Emily Keller-O'Donnell, Journalist

Education Department Celebrates Fifty Years of Travel Training

    Last month, the New York City Department of Education (DOE) celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its travel training program, which teaches people with disabilities how to use the New York City transit system.

    The event took place at St. Francis College in Brooklyn and included presentations by program leaders, students, parents and advocates.

    Peggy Groce, director of travel training at the DOE, presented a Pioneer Award to Jack Gorelick for founding a program for siblings of people with disabilities that is still running at the AHRC, where he worked for forty years. It is the longest running program of its kind in the nation. Gorelick is also a founding member of the National Association for Travel Instruction.

State Budget Reduces Services for People with Disabilities

    The 2011-12 New York State budget has made significant changes to home care and other services for people with disabilities.

    The budget, which was passed on March 31, incorporated changes proposed by the state-appointed Medicaid Redesign Team over the last few months, which are expected to save the state $2.8 billion.

Ed Roberts Campus Opens

    A new school has opened in California in honor of Edward V. Roberts, a leader in the independent living movement for people with disabilities.

    The Ed Roberts Campus opened in November 2010 and is expected to serve 30,000 people annually. A grand opening celebration took place April 16. Mayor Tom Bates of Berkeley and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) attended the event.

New Jersey Budget Proposes Changes in Services to PWDs

    New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has proposed a $29.4 billion budget that maintains funding for several programs for people with disabilities and includes plans to restructure Medicaid.

    Gov. Christie said in a February 22 speech that the budget includes plans to transfer 121,000 low-income seniors and people with disabilities who receive Medicaid into a managed care program. He also plans to reduce reimbursements to nursing homes.

State Continues Funding to Schools for Disabled Children

    New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has cancelled plans to cut direct state funding to eleven schools for children who are deaf, blind and physically challenged.

    The state has committed $98 million to ensure that funding remains available to the schools, which serve 1,700 students.

State to Provide Funds for Long Island Bus

    The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is postponing proposed cuts to Long Island Bus following a pledge by the New York State Senate to fund the service through the end of the year.

    The Senate has promised an additional $8.6 million on top of the $52.4 million already allocated to the serve in the 2011-12 state budget. The additional funds will enable the MTA to continue running Long Island Bus service through the end of 2011, at which point Nassau County plans to privatize the service.