Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) announced that in honor of this year’s Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day, the Assembly passed a series of measures that will widen pathways to opportunity for New Yorkers with disabilities.

“As a father of a daughter with disabilities, I know firsthand the challenges that people with unique disabilities face every day,” said Stirpe. “By strengthening protections for those with disabilities, we can ensure that everyone is treated with the fairness and dignity they deserve.”

The legislative package includes measures that will enable impaired voters to request absentee ballots to fit their needs (A.2104-A) as well as require sign-language interpreters to be available upon request for hearing-impaired individuals at public hearings and meetings. (A.1669-A). Furthermore, the legislation provides equal protection for all New York State employees (A.5388) and ensures that our brave veterans have access to the appropriate state resources (A.4789-A). These measures will help guarantee individuals with disabilities the same services and rights allowed to the public, noted Stirpe.

The legislation will also help families and individuals with disabilities by:

• requiring owners of high-rise buildings to establish an emergency evacuation plan for occupants and visitors with disabilities (A.2200);
• requiring that counties with local emergency management plans to maintain a confidential, voluntary registry of residents with disabilities who may require assistance or shelter during a disaster (A.2658-A);
• establishing a tax credit for homeowners to incentivize retrofitting homes with qualified improvements, such as no-step entrances and grab bars in bathrooms (A.6243-B);
• allowing advanced home health aides to perform advanced tasks, including administering medicine, under the direct supervision of a registered professional nurse (A.7188-A); and
• taking into account a treating physician’s opinion in determining the limitations of a person with disabilities in regard to their public assistance work requirements (A.3450).

“As elected officials we have an obligation to protect and preserve the rights of every New Yorker without hesitation,” said Stirpe. “It’s our responsibility to make New York State more inclusive and ensure everyone has access to the opportunities they need to succeed.”