Advocate will fight for people with disabilities

Gov. Andrew Cuomo must sign S.1836/A.3130, which creates the Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities.

The Office of the Advocate was originally established by Gov. Mario Cuomo. It was intended to represent the interests of people with disabilities in state government. This bill fulfills that vision. The reconstituted Office of the Advocate will center the experiences of New Yorkers with disabilities and ensure the disability community’s needs are considered when formulating policy.

An Office of the Advocate embodies all that makes New Yorkers with disabilities #Nytough. As Gov. Andrew Cuomo builds back a stronger New York, he can channel that resilience into a reinvigorated Office of the Advocate. Whoever leads the office can also serve as his chief disability officer, with the requisite staff and resources.

Cuomo need look no further than when he created the Office for New Americans in 2012. He rightly recognized the need for a state office to officially support inclusion of New Americans as an integral part of our great state. Similarly, this office will promote active citizenship and dismantle barriers for New Yorkers with disabilities.

July is the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Cuomo can champion the spirit of his father, the ideals of the Empire State and the voices of 1.1 million New Yorkers with disabilities by signing this bill in July. Reinstating the Office of the Advocate will be another example of how #Nyleads.

Zach Garafalo

Albany Co-founder, Disability Caucus, Albany County

Democratic Committee