Today, state Assembly members passed a package of 11 bills providing state-funded assistance to New York’s disabled population. The legislation, which passed with near unanimous approval, represented a bipartisan showing of support for some of the state’s most vulnerable residents, and included measures establishing emergency evacuation plans for individuals with disabilities, providing tax credits to disabled New Yorkers and small businesses with disabled employees, improving housing provisions to allow for greater accommodations for those who require service animals and creating the Office of the Advocate for people with disabilities.

“As lawmakers, we have a responsibility to provide as much assistance as possible to our state’s residents living with disabilities, and I was pleased to join my legislative colleagues in reaffirming our commitment to this worthy cause today. The passage of this legislation promises to greatly benefit the men and women living with disabilities, not only here in the 112th Assembly District, but across our state, and represents a major step forward in our mission to foster a supportive and inclusive environment for New York’s special needs community. We must continue working to ensure these individuals’ voices are heard here in Albany, and I look forward to advocating for the needs our state’s disabled community throughout the conclusion of this year’s legislative session and beyond.”