NYAIL News 2023

Thank you for reading the newsletter from the New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL). Do you have info to share or an idea to improve the newsletter? We’d love to hear from you! Send any ideas and information to NYAIL’s Communications Specialist Blaise Bryant.

2023 NYAIL Statewide conference

Graphic with a red, yellow, green, blue, and purple rainbow and shadow figure of person. In the graphic the words "2023 Statewide Conference. Our Path Forward. September 12-13 Albany Capital Center" are written.

Thank you to the over 400 attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, and workshop presenters for making this year’s conference a huge success! A special thanks to the Albany Capital Center for hosting us. It was great to be back in-person and networking for the first time in four years. Want to revisit a workshop presentation or check out materials from ones you were unable to attend? Visit our workshops page. For conference attendees who used the Whova app or website: the materials in Whova will only be available until December (per Whova restrictions).

A conference room full of people sitting at tables watching and listening to a speaker.

Keynote Speaker, Imani, sitting in a chair holding a microphone and speaking. She is wearing a mask.

A woman in a wheelchair is at an exhibitor table speaking to a woman standing behind the table.

Center Spotlights

Doug Hovey, CEO of Independent Living Inc. and NYAIL board member received the Brendan Nugent Leadership Award from the Alliance for Rights and Recovery (formally NYAPRS) at their 41^st annual conference last week. This award is presented to inspiring leaders for their exemplary efforts in promoting and advancing empowerment of their peers in New York State. Doug Hovey, founding Executive Director of the Newburgh ILC, a pioneer in the delivery of mental health peer supports, and served on the board of NYAPRS for several decades. At the conference Doug also presented as part of a NYAIL panel “What can your ILC do for you?”, along with Lindsay Miller (NYAIL), Stephanie Orlando (Western NY Independent Living) and Aileen Martin (Northern Regional Center for Independent Living) to help strengthen the relationship between NYAIL and Alliance members at the local level.

Doug sitting in a wheelchair speaking into a microphone while on stage.

NYAIL’s NYC Transition Specialist Liaison Mariah Sepulveda participated in an adapted fashion show. This year Victoria’s Secret debuted their Adaptive Intimate lingerie line at the Runway of Dreams Annual Fashion Runway Event in New York Fashion Week on September 13. This line was specially created by Victoria’s Secret designers for people with disabilities through a series of focus groups and partnerships to make dressing and undressing easier. Over 200 women with various disabilities and their unique needs participated. Mariah was invited to be a model at their first runway show! Hundreds of models with disabilities have been added to the Runway of Dreams Gamut Talent Management company, providing an array of services for both talents and companies connecting through influencer marketing, partnerships, focus groups, panels, product testing, and surveys. As a member of their lookbook, community, and an aspiring model, Mariah related to Victoria’s Secret through an opportunity earlier in the year to join a focus group enriching the customer experience. After participating in the focus group Victoria’s Secret was touched by Mariah’s story as a disabled cancer survivor, personally inviting her to attend the NYFW Runway of Dreams: A Fashion Revolution annual event as a guest and model wearing a Victoria’s Secret lingerie look!

“I attended the fashion show which consisted of only models with disabilities like me, which felt empowering and representative, a sense of belonging with a great need to overcome barriers and stigmas we face in media,” Mariah said. Runway of Dreams and Victoria’s Secret’s efforts are changing the narrative of how people with disabilities should be included in all spaces, especially in high-brand fashion! Runway of Dreams showcased all the brands featured on the runway this year paving the way for how inclusive and adaptive fashion should look!

“I had the honor of being the face of the exhibit in Hudson Yards exhibition and together, we are being the change that what we wish to see in the world! For me, these experiences have been heartwarming, motivating, and necessary, and have brought tears to my eyes over and over again!” said Mariah.

Mariah sitting in a wheelchair while smiling and holding up a peace sign.

Webinar Series

The Medicaid Buy-in Program for Working People with Disabilities and Upcoming Changes

What is the Medicaid Buy-in Program for Working People with Disabilities (MBI-WPD)? How do people apply for the program? What are the requirements for folks to receive MBI-WPD? Join us on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, to learn more about MBI-WPD and how this resource helps people with disabilities to obtain and retain employment.

Presenters:

Greg Otten, Healthcare Advocate: Center for the Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY)

Mariah Sepulveda, New York City Transition Specialist Liaison: NY Association on Independent Living (NYAIL).

Date and time: Wednesday, October 11, 1-2:30 p.m.

ASL and CART will be provided.

Thank you, Beata!

NYAIL’s long-time Housing Committee Chair Beata Karpinska-Prehn is leaving ARISE after 27 years. Beata was also active in other NYAIL public policy committees. She is a tremendous advocate for people with disabilities, especially around housing issues. Thank you, Beata, for everything you have done for ARISE, NYAIL, and most importantly the people we serve. You will be missed.

NYAIL 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's program by visiting: ilny.us/programs

Newsletter ideas can be sent to bbryant@ilny.org for consideration.