New York state elected officials joined leaders in higher education, students and advocates Tuesday from across the state to demand increased support and funding for college students with disabilities.
At a rally in Albany that included New York State Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Chris Burdick, the coalition called for $15 million for higher education institutions to support inclusion and access of New Yorkers with disabilities in higher education. Funding would be used for resources including support for mental health services, academic coaching, experiential learning opportunities, staff and faculty professional development as well as spending for classroom and laboratory use.
The event was held as part of Student Empowerment Day, organized by the New York State Disability Services Council.
Sen. Gounardes noted that: “One in four New Yorkers has some type of disability, but far too many face barriers to accessing a successful college education. Higher education offers the promise of professional growth and personal transformation. But for far too many students with disabilities, it remains a promise unfulfilled.”
Advocates and students have asked for this funding since 2018, and the request has been a New York State Regents priority seven years in a row. New York State has given between $2-$4 million for services to help college students with disabilities achieve success. But that funding has failed to ensure that the more than 104,000 college students who have disabilities are adequately equipped for success. The current $2 million in funding equals just $19.19 per student – falling way short of what is needed, advocates said.
The coalition also called for the passage of S.3369 as well as A.5774. That proposed legislation would make aid sources such as the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) more accessible to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as expand financial aid options.
“By fully funding support services for these students, we ensure they have the opportunity to reach their full potential,” Gounardes said. “This is both a moral obligation and an opportunity to create a more just, equitable New York, and I’m grateful to these students and advocates for making their voices heard.”
Burdick, who serves as chair of the subcommittee for Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities, said he has noted how many barriers exist that “keep people from working and making a living.
“If we give students the supports they need, we are removing some of these obstacles and setting them up for success,” he said.
An email to the governor’s budget office was not immediately returned Wednesday.
Other state leaders echoed the sentiment in statements supporting the proposal.
Beth Myers, Executive Director of Syracuse University’s Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education, said that students with disabilities “want to go to college just like their peers, and the state has recognized that high demand and the benefits of inclusive higher education. Yet there are still many access issues, including equitable financial aid practices. By passing the current TAP legislation, A5774/S3369, students in comprehensive transition programs can have access to TAP funding and we can break down one more barrier.”
Luis “Junior” Alvarez, chair of the CUNY Coalition for Students with Disabilities (CCSD), an advocacy group representing CUNY’s 14,000 self-identified students with disabilities, said: “CCSD is proud to join with students throughout the State in advocating for additional state support for State Education Department’s program to enhance services for our community.”
State Sen. Monica R. Martinez said: “Students with disabilities face many obstacles in pursuing higher education, but financial considerations shouldn’t be one of them. Expanding state financial aid to students in postsecondary experience and transition programs recognizes that these avenues serve the same purpose as other college and career training options and should be available in the same way. Enacting this change will allow more students to access educational opportunities that match their individual goals and needs.”
State Sen. Robert Jackson said that Student Empowerment Day serves as a reminder that “access to higher education is not charity — it is justice. When we fail to adequately fund services for students with disabilities, we are not saving dollars; we are closing doors. A just state does not ration opportunity based on ability — it removes barriers and invests in potential. The $15 million in state funding we seek and the passage of S3369 are not symbolic gestures; they are concrete commitments to equity. If we truly believe education is the great equalizer, then we must have the courage to fund it accordingly.”
State Sen. Lea Webb, member of the Senate’s Higher Education Committee, said: “I’m proud to advocate for $15 million in state funding to strengthen the services that help students with disabilities succeed, persist, and graduate. I strongly support S3369 to expand financial aid opportunities, ensuring students with intellectual and developmental disabilities can access critical resources like TAP. Every student deserves an equitable path to higher education with dignity, support, and opportunity, and I remain committed to making that a reality.”
State Sen. April N.M. Baskin said that “with more than 104,000 students with disabilities enrolled across New York, we must move beyond minimal per-student funding and fully invest in the $15 million needed to expand supports and services. Equity in higher education means ensuring every student has the resources they need to succeed.”
State Sen. Patricia Fahy, Chair of the Senate Disabilities Committee, said: “Students with disabilities struggle to complete their higher education in the same timeframe as their peers, often due to a lack of available support. That’s why I’m proud to join students from across New York to call for $15 million in state funding to uplift support, services, and inclusive programming that strengthens the support system for students with disabilities, including ensuring that students enrolled in approved higher education experience and transition programs can gain equal access to the Tuition Assistance Program.”
Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon noted that “students with disabilities belong in every facet of higher education, yet the Executive budget reduces the funding and resources needed for students to have equal access to higher education. When we invest in meaningful support, we affirm that students with disabilities deserve not just admission, but opportunity for success.”
Assemblywoman Judy Griffin said that access to higher education “should be an equal right for all New Yorkers. In fact, it is the backbone of our economy because a strong workforce can’t exist without skilled individuals to perform the jobs that are critical to a healthy economy. Funding for programs for students with disabilities is an investment that pays for itself over time. Everyone wins when we invest in higher education and help our next generation reach their full potential.”