NYSILC 2006 ANNUAL REPORT

2006 Annual Report 1 111 Washington Avenue, Suite 101 Albany, NY 12210 (518) 427-1060 Voice & TTY (518) 427-1139 Fax nysilc@nysilc.org Dear Colleagues and Advocates: 2006 proved to be a significant year for the New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC). As explained in this report, NYSILC met its major contractual and state plan deliverables. The only exception was the statewide needs assessment; while progress was made on the assessment, a decision was made to extend the time frame of the report through 2007. NYSILC also played a vital role in forcing the State Board of Elections to implement state and federal voting access laws. In hindsight, NYSILC is also proud of its diversified roles over the past six years in response to changing needs and gaps in resources. NYSILC stepped up and accepted these challenges in the absence of other alternatives. Now that the new independent living association, the New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL), has emerged on the scene, it is providing leadership in areas such as systems advocacy and public policy advisement. This has allowed NYSILC to transition back to its primary purpose – to develop, implement and monitor the 3 year Statewide Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). Respectfully, Brad Williams, NYSILC Executive Director 2 I. Background The New York State Independent Living Council, Inc. (NYSILC) is a non-profit state council that operates separately from any New York State agency. NYSILC meets the requirements of Section 705 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act and is authorized to perform the functions outlined in section 705(c) of the Act. NYSILC’s mission is to develop, implement, and monitor the 3-year New York Statewide Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). NYSILC accomplishes this mission by completing specific objectives stated in the approved SPIL. In this capacity, NYSILC conducts “the business of the State.” Progress on SPIL objectives will be monitored through review of an ongoing evaluation plan. NYSILC’s vision is to achieve a world where people with disabilities experience equal rights and opportunities in all aspects of society. II. Composition NYSILC has 27 appointed members. Four members serve in a non-voting ex officio capacity. Of the 23 appointed voting members, 9 members represent other statewide disability networks separate from Independent Living (IL). It should be noted that 19 of the 27 members are individuals with various disabilities. A current listing of NYSILC members is available through a link to the NYSILC website, http://www.nysilc.org/council.htm. Attachment I provides a listing of NYSILC’S 2006 Executive Committee members. III. Progress on SPIL Objectives The following is a description of the progress made on SPIL objectives active during 2006. Objective 1: Maximize cooperation and working relationships among CIL’s, New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL), other state agencies, councils and private entities that address the needs of specific disability populations and issues. NYSILC continued to be active in efforts to maximize cooperation and working relationships with the DSU, CILs, NYAIL, and other state agencies and entities. More significant examples include: Youth Leadership. The NYSILC Youth Leadership Subcommittee put time and effort into the planning of an inaugural “Youth Speak Out” forum held on October 31st, at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Albany, NY. Robert Gaffney, Chair of NYSILC’s Youth Leadership Subcommittee stated, "The Youth Speak Out was the first statewide conversation to help policy makers shape youth leadership priorities and programs in New York State.” Adventurer Peter Crowley, from the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH) was the guest speaker. See picture, right. 3 He used some of his personal experiences to deliver a motivational message Fifteen youth with disabilities attended the event. They came from Albany, Westchester, Oneonta, Syracuse, and the Bronx. After dinner, Stephanie Orlando (Families Together) and Dally Sanchez (Westchester Independent Living Center - WILC) facilitated a group discussion with the youth participants to get their input on their leadership priorities. Wisconsin QUILS Product. Acquisition of the Wisconsin QUILS peer evaluation product demonstrated cooperation between the state, state council, state association, and centers. The process will be important to help identify best practices and compliance with standards. It was decided that the New York State Association on Independent Living (NYAIL) is best suited to direct the activity. The effort is needed due to the state and federal government’s decreased ability to conduct site reviews. This objective was successfully addressed during the year and is ongoing in 2007. Objective 2: Maintain support for Statewide Systems Advocacy Network (SSAN) with the New York Association of Independent Living (NYAIL). The coordination of the SSAN, and relevant public policy committees, were transitioned to the New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL) in 2006. Overall, there were 15 SSAN centers and 18 SSAN support sites active during the year. NYAIL changed over to a more streamlined online reporting system. A statewide teleconference training session was held to orient advocates to the new process. Individual technical support was provided to advocates to help them make the switch to the online system. The web-based site also provided a more direct and proficient way to register voter pledges per the state plan. Vital voter education information will be distributed to this non-partisan database. This objective was successfully addressed during the year and is ongoing in 2007. Objective 3: Develop and implement a strategic statewide fund development plan. It has been a challenge to implement the state plan over the past few cycles when the Part B funds that have not increased in over 10 years. As a result, NYSILC has been looking to leverage its funds to provide resources for important projects that otherwise would not happen without additional support. In 2006, NYSILC worked with Richard Male and Associates to develop a strategic fund development plan. A proposal was developed to seek funds for the completion of a voting access rights documentary and DVD instructional product. This objective was successfully addressed during the year and is ongoing in 2007. Objective 4: Establish an Independent Living Training Academy with NYAIL to help centers meet basic standards and expand program and service capacities. Two training initiatives were addressed in 2006. First, NYSILC, VESID, and NYAIL supported the development of “A Financial Reference Guide” manual for the statewide network of centers. The manual was designed to offer centers information about important state fiscal requirements rarely addressed or communicated on a consistent basis. 4 This information was identified as being crucial for effective center operations. A copy of the manual is available upon request. The financial reference guides were distributed at four regional forums in the state. Fifty-two (52) people attended forums held in Newburgh (June 8th), Utica (June 15th), Rochester (June 21st), and White Plains (June 28th). NYSILC had attendees complete an evaluation form at the rollout sessions to provide an initial assessment about the product. The results were very positive. See the text box, right, for the collective results of the product evaluation. Second, NYSILC and NYAIL sponsored a Nursing Facility Transition 201 Training August 10-11, 2006 at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Albany, NY. The seminar, entitled “Moving from the Institution to the Community: Advanced Preparations for Community Living,” provided participants with hands-on experience in the steps necessary to move someone from a nursing facility or institution to the community. The session was a follow up to a Nursing Facility Transition 101 training session held in Syracuse, NY in August 2005. NYSILC and NYAIL will see if the trainings helped advocates to have a greater impact on the issue over the next year, as federal and state laws and funding increase capacities to meet this substantial need. This objective was successfully addressed during the year and is ongoing in 2007. In addition, NYSILC staff responded to the “Training & Technical Assistance Needs Assessment” table in Section E of the 2006 704 Report. Staff identified the following top ten technical assistance and training needs: 1) Computer Skills. 2) Fund-Raising Events of Statewide Campaigns. 3) Peer Mentoring. 4) Americans with Disabilities Act. 5) 704 Reports. 6) Community Needs Assessment. 7) Outcome Measures. 8) Grant Writing. 9) Assistive Technologies/General Overview. 10) Community/Grassroots Organizing. A REFERENCE GUIDE FOR NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS Product Evaluation Form I. Accessibility A. Was the product provided in alternative, accessible formats? Yes – 28, No - 0, No Opinion – B. Were the regional “roll out” workshops accessible to your needs? Yes – 32, No - 0, No Opinion – 2 II. Regional “Roll Out” Workshops A. Did the regional “roll out” sessions increase your knowledge of the product? Yes – 29, No - 0, No Opinion – 0 B. Were the presenters effective at presenting the subject and product? Yes – 34, No - 0, No Opinion – 0 III. Value of a Product B. Have you used this product at work? Yes – 3, No – 15, No Opinion - 6 C. you? If used, was the product helpful to Yes – 5, No – 1, No Opinion – 13 D. Have you shared the product with your board of directors? Yes – 4, No – 6, No Opinion - 9 Objective 5: Develop a Housing Institute that will implement strategies to increase affordable, accessible and integrated housing options for New Yorkers with disabilities. 5 The Housing Institute impacted the implementation of housing strategies designed to increase affordable, accessible and integrated housing options for New Yorkers with disabilities in 2006. The Housing Institute provided testimony on housing issues at public hearings held in Albany (State Capitol) and New York City. This presented opportunities to give feedback on the implementation of the Governor’s “Access to Home” program and New York City Mayor’s New Housing Market Place proposal (i.e., To create or preserve 168,000 apartments in NYC at a total cost of over 7 billion). Effort was made to increase the number of accessible units for persons with disabilities in the New York City Mayor’s proposal. The Housing Institute developed an opinion piece on the affordable, accessible, and integrated housing crisis in New York. It was used for public education purposes. See Attachment II. It was successfully marketed to newspapers across the state. Versions of the opinion piece appeared in newspapers located in Binghamton, Kingston, Plattsburgh, Syracuse, Troy, Utica, and White Plains, as well as The Legislative Gazette in Albany. On the invitation of the Chair and staff of the NYS Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities, the Housing Institute provided input on draft language for a variety of state bills related to a statewide housing registry, 504 non-discrimination/housing, visitability, and the creation of a housing trust fund. On the request of the Assembly, the Housing Institute held a coalition building event in March of 2006 to determine if there was broad support for a housing trust fund bill. The forum attracted 39 different disability and affordable housing organizations. These efforts and the objective are ongoing. This objective was successfully addressed during the year and is ongoing in 2007. Objective 6: Encourage best practice conference opportunities among other CILs, other providers, advocates and consumers with NYAIL. NYSILC provided sponsorship for a statewide conference coordinated by NYAIL. NYSILC was able to schedule breakout sessions for SPIL formulation feedback and an informational presentation of how to file voting discrimination complaints. NYAIL invested a substantial amount of time, effort, and cost into the planning and logistics of the event. The event took place October 30 th - November 1st, 2006 at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Albany, NY. It was extremely successful and attracted over 300 participants. See the following link for more details, http://www.ilny.org/mn_calendar/index.html. The objective was completed. Objective 7: Encourage the growth of .voter education initiatives. NYSILC’s Voter Education Subcommittee worked hard during the year to convince the major statewide pollsters to add a disability identifier question to their public opinion polls, no different than demographic questions related to race/ethnicity, age, and gender. A solicitation letter and 41-page report was sent to pollsters to help justify the need for change. The report is available upon request. The pollsters approached included Zogby International, Syracuse University, Quinnipiac University, Siena College, and Marist College. Zogby, the only private firm, was willing to do business for a negotiated fee. NYSILC had conducted voting trend polling with Zogby on Election Day 2004. 6 Syracuse and Quinnipiac Universities gave disappointing responses to the series of requests, which reflected attitudinal barriers and an aversion to change. Marist College was by far the most open pollster and actively dialogued on the issue. However, they obtained poll contractual commitments that made it difficult to add the question. Siena College eventually responded to the request in a respectful way and voiced an interest in the request. NYSILC decided to work with Siena on the pre and post election polls and use Zogby to help verify the post-election results. The polls were conducted in October and November 2006. Refer to the text box below for a copy of the press release distributed to communicate initial findings. A final report on the voting trend polls will be addressed next year. PRESS RELEASE Siena & Zogby Polls Track Voters with Disabilities Nearly ten percent of the voters in this year’s election were people with disabilities according to post-election polls conducted by the Siena Research Institute and Zogby International. The polls were commissioned by the New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC). “The results confirm our Siena pre-election findings, and indicate that people with disabilities are a significant portion of the actual voter turnout,” stated Brad Williams, executive director of NYSILC. Michael Godino, chair of NYSILC’s Voter Education Committee commented, “This group has the potential to grow as access is ensured at polling sites and voting machines under federal and state law.” He added,” The disability vote can be a decisive factor, particularly in close races.” The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) conducted a voter participation study for the 2000 Presidential election. In New York State, it cited that only 1.3 of 3.3 million votingaged citizens with disabilities exercised their fundamental right to vote in the 2000 election. “Long standing barriers to voting sites, inaccessible election machines and other obstacles have discouraged individuals with disabilities from voting,” said Christine Zachmeyer, Chair of NYSILC. Zachmeyer has a long-term perspective on the issue, having been party to litigation to enforce voting access provisions of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Help America Vote Act (HAVA). “We are looking forward to the state’s full compliance with these laws and the increased opportunity it provides New Yorkers with disabilities.” Results from both polls appear to support that voting access changes, while incomplete, are beginning to have a positive impact. When asked if they encountered physical or attitudinal barriers during the voting process, approximately 90 percent stated that they did not encounter barriers. In addition, 91 percent of the people with disabilities said they were able to vote privately and independently. In races for statewide offices, the responses of voters with disabilities generally paralleled the overall electorate. However, support for incoming New York State Governor Eliot In cooperation with the Upstate HAVA Project, NYSILC helped to coordinate the development Spitzer was even higher among people with disabilities. In the Siena poll, 82 percent of voters with of a Public Service Announcement (PSA) for television and radio. It encouraged people with disabilities have a “favorable” opinion of Spitzer. disabilities to exercise their right to vote on Election Day. See the links below. The PSA’s will be actively distributed to upstate media markets in the upcoming year. When asked if they voted based on a candidate’s position on a disability-related issue, only 13%  TV Video: http://www.ccfi.us/Votingpsa.html. said “yes.” However, almost one in four respondents (Siena 27%, Zogby 24%) said that a non Radio Audio: http://www.ccfi.us/Radiopsa.html. disabled family member or friend voted for a candidate due to their input. “This finding adds leverage to the disability voting bloc,” stated Williams. 7 The Siena Research Institute conducted the non-partisan, post-election telephone poll of 620 voters from November 8, 2006 to November 14, 2006. The margin of error is +/- 3.9 percentage points. Zogby International conducted interviews of 1,367 voters, both interactively and by telephone. The poll ran from November 7, 2006 through November 11, 2006. The margin of error is +/- 2.7 percentage points. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups. Slight weights were added to party, age, race, religion, and gender to more accurately reflect the population. NYSILC intends to issue a full report on the voting trend findings at the start of 2007. -30- In cooperation with the Upstate HAVA Project, NYSILC helped to coordinate the development of a Public Service Announcement (PSA) for television and radio. It encouraged people with disabilities to exercise their right to vote on Election Day. A story board for the TV PSA has been provided inside the back cover of this report, “NYS 30-Second Voting Television PSA (With digital stills, opencaptioned).” See also the interactive links provided below.   TV Video: http://www.ccfi.us/Votingpsa.html. Radio Audio: http://www.ccfi.us/Radiopsa.html. This objective was successfully addressed during the year and is ongoing in 2007. Objective 10: Conduct a statewide Needs Assessment that will use the strategic planning process to evaluate unserved needs and long-term growth of the statewide network. The Needs Assessment Subcommittee did not begin work on this objective until later in 2005. It was agreed to analyze existing CIL service and demographic data as a preliminary step. The initial findings will be gathered by the end of 2006. If needed, consultants will be used to interpret the data. It will provide direction to the subcommittee so a more appropriate statewide needs assessment can be conducted by the end of 2007. As a result, this objective was addressed, but will be extended and remain ongoing in 2007. Overall, all eight SPIL objectives active in 2006 were addressed. Objective 6 was completed. Objective 10 will be extended and remain ongoing in 2007. The other six objectives will be ongoing in 2007. IV. Significant Achievements 2006: The Accessible Voting Rights Stand in New York For several years, NYSILC provided technical assistance and support to encourage positive systems change related to voting access issues. However, 2006 proved to be a pivotal year in the State. Early on, the United States Department of Justice (US DOJ) knew that it was highly unlikely that New York 8 would be able to fully comply with all aspects of the Federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) by January 2006. New York was one of the few states monitored by US DOJ on Election Day 2005. A new state law, the Election Reform Modernization Act (ERMA) of 2005, granted NYSILC an appointment to a statewide committee given the tasks of testing voting machine technology and devising voting machine standards. The State Board of Elections (SBOE), over a three-month time period, subsequently denied contact with NYSILC to discuss its appointment. NYSILC faxed a letter to SBOE identifying three candidates for its appointment. The same letter was mailed return receipt requested three weeks later. Follow up phone calls were made after two more weeks. When SBOE made all but one of the appointments, NYSILC restated in writing its candidates for appointment along with an urgent request to meet. The letter was hand-delivered in early October 2005 with a third party witness. The letter and a copy were date-stamped by SBOE. A request was made to meet immediately on the issue, whihc was denied. A NYSILC staff person read this handdelivered letter one week later at a full SBOE meeting. Once again, SBOE was unresponsive. As a result, NYSILC was denied its appointment to an important election reform committee. NYSILC then secured public interest pro bono counsel. The attorney sent one more letter to SBOE to demand the appointment. It was rebuffed once more, in clear violation of state law. The council then filed an Article 78 action in State Supreme Court against SBOE to obtain its appointment. A State Supreme Court Judge immediately issued a restraining order against SBOE. SBOE apologized in the judge’s chamber and claimed that it was a big mistake. The judge set a hearing date, but expected SBOE to settle the matter as soon as possible. SBOE delayed the matter for a month and then requested an extension. In mid-December 2005, one day before the scheduled hearing, SBOE settled the matter and agreed to appoint counsel member Dennis Boyd to the statewide committee. SBOE could have moved forward. Instead, they removed a previously appointed member from the statewide committee. This person was not a NYSILC member, but a peer. The action was a sign of bad faith and attempted to make NYSILC look bad to other peers with disabilities. NYSILC responded with a letter in early January 2006 to set the record straight and raised new questions about the State’s lack of compliance with Federal and State voting rights laws. NYSILC sent a copy of the letter to the US DOJ. The council continued to submit correspondence and evidence to US DOJ during the first quarter of 2006. On January 10, 2006, US DOJ sent an official letter to the State of New York. See the two page letter from US DOJ on page 10. It put the State on notice for violation of HAVA. The state had less than two months to demonstrate good faith with a compliance plan. NYSILC followed up with a formal “open letter” to US DOJ demanding compliance and enforcement with HAVA and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as related to polling place access. US DOJ learned firsthand of SBOE’s arbitrary and capricious manner when, in late February 2006, the State declared its intent to do nothing different for Election Day 2006. The next day, March 1, 2006, US DOJ filed suit against the State of New York in Federal District Court. NYSILC provided an affidavit to the lawsuit (USA v. NY) along with three personal affidavits. NYSILC had additional contact with US DOJ’s unit responsible for enforcement of the ADA. The unit was respectful, but made no commitment and took no action to add polling place access to the lawsuit. This created concern with advocates who knew that physical access was crucial, especially in a state that had avoided it for decades. 9 By mid-March 2006, SBOE was ordered to produce a HAVA compliance plan. A month later, SBOE developed an interim HAVA plan, which was reluctantly approved by US DOJ. Dismayed at the way SBOE was allowed to avoid full compliance, NYSILC and other statewide civic groups obtained pro bono council to file suit in Federal District Court to receive intervener status. If successful, the action would have allowed the groups to be at the table during negotiations. See the press release in Attachment III for details. New York State Senator John Flanagan, Chair of the Senate Elections Committee, spoke out against the interim plan and asked the judge to reject the plan. Nonetheless, the judge signed off on the interim plan with the expectation of a full compliance plan for the following year. Intervener status was denied. However, the pressure resulted in progress in various areas of the state. Despite the lack of full compliance, and many logistical snafus, there were New Yorkers with disabilities who voted privately and independently for the first time in their adult lives. NYSILC is hopeful that continued diligence and cooperation in 2007 and 2008 will result in full compliance with HAVA and the sections of the ADA related to voting access. 10 V. Resources NYSILC filed all appropriate federal and state financial documents and reports last year. In February 2006, Fuglein & Johnson, LLP, Certified Public Accountants, completed a positive independent fiscal audit of NYSILC for the years ending September 30, 2005 and 2004. Revenues and expenditures were maximized between both contracts during the year, as depicted in both the table and pie charts below. NYSILC expended its annual contract amounts appropriately. NYSILC 2006 Revenues and Expenditures Revenues Amount VESID Grant 483,532 ILNet Grant 60,000 Other 0 Contributions 0 Total Revenues 543,532 Expenditures (1) Salaries* (2) Fringe Benefits (25%)* (3) General Operating* (4) SILC Meetings (5) SPIL/Other Meetings (6) Annual Conference* (7) Purchased Services (8) Contractual Services* (9) Equipment & Maintenance (10) Strategic Fund Development (11) SSAN* (12) IL Training Academy (13) Housing Institute* (14) Voter Ed & Dbase Project Total Expenditures Net Ordinary Income 161,500 40,350 82,480 18,000 2,500 20,000 13,870 19,600 2,500 10,000 98,000 15,000 50,000 9,732 543,532 0 NYSILC 2006 Revenues VESID IL Net NYSILC 2006 Expenditures 13 12 5 1 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 Attachments Page #    Attachment I: Listing of NYSILC’s 2006 Executive Committee Members Attachment II: The Housing Crises for Persons with Disabilities. Attachment III: News Release, May 18, 2006. 13 18 20 11 Attachment I Listing of New York State Independent Living Council 2006 Executive Committee Members Melvyn Tanzman, NYSILC Chair Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc. 984 No. Broadway, Suite L-01 Yonkers, NY 10701 TEL (914) 968-4717 V & TTY FAX (914) 968-6137 Email: info@wdom.org Christine Zachmeyer NYSILC Vice Chair Catskill Center for Independence P.O. Box 1247, RT 23 Southside Oneonta, NY 13820 Phone & TTY (607) 432-8000 FAX (607) 432-6907 E-Mail ccfi@ccfi.us Michael Godino NYSILC Treasurer Self Initiated Living Options, Inc. 140 Fell Court, Suite 116 Hauppauge, NY 11788 Ph (631) 348 0207 TTY (631) 654 8076 Fax (631) 654 8077 Email: mgodino@suffolkilc.org Sharon Shapiro NYSILC Member-At-Large 1740 Ocean Avenue, Apt. 8-P Brooklyn, NY 11230 Phone & TTY: 718 338 6515 Email: sharonslacks@peoplepc.com Alexander Wood, Executive Director NYSILC Secretary Disabilities Network of NYC 2 Park Avenue, 2nd floor New York, NY 10016 Phone: (212) 251-4071 Fax: (212) 251-4071 Cell: (917) 498-2399 Email: AWood@uwnyc.org Robert Gumson, Manager-Centers Administration Unit Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities NYS Education Department, 1 Commerce Plaza, Rm. 1601, Albany, NY 12234 Phone: (518) 474-2925 TTY: (518) 474-5652 Fax: (518) 473-6073 Email: rgumson@MAIL.NYSED.GOV Sharon Flom, Associate Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor NYS Office of Children and Family Services/Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped 52 Washington Street Room 201 Rensselaer, NY 12144-2796 Phone: 518 474-7807 TTY: (518) 474-7501 Fax: 518 486-5819 Email: Email: Sharon.Flom@ocfs.state.ny 12 Attachment II The Housing Crises for Persons with Disabilities By Robert Davies There is a huge housing crisis for persons with disabilities, but you haven’t heard about it. It is as quiet as the secrecy that surrounded the institutional placement of persons with disabilities in past decades. Elected officials don’t talk about it. State offices that serve persons with disabilities don’t talk about it. The Governor doesn’t talk about it. But the crisis is here and now and growing. Over 750,000 New Yorkers with disabilities receive monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from the Social Security Administration. SSI pays for food, shelter and clothing. In New York the monthly SSI payment is $690 for a person living alone. Given the generally accepted figure that 30 percent of one’s income should be used for housing a person receiving SSI needs to have a monthly housing expense of $230 per month. According to a recent study, “Priced out in 2004” by the Technical Assistance Collaborative and the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, no person receiving SSI in New York State can afford an efficiency or one bedroom apartment. Recipients would have to pay over 118 percent of their SSI for an efficiency apartment and 137 percent of their SSI for a one bedroom apartment. In some cases other subsidies may be available to help, but they are limited to a specific disability and availability due to long or closed waiting lists. Cuts to the federal affordable housing programs and almost level funding for state affordable housing programs have exacerbated the problem. On top of the lack of affordable housing is the lack of accessible housing. Housing built with Federal assistance is required to provide for accessible units. These units are not built in many cases due to the lack of enforcement of the HUD Section 504 regulations by the federal government, state and local housing agencies and building inspectors. So where does a person with a disability receiving SSI live? Over 24,000 persons live in nursing homes and want to live elsewhere. These individuals cost the state approximately 100,000 per year when a simple housing subsidy of $5000 to $10,000 per year would save tens of thousands of Medicaid and private insurance dollars. Many others are confined to group homes because they would lose $435 a month from the state to help pay for their room and board costs, thus keeping them in a more costly housing situation than they need. A study by the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities in the early 1990s indicated that about 40 percent of persons living in group homes could live in more independent housing, but a housing subsidy would be needed. This again would reduce costs to the taxpayer. Even more distressing are the numbers of individuals with disabilities living with their aging parents. Tens of thousands of persons in their 40, 50s and even 60s are living with their 70 and 80 year old parents for the lack of affordable and accessible housing. Furthermore there is little data on these persons, so we do not know the actual housing and services needs of these persons. While some state agencies have sophisticated data on housing needs, others have none. 13 This crisis of affordability for persons with severe low incomes, 18 percent of area median income for a person receiving SSI, is coupled with the recent real estate boom. The explosion of real estate values not only threatens persons with disabilities, but the persons that work with these individuals. Low and moderate income persons can not longer afford to rent or purchase new homes. Recent studies and articles by David Muchnick of the New York Housing Council highlight the fact that our beginning teachers, firemen and police officers cannot afford housing, let alone lower wage human service workers. New York State and its municipalities need a comprehensive plan to address this housing crisis. Housing comes first. Otherwise, there is no stability, no safety, or no place to call home. We can and must do better. Robert Davies, presently a housing consultant for the New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC), has been involved in the development of housing for persons with disabilities for 34 years. To get information on the housing crisis for individuals with disabilities, go to www.tacinc.org and view “Priced Out in 2004.” 14 Attachment III News Release American Council of the Blind of New York, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Catskill Center for Independence, Chinatown Voter Education Alliance, Young Korean American Service and Education Center, National Voting Rights Institute, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, New York Public Interest Research Group, New York State Independent Living Council For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 18, 2006 For More Information Contact: Glenn Magpantay/AALDEF Brenda Wright/NVRI Dennis Boyd/NYLPI Neal Rosenstein/NYPIRG (212) 966 5932 ext. 206 (617) 624 3900 ext. 13 (212) 244-4664 (Disability Issues) (212) 349-6460 Voters and Disability, Civic and Civil Rights Groups Challenge State's Vote Plan in Court Plan Completely Fails to Uphold Bold New Statutory Voter Rights to Remedy the Loss of Votes and Other Problems in Past Elections Today in Albany, a group of voter-eligible citizens -- which includes individuals with various disabilities and limited-English-proficient Asian American voters – joined a broad coalition of disability, civic and civil rights organizations in filing a motion to intervene in the lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice against New York State and its election officials. These individuals and organizations seek an injunction requiring the State to comply with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and interrelated New York law, to submit an effective compliance plan with the court, and to ensure a legal implementation process that will vindicate the rights of all eligible voters, including those with disabilities and limited English proficiency. Enacted by Congress in 2002, HAVA is essentially a voters’ new "Bill of Rights" and remedy for problems that surfaced in the 2000 presidential elections. Four to six million voters did not have their votes counted across the country in that year; large numbers lost the opportunity to vote due to problems in the registration process; limited-English-proficient voters were often denied the option of a provisional ballot; and 21 million voters with disabilities did not cast a vote. Among its provisions, HAVA required that by 2006 all voters have the right to vote independently and with privacy, and that every polling place have improved voting machines that are fully accessible for voters with disabilities, and comply with additional protections such as those under the Voting Rights Act. To avoid the loss of the right to vote, the law also mandated voter registrations systems capable of producing accurate voter rolls for Election Day. In filing suit against New York, the Justice Department chastised the State for its "abject failure" to comply with these and other HAVA provisions. It went on to add that New York "until recently categorically failed to take even the most rudimentary steps toward HAVA compliance." 15 Nevertheless, the groups charged that the Justice Department has now taken a very limited view of what the State must do to improve its elections, ignoring major elements of the Help America Vote Act and New York law that create new individual voter rights, and indeed denying that such rights were enacted in HAVA. They contend that the intervention of voters who have experienced real problems at the polls, including voter-eligible citizens with disabilities and limited English proficiency -and groups that represent them - is essential for vindicating the individual voter rights enacted on their behalf and on behalf of all voters. The citizens and groups further stated that they offer invaluable experience, expertise and insights for helping craft an effective plan that will remedy longstanding election problems in New York and assist the court in overseeing the successful implementation of such a plan. The groups are moving to intervene in a federal court case first filed last March. They are the American Council of the Blind of New York; The New York State Independent Living Council; The Catskill Center for Independence; Chinatown Voter Education Alliance; Young Korean American Service and Education Center; and the New York Public Interest Research Group. The individual plaintiff-interveners include voters with limited physical dexterity, sight impairments, Chinese and Korean voters with limited English proficiency, and a registered voter who experienced difficulties in voting at his polling place due to failings of the voter registration system. The legal organizations providing representation to various plaintiffs in the case are AALDEF, NYLPI, and NVRI, together with private pro-bono counsel Proskauer Rose, LLP. - 30 - 16 Attachment IV - NYS 30-Second Voting Television PSA (With digital stills, open-captioned) FRAME # 1 FRAME # 2 FRAME # 3 FRAME # 4 [Background instrumental of “This Land Is Your Land” starts.] On Primary and Election Days, exercise your right to vote as an American citizen. Go to a fully accessible polling place. Use the new accessible voting machines. FRAME # 5 FRAME # 6 FRAME # 7 FRAME # 8 Catskill Center for Independence Project HAVA 1 (888) NYS HAVA New York State Independent Living Council New York Association on Independent Living It is time to VOTE in the 21st century! [Background music emerges with last line from the song.] “This Land Was Made for You and Me.” A message from the Catskill Center for Independence – Project HAVA 1 (888) 697-4282 1 (888) NYS HAVA New York State Independent Living Council 17 Completed January 26, 2007 Elizabeth Lacey, College Intern/Project Consultant Brad Williams, NYSILC Executive Director 18