Over 150 students with disabilities who attend State University, City University, and private colleges and universities from every corner of the state rallied at the state Capitol on Monday to urge increased state funding for higher education disability services.

The State Education Department (SED) has included a $15 million proposal, as part of its 2019-20 State budget request, to supplement existing federal, state, and local funding in support of students with disabilities in postsecondary education. The students were in Albany to insist that the funding request becomes a reality. According to SED, more than 73,000 students with disabilities currently attend New York State degree-granting colleges and universities.

These students gathered at the Capitol's Great Western Staircase ("Million Dollar Staircase") with some of their leading champions in the State Assembly, organized by State Assembly Member Harvey Epstein (D- Manhattan).  State Senator Andrew Gounardes (D – Brooklyn) is one of the Coalition’s champions in the Senate and has authored a concurrent Resolution in the Senate. 

According to Epstein, “I am pleased to welcome these students from all across our state. This event is historic in that it marks the largest gathering of students with disabilities ever assembled in Albany.  Students with disabilities deserve our support to enable them to fully pursue their careers. With the unemployment rate among people with disabilities who are ready, willing and able to work hovering near 65% we must do all we can to help prepare them to succeed."

Assembly Member Epstein serves as a member of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, and the Assembly's Task Force on People with Disabilities.

According to Gounardes, "All students deserve the right to an education that prepares them for success.  And as elected leaders, we have a responsibility to support students with disabilities to the fullest extent possible.  Not only am I proud to be a champion of College Students with Disabilities in the State Senate, but I am humbled by their appearance here today."   

Senator Gounardes is a member of the Senate Committee on Higher Education

Assembly Member Deborah Glick (D-Manhattan), chair of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education said: “With more than 73,000 students with disabilities attending secondary education throughout New York State, there is a clear need to ensure these students receive sufficient support to assure their success through college and beyond. I appreciate these students coming here today to guarantee that their voices are heard.”

Assembly Member Phil Steck (D- Colonie), chair, Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities said: “Providing students with disabilities increased access to college education, as well as support services to improve educational outcomes, is an economic win for both the students and for New York State.” said Assemblymember Steck. “There are thousands of colleges students in New York State with disabilities and each and every one should have the opportunity to achieve their educational goals. NYSED’s $15 million proposal for support funding is a firm commitment to these students and their futures”.

Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon (D- Brooklyn), member of Assembly Committee on Higher Education. She is also one of the nation's preeminent attorneys advocating for the rights of students with disabilities in higher education said: “I am pleased to participate in the first New York State Students with Disabilities Advocacy Day, raising awareness about the services needs of postsecondary students with disabilities,” said Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon. “As increasing numbers of students attend our colleges and universities, they have demonstrated just how important their contributions are to the life of our institutions of higher education.  New York should be doing more to assist them in achieving their dreams by ensuring their education gives them the skills they need to access the workplace.”

Assembly Member Aravella Simotas (D – Queens) member the Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities said: “I am proud to stand together with these students to advocate for greater inclusion and accessibility in our higher education system. It is critical that our colleges can provide adequate services to ensure students with disabilities can learn on an equal footing with their peers. The proposed $15 million in state funding will be a positive step towards granting young people with disabilities the support they need to thrive in their education and their future careers.”

Assembly Member David Weprin (D – Queens) former Chair of Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities said: “As former chair of the Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities, I wholeheartedly support the increase in funding from the State Education Department for students with disabilities in postsecondary education. I am glad that so many students from across the state were able to join us today to demand equity in education”, said Assemblyman David I. Weprin. “I want to thank current member of the Task Force on People with Disabilities, Assembly Member Harvey Epstein, for his advocacy on this important issue facing our student population.”

Assembly Member Michael Miller (D – Queens) said: “These postsecondary services are crucial for disabled students.  We will do everything we can in our state to make sure students with disabilities are able to have an equal learning opportunity as their peers.  These services will empower students to be successful and fulfill their academic requirements.”

Students, service providers, and a number of advocacy organizations are also forming their own statewide coalition in support of college and university students with disabilities, called: the New York State Coalition for Higher Education and Disability (NYSCHED).

The Coalition is supporting the State Education Department's budget proposal.

According to Leonard Blades, a graduate student at the City University of New York’s School of Professional Studies "CUNY's services for students with disabilities budget line has remained at $2.5 million for more than a quarter of a century. However, the number of students attending CUNY has increased by more than 30 percent in the last 25 years.” “Additional funding could allow CUNY to expand inclusive programs and help identify students in need of learning disability services," he explained.

Blades serves as chair of the CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities (CCSD), one of the founding groups of the new statewide coalition. He also serves as vice chair for students with disabilities for the University Student Senate, CUNY's student governance organization.

He is an alumnus of Brooklyn College.

According Melanie Hecker, an undergraduate at the University of Albany, "SUNY is home to 43 percent of all self-identified college students with disabilities in New York State. The State Education Department's initiative would supplement and advance efforts to attract and support prospective and enrolled college students with disabilities."  Hecker is an alumna of Hudson Valley Community College.

The measure also has the support of the New York State Disability Services Council (NYDSC), an independent organization of professionals who have responsibility for the provision of disability services to students in New York State in degree-granting institutions of higher education.

According to NYSDSC President Catherine A. Carlson, "The State Education Department's proposed funding program would provide much needed investment in campus disability service offices across the State. These offices and the professionals who lead them are the lynchpin to equal access and opportunity for college students with disabilities."