The Assembly Minority Conference has worked tirelessly to protect the interests of New York’s disability community and fought hard to ensure educational and career opportunities exist for all New Yorkers. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and it is a time to celebrate landmark legislation and accomplishments, bolster the pathways to success already established and redouble efforts to achieve even more progress.

This year’s theme is “Increasing Access and Opportunity,” according to information from the U.S. Department of Labor. It is also the 75th observance of Disabilities Employment Awareness Month and the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), two important milestones. I am proud to celebrate these anniversaries and look forward to continuing to advocate for one of our state’s most vulnerable populations.

Our Conference developed and participated in a number of campaigns aimed at protecting the disability community. Notably, we engaged in statewide initiatives to better understand the challenges facing those with developmental disabilities. The result of those efforts was a comprehensive report and roadmap entitled the “Championing Aid, Rights, Equality and Services (C.A.R.E.S.) Plan,” which studied carefully the impact of policies and legislation pertaining to the disability community.

I am especially proud to have sponsored bill A.6215, which would strengthen the enforcement of laws prohibiting individuals from blocking access to parking spots designated for those with disabilities.  We also championed the #bFair2DirectCare initiative and fought for better pay and additional funding for direct-care professionals who support those with developmental disabilities. The industry and workforce are critical to the success and health of the disability community yet have continued to be underappreciated and underfunded.

Further, our Conference made it a priority to ensure the needs of New York’s disability community were accounted for as the COVID-19 health crisis gripped our state. Most notably, Assemblywomen Missy Miller and Mary Beth Walsh, and Assemblyman Ed Ra made repeated calls for a better plan from the state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities and the Department of Health, as overly restrictive visitation policies threatened the mental health of those in state care.

As we have before, the Assembly Minority Conference will always work toward providing the best care for those who need it. This October, let us reflect on our past efforts, celebrate what has been accomplished thus far and find new ways to ensure every New Yorker has the tools needed to achieve success today, tomorrow and in the future.

If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 200 North Second Street, Fulton, New York 13069 and by email at barclayw@nyassembly.gov.