North Country Center for Independence

04/08/2026

Action Alert!

On April 1st, 2026, nearly half a million New Yorkers received notices that their Essential Plan coverage would end on July 1st of this year, due to federal health care cuts. The State can ensure these New Yorkers preserve their coverage, outlined in S9589.

WHY THIS SHOULD BE ADDED IN THE FINAL BUDGET:
• The State has the financial ability to keep this population covered. The Governor set aside $2.4 billion in her Executive Budget to pay for coverage if the federal government denied the request to return to the Basic Health Plan. This proposal only costs the State $393 million a year, and the federal government has already approved the State’s request.
• These individuals losing their coverage have no other option and will be forced to forgo coverage:
• This population consists of individuals making between 200 and 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), or $31,000 to $39,000 a year.
• Individuals losing coverage are working jobs that offer no coverage. Marketplace rules prevent these New Yorkers from enrolling in the Essential Plan if they have job-based coverage.
• Marketplace coverage on New York State of Health is unreachable for these New Yorkers. At their income level, getting coverage would cost around $3,000 a year with a $2,500 deductible.

To learn more, please see this two-pager, with county-level data on how many New Yorkers will lose by July 1 of this year.

WAYS TO TAKE ACTION:
• Use this tool to call Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie. This tool will provide background information and a simple script for you to call these key leaders to protect coverage for half a million New Yorkers in their budget negotiations. MAKE THIS CALL TODAY.
• Use this social media toolkit to spread the word. Encourage others to act now to preserve access to health insurance.

04/07/2026

Educational Alert:

See below from the NYS Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing office. They have a new video on keeping SNAP benefits in ASL.

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance American Sign Language (ASL) video on new rules for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (S...

04/07/2026

Educational Alert:

The U.S. Access Board has published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) asking for public comment on its approach to developing technical standards for universal changing stations in airports. Comments are due by April 20th, 2026. More information can be found here.

The U.S. Access Board is a federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards for the built environment, transportation, communication, medical diagnostic equipment, and information....

03/25/2026

ACT NOW to preserve access to health coverage for 480,000 New Yorkers

Nearly half a million New Yorkers will lose their health coverage if the State does not ACT NOW during budget negotiations. The Governor and the Legislature have until April 1st to ensure that citizen and lawfully present immigrant New Yorkers alike still have access to health insurance.

ACT NOW:
• Use this tool to call Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie. This tool will provide background information and a simple script for you to call these key leaders to protect coverage for 480,000 New Yorkers in their budget negotiations. MAKE THIS CALL TODAY https://win.newmode.net/protecthealthcare
• Organizational sign-on letter. If your organization supports these proposals to preserve health coverage, please sign on to this letter by Monday, March 23rd. SIGN ONTO THIS ORGANIZATION LETTER. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeezCz1y69rq1eaum_Ji39DHt2oyaWAwzEYYO0wIIu5XklNrQ/viewform
• Social media blast. Use this toolkit to spread the word and encourage others to act now to protect access to health coverage. FIND GRAPHICS AND SAMPLE CAPTIONS HERE. https://cssnyorg488.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/HealthPolicy/IQC9H2F1GK3hR7AjqhxKtylrAXh4OhpFo9Loe988QcaRrE8?rtime=Ui1iNnCK3kg

BACKGROUND: On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed HR 1, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which threatens coverage for an estimated 1.5 million New York citizens and lawful immigrants.

HR 1 leaves 480,000 New Yorkers at risk of losing coverage mid-year. HCFANY’s Executive Budget Testimony outlines a package of policy proposals to ensure these citizens and lawfully present immigrants remain covered. Researchers estimate the State can keep this population of 480,000 covered for $2.3 billion per year – less than the $3 billion already set aside by the Governor in the proposed Executive Budget.

TAKE ACTION NOW: MAKE SURE ALBANY INCLUDES FUNDING TO PROTECT 480,000 NEW YORKERS ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE:

03/24/2026

https://capitolpressroom.org/2026/03/19/nursing-home-residents-lack-cash-for-basic-purchases/

Here is a link to our alert on increasing the PNA, which includes a button to easily send a message to legislators: https://nursinghome411.org/alert-nys-pna-2026/

For decades the personal allowance afforded to New Yorkers on Medicaid in nursing homes has been stagnant at $50 a month.

03/19/2026

Keep Up the Support for ILCs in the State Budget!
We all know how important Independent Living Centers (ILCs) are to the communities we serve. As the only statewide network of disability-led organizations, we provide critically important services that help Disabled New Yorkers navigate the ever-changing service system to live independently in the community. Because of your advocacy, the Assembly and Senate have shown support for ILCs in their One-House Budgets.
The Assembly’s proposal funds ILCs at $17.5 million. This restores the legislative add of $750,000 from last budget, and adds an additional $750,000!
The Senate’s proposal restores the $750,000 legislative add from last year, and adds ILCs to the Targeted Inflationary Increase, which they propose at 4%.
We are very appreciative of the Legislature’s strong support for Independent Living Centers! But a two-prong approach, with both an increase in base funding for ILCs and inclusion in the Targeted Inflationary Increase, is necessary to make up for the years of underfunding and ensure ILCs can meet rising costs moving forward.
We need you to tell your legislators that both a funding increase and inclusion in the Targeted Inflationary Increase is needed. Call your legislators and ask them to keep supporting ILCs today!

NYAIL strengthens local independent living centers, serves as the foundation for a strong statewide network, and is a leader in the civil rights movement for al

03/12/2026

Since private equity-backed PPL took over the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), as many as 150,000 Personal Assistants and 90,000 consumers have left the program based on the Department of Health’s (DOH’s) own data. But DOH is denying that there’s been an exodus from the program – forging ahead with business-as-usual without oversight over PPL’s $11 billion contract.
We are done with being gaslit! Join us at the CDPAP Exodus Virtual Speak-Out NEXT Thursday, March 19th at 7PM on ZOOM to shed light on the true stories that prove the CDPAP exodus is real, has harmed New Yorkers and warrants true accountability measures in this year's budget!
If you are new to Caring Majority's work, hop on a half hour early at 6:30PM for an orientation to our work.
To help us build toward our speak-out, we are continuing to collect the names and stories of New Yorkers who lost staff, lost care hours or were forced to leave the program due to the PPL transition. Whether you are a personal assistant, consumer or designated representative - you can share your story here!
Take your action a step further and help us bring these CDPAP exodus stories to the State Capitol in Albany for a day of action on Wednesday, March 25th. Register here!

We are outraged but undeterred by the omission of PPL oversight in the one-house budgets. The crises facing those who need and provide home care in CDPAP continue and the movement of New Yorkers who are fighting for justice and accountability is only getting stronger.
Your action is needed to continue this fight. Join us for the virtual speak-out on 3/19 (RSVP!), in-person in Albany on 3/25 (RSVP!) and/or share your CDPAP story here.

03/05/2026

March Webinar: Independent Living Skills for Autistic Adults & Eliminating Barriers to Access



On Wednesday, March 25 at 1:00 PM, join us for a workshop on Independent Living for Autistic people, featuring Nicole Russell, founder of Autistic Adults NYC, as a guest presenter in partnership with the New York State Independent Living Council.

This virtual conversation will focus on independent living skills for Autistic adults, exploring common challenges across areas such as household management, completing daily tasks like cleaning, chores, and meal prep. The event will also share helpful resources and include space for group discussion, including common barriers that can make it difficult for Autistic people to access independent living.

American Sign Language (ASL) and CART (human) captioning will be provided. The webinar will be recorded and made available to all who register.

This webinar is the second in our year-long series. Stay tuned for information on April's topic!

Join us for a workshop on independent living for Autistic people, featuring Nicole Russell, founder of Autistic Adults NYC, as a guest presenter in partnership with the New York State Independent Living Council. “Independent Living is a philosophy and a movement of people with disabilities who wor...

03/03/2026

📢 CALL-TO-ACTION: Did PPL force you or someone you know out of CDPAP?

Have you—or someone you know been forced out of CDPAP due to the PPL transition? Please add your name and story using this form or call our hotline at (518) 303-2521. Please also share this form widely to support our advocacy to save CDPAP – we need as many names as possible!
Since PPL took over CDPAP, as many as 150,000 Personal Assistants and 90,000 consumers have left the program based on the Department of Health’s (DOH’s) own data. But DOH is denying that there’s been an exodus from the program – forging ahead with business-as-usual without oversight over PPL’s $11 billion contract.
Caring Majority is collecting the names and stories of consumers, workers, designated representatives and family caregivers who had to leave CDPAP since the transition to PPL. Our stories will shed light on this exodus and why the state must act urgently to restore oversight and choice to the program.

Since PPL took over CDPAP, as many as 150,000 Personal Assistants and 90,000 consumers have left the program. Caring Majority is collecting the names and stories of consumers, workers and family caregivers who had to leave CDPAP in order to shed light on this exodus and why the state must act urgent...

11/10/2025

They were told they might never walk again — until robotics changed everything.
🎧 Listen to the full podcast.
Link in comments

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✨ Real stories. Real care. Real impact. ✨
Living Healthy Together | Steps to Recovery: How Robotics is Transforming Rehabilitation

Somdeb Chatterjee and Valerie Hunter have both accomplished something extraordinary: losing and then regaining their ability not just to walk but move all of their extremities. For Somdeb, the journey began with an international trip during which he contracted a rare and mysterious condition called Gillian-Barre syndrome. For Valerie, it as a trip-and-fall accident while feeding her horses that resulted in a traumatic spinal cord injury.

Their stories could not be more different, but they both walked the same path to recovery: through the inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs at University of Vermont Health – University of Vermont Medical Center. There, robotic technology called the Vector is making an impact on the treatment and recovery of individuals dealing with complex neurological conditions and injuries.

Join us as we speak with Somdeb and Valerie about their medical journeys, and with the expert physical therapists who are supporting neurological patients, developing programs and leveraging technology to give themselves and patients like Somdeb and Valerie an edge as they work to regain functionality and independence.

10/28/2025

Have you used ACCES-VR services? They're hosting 3 virtual public sessions where you can learn more and give feedback on your experience! Sign up here:

Virtual Public Input Opportunity The New York State Education Department’s Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services – Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) and the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) invite you to a virtual public input session to share your feedback and help shape

10/24/2025

The 2025 General Election is Nov 4, and early voting starts tomorrow! Dates and times are included here: https://www.clintoncountyny.gov/boe/early-voting-faq

To request an accessible ballot, click here.
https://elections.ny.gov/request-ballot -ballot