Our Legislative Priorities
Each year, New York Disability Advocates (NYDA), a coalition of six provider associations, identifies the most pressing issues facing New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), their families, and the nonprofit agencies that support them. Following the release of the Executive Budget, Senate and Assembly one-house budgets, NYDA has updated its legislative priorities.
Our priorities are grounded in three core goals:
- Ensuring people with I/DD can live fulfilling, inclusive lives in their communities
- Strengthening and stabilizing the Direct Support Professional (DSP) workforce
- Advocating for sustainable funding and policies that protect and expand critical services
Several key developments have occurred this session. Governor Hochul initially proposed a modest 1.7% Targeted Inflationary Increase (TII), which does not satisfy the bare minimum to sustain services. In response, both the Senate and Assembly included a 4% TII in their one-house budget proposals, acknowledging and addressing the gap.
With final budget negotiations now underway to meet the April 1 deadline, NYDA is urging state legislators to uphold this commitment by including the full 4% TII in the final budget. An updated list of our priorities is below. Together, we can make sure the voices of people with disabilities, their families, and their providers are heard loud and clear in Albany.