Right to Community Based Services and the Disability Integration Act
“The Disability Integration Act (DIA) is civil rights legislation, introduced by Senator Schumer in the Senate and Representative Sensenbrenner in the House, to address the fundamental issue that people who need Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) are forced into institutions and losing their basic civil rights. The legislation (S.910/ H.R.2472) builds on the 25 years of work to end the institutional bias and provide seniors and people with disabilities home and community-based services (HCBS) as an alternative to institutionalization. http://www.disabilityintegrationact.org/

New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL) Disability Priority Agenda
“NYAIL works with Independent Living Centers to ensure the rights of all individuals with disabilities are protected, through individual advocacy, legislative and administrative systemic advocacy, grassroots organizing, and, when necessary, direct action aimed at focusing the attention of decision-makers on the voice of people with disabilities who are impacted by their decisions.” As a member of NYAIL, STIC works on a yearly “Disability Priority Agenda” as well as issues affected by the NYS Budget. As the year progresses, NYAIL keeps the priority agenda status updated. https://ilny.us/advocacy/advocacy-priorities

People from around the state also participate on NYAIL Public Policy Committees which include Election Reform, Employment, Housing, Inclusive Education and Transportation. https://ilny.us/advocacy/public-policy-committees

https://ilny.us/latest-news/376-medicaid-consumer-advocates-respond-to-2021-enacted-budget

https://ilny.us/latest-news/378-disability-advocates-respond-to-governor-cuomo-via-letter-on-covid-19-policies-for-people-with-disabilities-living-in-congregate-settings

New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC)
“The New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental, consumer controlled organization. The council is composed of 25 appointees from around the state, a majority of whom have disabilities and represent diverse cultures and needs in the state. NYSILC is responsible for jointly developing, monitoring, and evaluating the three-year Statewide Plan for Independent Living (SPIL).” https://www.nysilc.org/

NYSILC has several committees in which people from around the state can participate: https://www.nysilc.org/council/committees

The public policy agenda for NYSILC can be accessed at the following link: https://www.nysilc.org/public-policy

ADAPT
ADAPT is a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. Sometimes after numerous calls, letters, emails, meetings, and rallies, ADAPT may engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom. There is a place in ADAPT for anyone who cares about disability rights. Everyone is encouraged to participate at the level they are comfortable and no one is ever pressured to get more involved than they wish. ADAPT works on issues related to healthcare, community supports, affordable and accessible housing, assisting people to leave nursing facilities, etc. Southern Tier ADAPT works with ADAPT chapters in more than thirty states and sends advocates to national action events. http://adapt.org/