October 16, 2026

New Yorkers With Disabilities Need YOUR Voice!

Last week we officially launched our FY28 budget advocacy campaign. Today, we’re sharing new resources and opportunities to help you actively participate in our collective advocacy.

This year promises to be challenging, as New York works to balance the Federal cuts hitting the state Medicaid budget. We need to mobilize the full The Arc New York family to preserve services for New Yorkers with disabilities and enhance pay equity for the skilled staff who support them!

RECAP: What Are We Asking For?

Our current focus is on the Executive Budget in January. The more impactful our message is early on in the process, the less we have to fight for our needs during budget negotiations. Right now we need to directly advocate with Governor Hochul and ask her to support our system of services by including the following investments in the New York State Executive Budget:

3.4% Targeted Inflationary Increase (TII): Funds the full system of care to adjust for inflation. The TII simply covers inflation over the past year. It is the bare minimum required to sustain the current services New Yorkers with IDD rely on.

Human Services Careforce Worker Wage Investment: Gives direct care and other human services staff a dedicated and lasting pay increase that will improve pay equity and ensure good staff can afford to stay.

Restoration of the Healthcare Enhancement Program: Offsets rising healthcare costs and protect New York’s investments in staff and services.

Together, these investments ensure a sustainable system of care for New Yorkers with disabilities. Get more details in last week’s update if you missed it. 

Learn More and Stay Informed!

We’ve compiled a Budget Advocacy Toolkit with resources to support your advocacy. New this week: resources created with Self-Advocates in mind, or anyone who would benefit from plain-language perspective on our budget asks.

These new tools are available below, and on our toolkit page here. We'll keep you posted about additional resources as our advocacy efforts continue.

• Three Things We Need: One-Page Plain-Language Info Sheet

This one-page resource provides a quick, plain-language overview of The Arc New York’s three budget priorities, making it a useful handout for self-advocates and advocacy activities.

• Three Things We Need: Plain-language Info Sheet

This two-page info sheet shares The Arc New York’s three budget priorities in accessible language and encourages self-advocates to speak up for the services and supports they need.

• Budget Basics for Self-Advocates

This easy-to-understand resource explains how the New York State budget funds services for people with disabilities, how inflation affects costs, and why increased funding is needed.

So what can YOU do? 

We've launched a one-click campaign to inform the governor of our budget requests. We urge you to add your voice. By participating, you will quickly send a letter to Governor Hochul and tell her support for New Yorkers with IDD must be a priority in this year's Executive Budget.

This will be the first of many advocacy opportunities to come!

Raise your voice at our Capitol Rally

We are pleased to announce that The Arc New York and our NYDA partners will be holding a Rally at the NYS Capitol on Monday, November 16 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM in the War Room on the 2nd floor of the NYS Capitol building. Our goal is to get 300 advocates there as a show of force and solidarity from across the state!

A save-the-date flyer with a link to register for the event can be found here. Please distribute this widely to your family, friends, and share the post on social media to spread the word!

Registration is important, as we are gauging interest for coordinated group transportation. Information on logistics, messaging for signs, and parking will be shared in a future update. If you are bringing a group, simply note how many you expect. Register Today!

If you have any questions, please email Philip Aydinian, The Arc New York Director of Governmental Affairs at philip.aydinian@thearcny.org.

Vote, and Help Others Cast Theirs!

Election day is less than three weeks away! You can cast your vote on November 3, and early voting starts October 24. You can ask for your absentee ballot now! Check out the NYS Board of Elections Website for more information on your county’s early voting polling sites and times. Reach out to Philip Aydinian at philip.aydinian@thearcny.org if you need any guidance. 

We are so grateful for the work you have done to help people with IDD, their families, and communities understand the importance of voting and make a plan to cast their ballot! To support your ongoing efforts, we encourage you to explore:

• TheArc.org/Vote for voter resources, voting rights information, and tools to help people make a voting plan.
• Understanding Your Ballot: A Quick Guide for Voters and its companion webinar, which help voters understand what's on their ballot and find reliable information about candidates and issues.
• TheArc.org/AdvocacyToolkits for chapter talking points, educational materials, and social media resources

US Department of Education Dismantling of Oversight Offices

Federal education oversight is changing quickly for students with disabilities. The Department of Education is moving 100+ special education staff to the Department of Health & Human Services and 57 civil rights enforcement staff to the Department of Justice. The Arc is working with Senate offices to advance a bipartisan bill to block these transfers and keep key functions where they belong.

Take action to support education rights here.

Medicaid, SSI, and SNAP

The Federal Medicaid cuts passed last year will start hitting state budgets on January 1, just as new work rules and administrative barriers to eligibility take effect. The Arc is equipping chapters and advocates to respond and pressing Congress and the federal government to protect Medicaid and the daily supports it funds.

Economic security is also on the line. The Arc helped secure new cosponsors for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Savings Penalty Elimination Act, which would update the savings limits for people who receive SSI for the first time since 1989. The Arc is also tracking food assistance changes and helping families understand what’s changing with our new SNAP FAQ.

Read more on what's happening with Medicaid and SNAP on The Arc US blog.

Elimination of TPS

In a recent Newsday op-ed by Lisa Burch, President and CEO of EPIC Long Island describes losing nine direct support professionals after TPS ended for Hatian nationals, and what that loss meant for the people with IDD they supported. The op-ed states plainly the impacts on DSPs, providers, and most importantly people with IDD who are supported.

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and others hosted a Spotlight Forum to discuss the Trump Administration’s attacks on Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and the need for pathways to lawful permanent residence for those whose protections have been stripped, highlighting the critical role TPS holders play in communities across the country. You can view the entire forum here.

Take action today to support immigrant caregivers through The Arc New York’s one-click campaign, and find additional information in our July update.

DOJ Decision on Olmstead Protections

The US House of Representatives introduced a resolution recognizing and honoring the 27th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. L.C. (H.Res.1586). The resolution reaffirms the importance of the community integration mandates, which is a critical message at this time. Currently, the resolution has 12 co-sponsors including Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17). Work is underway to introduce the resolution in the US Senate.

Find more information on how to take action on this and other federal advocacy priorities through The Arc US Action Center.

We have been raising our voices on the DOJ Olmstead decision since June. You can find additional information on this issue in our August 12 update, and more on all of our ongoing advocacy efforts in our Advocacy Update Archives.

This and all advocacy updates are archived on The Arc New York website for future reference. Please contact us if you have questions regarding any of this information.