If you haven’t had a chance, please call and thank your Assembly Member and Senator for their support.  We have some great allies now at the Capital and those relationships are important.

And don’t forget, schedule some time to visit your legislators in their home offices in your community.

click to listen

There are times when we all have to step up and speak-up with a loud and unified voice.  This is one of those times.

The Governor released his 30-day amendments to the proposed 2013-14 Executive Budget last week.  The amendments include a 6% across the board cut to OPWDD voluntary not-for-profit providers effective April 1, 2013.  This cut means that $240 million will be reduced from the developmental disabilities not for profit system if the cuts go through.

The State Legislature has commenced negotiations on the 2013-14 State Budget and we must do all we can  to reverse the cut through our advocacy efforts by reaching out to your members of the Assembly and Senate.

Self-Advocate Voices are critical

Please reach out to your Member of the State Assembly and of the State Senate and ask your Legislator to restore the proposed 6% cut to the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities’ voluntary not-for-profit providers.

These cuts will result in less staff, less supports for some people, no money for people waiting for supports, and a lot less money available into the future for the waiver and the many changes we have advocated for.

Start making phone calls today to your State Assembly Member and your State Senator:

ONE TO YOUR ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND ONE TO YOUR SENATOR

Be brief, say who you are, what supports you or someone you know receive and why they are important and that you want the cut to OPWDD restored.  Restore the cuts to OPWDD!

To obtain the contact information for your State Senator, go to the Senate website at: www.nysenate.gov If you do not know which State Senator represents you, the Senate website contains an area that will assist you to identify your State Senator.

To obtain the contact information for your State  Assembly Member, go to the Assembly website at www.assembly.state.ny.us  The Assembly website contains a similar area that will assist you to identify your State Assembly Member.

Ask for help if you need it.

I’m rushing to get down to a Hearing on the Budget today.  I’ll send another memo with more detail tonight and more specific legislators to call.

Speak up as if the supports you receive and we advocate for depend on it.  They do!!!

Thanks to NYSACRA for some of the text and links in this message.

Steve

Major budget cuts are slated for New York State that will affect services for people with developmental disabilities. If you do not want to lose services, or are concerned for your friends who need services, please fill out a letter and send it in to your Federal Representatives in Congress. Everyone in the state can send them to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, and you can click here to find the Congress person for your area. If you have trouble finding where to send your letter, send them in to your regional self advocacy office and we will send them to the right person for you.

This is urgent and should be done as soon as you can. Please consider hosting a letter writing session in your SA group, house meeting, or other meeting.

OPWDD intends to utilize the ideas, suggestions, and comments received through this public hearing to improve services and supports in New York State. OPWDD urges self-advocates, family members of people with developmental disabilities, providers, professionals, advocates, and other interested parties to participate in the hearing.

The Statewide Comprehensive Plan for Services reflects OPWDD’s mission and vision statement. It sets forth plans for implementing a transformational agenda for supporting people with developmental disabilities to enjoy meaningful relationships with friends, family, and others in their lives, experience personal health and growth, live in the home of their choice, and fully participate in their communities.

REGISTRATION

Registration to attend the public hearing is required. Please call the regional contact person to register as conference room space is limited. When you register, please indicate whether you are planning to attend only, or attend as a speaker. Speakers must limit their comments to three (3) minutes and bring three (3) copies of their testimony. Locations and contacts for registration are listed below.

Written testimony can also be submitted to:

Ray Pierce
OPWDD
44 Holland Avenue
Albany, NY 12229
Or via e-mail at Raymond.L.Pierce@opwdd.ny.gov

A video presentation of the hearing can be viewed online at www.opwdd.ny.gov following the event.

To register for the hearing and to reserve a spot to give testimony, obtain more information or directions to the hearing location, or to arrange for a special accommodation, please call the regional contact person for the hearing location at the telephone number listed below.

Video Conference Locations & Contact Information

Kingston, NY
Taconic DDSO
521 Boices Lane, Kingston, NY 12401
VC Room
Contact: Garry Krom at (845) 877-6821 Ext. 3451

Long Island, NY
Long Island DDSO
415 A Oser Avenue, Hauppauge, NY 11788
Multi-Purpose Conference Room
Contact: Stephanie Chatman at (631) 434-6136

New York City
NYCRO/Metro New York DDSO
75 Morton Street, New York, NY 10014
Activities Center – 1st Floor
Contact: Lou Mazzella at (212) 229-3601

Rochester- Finger Lakes DDSO/Monroe Developmental Center
620 Westfall Road, Rochester, NY 14620
Room 25 Leaf
Contact: Rebecca Scott at (585) 241-5766

Schenectady
Capital District DDSO
500 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY 12304
Building 3, Conference Room 2
Contact: Karen Francisco at (518) 370-7429
Syracuse, NY
Central NY DDSO
187 Northern Concourse, North Syracuse, NY 13212
Regional Training Center
Contact: Sandy Smith at (315) 473-6371

West Seneca, NY – Western NY DDSO
1200 East and West Rd., West Seneca, NY 14224
Building 16, Room 153
Contact: Mary Beth Blogett (716) 517-2151

Click on the link to download the registration form and register for the 2012 Statewide Self Advocacy Conference

Having trouble downloading or printing our the registration? Call 518-382-1454 or email keplite@sanys.org to have us mail, email, or fax you one.

Click on the picture for information about the conference