Abinanti and Advocates Urge Funding for Special Needs

ALBANY- Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mount Pleasant) was joined last week by Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R-Saratoga), and disability advocates to highlight the stark contrast between the shrinking budget for the Office of Persons with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and the significant rise in the number and rates of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

According to statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Health, autism now affects 1 in 36 children between the ages of 3 and 17. As such, there has been a 23% increase in autism rates in that cohort between 2014 and 2016.

While state spending has increased since 2011, OPWDD has suffered from budgetary constraints- with cuts of approximately 30%.

“We are being penny wise and pound foolish and hurting our own people. We need to be more compassionate and do a better job of helping people with developmental disabilities lead quality productive lives,” said Abinanti. “I am calling on the Governor to restore OPWDD’s funding to 2011 amounts and show New York he cares about all people of this State.”

“The fact that we have more people diagnosed with autism and fewer resources does not add up. We need to do a better job. Even though we are entering a significant deficit, there are cuts that can be made elsewhere and we need to think of creative ways to make a difference with the money that we do have,” said Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh.

“The number of people with autism and disabilities continues to rise at a startling rate, while the resources devoted to developmental disabilities and autism has been continually shrinking in New York for seven years now. The Governor needs to prioritize services for developmental disabilities which impacts hundreds of thousands of people across the State,” said John Gilmore Executive Director of Autism Action Network.

“We are in the midst of a public health epidemic. If we give these kids the supports that they need it will save the State millions of dollars over the long haul. We have to be smarter and more compassionate with how we spend our money,” said Michael Smith, Executive Director of the Foundation for Autism Information and Research.

“Those with special needs have a right to the opportunity to lead a quality life. OPWDD is one of New York's major tools to support our most vulnerable,” said Abinanti.

To watch a video of the entire press conference, click here