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. Click here to send letters in support of the I/DD field to New York State politicians, courtesy of CP State >>
At the first rally of 2025 in Albany , more than 100 CPU team members rallied in support of further investment for the disability field. CPU President and CEO Joseph M. Pancari spoke passionately about the needs of providers at this important gathering and his remarks are available in full in the link above.
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 .
"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.
