlier in the year); and
• waive the state's sovereign immunity with regard to application of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, and the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 as they apply to the protection of state employees (A.3689/Lifton).

"We must work to ensure self-sufficiency for people with disabilities through employment opportunities, independent living arrangements, educational empowerment, and inclusion in all aspects of society," said Cusick. "These legislative initiatives provide individuals with disabilities with the tools they need to realize their tremendous potential. Through this legislative package, we will raise awareness of the priorities of New York's disability community as we work towards our goals of inclusion, integration and independence."

"As legislators, we share a responsibility to ensure persons living with disabilities have the opportunity to pursue their full measure of happiness and achieve their highest goals," said Ortiz. "Through training, support and encouragement, individuals with disabilities become independent and productive citizens, who are fully integrated into their communities. I commend those who are self-advocates, family members who tirelessly support their loved ones, and the legislative sponsors for lending their support to these important initiatives."

"The annual Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day provides us, as legislators, with an opportunity to learn about important disability issues facing our communities," said Katz. "Most importantly, today's program offers a chance to recognize all the remarkable accomplishments of advocates and individuals with disabilities."

Ensuring Access to Affordable Housing and Improving Living Standards

Recognizing the importance of providing New Yorkers with disabilities with affordable, independent and safe living arrangements, legislation included in the package would:

• prevent housing discrimination based on a tenant's source of income under the New York State Human Rights Law (A.10163/Espinal-expected to be considered by the Assembly on a later date);
• mandate high-rise building owners to establish and maintain an emergency evacuation plan for disabled occupants and visitors and require the plan to be readily available to emergency personnel (A.6658/Cusick);
• permit tenants with limited mobility currently residing in an apartment building operated by the New York City Housing Authority to be granted preference for occupying a vacant housing unit on a lower floor of the same apartment building (A.3420-A/Titus); and
• make it a discriminatory practice to deny access or to discriminate against a person with a disability because they are accompanied by a dog that has been trained to perform tasks for their benefit. This bill would also make it a discriminatory housing practice to refuse to make reasonable accommodations including allowing the use of an animal to alleviate symptoms or effects of a disability (A.6816-A/Benedetto).

Fostering an Inclusive Culture and Adequate Transportation Accommodations

The Assembly has consistently advocated for people with disabilities by removing unnecessary barriers and discrimination in areas of everyday life. To ensure individuals with disabilities can fully participate in community life, provisions included in the legislative package would:

• establish the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Riders' Council for People with Disabilities to examine all aspects of the MTA to make recommendations on how to better respond to the mass transit needs of individuals with disabilities (A.745/Kellner); and
• establish the minimum width for handicapped-accessible parking spaces and access aisles to each be eight feet to ensure adequate space for people with disabilities to enter and exit their vehicles, especially for those equipped with wheelchair ramps that open on the side of a vehicle (A.3363/Lavine).

Empowering Individuals with Disabilities by Providing Greater Protections and Accessibility

As a means to make our voting system more accessible and to better protect individuals with disabilities, legislation approved today as part of the legislative package also would:

• enable blind and visually impaired registered voters to request Braille or large print absentee ballots for all elections administered under the election law to be sent to their homes (A.5337-B/Cusick); and
• require counties to maintain a confidential registry of people with disabilities who may require evacuation assistance and shelter during a disaster. Provisions in the bill make inclusion in the registry voluntary and makes the benefit available to people of all ages (A.7257/Cusick).