Hochul signs bundle of bills in support of people with developmental disabilities

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a slate of bills Tuesday designed to support people with developmental disabilities.

This included legislation demanding a probe of the state's response to the COVID pandemic and its impact on people with developmental disabilities. The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities has reported 607 COVID-related deaths among group home residents as of Dec. 16.

The Journal News/lohud documented in February how the state sent "asymptomatic" infected residents back to group homes under an April 2020 guidance. The decision was similar to state Health Department guidance for nursing homes that critics say lit the fuse for the explosion of fatalities in those facilities.

"People with disabilities are a crucial part of our New York family and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect," Hochul said in a statement. "The bills I'm signing into law today will ensure people with disabilities are supported in health care, employment and beyond. Working together, we'll make sure our recovery from the pandemic includes every single New Yorker."

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A second bill mandates that hospitals must allow individuals with disabilities to have an "essential support person" accompany them. Known as "Fred's Law," the bill was named after Fred D'Amico, an adult with autism, who died March 31, 2020. Amid COVID restrictions, the hospital would not allow his mother or father, who were Fred’s lifelong caretakers, to be with their son at the hospital.

A third bill requires the president of the Civil Service Commission to conduct a study on the employment of persons and veterans with disabilities by the state. New York had previously created a list of some 1,200 jobs that would be a good fit for individuals with physical or developmental disabilities. This study would examine if the jobs are being made available.

And another bill would expand who appoints members of the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council, which helps set goals and priorities for the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.

The governor's office had the power to appoint 33 members that make up the council, along with the OPWDD commissioner and chair of the conference of local mental hygiene directors.

Now 18 council members will be appointed by various legislative leaders and 15 by the governor.

Hope rises for pay boosts

Advocates for the developmentally disabled had long criticized former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for failing to prioritize the community. That included not fulfilling promised wage increases for the workforce that staffs group homes and day habilitation programs. Agencies around the state now struggle with a 25% staffing shortage that has led to program cuts and group home consolidations and closures.

Advocates are now hoping Hochul will increase wages for direct support professionals and help boost the profession with credentials, training and built-in cost-of-living wages. The direct support workforce is made up primarily of women of color.

Hochul has not commented on the 5.4% wage hike request. She recently dedicated $1.5 billion of federal American Rescue Plan funds to provide one-time bonuses to direct-care workers.

While nonprofit leaders and advocates have lauded the governor for the extra funds, they say the move will help retention but more is needed to bolster recruitment into an industry that pays less than most fast-food jobs.

"I look forward to continuing to partner with the governor on addressing the many serious and longstanding issues impacting this community including the workforce crisis," said state Sen. John W. Mannion, who chairs the Senate Committee on Disabilities.

Nancy Cutler writes about People & Policy. Click here for her latest stories. Follow her on Twitter at @nancyrockland.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY Gov Hochul signs bills to aid developmentally disabled New Yorkers