Recent News
- Supported Decision-Making Agreement (SDMA) Bill Signed by the Governor Kathy HochulThis past Tuesday was the 32nd anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), widely considered the civil rights act for people with disabilities. There is no doubt that this is a milestone worth celebrating, but while the ADA has resulted in game-changing advances for many people with disabilities, it has had… Continue reading Supported Decision-Making Agreement (SDMA) Bill Signed by the Governor Kathy Hochul
- TRULY GREAT GOOD NEWS: SDMA LEGISLATION PASSES!When we first got our grant from DDPC, one of the goals was to create an evidentiary base for SDM legislation; that is, we needed to show that SDM facilitation could work so that our legislators could pass a law that said If you have an SDMA made through a process of facilitation that we… Continue reading TRULY GREAT GOOD NEWS: SDMA LEGISLATION PASSES!
- SDMA Law Passes the State Senate UnanimouslyWhen SDMNY began almost 6 years ago, one of its jobs was to develop an evidentiary base for an SDMA statute—that is, a law that would both encourage the use of SDM and SDMAs, and prevent third parties like healthcare providers, financial institutions, landlords, etc. from discriminating against people with I/DD by refusing to accept… Continue reading SDMA Law Passes the State Senate Unanimously
- Really, Really, Really Good News!As you may know, in 2016 SDMNY was originally funded for 5 years by the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC). Although we basically “lost” the fifth and final year because of the pandemic, DDPC was unable to continue the grant for a sixth year. Without funding for a “bridge year” to allow… Continue reading Really, Really, Really Good News!
- A Great Partnership ContinuesAlmost 5 years ago, we were blessed to be introduced to Outside Voices Theatre Company (OVTC), an extraordinary organization of people with disabilities, that describes itself this way: We are about advocacy, empowerment, out-of-the-box-thinking, and disability pride. We chose our name because we believe that VOICES from the OUTSIDE deserve to be heard. We believe… Continue reading A Great Partnership Continues