January 11, 2010

On January 7, 2010 hundreds of families of people with developmental disabilities from all across New York State met with their legislators to urge them to protect services funded by the New York State Office of MR and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) during the upcoming budget negotiations. 

In the past year, the state has made more than $150 million dollars in funding cuts and other actions impacting OMRDD. Any additional cuts in the next fiscal year could create serious risks to the health and safety of people with disabilities receiving support and services from not-for-profit agencies like the members of the YAI Network.

Last year, voluntary programs funded by OMRDD received no trend factor for the first time in 25 years, leaving most agencies unable to increase wages for Direct Service Professionals. The rising cost of food, fuel and unfunded state mandates, such as the MTA payroll tax, coupled with these cuts, forced some agencies to eliminate jobs, reduce salaries and benefits and discontinue programs and services.

The YAI Network was proud to play a leadership role in this incredibly successful Family Advocacy Day, and we are grateful to all of those families who participated in this unprecedented coordinated statewide event.

As further details about the coming year’s budget become known, the YAI Network will continue our forceful advocacy to protect the services on which our consumers rely. Anyone who is interested in staying informed about our advocacy efforts is encouraged to join the Friends of YAI and visit www.yai.org/advocate.