NYAIL Newsletter, Issue 6

NYAIL News Issue 6:

Conference 2021, Advocacy Update, and CHORE at BRIDGES

NYAIL Conference 2021: Resilience & Reinvention

Workshop Proposals Due July 9th

The last NYAIL conference was held in the Fall of 2019, only a few months before COVID-19 hit New York with brutal force. The pandemic reshaped all of our lives and in turn, brought new challenges to the life saving and life changing work of independent living. We tragically lost thousands of disabled New Yorkers in nursing homes and other congregate care settings, but this also exposed the dangers inherent in these institutions to the rest of society.

This year’s theme honors the resiliency in our community and demands reinvention in our existing systems. During this conference, we will reflect on the many lessons the pandemic has to teach us and refocus on how we can come together to change the future. NYAIL is seeking presenters for twenty-four 75-minute workshops, to be presented throughout the three-day virtual conference. We invite workshop proposal submissions that reflect the conference theme, NYAIL’s mission, and the interests of conference participants.

We invite interested presenters to submit a workshop proposal by July 9th as part of this landmark conference year. Submission details and form are available here.

Visit the conference website at ilny.org/conference.

Advocacy Updates from

Meghan Parker, NYAIL's Director of Advocacy

The legislative session ended on June 10. NYAIL is pleased A.3130/S1836 which would reinstate the Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities passed both houses this session. This office would provide a much-needed voice for people with disabilities in state government. NYAIL has been partnering with the Center for Disability Rights (CDR) ILC in engaging with the IL network and other stakeholders in pushing for Governor Cuomo to sign the bill into law.

As part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) states are receiving Federal funding to enhance, expand, and strengthen their home and Community-based services (HCBS). NYAIL has been advocating with our partners in the New York Caring Majority to increase wages for home care workers to 150% of the minimum wage, as outlined in Fair Pay for Home Care. These Federal funds are an excellent opportunity to fund the initial investment. Increased wages would help address the worst-in-the-nation home care crisis in New York State.

New York's Caring Majority has launched an online form for individuals to submit a "Homecare Workforce Shortage: Incident Report".

Visit icantfindhomecare.com to submit a report or learn more.

Living at Home, Not in a Home with RCIL ILC.

Check out this digital billboard from the Resource Center for Independent Living in New York's Oneida County.

The billboard features NYAIL's ongoing campaign message, "Live at home, not in a home!".

AIM ILC Staff Deliver Bags of Joy to Local Facilities

Pictured left, Transition Specialists Nicole and Sara with Latrisha an Olmstead Housing Subsidy Specialist from AIM Independent Living Center delivered goodie bags to Open Doors participants that are in skilled nursing facilities.

They currently cover 14 facilities and have people in 9 of them in the Southern Tier region of New York. The bags have swag from Open Doors, Olmstead Housing Subsidy, and other programs at AIM. They also have sugar-free candy, small crafts, and coloring pages.

The Open Doors and Olmstead Housing Subsidy programs are available at ILCs all over New York.

ILC Spotlight

Highlighting the important work of New York's ILCs.

BRIDGES CHORE Program

Small household repairs can help keep people safe and living in their home. In many cases, a simple home improvement or repair - such as better lighting or a grab bar, can keep someone safe. BRIDGES, an ILC in Rockland County, has developed a program to help.

CHORE is a resource to people living in Rockland County who are 60 years of age or older, or a person living with a disability, regardless of age or income status. CHORE helps people to maintain the independence of living at home by providing free minor household repairs and home improvements that make living at home safe.

Service examples:

Repair lighting
Replace light bulbs
Install grab bars
Install raised commode seats
Repair/tighten handrails
Repair stair treads
Replace electrical outlets
Install curtains or blinds
Change batteries in smoke/CO detectors

CHORE is supported by volunteers, Administration of Aging, County of Rockland, Rockland County Office for the Aging, and the New York State Office for the Aging. To learn more visit the CHORE webpage.

The New York Association on Independent Living administers several statewide and regional programs in collaboration with its member ILCs, all of which are focused on helping people with disabilities live independently in the community.

Learn more about NYAIL programs by visiting: ilny.us/programs