Traveling With Dignity Act (Bill # 7697 / A. 8373): Mandating height-adjustable adult changing tables in public venues across New York State
Current Status: The bill garnered a wide range of bi-partisan and bi-cameral support and will be reintroduced in the next legislative session in early 2025.
“People with differing abilities should be able to participate in the same activities, day trips and excursions that are available to everybody, and the best way to effectuate this is to provide as many adult changing areas and disability-friendly rest areas as possible. This common-sense legislation simply focuses on these accommodations, which will benefit residents and visitors alike. By providing safer, more sanitary spaces for caregivers and family members to aid adults in need of assistance, we are also elevating the respect and dignity these community members are well deserving of.” -Senator Peter Harckham
With roughly 257,000 New Yorkers who use wheelchairs and 68,000 who use power chairs, these are accessibility improvements that will make a real difference in the lives of a significant number of our neighbors, colleagues, friends, and family.
“When I learned about the challenges some of our constituents experienced in traveling to Albany to meet with their elected representatives, I knew something had to be done. The bipartisan ‘Traveling with Dignity Act’ is a common-sense reform that provides the disability community with the respect and independence they deserve. By offering safe and sanitary facilities in most public rest areas we can support individuals with differing abilities, as well as the caregivers who may travel with them. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to push this much-needed legislation over the finish line .” -Senator Rob Rolison
Read the full, updated text of the Traveling with Dignity Act >>
Enjoy an Op-Ed in the Albany Times Union on the vital imperative to pass the “Traveling with Dignity” Act >>
See a recap of the February 26 press conference in Albany with various leaders in support of its passage >>
In September 2024, four CP Self-Advocates were honored with NYS Senate Proclamations for their important work on the Traveling with Dignity Act >>
Cost of Living Allowances & Direct Wage Enhancement for Direct Support Professionals
All of what we do is motivated by our mission to provide people with I/DD opportunities to achieve a fulfilling life, and we know that this work is carried forth by a team of almost 3,000 people working together in support of that goal.
As such, we will always sponsor channels that bring our team the recognition they truly deserve for the vital work they perform. In practice, this means frequent trips around New York City and to Albany, New York for rallies to garner attention and support.
At the final rally for 2024 in November, CP gathered over 140 advocates to advance a new set of priorities: A 7.8% Medicaid rate increase, adequate wages for human service workers, and enhanced capital funding to ensure quality care .
In April 2024, more than 125 CP team members joined voices to demand greater investment and funding for our Direct Support Professionals and the I/DD field. Read a letter from the CP Board of Directors in support of the 3.2% Cost of Living Allowance and $4,000 Direct Wage Enhancement for DSPs.
In February 2024, the CP Family brought another large contingent (150+ strong) to Albany for the first rally of the year in support of a 3.2% Cost of Living Allowance and $4,000 Direct Wage Enhancement for DSPs across the state, alongside the passing of the Traveling with Dignity Act .
In March 2023, the CP Unlimited team counted over more than ten dozen colleagues in one place delivering a message of hope and a request for increased funding for Direct Support Professionals and others in the I/DD field throughout the State.
"Legislative Leadership and Making a Real Difference on Staten Island" on Staten Island Disability News
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Read a poem by Ann Whitty, self-advocate on Staten Island, about her needs.
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With NYS Senator Roxanne Persaud after a meeting to discuss the needs of our DSPs
Visiting Officials in Washington D.C>
With NYS Congressman Joseph Morelle CP team members joined ANCOR in September 2024 for their annual policy event where we met with a range of Federal legislators to raise support for:
HCBS relief act (S.3118/H.R 6296) – which would mitigate the impact of termination of temporary American Rescue Plan Act funding and would provide 2 years of increased funding for HCBS services
Direct Support Professionals Act (H.R.2941) -to help create a standard occupational classification for DSP staff
Effecting Change Through Public Policy
Penny Pagliaro, Executive Director, and Christine Mattson, Associate Executive Director of CP Unlimited’s Hudson Valley Division led a well-attended panel on Effecting Change Through Public Policy at the ANCOR Connect 2024 conference, building on our work supporting the “Traveling with Dignity” Act and other legislative and community action.
Many attendees shared how helpful the presentation was in providing a framework for change to bring back to their districts. As part of our Advocacy work, the CP team sees our local successes as an expandable strategy to deepen impact more broadly. ANCOR Connect is just the latest platform where we can share our effective and inspirational tactics to be of benefit to people with disabilities nationwide.
