In front of a packed audience at The Egg—the Empire State Plaza’s Center for the Performing Arts, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul laid out new initiatives and policies as part of her 2025 State of the State (SOTS) address. The speech focused on the theme of “Fighting For Your Family” by putting money back in people’s pockets, keeping New Yorkers safe, and ensuring New York is a place where all families can thrive.
Members of the disability community who were in attendance expressed disappointment that there was barely any mention of disability issues in the Governor’s speech. One of the most criticized moves that had lingering discussions up until the day before her remarks had to do with the ongoing fight connected to home care.
Months prior to the SOTS, Governor Hochul gave the green light for the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) to be in the hands of a single fiscal intermediary (FI), Public Partnerships LLC (PPL), leading Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) to call for an investigation into the “alleged attempts by the Hochul Administration to put the $9 billion CDPAP in the hands of a single out-of-state vendor with a questionable track record and to do so under false pretenses.”
When asked about these allegations, Governor Hochul’s Senior Deputy Communications Director, Sam Spokony told Able News, “New York isn’t the first state to go to a single fiscal intermediary approach. It’s rooted in ensuring that the program is fiscally sustainable and that it continues to serve the people who need it.”
Spokony went on to add: “That doesn’t mean we cut services to people who need it,” he said. “It means that we take an approach that ensures financial stability for the program.”
“I think it was a missed opportunity especially since the disability community has been greatly affected by the changes that were done to the CDPA program last year,” said NYS Democratic Senator Gustavo Rivera about Hochul’s choice to not speak on the topic that day. “However, this does not mean that my colleagues and I will not work with all relevant stakeholders to elevate the issues faced by the disability community and find solutions to them.”
Senator Rivera reintroduced his single fiscal intermediary monopoly repeal bill, S1189, which, as he explained to Able News, “would allow ample time to ensure transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility for FIs that comply with a licensure process while maintaining service accessibility for New Yorkers who want to choose their caretakers through CDPAP. In addition, as the Senator shared, “it would allow the Executive to address concerns about potential fraud or abuse in the program by giving them the authority to weed out bad actors while allowing those that are good actors to continue doing the work they have been doing for years.” The bill is currently sitting in the Health Committee with 20 co-sponsors.
Of the 201 proposals, seven in the Governor’s playbook are explicitly centered on increased support and resources for New Yorkers with disabilities. “Together we will break down barriers — whether it’s through better healthcare, more job opportunities or improved mobility,” Governor Hochul said. “These steps are about giving people with disabilities the support they need to thrive, because when we lift up everyone, we make New York stronger for all.”
Here, we’ll highlight the key facets of these policies:
Add Classification of Intellectual Disability as a Means of Trafficking
A national school-based study showed that children in special education services are twice as likely to be trafficked, and those with cognitive disabilities are five times more at risk compared to other students. Governor Hochul proposes adding language to the penal law to classify coercing someone with an intellectual disability into prostitution activity as a form of trafficking.
Strengthen the Workers with Disabilities Employment Tax Credit
The governor seeks to more than double the maximum tax credit for businesses employing people with disabilities from $2,100 to $5,000 to support the process of implementing reasonable accommodations and increase the number of inclusive businesses.
Support Mobility for People with Physical Disabilities
This proposal is to increase wheelchair access for Medicaid members by increasing rates for clinical specialty evaluation for new wheelchairs, expanding coverage for repairs of previously owned power chairs, and expanding coverage of routine and preventative maintenance for wheelchairs. The goal is to support the mobility, health, and independence of people with physical disabilities and remove avoidable barriers to necessary medical equipment.
Create Regional Disability Clinics
Governor Hochul proposes funding and creating Regional Disability Clinics across the state to support one-time costs that increase accessibility and improve quality of care, ensuring people with developmental disabilities will have access to more trusted and qualified providers for their medical needs.
Modernize Research in Developmental Disabilities and Honoring the Significance of Willowbrook
This proposed $75 million will allow The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities’ Institute for Basic Research (IBR) in Staten Island to fulfill its important mission of conducting research, improving diagnosis and prevention, providing specialized clinical services, and educating the public about people with developmental disabilities.
Create an American Sign Language Interpreter Fellowship Pilot
Due to a shortage of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, which prevents many Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and hard-of-hearing people rom having the communication access they need, the Governor proposes to launch a six-month New York State Pilot Interpreter Fellowship Program to support recently graduated ASL interpreters with guidance from experienced, certified ASL interpreters. Marc Safman, CEO of Safman Consulting and a DeafBlind New York resident, told Able News that he is curious as to how this specific proposal would be sustainable. He pointed out that LaGuardia Community College’s American Sign Language – English Interpretation Program (AEIP) has been closed for a while due to the loss of grant funding, so there aren’t many training opportunities. Safman would like to see the Governor invest in a statewide training program.
Facilitate Innovative Therapies for Spinal Cord Injuries
Each year, approximately 1,300 New Yorkers suffer traumatic spinal cord injuries. Governor Hochul proposes introducing legislation to expand the scope of the Spinal Cord Injury Research Board, allowing the Board to fund additional research to improve the physical, mental, and social well-being of thousands of New Yorkers with spinal cord injuries.
“Through these many initiatives aimed at improving several aspects of life for New Yorkers with disabilities, Governor Hochul has yet again demonstrated her commitment to prioritizing the needs that people with disabilities face every single day,” said New York State Chief Disability Officer Kimberly Hill Ridley. “I am honored to be able to help pursue these initiatives and look forward to working throughout 2025 to bring these approaches to life. I strongly believe that prioritizing, among other things, employment, health equity, the very-marginalized Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing community, and a variety of research projects regarding disabilities that this year will be exceptionally productive for New York’s disability community.”
However, despite some efforts to be disability-inclusive, there was still a notable absence of focus on disability overall, with only a passing mention of disability issues in the book of proposals: “The Governor’s commitment to improving the lives of New Yorkers with disabilities is demonstrated in expanded transportation access, workplace inclusion initiatives, and investments in home-enabling support technology. She has prioritized both individual rights and the broader well-being of families.”