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.
2009-2010 Bills
On January 15th, Assembly Bill 2242 was introduced by Assemblymember Schroeder, and on March 12th, Senate Bill 3159 was introduced by Senator Stachowski. These companion bills serve to amend the NYS Education law and will bring instruction on disability history to New York State schools. See A02242 and S03159 for the bill text. Currently both bills remain in their respective Education Committees and the goal is to get them on the agenda during this 2010 legislative session.
Video of third grade class promoting DHW legislation
Celebrate Disability History Week- October 18-24, 2009!
Ways to Celebrate:
Disability History Week events:
- Central NY Grassroots Organizing Program
- WNY Self Advocacy Association "I Am a Person"
- disABILITIES Film Festival and Speaker Series
Supporters of the NYS Disability History Week initiative:
- Action Toward Independence, Inc.
- Arc of Steuben
- Aspire of WNY
- Autistic Services, Inc.
- Baker Victory Services
- Cantalician Center for Learning, Inc.
- Capital City Advocates
- Center for the Independence of the Disabled-NYC
- Commission on Citizens’ Rights & Community Relations-City of Buffalo
- Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled
- Compass House
- Contact Community Services
- DDAWNY
- 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
- Lifetime Assistance, Inc.
- Living Resources Corp.
- Long Island Center for Independent Living
- Long Island Families Together
- Literacy Volunteers of Buffalo & Erie County, Inc.
- Mental Health Association Onondaga County
- Museum of disABILITY History
- National Federation for Just Communities of WNY 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
- Parent to Parent of NYS
- Pathways, Inc.
- People Inc.
- Rivershore, Inc.
- Self Advocacy Association of NYS
- SKIP of NY, Inc.
- Southeast Works
- Suburban Adult Services, Inc.
- The Arc of Monroe County
- United Cerebral Palsy Nassau County
- United Voices for Change
- 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:
Karen Lazik
People Inc./Museum of disABILITY History
280 Spindrift Drive
Williamsville, NY 14221
Phone (716) 817-9015
E-mail: klazik@people-inc.org
You may also sign-on as a Disability History Week supporter: