Shown above from left: Tibi Guzmán welcomes Assemblymember Chris Burdick

We were honored to welcome NYS Assemblymember Chris Burdick for a tour of our Ann Manzi Center in Mount Kisco on September 11th. This visit was an opportunity for him to meet many of the individuals who live and work in his district, while also learning about the vital services we provide to support people with developmental disabilities.

Assemblymember Burdick met with staff members, engaging in thoughtful conversations about their roles and concerns, particularly regarding potential Medicaid budget cuts at the state level. People in our programs were no shy in asking very sincere questions about their future and what Medicaid cuts would have on their daily lives. Our team appreciated his insights and the open dialogue. He was impressed with the renovations taking place at The Ann Manzi Center and enjoyed spending time on a beautiful summer day in the garden terrace with key leadership staff.

CEO Tibi Guzmán discussed the devastating impact that proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP would have on the essential services we provide every day. If Congress adopts the President’s proposal, it will eliminate funding for key programs under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act), including programs that support access to inclusive education, employment, community living, and more.

The proposal also includes policies that would weaken the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) by combining multiple funding streams into a single “block grant.” This change could lead to:

• Cuts to preschool programs for young children with disabilities.
• Reduced federal support for special education teachers, counselors, therapists, and paraprofessionals.
• Fewer training opportunities for school staff to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

We ask you to participate in our ONE-CLICK campaign and urge Congress to fully fund IDEA and DD Act programs. Let’s make sure people with disabilities have the support they need to live full and productive lives.

“Disabled Americans Fear What Medicaid Cuts Could Do to Them” The New York Times
This article focuses specifically on Home and Community-Based Services and speaks to the downstream consequences of cuts to Medicaid. Read here >