Disability advocates across the country are mobilizing to help create understanding and celebrate the history of individuals with disabilities! Since West Virginia passed the first…
NY Initiative
2007, 2008 and 2009 Resolutions
In New York State, representatives from People Inc. and the Museum of disABILITY History worked with Assemblymember Mark Schroeder of Buffalo in proposing legislation establishing the third week in October as Disability History Week. Assemblymember Schroeder’s resolution was passed in the New York State Assembly. Senator Joe Robach of Rochester sponsored the legislation in the NYS Senate where it passed on June 19, 2007, marking New York’s first designated Disability History Week. Resolutions were subsequently passed during the 2008 and 2009 legislative sessions.
2010 Legislation
In April 2010, Assemblymember Schroeder introduced two pieces of Disability History legislation. A10852 and A10853, respectively relating to disability history instruction in NYS schools and to the permanent designation of a Disability History Week. On May 17,2010 an amended version of the bill (A10853A) declaring October 18th as Disabilities History Day passed in the Assembly. Senate companion bills were subsequently introduced by Senator Stachowski from WNY. S7930 related to disability history instruction & was referred to the Education Committee. S7931 served to designate October 18th as Disabilities History Day and was passed in the Senate on June 10, 2010. The Disabilities History Day bill was signed into law by Governor David Paterson on July 21, 2010! Despite the official designation of a day, supporters will continue celebrating Disability History Week during the third full week in October. Future plans include the reintroduction of legislation bringing disability history instruction to NYS schools in the 2011 session.
2011 and 2012 Legislation
Assemblymember Mark Schroeder and Senator Mark Grisanti introduced disability history curriculum bills in the 2011 legislative session. Both bills aim to promote greater awareness and understanding of people with disabilities by amending current NYS Education Law 801 (Chapter 265 of the Laws of 2000) to make available to all students grades kindergarten through twelve suitable curriculum materials to aid in the instruction, understanding and acceptance of students with disabilities. Despite an immense showing of support, the bills were still in committee when the session ended.
In the 2012 legislative session, Senate Bill 2352 was placed on the Senate Education and Finance Committees’ agenda for review and with much support the bill was passed! Supporters are also rallying behind the companion bill, A8466 sponsored by Assemblymember Michael Cusick. This bill currently remains in the Assembly Education Committee.
Supporters of the NYS Disability History Week Initiative
- Access toIndependenceCortland
- Action Toward Independence, Inc.
- AHRC New York City
- Arc of Steuben
- ARISE,Center for Independent Living
- ARISE Coalition
- Aspire of WNY
- Autistic Services, Inc.
- Baker Victory Services
- Cantalician Center for Learning, Inc.
- Capital City Advocates
- CASH Buffalo
- Catskill Center for Independence
- Center for the Independence of the Disabled-NYC
- Coalition of Families for Direct Support Staff in services for People with DD
- Commission on Citizens’ Rights & Community Relations-City of Buffalo
- Community Living Corporation
- Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled
- Compass House
- Contact Community Services
- DDAWNY
- Deaf Adult Services
- Early Childhood Direction Center, Western Region
- Epilepsy Association of WNY. Inc.
- Erie County Department of Social Services
- Erie County Office for the Disabled
- Genesee County Chapter NYSARC
- Grace Community Services
- Gustavus Adolphus Family Services
- Headway of WNY, Inc.
- Heritage Centers
- Hillside Children’s Center
- Independent Living of Niagara County
- JobPath NYC
- Lifespire
- Lifetime Assistance, Inc.
- Lions Club of Buffalo Inc.Host Club
- Living Resources Corp.
- Long Island Center for Independent Living
- Long Island Families Together
- Literacy Volunteers of Buffalo & Erie County, Inc.
- Manhattan DD Council
- Mental Health Association Onondaga County
- Museum of disABILITY History
- National Federation for Just Communities of WNY Inc.
- New Horizons Resources, Inc.
- Niagara County Aktion Club (Lewiston Kiwanis site)
- NY Association on Independent Living
- NY MS Coalition Action Network
- NYSACRA
- NYSARC, Inc.
- NYS Disabilities Advocacy Association and Network
- NYSRA
- The Parent Network of WNY
- Parents for Inclusive Education
- Parent to Parent of NYS
- Pathways, Inc.
- Person Centered Care Services,Inc.
- People Inc.
- Rivershore, Inc.
- Self Advocacy Association of NYS
- SKIP of NY, Inc.
- Southeast Works
- SouthernTier Independence Center
- Staten Island Center for Independent Living
- Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Council
- Suburban Adult Services, Inc.
- The Arc of Monroe County
- The Institutes of Applied Human Dynamics,Inc.
- United Cerebral Palsy Nassau County
- United Voices for Change
- United Way of Buffalo and Erie County
- Westchester Arc
- Western New York DDSO
- Western New York Healthcare Association
- Western New York Independent Living, Inc.
- Yad B’Yad
- YAI Network
For more information on the NYS Disability History Week initiative, please contact: