NYSARC, Inc. Memorandum of Support for A.5141/ S.4256 Autism Communication Support Bill

Kirk Lewis, Executive Director of Schenectady ARC at press conference with Assemblyman Santabarbara for A.5141 (Santabarbara) and S.4256 (Carlucci)

NYSARC, Inc. strongly supports A.5141 (Santabarbara) and S.4256 (Calucci). NYSARC is the nation’s largest parent governed nonprofit organization serving people with developmental disabilities. Through its forty-eight local Chapters, NYSARC provides direct supports and services to thousands of individuals with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities and their families.

This legislation directs the Commissioner of the State Education Department to promulgate new regulations to include communication support as a vocational rehabilitation service that is available to people with disabilities seeking employment. A common barrier to employment for people with disabilities includes difficulty communicating die to a variety of physical,. mental and emotional issues. Therefore, including communication support services as a vocational rehabilitation service is an effective and commonsense approach to facilitate the acquisition of gainful employment for many individuals with disabilities.

As an added protection, this legislation requires these communication support services to be provided by qualified providers including State licenses speech-language pathologists, audiologists, or individuals trained in treatment for social pragmatic language impairment.

NYSARC, Inc. Laura J. Kennedy, President, Steve Kroll, Executive Director

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Click the screen capture below to read the letter of support in PDF format.