Newswise — Syracuse, New York - In his State of the State address Jan. 4, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo called for a transformation in the way New York delivers services to its more than two million residents with disabilities. Syracuse University Professor Peter Blanck, chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at SU, says he is “encouraged by Governor Cuomo’s administrations recognition of the importance of providing support for people with disabilities.”
“We at BBI look forward to helping inform the administration’s policymaking efforts. There is no better time for targeted action that focuses on coordination and management of services, allowing people with disabilities to access quality services,” added Blanck. “BBI has a proven track record of working as a partner to state public and private agencies addressing issues of unemployment, poverty, and community inclusion of people with disabilities.”
Excerpt from Governor Cuomo’s State of the State Address
Caring for Our Most Vulnerable CitizensWe must transform the way we deliver services to our over two million residents with disabilities. We spend more than any other state on services and support provided both by our government and a vast array of nonprofit and private agencies. Yet according to a recent report, New York ranks in the bottom quartile among states in serving adults with disabilities. This situation is fiscally irresponsible and morally unacceptable.
Many of the problems our disabled residents encounter are not the result of limited resources, but rooted instead in failures in the organization and management of services. We must develop a system that recognizes the potential of and the barriers faced by each individual we serve. We must focus on quality and prevention, and simplify and streamline access to services.
As the Supreme Court ruled in Olmstead v. L.C., people with disabilities have a right to receive care in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. Therefore, we will develop an Olmstead Implementation Plan that will guide the transition of individuals from institutional to community-based care, provide access to affordable and accessible housing, and promote employment of persons with disabilities. We must erase stigmas and ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are fully recognized and fully protected. In addition, we must do all we can to ensure the safety of those in our care. That is why, last year, I appointed Clarence Sundram, a leading expert on the provision of care to persons with developmental disabilities, as my Special Advisor on Vulnerable Persons. Mr. Sundram has engaged in a comprehensive review of relevant state programs and we will implement reforms to better protect against abuse and neglect.
The full text of Governor Cuomo’s State of the State address can be read here.
About the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University BBI reaches around the globe to advance the civic, economic, and social participation of people with disabilities. BBI builds on the legacy of Burton Blatt, former dean of SU’s School of Education and a pioneering disability rights scholar, to better the lives of people with disabilities. BBI engages in projects on civil and human rights, entrepreneurship and employment, technology access, and economic empowerment. With a staff of more than 50, BBI has offices in Syracuse, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Ga. For more information, visit http://bbi.syr.edu.
###
RSS