North Country Center for Independence

09/10/2026

Good morning,

Something to keep an eye on – NBC News has started a series called “Disabled and Denied,” a series examining cuts to Medicaid home care and the fallout for disabled people and their families. They are looking for people who rely on HCBS, and have a form to share your experience. Here is the link to that form -- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/medicaid-caregiving-disabled-funding-cuts-home-community-services-rcna591922

They recently put out a story about an algorithm Nebraska is using to cut care. USA Today also put out a good article sharing someone’s story of ending up in nursing home for ten years.

Hang in there everyone,

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/medicaid-caregiving-disabled-funding-cuts-home-community-services-rcna591922

If you or a loved one rely on home- and community-based services or are at risk of losing that care, tell us your story.

09/02/2026

Unfortunately, DOJ has again taken action to undermine Olmstead. From Red Line for Civil Rights:

On September 1, 2026, DOJ—representing HHS as a defendant—joined Texas, Alaska, Montana, Louisiana, and Florida in asking the court to vacate the ‘most integrated setting’ provisions across HHS’s Section 504 regulations, citing the OLC memo as the basis for resolving the case rather than continuing to defend the rule. DOJ’s 504 coordination regulation and its ADA Title II integration regulation remain in effect. Rescinding any regulations absent a court’s legitimate order should require notice-and-comment rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act, which the OLC opinion does not accomplish.

DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) has issued a memo dated June 18, 2026, taking the position that Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) impose no legal duty on states to provide integrated services to people with disabilities in their com...

08/26/2026

Educational Alert: NCAV Voter Outreach Group Webinar Information.

The Voter Outreach Group is happy to share information about our upcoming webinar.

The National Coalition on Accessible Voting (NCAV) is hosting the Voting Education and Voter Engagement (EVE) event. This is a virtual interactive event designed to empower and educate advocates about midterm voting, voter rights, and accessible voting options. The event will take place on Tuesday, September 15th from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. Please register here.

The Voter EVE (Education and Voter Engagement) webinar is to educate our community on the importance of voting in the midterm elections (what are midterm elections, what's on the ballot and why it is important to participate in the electoral process) access to resources and supports as a voter with....

08/04/2026

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!! The North Country Center for Independence has moved to a new location!!! We are now located at 194 US Oval! If you are coming in to see us, you would go into the One Work Source entrance and ask to speak with someone from NCCI!

07/09/2026

Educational Alert!

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07/09/2026

Educational Alert!!

The Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative (ADCSI) is partnering with the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) for an educational forum on Understanding Your Loved One’s Rights in Nursing Homes and Assisted living & Adult Care Facilities. This event will be hosted by Mikaela Oliver (ADCSI) and feature Long Term Care Ombudsman Coordinator, Amy Gehrig (LTCOP/NCCI) at the Elizabethtown Social Center on Thursday, July 16th from 10-11:00am! A flyer is attached and an RSVP is required, (518)-564-2049, as refreshments will be served. If you would please share this, it would be greatly appreciated!

06/16/2026

Educational Alert:

NY Focus, an online news site focusing on investigative journalism, provided a list of resources for anyone who is set to lose coverage on July 1 because of H.R. 1 and the lack of action Gov. Hochul took to address this in the budget. Here is the resource guide for sharing with Consumers.

Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers enrolled in the state's Essential Plan will lose their health coverage soon. Here's what you need to know.

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