AHRC New York City Honors Sen. John Mannion with Humanitarian Award

New York State Sen. John W. Mannion, chairman of the Committee on Disabilities, will be honored with AHRC New York City’s prestigious Humanitarian of the Year Award for his advocacy on behalf of front-line staff and the people with disabilities they support. The award will be presented during the organization’s 73rd anniversary celebration. The May 18 event will be virtual.

A lifelong New Yorker, Sen. Mannion represents the 50th district, which includes the Syracuse area.

Sen. Mannion has helped raise public awareness of the value of direct support professionals and fought for $308 million in the state budget for a 5.4% cost of living adjustment, the largest in a decade for staff supporting people with I/DD. He continues to fight tuition parity in the special education system that provides 4410 preschools and 853 school-age programs, which support students with autism and other disabilities who are unable to be served by their public school districts.

Every year since its founding in 1949, AHRC NYC has presented the Humanitarian of the Year Award to a person who has stood out as supporting the organization’s mission. Sen. Mannion joins a distinguished group of AHRC NYC Humanitarian of Year Award honorees over the years, including, NYS Gov. Mario Cuomo, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, then U.S. Sen. Hilary Clinton, current U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, and John F. Kennedy Jr.

AHRC NYC is the largest organization supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in New York State. Its mission is to advocate for people who are neurodiverse to lead full and equitable lives. Its vision is to help create a socially just world where the power of difference is embraced, valued and celebrated.