Jean St Aubin | Apr 6, 2008

It is very hard to tell a governor how to do his job, but It is obvious that people with developmental disabilities need a voice in Albany.The Governor himself knows how hard it is to live in this world when someone is mentally and physically challenged.Right now he has the opportunity to show us that he cares about people in need of services.

Andy Heugel | May 19, 2008

I can't say it much better than Jean St. Albin, but something must be said because this is such an important topic and nothing has been said for a while. Despite the fact that we have a Governor with a disability and dispite the fact that he is able and willing to advocate for himself and our community, we need to continue the fight...

Our community cannot count on the Governor for assistance, nor should it. Our advocates need to need to remain willing and able. The political climate can change in a heartbeat and the situation for the future in Washington is far from settled...

I facilitate the Mt. Kisco consumer council and recently 38 consumers ran for the oppurtunity to be one of the 15 advocates that represent M. Kisco.

I'm not going to tell you that this consumer vote was "intelligent." But, I will remind you of a London Observer article re the elcetion of George W. Bush in 2004 that proclamed: "How Can 59 Million Americans be so Stupid."

Our consumers are more like us than unlike us. Often those who the consumers vote in for office aren't the ones that I'd choose...

And, sometimes the losers (only those who don't run are the real losers) pout. But, isn't this inclusion in a world where some are winners & some are losers?

Fred Miller | Jun 4, 2008

I can't take any comfort that he will advocate for those with disabilities, because he has a diability. He has not shown respect for life and those that need defending.

Sharan DePalma | Sep 22, 2008

I am an educational consultant and special education advocate to the White Plains Family Court. Recently, due to Gov. Paterson's cuts, children with disabilities who are educationally neglected will no longer have the voice of consultants like myself to get them through. I am told that the funding cuts are severe and come straight from his office. I will continue to work for these children pro bono and hope that the necessary funding will come through next year. I am shocked to think that a blind, minority male would think cutting advocacy for neglected youth makes sense..yet the funding for recreation has not been cut or underfunded. Youth that aren't in school shouldnt be playing basketball..they need to get an education. 80% of the youth served in our judicial system are African American or Hispanic and also have disabilities ranging from mild learning disabilities to severe emotional disturbances. They need our help desperately. They need a voice to fight for them. Where is the Governor in all this? If these children are not appropriately placed in schools, they will become part of the ever growing foster care population... a formula for disaster is removing a disabled child from his home and placing him elsewhere. This all falls on the taxpayer. Why not help these youth NOW??

Andy Heugel | Oct 7, 2008

As Carmine DePalma points out, we can either pay for early intervention services for the poor and people with disabilities, or we can pay a lot more later.

Almost every day we read about some super rich businessperson or legislator who has gotten away with a slap on the wrist for some multi million dollar crime. What we don't read about are the countless legions of the poor and disabled that serve years in our state prisons for petty crimes.

The average educational level of a New York State prison inmate is fifth grade. Many of these people have no close family or professional advocates, because if they did, they probably wouldn't be where they are.

A number of years back a law was passed making it illegal to execute a person with a developmental disability in the United States. My question is how many people with undiagnosed developmental disabilities are still on death rows, or serving long prison sentences for petty crimes?

This is part of the human and dollar cost of NOT doing the early interventions that Carmine DePalma speaks of.