Long Island, NY - January 23rd, 2014 - The New York State constitution made a promise to care for those who cannot care for themselves. For New Yorkers with developmental disabilities that promise was affirmed in the Willowbrook Consent Decree signed by Governor Hugh Carey in 1975, requiring the State to move people with disabilities from institutions into appropriate community settings.

Ongoing budget problems leave us in danger of breaking our promise to care for New Yorkers who need our help. New York is better than that. We’re asking Governor Andrew Cuomo not to propose or support further cuts in our ability to keep New York’s promise. Budget cuts to supports and services affect real people – real New Yorkers – including people with developmental disabilities and those who provide their supports and services.

If you have signed the online petition asking the Governor not to propose or support cuts in funding to supports and services for people with developmental disabilities, THANK YOU! If you have not, please click on the link below and do it today, then send this to everyone you know and ask them to add their names. It takes less than a minute.

We need to illustrate that people with disabilities, their families and those who support them are united in supporting this message. We have hundreds of thousands of people across the state who support our goal of no more cuts, yet fewer than 5,000 people have taken less than a minute to join in and support this effort. We can do much better than that. Please help spread the word.