New Yorkers come out fighting for CDPAP, changes come to SSI, Disney changes its disability access program and more developmental disability news for the week ending April 13, 2024.

Spotlight: Employment

I’ve been curious/skeptical about sunny news reports showing employment rates for working-age people with disabilities have hit record highs, in part because I know so many people with developmental disabilities struggling to find jobs and because, when broken down, the numbers vary so much by state.

So, I was interested to see the study Disability, Immigration, and Postpandemic Labor Supply, which came across my desk via the Disability Debrief newsletter. It finds that “the increase in the disabled labor force largely reflects a change in self-reported disability status among those already in the labor force rather than an actual increase in labor supply.”  Interesting! You can read more about the study here.

New York

Opinion: New York must invest in people with disabilities An articulate, impassioned plea for a COLA for Direct Support Professional nonprofit providers and a DSP Wage Enhancement. (NYNMedia)

Podcast: NYC students speak out about special education (Chalkbeat)

New York & CDPAP

Critics furious over Hochul, Heastie plan to crack down on NY’s $8 billion home care Medicaid program: ‘Recipe for corruption’ (New York Post)

Opposition to a single fiscal intermediary grows among disability rights community (nystateofpolitics.com)

Home Care, Consumer Groups Oppose Eliminating Fiscal Intermediaries Caring for the Elderly and New Yorkers with Disabilities across the State (Release posted by Empire Report)

Advocacy: Disability advocates condemn budget proposal to enrich an out-of-state corporation at the expense of the Disability community  (empirereportnewyork.com)

SSI

Social Security: Food assistance no longer counted when calculating SSI benefit Starting Sept. 30, 2024, that is. The change is the first of several updates being put in place. (CNBC)

Down Syndrome

Exercise May Boost Cognition In Adults With Down Syndrome This small study finds that walking three times a week for 30 minutes could prompt meaningful improvements in cognitive activity within weeks. (Disability Scoop)

Parks

Disney changes its Disability Access Service (DAS) program: What to know Walt Disney World/Disneyland are changing their policies for guests with disabilities. (It also threatens lifetime ban for those who lie during DAS registration.) (USA Today)

You Love to See It

Nonverbal Swimmer With Autism Has Shot At Paralympic Games In Paris (Disability Scoop via nj.com)

Administration

President Biden’s Remarks on the Care Economy He renewed his commitment to long-term care and family caregiving, a national Paid Family and Medical Leave Program and more.