New York Civil Service Law §55-b: Workers with Disabilities Program
“Section 55-b of the New York State Civil Service Law authorizes the New York State Civil Service Commission to designate up to 1,200 positions normally filled through competitive examination to be filled through the appointment of qualified persons with disabilities. (Section 55-c authorizes the designation of up to 500 positions in the non-competitive class to be filled by qualified wartime veterans with disabilities.) In general, an entry-level position that is filled only through an open-competitive examination (one open to the public) may be used for a 55-b or 55-c appointment.”
New York Long Term Home Health Care Waiver (terminated 2016)
WAIVER TERMINATED – NY Long Term Home Health Care Program Waiver (0034.R06.00)
WAIVER TERMINATED on 5/27/2016 – Provided respite, assistive technology, community transitional services, congregate and home delivered meals, environmental mods, home and community support services, home maintenance, medical social services, moving assistance, nutritional counseling/education services, respiratory therapy, social day care transportation, and social day care services to individuals ages 65 or older and individuals with physical disabilities ages 0-64 years who met a nursing facility level of care. This waiver operated with a concurrent 1115 authority.
“Provides day habilitation, live-in caregiver, prevocational services, residential habilitation, respite, supported employment, community transition services, fiscal intermediary, individual directed goods and services, support brokerage, assistive technology/adaptive devices, community habilitation, environmental modifications (home accessibility), family education and training, intensive behavioral services, pathway to employment, and vehicle modification services to individuals with autism, intellectual disabilities, or developmental disabilities ages 0 or older who meet an ICF/IID level of care. This waiver operates with a concurrent 1915(a)(1)(a) and 1915(b)(4) authority.”
Medicaid Buy-in Program for Working People with Disabilities
"The Medicaid Buy-In program offers Medicaid coverage to people with disabilities who are working, and earning more than the allowable limits for regular Medicaid, the opportunity to retain their health care coverage through Medicaid. This program allows working people with disabilities to earn more income without the risk of losing vital health care coverage."
New York State Consortium for Advancement of Supported Employment
“The NYS Consortium for Advancement of Supported Employment (CASE) provides training and technical assistance to supported employment service providers under contract with the New York State Education Department's Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation….
The NYS CASE is a multi-faceted strategy that includes a statewide performance baseline, policy and practice goals, training curriculum and organizational development resources, regional and distance training opportunities, organizational development support, and evaluation of training and resources. The training establishes a critical link for supported employment professionals between the learning environment and on-going work with clients.”
New York AB 973: Summer youth employment programs (2021)
Enacted. Version Date: 02/16/2021
“AN ACT to amend a chapter of the laws of 2020 relating to requiring the department of labor to produce a report regarding summer youth employment programs funded by state, federal and local appropriations, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 1079 and A. 6393, in relation to requiring the office of temporary and disability assistance to produce a report regarding the summer youth employment program and to the effectiveness of the provisions thereof.”
Center for an Urban Future, Report: First Out, Last Back, The Economic Crisis on New Yorkers with Disabilities
“This report details the economic challenges facing New Yorkers with disabilities in this time of crisis, as well as the financial impact on direct service providers. Based on interviews with the leaders of more than a dozen organizations that serve, advocate for, and employ New Yorkers with disabilities across the five boroughs, this report also provides recommendations for city and state policymakers to ensure that New Yorkers with disabilities are included in any effort to cultivate a lasting economic recovery.”
New York AB 3130: Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities
Enacted. Version date: 02/04/2022
Establishes an Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities
“(b) “State agency” or “state agencies” shall mean any state department, board, bureau, division, commission, committee, public authority, public corporation, council, office or other governmental entity performing a governmental or proprietary function for the state, except the judiciary or the state legislature.
Section 462. Office of the advocate for people with disabilities. (a) There is hereby established within the department of the state, an office of the advocate for people with disabilities. The office of the advocate for people with disabilities shall advise and assist state agencies in developing policies designed to help meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
(b) The office of the advocate for people with disabilities shall: (i) be the state’s coordinator for the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act; (ii) coordinate state activities to ensure that state programs do not discriminate against and are accessible to persons with disabilities; (iii) ensure that such programs provide services to individuals with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs; and (iv) work with state agencies to develop legislation and potential regulatory changes to help effectuate the duties and responsibilities required in this article, and any other changes that may significantly affect the lives of persons with disabilities in the state.”
“On October 21, 2021, New York State (NYS) Governor Kathy Hochul announced a commitment of $11.1 million in federal workforce development funding over the next three years to expand the already successful network of Disability Resource Coordinators (DRCs) to all 33 Local Workforce Development Areas (LWDAs) to increase the capacity of their service delivery and better serve individuals with disabilities.
This initiative is being referred to as the New York Systems Change and Inclusive Opportunities Network (NY SCION). The word “scion” is often used in gardening, and it refers to a process by which new plants are grown from old ones. Similarly, NY SCION builds upon the work of four rounds of federal Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) pilot funding and the Disability Program Navigator before it. These two initiatives sought to improve education, training and employment opportunities and outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities including those receiving Social Security disability benefits. NY SCION will do the same – only taken to scale in nearly every LWDA across NYS.”
New York Employment First Commission: EmployAbility: A Toolkit for Employers
“As more people with disabilities enter the workforce and begin looking for employment, it is important that as a business owner or operator you understand the incredible benefits that you could be enjoying by hiring employees of all abilities.
This toolkit is meant to provide you with the information you need to begin employing people of all abilities, including information on financial and tax incentives, how and why hiring people of all abilities is good for your business and where to find qualified employees.
Everyone has the right to work. New York’s employers deserve a reliable, effective and efficient workforce.
The EmployAbility Toolkit is just one of the ways in which New York State is working to make it easier for you to expand your workforce to be inclusive and to improve your bottom line.”
