Emily Keller-O'Donnell, Journalist

State Budget Reduces Funds for Early Intervention Program

    The 2011-12 New York State budget will cut the Early Intervention Program for children with disabilities by $5.5 million, of five percent of its total budget. However, this cut has been reduced from the original proposal of an $11 million cut.

    Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget for fiscal year 2011-12, which aims to eliminate a $10 billion deficit, was passed on March 31.

International Disability Council Holds Annual Meeting

    The United States International Council on Disability (USICD) had its annual meeting in April. The USICD is a federation of U.S. non-governmental organizations, federal agencies and individuals that addresses international disability rights issues. It is based in Washington, D.C.

    Speakers discussed the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) that President Obama signed in 2009, as well as the inclusion of disability issues in the U.S. international development agenda. Congress has not yet ratified the CRPD.

City Bar Calls on State to Amend Service Animal Regulations

    The New York City Bar Association has recommended regulatory changes regarding the training of service animals to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities.

    The organization is recommending the revision of a portion of the State Human Rights Law from 2007 that requires service animals to be trained at a “recognized” center, although the state has not designated any. This addition to the law had the effect of eliminating protections for people with hearing, guide or service dogs, although the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) the City Human Rights Law continued to uphold their rights.

City Chooses Nissan for Taxi of Tomorrow

    Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) have chosen a vehicle model that does not accommodate wheelchairs to replace the city’s 13,000 taxis for ten years.

    Bloomberg and TLC Commissioner David Yassky announced the choice of the Nissan NV200 over models designed by the other two finalists, the Karsan V1 and the Ford Transit Connect, at a May 3 press conference. The Karsan vehicle was the only one with wheelchair accessibility built into the design.

Audit Finds School for the Disabled Overcharged State

    The New York State Comptroller’s office determined through an audit that the Henry Viscardi School (HVS) in Albertson has overcharged New York State for reimbursements.

    State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said managers at the Long Island school charged the state $835,074 for “unreasonable and unnecessary expenses,” including the cost of a leased car for Edmond Cortez, president of school’s parent company, Abilities! For the two years ending June 30, 2009, HVS claimed a total of $27.8 million in reimbursable expenses.