On February 25, 2014, I went on a trip to Albany with the Center for Disability Rights for the New York Association on Independent Living’s (NYAIL) Legislation Day.  When we first arrived, we listened to several speakers who touched briefly upon the issues we were going to be discussing with our legislative representatives.  One of the speakers was the Deputy Secretary of Health who acted as the Key Note speaker.  They discussed their passion related to why we were there this day and how they felt the Governor supported the issues.

After the speeches were over I then had the opportunity to go with others to meet with my representatives.  We had the opportunity to meet directly with Assemblyman Harry Bronson to discuss several bills he is sponsoring and we also discussed possible bills he could co-sponsor as well.  This discussion was very interesting and I was glad to meet with him in his office.  Following this meeting, I went to a meeting in Senator Patrick Gallivan’s office.  Unfortunately the Senate was not in session this day and the Senator was unavailable to meet with us directly.  Therefore, his Director of Operations/Constituent Affairs met with us who seemed very interested in what we were telling him.

This was my second time going with the Center for Disability Rights to Albany to ensure people with disabilities are included in the Executive Budget.  My observation of what the difference between the two times I went with this group was this year’s was more legislative related.  Besides the legislative component the other difference was that I was one of 13 individuals willing to be arrested if we weren’t heard by the Governor’s Office.  This would have been my first arrest for the rights of people with disabilities, but this step wasn’t necessary because the Governor’s Office decided to listen to our requests which there is still work to be accomplished for the future.