Dec. 09, 2020
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Thousands of New Yorkers joined a virtually rally Wednesday to urge the state, specifically Gov. Andrew Cuomo, from cutting funding for programs and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
The Save Our Services virtual rally had speakers from across the state — some parents of children with I/DD; some direct support professionals who care for patients with I/DD; legislators, and others in support of funding for vital services.
“A decade of poor planning coupled with the state’s failure to support those with I/DD and the agencies who cared for them during the COVID pandemic has resulted in nearly $8 billion in lost revenue for the care of our state’s most vulnerable citizens,” one of the speakers said.
Many individuals, families and agencies have been or are on the brink of a major crisis, she said.
The next fiscal year’s budget currently includes a 5% cut for the state Office of People with Developmental Disabilities.
Assemblyman Michael Cusick, whose district includes the former Willowbrook State School, spoke during the virtual rally.
Willowbrook was supposed to be a safe place for individuals with I/DD but instead let them live in deplorable conditions and involved residents in experiments. Ultimately, the facility closed after former Advance reporter Jane Kurtin and television reporter Geraldo Rivera exposed the conditions at the school.
On the 33rd anniversary of its closure in September, advocates held an in-person rally on the former school’s grounds, asking the state to provide funding for its most vulnerable population.
“It shouldn’t be Albany who makes it harder for you and that’s why working with [the Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Council] is so important,” said Cusick, adding his office meets with the borough’s disability council weekly.
“It truly is an SOS; I’m sending an SOS out. To my colleagues in the rank and file, it’s important that we all meet with our councils every week to work with them to make sure we provide the funding to make sure our constituents get what they need,” he said.
Cusick warned that the coronavirus (COVID-19) will exasperate the budget further.
Individuals with I/DD living in New York state have faced budget cuts for years. Their advocates have continuously pleaded with Cuomo and the rest of the Albany legislature to pay direct support professionals livable wages and to ensure residencies and day programs remain adequately funded.
Albany has yet to listen to their pleading, many on Wednesday’s call said.
Freeman Klopott, spokesman for the New York state Division of the Budget told the Advance/SILive.com, “In the absence of federal aid, we must consider spending reductions, borrowing, and revenue actions to offset the state’s four-year, nearly $63 billion revenue loss. Any permanent spending reductions will be made in discussion with the legislature, keeping in mind that any area we don’t reduce spending will require deeper reductions in another.”
Parents and caregivers gave personal testimonies about what it’s like to care for a person with I/DD, and how important it is to them and their livelihood that they’re able to continue receiving vital care and services.
“We will not stop until the future of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are safe, healthy, and happy,” said one of the rally’s speakers.
Dozens of other New York residents shared their stories in the hopes of getting Cuomo’s attention and preventing additional funding from being cut.
Kristin F. Dalton