The Budget Sprint Is On — Here’s How ILCs Can Lead

NYAIL News March 2026

Advocacy Updates, Open Doors News, Webinar Series, Disability Resource for New Americans, 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.

Advocacy Updates

alt="Michael Benedetto speaks at a podium at the New York State Capitol, with a sign language interpreter and a service dog visible nearby during Budget Advocacy Day."

On February 9^th NYAIL held our annual Budget Advocacy Day, using our collective voice to fight for a budget prioritizing Disability Rights. Hundreds of advocates from 19 Independent Living Centers across the state joined us in Albany. More than 150 meetings were held educating legislators on our key priorities:

Restore the $750 thousand dollar cut from Independent Living Centers’ (ILCs) base funding and increase ILC funding to $25 million total.
Inclusion in the human services Targeted Inflationary Increase, as proposed in S.3669
Investments in Home and Community Based Services, including:
Strengthening the Open Doors program
Restoring Access to the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Waiver
The Fair Pay for Home Care Act (A.1991/S.8955),
Home Care Savings and Reinvestment Act (A.2018-A/S.2332-A)
Repealing cuts to home care eligibility (A.1198 /S.358
Fund Access to Home at $10 million.
$25 million for a pilot program expanding paratransit.
Transparency and oversight in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (S.9142)

For explainers of the key priorities or want to relive the rally check out this playlist. Special thanks to Assemblymember Mike Benedetto, Chair of the Education Committee for speaking to the importance of Independent Living in this video.

A large group of advocates seated in rows of blue chairs inside a grand marble atrium, likely at the New York State Capitol. An American flag hangs prominently from the ceiling above a wide staircase. In the foreground, a woman stands at a podium addressing the crowd. Several attendees use wheelchairs or mobility devices, and many wear purple shirts, suggesting coordinated advocacy efforts. The setting appears formal and civic, with tall marble columns and polished green marble floors.

Our Budget Advocacy Day was the beginning of our sprint until the budget is passed either on April 1^st or later, depending on negotiations between the Assembly, Governor, and Senate. In just a few days the Assembly and Senate will release their one-house budgets. Read our Budget Disability Priorities agenda for more information. If you have additional questions about our priorities, please reach out to our Director of Advocacy Elizabeth McCormick.

How can you get involved?

Share your story with your local Assemblymember and Senator. Sign up to receive NYAIL action alerts to stay updated on our key budget priorities. If you use social media share your story and tag your local legislators – this is a great way to raise public awareness on the need to fund programs and services advancing Disability Rights. Letters to the Editor to your local newspaper are also a great way to share your story. If we all collectively do our part, we will have a better state budget than what was proposed by Governor Hochul.

Share Your Medicaid Story

Medicaid helps thousands of New Yorkers live independently and with dignity — and your voice matters in protecting it.

We are inviting individuals, families, and advocates to share how Medicaid has supported independence in your life or community. Personal stories are powerful tools that help educate lawmakers, inform the public, and strengthen advocacy efforts.

You can participate in any of the following ways:

Write a Letter to the Editor and tell your community how Medicaid supports your independence.
Upload a Short Video Story sharing how Medicaid makes a difference in your life.
Email Us Your Story if you prefer to write it out — we can help amplify it to ensure it reaches those who need to hear it most.

To get involved, visit ilny.org, call (518) 465-4650, or email info@ilny.org.

Your story can help protect access to services that so many New Yorkers rely on.

Open Doors News

By Suzanne de Beaumont

NYAIL is pleased to announce we successfully bid for the MFP request for application. This grant will fund the Open Doors program through June 2031. In 2025, we helped more than 1,000 move to the community. Over 600 of whom met the MFP criteria. The success of this program is in large part due to the dedicated staff at the local ILCs and NYAIL.

Money Follows the Person (MFP) is federally funded through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The program’s mission is to rebalance the long-term care system from facility-based to home and community-based services and supports. The Open Doors Transition Center provides education and transition assistance to people in nursing homes and intermediate care facilities wishing to learn more about and receive long-term services and support in their homes and communities. Open Doors has Transition Specialists, Peer Advocates, and Education and Outreach Specialists at ILCs throughout the state. Surveys of people who have been served by Open Doors show their quality of life and access to care dramatically improved in the community. If you or someone you know is living in a nursing home and wants to return to the community, call: (844) 545-7108 to hear about Open Doors. For more information about the impact Open Doors has had, please see this at-a glance report.

Webinar Series

Become a 2026 Access Partner

Partner with the New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL) as a 2026 Access Partner and help ensure our free monthly webinar series remains fully accessible to all. Our webinars convene advocates, Independent Living Centers, educators, healthcare professionals, and community leaders across New York State. Your partnership directly supports American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and live human captioning while aligning your organization with a statewide leader advancing disability rights, equity, and independent living. Contact Blaise Bryant to learn how your organization can become an Access Partner in 2026.

*Click the image to download the 2026 Access Partnership Opportunities guide and share it with community partners who believe access should always be standard, not optional.

Bridging the Gaps: An Overview of the New York State Respite and Caregiving Coalition

Join us for our webinar on Wednesday, March 4^th with the NYS Respite and Caregiving Coalition (NYSCRC). Key takeaways:.

Key takeaways:

Information on caregiver directed respite vouchers.
An overview of the National Respite Care Provider Training.
Utilizing the NYSCRC Respite Registry.

Date and Time: Wednesday, March 4, 1-2:00 p.m.

Presenter: Sharon Cackett: Assistant Director, NYSCRC

American sign language and human captioning provided.

Did you miss our webinar on Trauma-informed Care in the Workplace on February 18^th?

Josh Higgins with the Trauma-Informed Network and Resource Center (TINRC) and Zachary Borodkin with the Center for Independence of the Disabled, NY (CIDNY) provided a brief overview of the different types of trauma, responses to trauma, and supporting those experiencing trauma. The webinar was a condensed version of the Tending the Roots training provided by TINRC.

Click here to watch the recording and subscribe to our YouTube channeltu.be/EEAHlqzSri8!

*Due to presenter permissions and the sensitivity of the webinar topic we are unable to share the slides. For more information about TINRC and the upcoming Tending the Roots training dates visit their website and subscribe to their newsletter.

Disability Resource for New Americans

The NYS Office for New Americans (ONA) recently published a resource for new Americans with disabilities for getting a wide variety of services throughout the state. We have hosted ONA for a couple of webinars to learn more about ONA and supporting disabled new Americans navigate the very complex benefits system. Click here to see the full toolkit and share as you see fit.

Center Spotlights

ACCESS TO INDEPENDENCE OF CORTLAND | Friday, March 20 – 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Learn How To Make Homemade Irish Soda Bread & Butter

Join Access To Independence for a Cooking Class where they show you how to make easy Irish Soda Bread and butter! (26 N Main Street) Cooking can be easy and accessible to all!

>> Learn More

BROOKLYN CENTER FOR INDEPENDENCE OF THE DISABLED | Friday March 6 at 11 a.m.

Join BCID for Ice Cream for Breakfast!

As winter fades (we hope), let's celebrate with ice cream! Ice Cream for Breakfast Day was invented years ago by the mother of BCID's executive director, shown here in an ice cream costume, and now is celebrated around the world. Ice cream courtesy of Jeni's Ice Cream.

>> Learn More

INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER OF THE HUDSON VALLEY | Thursday May 21 – 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Join us for the 29th Annual Dessert Spectacular!

Desserts from the area’s finest restaurants and bakeries, live music and silent auction!

>> Learn More

TACONIC RESOURCES FOR INDEPENDENCE, INC. | Last Thursday of Every Month – 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Flyer for "Speak In One Voice Special Education Advocacy Support Group" with meeting details and registration information.

Monthly Support Group

This group is open to parents and caregivers of students with disabilities at any stage in the process of seeking or receiving Special Education services and/or 504 Plan supports.

Held Virtually via Zoom: Last Thursday of Every Month – 12pm to 1pm.

>> Learn More

WNY INDEPENDENT LIVING FAMILY OF SERVICES | Wednesday, March 11 at 2 p.m.

Promotional flyer for a technology discussion titled “Taking Control Self-Directed Home Care: Navigating Technology,” hosted by WNY Independent Living Agencies. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 2 PM, focused on maximizing independent living choices. The flyer lists multiple in-person locations across Western New York through partner independent living organizations, along with contact phone numbers, and includes a QR code for virtual Zoom participation. Images show people using computers and digital devices, with graphics of technology icons on a green background.”

Technology Awareness Month Event: Navigating Technology

Join WNY Independent Living Family of Services for a one-hour discussion on navigating today’s digital world as part of Taking Control Self-Directed Home Care! Whether you’re looking to build confidence with technology or learn helpful tips, this session is for you.

>> Learn More