Collage-style banner featuring diverse people with disabilities participating in community discussions, advocacy events, and leadership activities across New York State. White text reads: “NYAIL News | June 2026 – Supporting Independent Living Across New York State – Advocacy • Community • Leadership • Access.

The New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL) supports a statewide network of 41 Independent Living Centers helping people with disabilities access housing, advocacy, employment support, community living resources, and more.

This month:

State budget updates impacting Independent Living Centers and disability services across New York
Advocacy efforts to protect community-based supports and advance competitive employment
Free, accessible community events from New York's Chief Disability Office, including World Cup Experience and Get Outdoors & Get Together Day
Important updates on federal website accessibility compliance deadlines
Highlights from our latest webinar on building community resilience and reducing poverty
Stories and accomplishments from Independent Living Centers across New York State

Find your local ILC

Learn how to take action

Advocacy Updates

Governor Kathy Hochul speaks at a podium during a public event, addressing an audience while seated attendees listen behind her. A presentation screen in the background displays information about New York State initiatives.

The State Budget

The budget was finally passed by the legislature at the end of May. It was unfortunately lacking in investments for home and community based supports, and does little to address the upcoming federal cuts. Here are some highlights related to NYAIL’s Disability Priority Agenda:

ILCs will remain funded at $16.75 million. The legislature restored the $750,000 that was left out of the Executive proposal, but there are no additions.
ILCs are not included in the 2.7% Targeted Inflationary Increase (TII).
Access to Home will remain funded at $5 million, with the legislature restoring the $1 million from last year’s budget, but no additions.
One positive: the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) waiver has been carved out of managed care for one year, until at least 2028. We will continue advocating for a permanent carveout next year.
The Adult Home Advocacy and Adult Home Resident Council Programs will not be eliminated.

Thank you to our network for all the hard work you did advocating this budget season. It helped avoid harmful budget cuts to programs crucial to disabled people’s independence. Legislative session is scheduled to end this week, so there is little time for legislature to pass other bills. However, you can keep up with NYAIL’s advocacy beyond session by signing up for our action alerts. If you have questions about advocacy, please reach out to our Director of Advocacy, Elizabeth McCormick.

Employment

Three disability advocates provide testimony before a New York State Senate Joint Public Hearing in Albany. Seated at a witness table with microphones, they share perspectives on employment opportunities and policies affecting people with disabilities. The hearing took place on May 6, 2026.

In May, the New York State Senate held a hearing on increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Alex Mikowski from Access to Independence of Cortland County, Max Rodriguez from the Center for Disability Rights, and NYAIL’s own Communications Specialist, Blaise Bryant, all testified and amplified the voice of ILCs. They highlighted the Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment (SWTCIE) pilot program and how multiple ILCs across the state have been successfully transitioning people out of subminimum wage settings into competitive employment. Together, the ILCs sent a strong message that New York must end subminimum wages and provide employment supports that center the autonomy of people with disabilities.

A blind man with his service dog, stands at a podium inside the New York State Capitol during a Living Wage for All rally, speaking in support of ending subminimum wages for disabled workers. His guide dog rests at his feet while advocates, disability rights supporters, and community members stand behind him holding signs promoting fair wages and economic justice.

On May 27^th, NYAIL and members of our network attended the Living Wage for All Coalition’s Lobby Day at the Capitol to support and our shared goal of ending subminimum wage for disabled workers. Our Communications Specialist, Blaise Bryant, spoke at the rally about why ending subminimum wage is crucial to advancing competitive, integrated employment for disabled people and did a great job!

Regent Visits

The ILC network continues to welcome members of the Board of Regents to Centers across New York State, highlighting the critical work ILCs do in communities statewide.

Staff and leadership from the Northern Regional Center for Independent Living (NRCIL) pose for a group photo with New York State Regent Roger Catania during a visit to learn about Independent Living services and disability advocacy efforts in Northern New York.

In May, Regents Roger Catania and Patrick Mannion visited Northern Regional Center for Independent Living in Watertown, and Regent Seema Rivera visited the Resource Center for Accessible Living in Kingston. These visits connect the work that ILCs do and the role the Regents play in the Education system. We appreciate their time and commitment to understanding and supporting our work!

Intro 303

Intro 303-2026 (which we’ll refer to as Intro 303) was introduced to the New York City Council to outlaw 24-hour live-in home care services. However, the bill does not change the home care authorization process or provide additional funding to ensure that individuals with disabilities and older New Yorkers can continue to live safely in the community without disruption.

When Intro 303 was first introduced, the City Council held a meeting where members of the disability community were not invited. Despite this lack of input from affected individuals and organizations such as Independent Living Centers that help keep people out of nursing homes it was scheduled for a full Council vote on May 18.

Thankfully, our Advocacy and Policy Associate José Hernandez, along with independent living centers across New York City, began meeting with Council members to educate them on the dangers this bill poses to the disability community.

If passed, Intro 303 would penalize home care agencies and consumers who manage their own care through the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) for assigning workers based on their authorized hours. Specifically, if an agency sends a worker to a consumer authorized for 24-hour live-in services, that agency would be fined $2,500 per day. Individuals using the CDPAP program would be fined $500 per day for covering the hours assigned to them by their Managed Long-Term Care (MLTC) company.

We recognize the need to reform 24-hour live-in cases, where workers are often asked to remain in a home for 24 hours but are only paid for 13. However, the New York City Council cannot change authorizations issued by managed-care companies under New York State (Albany) guidance. Furthermore, the Council cannot provide the funding necessary to protect workers’ rest while also ensuring that seniors and New Yorkers with disabilities can remain in their homes rather than being forced into nursing homes. Check out the below news coverage to learn more!

Website Accessibility Regulations Delayed One Year

The below information is from the American Association for People with Disabilities regarding the Trump administration delaying website accessibility regulations. These were adopted by the Biden administration in April 2024. Visit the Worldwide Web Consortium for everything you would want to know about website accessibility.

On Thursday, May 7, 2026, the US Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS) issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) extending the compliance deadline for the digital accessibility provisions established in the 2024 regulation titled “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance,” focused on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The IFR also signals the agency’s intention to take further action to weaken the regulation in the future.

The 2024 regulation requires healthcare entities that receive federal financial assistance to provide services, refrain from discrimination on the basis of disability, and ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from covered programs and activities.

For example, hospitals and nursing facilities should provide services in the most integrated setting, including in people’s homes and communities.

People with disabilities should also be able to receive treatment, vaccinations, therapy, and other health or human services from clinics, local governments, or childcare centers without experiencing disability- based discrimination.

A central component of the rule established clear requirements for these entities to make their web content and mobile applications accessible to people with disabilities. Entities with 15 or more employees were required to comply with these accessibility requirements by May 11, 2026, while entities with fewer than 15 employees were required to comply by May 10, 2027. The HHS IFR extends the compliance deadlines to May 11, 2027, for entities with 15 or more employees and to May 10, 2028, for entities with fewer than 15 employees.

This follows a similar approach to the Department of Justice’s recent IFR, which likewise extended the compliance deadline for the Title II web accessibility rule.

Notably, this action was taken just days before the May 11, 2026, compliance deadline, continuing a pattern of last- minute changes that create uncertainty for covered entities and the communities they serve.

In the two years since HHS released its original rule, digital accessibility has only become more critical to accessing care, and the technologies covered by this rule have become increasingly central to accessing nearly every form of healthcare. This extension of compliance deadlines will entrench unnecessary exclusion, causing clear and immediate harm.

Delaying enforcement of these accessibility requirements has significant and immediate consequences for people with disabilities, prolonging barriers that have persisted for far too long. When healthcare websites, patient portals, check- in kiosks, and mobile applications are not accessible, individuals with disabilities are unable to schedule appointments, access test results, communicate with providers, or obtain critical information about their care.

These barriers lead to delays in treatment, diminished quality of care, and, in some cases, the outright denial of services. By extending compliance deadlines, this action risks entrenching systemic inequities and further excluding people with disabilities from full and equal participation in healthcare at a time when timely, accessible provision of services is essential.

Events from the
NYS Chief Disabilities office

Please Join Us for New York's World Cup Experience

Friday, June 12, 2026 Stony Brook University

Promotional graphic for a FIFA World Cup match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, featuring both national team logos displayed over a soccer ball background.

New York State has been planning a World Cup Experience like no other and has gone to great lengths to make the World Cup experience accessible and inclusive so people of all abilities and from all walks of life can enjoy what Governor Hochul has aptly called a "once-in-a-generation opportunity for New Yorkers."

The Office of the Chief Disability Officer (OCDO) is teaming up with the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) to ensure the accessibility, inclusivity and safety for all people with disabilities who participate in the exciting, family-friendly activities for match day on June 12.

Starting at 1:00 PM, OCDO will be staffing an ADA location inside of the Stony Brook stadium. Please come find us if you have any accessibility questions once you arrive, or just to say “Hello.” OPWDD will also be hosting a sensory tent and Special Olympics will be running soccer skills clinics on Stony Brook's beautiful field.

Additionally, there will be so much more for you to experience and enjoy at this rain or shine event. Join us and thousands of fellow New Yorkers as we watch live matches on giant outdoor screens, enjoy entertainment (including a 45 minute performance by Third Eye Blind), and celebrate the world’s game together! Please share this information far and wide with all of your stakeholders!

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE

Mark your calendars for Get Outdoors & Get Together Day! Saturday, June 13! Statewide

This annual event encourages everyone to spend time outside, try new outdoor activities, and visit new places by offering free, guided outdoor recreation opportunities at locations across the state. Activities vary by location but can include fishing, birding, hiking, paddling, arts and crafts, or presentations on camping and outdoor safety. Accessible features and activities are offered at all locations. Whether you’re looking for fun for the whole family or just hoping to try something new, Get Outdoors & Get Together Day is for you!

Get Outdoors & Get Together Day is a partnership between the NYS Office of the Chief Disability Officer, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, the NYS Department of Veterans’ Services, the Office of Mental Health, the Justice Center for the Protection of People With Special Needs, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Click here to Find Participating Locations

We hope that you will attend this statewide day of learning, recreation, accessibility and inclusion at a location near you!

Learn with NYAIL

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.

On May 27^th we hosted a Bridges Out of Poverty: Getting Ahead in a Just Gettin’ By World webinar

Aileen Martin from Northern Regional Center for Independent Living (NRCIL) and Stephanie Houser-Fouse with Lewis County public Health discussed cross-sector collaboration in Lewis County building shared understanding to help people across socioeconomic statuses thrive in the face of service cuts both here in NY and on the federal level. Click here to watch the recording and view the presentation!

Stay tuned for more information on our June webinar!

Across the NYAIL Network

ARISE-EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY RESOURCES |

A split-design promotional graphic for ARISE Adaptive Design. On the left, a young boy with a smile is seated in a custom, supportive adaptive chair equipped with safety harnesses. On the right, the logos for "ARISE" and "Exceptional Family Resources" are displayed above the bold text "ARISE ADAPTIVE DESIGN," which is accented by blue graphics of a circular saw, a gear, and a tape measure. Below the title, the text reads: "Adaptive Design empowers possibility. Innovation that meets people where they are. From imagination to independence." The bottom section includes a "SCAN ME!" QR code, a phone number (315) 671-5104, and the website www.contactefr.org.

ARISE-EFR Adaptive Design

They believe everyone deserves the tools they need to fully participate in life whether at home, school, work, or play.

ARISE-EFR's amazing community team uses everyday materials and creative building techniques to design and build custom adaptive equipment for children and adults with disabilities. From mobility supports to specialized seating and more, every solution is practical, low-cost, and tailored to the individual’s unique needs, interests, and goals.

>> Learn More

RESOURCE FOR ACCESSIBLE LIVING | Tuesday June 2, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. & Saturday June 16, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

RCAL’s Accessibility Yard Sale

RCAL is gearing up for an exciting Loan Closet renovation this summer!

Before construction begins, we need to pare down some of the MANY items currently in our Loan Closet inventory, with all proceeds benefiting the Resource Center for Accessible Living.

>> Learn More

RCAL’s Summer BBQ in the Park!

Come enjoy a casual afternoon of good food, community connection, and fresh air as we celebrate summer together. This is a great opportunity to unwind, connect with friends and neighbors, and spend time with RCAL staff and fellow community members in a relaxed outdoor setting.

>> Learn More

DIRECTIONS ON INDEPENDENT LIVING,INC | Saturday June 6, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Event flyer for the "2026 Sip and Stroll," hosted by Directions in Independent Living (DIL, inc.) on Saturday, June 6th, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Lincoln Park in Olean, NY.

5th Annual Sip & Stroll

Please come and join us for our 5th Annual Sip & Stroll! This year we are holding our Sip & Stroll June 6th, 2026, here in Olean, NY. The Sip & Stroll will again begin at 1pm and end at 4pm. We are staggering our start times to avoid crowding and waiting at the registration desk.

>> Learn More

WESTERN NEW YORK INDEPENDENT LIVING | Tuesday June 9, 12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Empowerment with Purpose WYNIL 2026 Annual Meeting

WNYIL’s Annual Meeting will bring staff, consumers and friends together for a year in review, as well as to honor some of our supporters. This year’s event embraces the theme “Empowerment with Purpose,” highlighting the drive and determination of individuals and advocates working together to create lasting change.

>> Learn More

Community Connections

The NYS Independent Living Council (NYSILC) is seeking new members. The Council is comprised of 26 members throughout the state and are appointed to three-year terms. They are looking for members with varying experiences with disabilities. Applications are due Friday, June 26.

Click here to apply!

2 children playing on a playground outside on a sunny day

As part of the Governor’s overarching Unplug and Play agenda, this $67.5 million program provides critical funding for the design, construction, and renovation of public playgrounds. Our goal is to ensure every child, regardless of zip code or ability, has access to high-quality outdoor spaces that foster healthy development and social connection.

Key Program Details:

Funding Scope: Grants range from $100,000 to $2,500,000 for projects involving the creation of new playgrounds, major expansions, or significant renovations.
Equity Focus: At least $35 million of the total funding is reserved for projects in underserved communities to ensure equitable access statewide.
Eligibility: Municipalities and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply.
Matching Requirement: Applicants must demonstrate a 20 percent match toward total project costs.

Important Deadlines:

Application Window: May 4, 2026 – June 15, 2026 (closing at 3:00 PM).
Award Announcements: Expected no earlier than August 3, 2026.

We encourage you to review the full Request for Applications (RFA) and supporting materials available through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY). Please note that nonprofit applicants must be prequalified through the Statewide Financial System (SFS) prior to submission.

Together, we can build more vibrant neighborhoods and provide our children with disabilities the accessible, safe and welcoming spaces they deserve to grow and thrive.

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.

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