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NYAIL News December 2025
Seasons’ greetings, Advocacy updates, Webinar series, and Center spotlights
| | Thank you for taking the time to read the monthly newsletter from the New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL). Do you have job postings, events, or suggestions to improve our newsletter? Send any information to NYAIL’s Communications Specialist Blaise Bryant. | | Seasons’ Greetings from NYAIL | | |
As we approach the holiday season, the NYAIL team wishes you joy, health, rest, and safety—no matter which holiday you celebrate.
This year has been especially challenging for the disability community. We mourn the loss of several fierce advocates—Jensen Caraballo, Denise DiNoto, Alice Wong, and John Kelly, among others—and honor their legacy through our continued work.
Significant changes have also impacted our community. The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), created by New York’s Independent Living Centers over four decades ago, is now being managed by an out-of-state corporation, bringing fundamental shifts to program administration and the supports available to consumers and workers. At the federal level, civil rights protections and essential programs face unprecedented threats.
As 2025 comes to a close, we want to thank you—whether you stood with us at the Capitol, joined our webinars, or supported our mission in other ways. Your efforts help advance freedom and independence for people with disabilities.
Looking ahead, 2026 will demand even greater unity and determination. Together, we must defend, protect, and strengthen our rights. Nothing about us without us! Lead on!
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Did you know NYAIL has several public policy subcommittees which are the driving force for our advocacy efforts? The committees include Employment, Election Reform, Health, Housing, Transportation, and an Inclusive Education committee we are looking to restart. All of these issue areas are connected.
Learn more and be part of the change you want to see!
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Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council Meeting Dec. 17
On Wednesday, December 17 from 1-3pm, Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council (MISCC) is happening in-person in Albany and virtually via Zoom. This is a great opportunity to provide comment on issues that matter to you! Check out the page as the meeting date gets closer for registration information, along with the agenda.
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Opposing Assisted Suicide
NYAIL, together with a coalition of advocacy organizations, is holding statewide vigils urging Governor Hochul to veto the Medical Aid in Dying Act. This legislation, which passed both the Assembly and Senate in the last session, poses serious risks to the freedom and autonomy of people with disabilities. Societal bias against disability, combined with the fact that many doctors are untrained in treating patients with disabilities, makes assisted suicide laws dangerous and discriminatory.
Vigils will be held December 3rd in Albany and Buffalo, and December 4th in New York City and Syracuse. For details and to sign up, click here! Governor Hochul has until the end of the year to act on this bill. Stay tuned for upcoming action alerts calling for a veto of this harmful legislation.
| | Documentary Highlighting Assisted Suicide and Negative Impacts on People with Disabilities | | On November 3 the documentary Life After premiered on PBS. The film shows the harms and impacts assisted suicide laws could have on people with disabilities, ranging from the general societal attitude toward people with disabilities to the cost for their care. Our former Director of Advocacy Alex Thompson was part of the film. The documentary also has a separate audio track for audio descriptions, in addition to subtitles. You can watch the film on the PBS website. | | |
On November 12 the NYS Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) presented to our network. The key areas they discussed:
TBBL is available to anyone with a print disability – not just those who are blind/low-vision.
TBBL services are free of charge.Unlike a traditional public library you can have the book/magazine (or other publication) for as long as you need.
Click here to watch the recording and view the slides!
We are not hosting a webinar for December. We will share a webinar announcement for January later this month. Until then, here are our top webinars for 2025:
| | Access to Independence of Cortland County| December 5th 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. December 20th 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | | |
Holiday gift wrapping
We know the holidays can get very busy and some people have trouble wrapping gifts. ATI will wrap your gifts for FREE while you enjoy fun crafts. Or you can drop them off and come pick them up later.
>> Learn More
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Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley. | December 7, 11:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. | |
Annual Open House
Join us for our Annual Open House, during Troy's Victorian Stroll on Sunday, December 7, 2025. We will have a hot chocolate bar, homemade treats, live music, 50/50 raffle and a chance to learn more about what we do in the community. Everyone is welcome and we hope to see you there!
>> Learn More
| Independent Living, Inc. | December 11th, 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | | |
21st Annual Orange County Chris Ashman Wellness & Recovery Conference.
Join us for the 21st Annual Orange County Chris Ashman Wellness & Recovery Conference, “Advocacy in Action: Unlocking the Value of Services in Uncertain Times.”
>> Learn More
| | Northern Regional Center for Independent Living| December 6th 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | | |
Candy Cane Lane holiday party
Family Support Services is happy to host our annual Holiday Party for families with this year's theme being Candy Cane Lane! Parents and children are invited to join us for holiday crafts, snacks and a meeting with SANTA. Please RSVP to Susan at (315)785-8703 or susang@nrcil.net.
>> Learn More
| | Resource Center For Accessible Living| December 12th 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. | |
Annual RCAL fundraiser
Thanksgiving is upon us, and it is time to turn our heads to the holidays. Yes folks, the House is ready for our Annual RCAL fundraiser. December 12th, 2025, Noon - 8:00pm We have added two new experiences and many new displays (believe it or not). Oh, and we also added animatronics goofy, 7.5-foot Chewbacca and a life size Olaf. Hope you can make it.
>> Learn More
| Westchester Disabled On the Move, Inc| December 3rd 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | | |
On A Roll Wheelchair Clean-Up and Tune-Up Workshop
Join us for an engaging, hands-on workshop to learn more about your chair: how to keep it tuned up, cleaned up, and ready for smooth rolling!
This free workshop will cover basic cleaning and tune-up tips for all types of chairs, including manual, power, and scooters, to help you stay mobile and independent. Don’t worry, we’ll bring the tools and supplies. You just need to bring yourself and your chair!
>> Learn More
| | Do you have an event to promote in our newsletter? Please send to our Communications Specialist Blaise Bryant. | | Share this NYAIL Newsletter using the buttons below. | |
New York Association on Independent Living
155 Washington Ave., Suite 208
Albany, NY 12210
Phone 518.465.4650 Fax 518.465.4625
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