Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) announced the Assembly passed a series measures to help improve the quality of life for New Yorkers with disabilities in honor of this year’s Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day.

“It’s important that we continue to take steps to improve the lives of all New Yorkers, including those with disabilities who are facing unique challenges every day,” said Assemblyman Thiele. “This legislation will help ensure everyone has the opportunity to achieve the quality of life they deserve.”

Strengthening rights for New Yorkers with disabilities

The Assembly’s legislative package includes a number of measures to combat discrimination against New Yorkers living with disabilities. These bills would:

• ensure equal protection for all New York State employees under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (A.5388);
• improve the accessibility of public facilities by making it a discriminatory practice under the state Human Rights Law for a state or local government to refuse to remove barriers in existing structures, vehicles or rail passenger cars unless the removal would constitute an undue burden (A.136-A);
• require that the services of sign-language interpreters be made available upon the request of a hearing-impaired individual at public hearings and meetings, as well as establish provisions for assistive listening systems to be required in rooms used for public hearings that accommodate more than 100 people (A.1669-A); and
• ensure consideration of a treating physician’s opinion in determining work limitations due to a disability or health issue that might affect the individual’s compliance with public assistance work requirements (A.3450).

“Everyday tasks can be more difficult for individuals living with a disability,” said Thiele. “But we can begin to help ease some of their hardships by improving access to public facilities and ensuring the rights of people with disabilities are protected.”

Ensuring equal access to voting

Also included in the package is a bill that would enable blind and visually impaired voters to request Braille or large-print absentee ballots for elections administered under the election and education laws (A.2104-A).

“Voting is a right, not a privilege, and it should never be compromised due to a visual impairment or any other disability,” said Assemblyman Thiele. “Providing Braille and large-print absentee ballots would help ensure individuals with disabilities can fully participate in the democratic process.”

Improving emergency preparedness

To help protect and assist New Yorkers with disabilities during an emergency, the Assembly passed legislation that would:

• require every owner of a high-rise building to establish and maintain an emergency evacuation plan for occupants and visitors with disabilities, maintain and update the emergency evacuation plan for persons with disabilities as necessary and ensure that the updated plan is readily available to emergency personnel (A.2200);
• aid localities in preparing for and responding to disasters by requiring counties to maintain a confidential registry of people of all ages with disabilities who may require evacuation assistance and shelter during a disaster. People would be provided with the option to be included in the registry (A.2658-A); and
• require counties and cities with a population of 1 million or more to adopt comprehensive emergency management plans, including provisions for the access of home health care and hospice personnel to patients in emergency situations (A.5125-B).

“The severe weather experienced in New York State in recent years has made clear the need for increased emergency preparedness,” said Thiele. “These measures will help protect individuals with disabilities during potentially life-threatening events, because our state must always be ready to assist and respond to the needs of all its citizens.”

Supporting those who served our country

The Assembly also passed legislation to establish the New York State Interagency Coordinating Council for Service-Disabled Veterans. The council would be tasked with better identifying the needs of our service-disabled veterans and matching them with appropriate state resources (A.4789).

“Many service-disabled veterans are unaware of the benefits and programs available to them,” said Thiele. “This new council would be an invaluable resource to connect the brave men and women who served our country with the help and support they deserve.”

Encouraging community living

Finally, legislation expected to pass in the near future in celebration of Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day would allow home health aides to perform advanced tasks, including the administration of medications, under the direct supervision of a registered professional nurse (A.7188).

“This legislation would expand access to affordable home care options and help individuals with disabilities transition from institutional settings to more comfortable home environments,” Thiele said.