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End of an Era
by Erin Vallely Dear ATI Community, With mixed emotions, I’m writing to let you know that my time at Access To Independence has come to a close. I am incredibly grateful to the Cortland community and am proud of everything the advocacy department has achieved over…
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Holiday Gift Ideas for the Disability and Chronic Illness Community
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist NOTE: THE SUGGESTIONS IN THIS GUIDE ARE ONLY IDEAS TO CONSIDER AND ATI DOES NOT PROFIT OFF ANY RESULTING PURCHASES For many individuals, gift giving to those with disabilities and chronic illnesses can be a challenge because limitations can keep…
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Important Changes to SNAP Food Assistance Benefits
by Erin Vallely While the November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, support is on pause until the government shutdown ends or a court orders the USDA to use contingency funds, there have also been recent…
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Identifying Manipulative Communication and Misinformation
by Erin Vallely On September 22nd, 2025, President Trump and other high-ranking administration officials made misleading and harmful statements about autism. President Trump and other administration staff reinforced the false ideas that vaccines, and acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, are…
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Engaging in Personal and Political Advocacy
by Erin Vallely When people think of the word “politics” they often think of our government representatives in Washington, D.C., but struggle to understand the impacts those people have on our day-to-day lives. Although they can be hard to see,…
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NYS Constitutional Bill of Rights
by Erin Vallely Everyone in the United States must follow, and is protected by, federal laws. Federal laws are rules that apply to every citizen in the United States. No citizen can be denied their rights. Additionally, each state in…
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Supreme Court Case “A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools” Ends in Major Win for Disability Community
by Erin Vallely Historically, it is difficult for disabled individuals to prove they have been discriminated against and receive financial compensation as part of a lawsuit. This is especially true for students with disabilities in the school system. However, on…
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New York State 2026 Fiscal Spending Budget
by Erin Vallely On May 9th, 2025 Governor Hochul signed the 2026 New York State budget into law after the state assembly and senate agreed to the plan. The budget agreement was 5 weeks late due to disagreements between the…
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HHS Secretary Kennedy Jr.’s Comments on Autism
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist Over the last few weeks, Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s comments about Autism and his concerns about the increased rates of diagnosis have gotten a lot of attention. While Kennedy’s…
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Impact of Closing the Department of Education
by Erin Vallely On March 20th, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14242 entitled “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities.” An executive order is a rule the President makes that everyone in the government must follow. This…
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The Impact of Executive Orders and Government Memorandums
by Erin Vallely Since Donald Trump has taken over the presidency from Joe Biden, the amount of power the president has become a popular question. The President, also called the Executive branch of government, is responsible for enforcing laws written…
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What to Know about the New CDPA Program Fiscal Intermediary
by Erin Vallely About 250,000 New Yorkers receive personal care services through the Medicaid Consumer Directed Personal Assistance program. This program allows people with long-standing illnesses or disabilities to recruit, hire, train, supervise and terminate their own caregivers. Caregivers have…
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State and Federal Policy 2025 Look Ahead
by Erin Vallely It is important to know who our government representatives are because they make decisions that impact our daily lives. They work together with the other elected government representatives to decide what issues to prioritize, what to do…
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Thankful for the Cortland Community
by Erin Vallely While nowhere is perfect, I am grateful to work in a community that is actively working to become more accessible, and equitable to all. Our elected officials, democrats and republicans, understand the importance of healthcare and services…
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Organizing Your Medical Information
by Erin Vallely Medical emergencies can happen anywhere at any time. For people with disabilities and chronic health issues, it is especially important to be prepared for emergencies. Emergencies are often stressful and chaotic, and you or those around you…
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Preparing for Colder Weather
by Erin Vallely With autumn and winter on the way, it is especially important for people with disabilities to begin preparing. Cold weather, rain, snow, and ice can make life much harder for people with visible and less visible disabilities. …
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Rights for Guardians of Preschool and School-Age Students with Disabilities
by Erin Vallely As a disabled individual, I received special education services when I was in school. Now, as Cortland County’s education advocate, I work with children and their guardians to ensure they receive the services and support they need…
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Importance of the US Access Board
by Erin Vallely July is the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. The law provides civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities and guarantees them equal…
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LGBTQ+ and Disability Discrimination
by Erin Vallely While people frequently believe the LGBTQ+ community and the disability community have nothing in common, their histories, and current realities, are very similar. Both communities have historically been excluded from mainstream society and continue to face discrimination…
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Mental Health in the Workplace
by Jenna Martinez Each May, Mental Health Awareness Month is celebrated to end the stigma surrounding mental illnesses and educate the world on resources to treat these disabilities. Mental illness is classified as a psychiatric disability under the ADA. The…
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Impacts of Climate Change on Disability Community
by Jenna Martinez Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22nd to emphasize the importance of maintaining a safe and clean environment on Earth. Climate change is a very real threat that disproportionately affects people with disabilities. A study…
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Disability Day of Mourning
by Jenna Martinez Every year on March 1st, those with disabilities and the community surrounding them come together to bring awareness to the growing number of murders committed by parents or caregivers of people with disabilities. While filicide, or the…
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Governor Hochul’s 2024 NYS Budget Proposal Analysis
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist At the end of January, Governor Hochul published her suggested budget for our state spending. While the budget covers all areas of state finance, we wanted to share some important points that impact disabled and…
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NYAIL Budget Priorities for 2024
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist Once staff return from the holiday break, it will be time to turn our advocacy efforts towards the 2024 New York State budget. Each year, the New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL) works with…
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Making the Holidays Accessible to Everyone
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist Did you know many religions celebrate holidays between November and January? Regardless of your religious beliefs, it is likely you will host or attend a holiday celebration this time of year. While holidays are usually…
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Knowing Your Rights as a Patient on National Rural Health Day
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist The third Thursday of every November is National Rural Health Day, where we recognize the people dedicated to addressing the healthcare needs of rural America. While we have many wonderful local healthcare providers here in Upstate…
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Tips for Protecting Yourself & Those Around You This Fall
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist Fall in Central New York means school is in session, festivals and events are in full swing, and people are gathering inside again as the weather becomes less predictable. While fall is a fun and…
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Differences Between Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals
by Mark Holley, ATI NY Connects Coordinator Individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses find unwavering companionship through their devoted service dogs and emotional support animals (ESAs). Beyond the fur and paws, these companions become lifelines, offering not only physical assistance…
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Back To School 2023: Special Education Laws & Vocabulary
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist Anyone caring for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses knows the special education system can be difficult to navigate. With school starting in New York soon, it’s important to know about the laws and vocabulary…
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Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversary: 33 Years of the ADA
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist The first major political win for the disability rights movement occurred in 1977 with the enforcement of Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act. Section 504 banned disability discrimination by organizations and programs that receive federal…
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Making Events Accessible for Everyone
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist The start of summer weather in upstate New York means months full of community activities and festivals. From company picnics to weekend-long street festivals, it’s important to ensure every member of the community can enjoy…
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Digital Accessibility
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act, our country has come a long way in ensuring our communities are physically accessible to everyone. However, digital accessibility is still not a priority. As of 2021, 98%…
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Making Nature More Accessible To All
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist As people celebrate Earth Month and Earth Day this April, people are encouraged to go outside and enjoy nature. However, disabled and chronically ill individuals are frequently left out of outdoor recreation campaigns and cannot…
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Protecting People with Disabilities from Unhealthy Relationships & Abuse
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist Trigger warnings: The following will discuss sexual assault, sexually transmitted infections and intimate partner violence. In the past decade there has been an increased effort to promote awareness and prevention of unhealthy and abusive relationships. …
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Make Mental Health A Priority This Holiday Season
by Alison Taylor, Advocacy Intern Trigger warnings: The following will discuss suicide, mental health, and mental illness. Is It the Most Wonderful Time of the Year? The holiday season can easily be both the best and worst time of year. While…
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New York State Fiscal Year 2023-24 Executive Budget: Advocacy Update
by Alison Taylor, Advocacy Intern Now that election results across the state are in, it’s time to turn our advocacy efforts towards the New York State budget. Each year, the New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL) works with the state’s…
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It’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month
by Alison Taylor, Advocacy Intern Did you know that it’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (also known as NDEAM)? This campaign celebrates people with disabilities and their contributions to the workplace. This year’s theme is “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation.”…
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Voting For Our Future This November
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist Ahead of National Disability Voter Right’s Week from September 12th-16th, ATI is encouraging everyone to make a plan to vote this November. It is important to vote in elections because government officials make decisions that significantly impact our community and…
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It’s Time for Back-To-School
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist While beginning a new school year can be exciting and stressful for everyone, disabled and chronically ill students may struggle even more than their peers. If your student struggled or disliked school last year, they…
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Pride, Sexuality, and Disability
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist With 3 to 5 million disabled individuals identifying as LGBTQ+, Pride month highlights the importance of the intersection of disability, sexuality, and LGBTQ+ identities. For many reasons, disabled individuals’ gender identity and sexuality are rarely discussed. Their…
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NYS Disability Community Policy Priority Visits
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist In May, Access to Independence (ATI) and the Finger Lakes Independence Center (FLIC) held meetings with Assemblywoman Kelles (D-125) and Assemblyman Lemondes (D-126) to discuss important disability policy proposals. Staff and community members advocated for…
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NYS Disability Community Budget Priorities: 2022 Outcomes
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist Throughout February and March, the NYS disability community continued to advocate for our NYS budget priorities. In April, the final budget for fiscal year 2022-2023 was decided and voted on. Ultimately, the disability community had…
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Emergency Planning for People with Disabilities (& How You Can Help Ukrainian Families)
by Erin Vallely Whether a snowstorm in New York or the war in Ukraine, everyone is susceptible to unexpected disasters. With reports of at least 2.6 million verified disabled Ukrainians, plus hospitalized patients, and newly disabled war victims, this is…
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Fair Pay For Home Care Update: Get Involved
Like many seniors and disabled / chronically ill individuals, I rely on other people to help me get in and out of bed, dressed, go to the bathroom, get to work, cook, and clean. Right now, I live in the…
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FY 2023 New York State Budget Priorities for Independent Living
by Erin Vallely, Advocacy Specialist Each year, the New York State government works together to create a statewide spending plan that meets many different needs. The New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL) picks a few important disability issues that…
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