New York Disability Advocates (NYDA) is a statewide coalition of more than 300 non-profit organizations providing vital services and support to more than 140,000 New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Beyond providing physical and behavioral health services, they assist with activities of daily living, such as providing transportation, obtaining and creating meaningful employment opportunities, administering medication, cooking and feeding, and teaching personal care, community living and money management skills.
After years of chronic underfunding, this level of care is in jeopardy. More and more providers have failed in recent years, and others will continue to do so under the current system.
To stabilize the system, we need an annual 3% funding increase for the next 5 years to correct the shortage and allow organizations to continue to provide lifelong support and care and invest in innovations and upgrades to aging facilities.
This multi-year commitment from the state is crucial to the viability of the not-for-profit providers who, for the past decade, have had to do more with less.
Over 90% of provider organizations’ funds come from Medicaid. Each year, New York State determines the levels of funding to those organizations to support people receiving our services. Yet, in the last decade they have received only one funding increase of 0.2% and have missed out on nearly $8 billion in funding, including $2.6 billion in cuts.
A majority of them have only two weeks of cash on hand.
Foster independence, support families and prioritize inclusion
Employ more than 120,000 New Yorkers, mostly women and minorities
Frequently one of the largest area employers, driving increased economic activity in communities
Addressing external health impacts and providing cost-effective delivery of care
Tell Governor Andrew Cuomo to do the right thing and grant all New Yorkers equal access to care and opportunities to lead independent, fulfilling lives.
Join the effort to win funding equity for New Yorkers with developmental disabilities! Send a message to Governor Cuomo in support of a 3% funding increase for 5 years.