North Country Center for Independence

06/03/2026

NYCON is reporting that the two contracting bills (S.9761/A.10741 and S.9855A/A.11179) are heading toward a legislative vote. The Empire Justice Center has set up an action alert with a template message you can send your legislators to urge them to support the bills. Please take a few minutes to complete this alert on behalf of your ILC.

Take action - Urge your legislators to help strengthen New York’s Nonprofits

New York nonprofits provide vital services, at the direction of the state: early childhood education, mental health counseling, homeless housing, substance use treatment, legal services and cultural programming, to name just a few. However, delays and inconsistencies in state processes are putting nonprofits at risk of collapse. After the veto of S.7001 Mayer/ A.7616 Paulin in the prior legislative session and given the federal attacks on nonprofits, immediate action is needed to protect New York nonprofits to ensure these organizations can keep serving clients.
Please help us send a strong message to the legislature urging them to:
• Pass (S.9761 Mayer / A.10741 Paulin) to create transparency, predictability, and faster reimbursement-- reducing financial uncertainty for nonprofits.
o It requires clear payment schedules in written directives,
o Raises awareness of the short-term revolving loan fund,
o Increases loan access to cover up to 100% of contract value, and
o Allows subcontractor invoices as proof for payment.

• Pass (S.9855 Mayer / A.11179 Paulin) which will ensure nonprofits have working capital upfront, instead of waiting months to be reimbursed and be able to more fully cover the costs of actual operation by requiring:
o Automatic advance payments of 25% of contract value
o Payments issued within 30 days of contract ex*****on Indirect costs included in all contracts
These are not radical demands; they are basic, good-government reforms that align State practice with State expectation. It is especially critical as our programs and clients are being threatened at the federal level.
Take action right away.

May 2026 Contracting Action Alert

06/03/2026

DREDF put out a helpful resource explaining the recent policy reversal by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to not protect untrained emotional support animals under the Fair Housing Act. It explains what happened and what has changed. I have not seen any resources related specifically to existing protections under NY State law, but will send it if I see anything. I encourage everyone to read all the way through it, but wanted to highlight some things since this policy change will greatly impact disabled people. You can read it in full here.

From DREDF: What has not changed is the Fair Housing Act itself. The law still says landlords must make reasonable accommodations for disabled people. HUD has simply decided not to enforce that law for disabled people with untrained ESAs. You still have the right to go to court — HUD’s memo explicitly says so. Under the new policy, only tenants with trained animals will have access to federal fair housing enforcement.

Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund

05/11/2026

When the State transitioned the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) to a Statewide Fiscal Intermediary, Public Partnerships LLC (PPL), they required subcontracts with Independent Living Centers to ensure that consumers would continue to receive individualized support beyond payroll services. Having access to locally-based and disability competent ILC facilitators is essential because they understand their communities and available supports, provide hands on help with administrative responsibilities, and ensure consumers receive timely, accessible assistance.
However, ILCs are not receiving the consumer referrals they were intended to support. The SFI system defaults to PPL and creates a financial disincentive to utilize ILCs. Currently, ILCs are operating at only 11% of their approved capacity, leaving consumers without access to trusted, community based agencies that provide timely, hands on assistance.
In response, Senator Skoufis has introduced S.9320, legislation that clarifies and strengthens the role of ILCs and other subcontracted facilitators within CDPAP. We need your help to ensure state legislators prioritize this bill.
Take Action Now
Call your New York State Senator today and ask them to co-sponsor S.9320 and advocate for its inclusion in the One-House Budget. Together, we can restore consumer choice, protect community-based services, and strengthen CDPAP for the people who rely on it every day.

NYAIL strengthens local independent living centers, serves as the foundation for a strong statewide network, and is a leader in the civil rights movement for al

05/05/2026

NY Connects and NCCI had a busy couple of days! Friday was Senior Celebration with Julie(OHS/RTHP), Brittany(Open Doors), Shannon(Vision Services), and Jenna(NY Connects). Saturday was the Autism Walk with Jenna and Mindy!! What a fantastic couple of days spending time with our community!!

05/01/2026

Senior Celebration fun with NCCI and NY Connects!!

04/28/2026

New York’s Department of Health Commissioner, Dr. James McDonald, just walked out on people with disabilities and family caregivers. We confronted him about his failure to oversee the state’s $11B contract with PPL. Instead of listening, he ran away and hid.
Check out and amplify the video of us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, and YouTube. We need as many people to see this as possible!
Commissioner McDonald’s response to us sent a clear message - he cares more about pleasing PPL and the Governor than protecting everyday New Yorkers.
We need our State legislature to step in and require Commissioner McDonald to do his job. They can do this by passing the Home Care Transparency Act - a bill that would require the Department of Health to monitor and publish PPL’s service outcomes and how they are using $11 billion taxpayer dollars meant for care for New Yorkers.
Take 5 minutes to call your State Senator and Assemblymember NOW (see call script and how to find your legislators below!)

Look up your state legislators and their contact information here. https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/M15JCOY2pEf27j0spcKTGDSuE?domain=click.actionnetwork.org
SCRIPT:
Hi, my name is XX. I’m a constituent and am calling to ask you to support the Home Care Transparency Act.
I just watched Health Commissioner McDonald walk away and hide from people with disabilities and a family caregiver whose lives have been upended by the transition to PPL. We need real accountability and transparency. Over 200,000 New Yorkers have left CDPAP since PPL took over, and the Department of Health has provided zero oversight of their $11B contract.
We need the legislature’s help to make sure the Department of Health does their job. The Home Care Transparency Act would require PPL to submit regular public reports to the Department of Health on their outcomes. This is a crucial first step to bring accountability to this disastrous transition.
Will [NAME OF LEGISLATOR] co-sponsor the Home Care Transparency Act (S9142/A10537) [if they haven’t already] and be vocal with their colleagues to ensure its passed this session?
***
When many of us take action together and persist - we can change the world. Take action today!
In solidarity,
The NY Caring Majority Team

Find your Local Legislator. Data Disclaimer Plural is able to provide the Find Your Legislator tool at no cost as a courtesy to those who wish to engage with the democratic process. Given that this tool is supported by our open-source data infrastructure, we're not able to guarantee that the Find Yo...

11/10/2025

They were told they might never walk again — until robotics changed everything.
🎧 Listen to the full podcast.
Link in comments

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✨ Real stories. Real care. Real impact. ✨
Living Healthy Together | Steps to Recovery: How Robotics is Transforming Rehabilitation

Somdeb Chatterjee and Valerie Hunter have both accomplished something extraordinary: losing and then regaining their ability not just to walk but move all of their extremities. For Somdeb, the journey began with an international trip during which he contracted a rare and mysterious condition called Gillian-Barre syndrome. For Valerie, it as a trip-and-fall accident while feeding her horses that resulted in a traumatic spinal cord injury.

Their stories could not be more different, but they both walked the same path to recovery: through the inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs at University of Vermont Health – University of Vermont Medical Center. There, robotic technology called the Vector is making an impact on the treatment and recovery of individuals dealing with complex neurological conditions and injuries.

Join us as we speak with Somdeb and Valerie about their medical journeys, and with the expert physical therapists who are supporting neurological patients, developing programs and leveraging technology to give themselves and patients like Somdeb and Valerie an edge as they work to regain functionality and independence.

10/28/2025

Have you used ACCES-VR services? They're hosting 3 virtual public sessions where you can learn more and give feedback on your experience! Sign up here:

Virtual Public Input Opportunity The New York State Education Department’s Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services – Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) and the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) invite you to a virtual public input session to share your feedback and help shape

10/24/2025

The 2025 General Election is Nov 4, and early voting starts tomorrow! Dates and times are included here: https://www.clintoncountyny.gov/boe/early-voting-faq

To request an accessible ballot, click here.
https://elections.ny.gov/request-ballot -ballot