Albany, NY April 9, 2020:
Disability Rights New York (DRNY) filed a complaint against Governor Cuomo with the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for failing to designate congregate settings as a priority recipient of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
DRNY has requested that HHS require the Governor
to ensure that Emergency Management offices prioritize the distribution of PPE to congregate care settings serving New Yorkers with intellectual and developmental disabilities (
ID/DD)
. Our clients and the d
irect service professionals (DSPs) caring for them are unable to obtain necessary PPE under New York State’s current Emergency Management policies.
Clients are living and DSPs
are working in residences in close proximity to one another. DRNY has received complaints that people with ID/DD in these settings have become sick with COVID-19 and some have died due to complications.
“Every day our clients and their care givers are in grave danger because they are unable to obtain critical protective gear. By designating these congregate settings as a priority to receive PPE, our clients at least have a fighting chance.” Timothy A. Clune, DRNY Exec. Director
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