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Advocacy

Amplifying the voices and needs of people with disabilities has always been a central component of the CP Unlimited mission. In fact, the organization was founded on a platform of advocacy by a group of parents of children with cerebral palsy seeking broader recognition and more investment in services. After the closing of Willowbrook in the 1970’s, CP Unlimited took in a great many of its former residents and worked to ensure that the issues that led to its shuttering would never be replicated.

Today, CP Unlimited is a partner in advocacy for all peoples with disabilities as well as for those entrusted with their care. Our work in this area emphasizes increased funding and access for the disability field and centers the narratives of our self-advocates and our committed team to emphasize the impact of focused action. The result has been deeper public awareness, a more open pipeline of communications, grants, and other funding, and most importantly a more diverse range of services and options for people with I/DD.

Here, we invite you to learn more and get involved to help move the needle and advance beneficial steps for all New Yorkers with disabilities.

Traveling With Dignity Act: Mandating height-adjustable adult changing tables in public venues across New York State

Read the full, updated text of the Traveling with Dignity Act >>

What It Does

Legislative and Organizational Sponsors

How You Can Help

Mandates the installation of height-adjustable adult changing facilities at venues across New York that can host more than 2,500 visitors by 2030.

For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, alongside veterans and seniors, this will mean the ability to access the full program and event at spaces where they previously were not accommodated.

Similar bills have been passed in Arizona, California, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Minnesota!

Selected Media Coverage:

Accessibility for All article

Times Union op-ed by Joseph M. Pancari

lohud

Spectrum News- Hudson Valley

City & State NY

NYN Media

Spectrum News- Capital Region

In the NYS Senate (bill # 4042) Co-Sponsors:

Peter Harckham
(D- District 40)

Rob Rolison
(R- District 39)

Michelle Hinchey
(D- District 41)

John C. Liu
(D- District 16)

Jack M. Martins
(R- District 7)

Lea Webb
(D- District 52)

Bill Weber
(R- District 38)

In the NYS Assembly (bill A6219):

Chris Burdick
(District 93)

Anil Beephan Jr.
(District 105)

Michael Benedetto
(District 82)

Harvey Epstein
(District 74)

Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas
(District 34)

Dana Levenberg
(District 95)

Daniel Norber
(District 16)

Karines Reyes
(District 87)

Linda Rosenthal
(District 67)

Nader Sayegh
(District 90)

Rebecca Seawright
(District 76)

MaryJane Shimsky
(District 92)

Matthew Slater
(District 94)

Endorsed by the 28 member agencies of the Hudson Valley Service Providers (HVSP)

Endorsed by CP State

SEND A LETTER TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL

Self-Advocates: Download This Version of our Letter to Send to Your Representatives!

Get Involved with Changing Spaces USA’s New York Chapter

Cost of Living Allowances & Direct Wage Enhancement for Direct Support Professionals

All of what we do is motivated by our mission to provide people with I/DD opportunities to achieve a fulfilling life, and we know that this work is carried forth by a team of almost 3,000 people working together in support of that goal.

As such, we will always sponsor channels that bring our team the recognition they truly deserve for the vital work they perform. In practice, this means frequent trips around New York City and to Albany, New York for rallies to garner attention and support. Click here to send letters in support of the I/DD field to New York State politicians, courtesy of CP State >>

At the first rally of 2025 in Albany, more than 100 CPU team members rallied in support of further investment for the disability field. CPU President and CEO Joseph M. Pancari spoke passionately about the needs of providers at this important gathering and his remarks are available in full in the link above.

At the final rally for 2024 in November, CP gathered over 140 advocates to advance a new set of priorities: A 7.8% Medicaid rate increase, adequate wages for human service workers, and enhanced capital funding to ensure quality care.

"Legislative Leadership and Making a Real Difference on Staten Island" on Staten Island Disability News

Read a poem by Ann Whitty, self-advocate on Staten Island, about her needs.

With NYS Senator Roxanne Persaud after a meeting to discuss the needs of our DSPs

Visiting Officials in Washington D.C

With NYS Congressman Joseph Morelle

CP team members joined ANCOR in September 2024 for their annual policy event where we met with a range of Federal legislators to raise support for:

HCBS relief act (S.3118/H.R 6296) – which would mitigate the impact of termination of temporary American Rescue Plan Act funding and would provide 2 years of increased funding for HCBS services

Direct Support Professionals Act (H.R.2941) -to help create a standard occupational classification for DSP staff

Effecting Change Through Public Policy

Penny Pagliaro, Executive Director, and Christine Mattson, Associate Executive Director of CP Unlimited’s Hudson Valley Division led a well-attended panel on Effecting Change Through Public Policy at the ANCOR Connect 2024 conference, building on our work supporting the “Traveling with Dignity” Act and other legislative and community action.

View/Download a PDF of the Effecting Change Through Public Policy Presentation >>

Many attendees shared how helpful the presentation was in providing a framework for change to bring back to their districts. As part of our Advocacy work, the CP team sees our local successes as an expandable strategy to deepen impact more broadly. ANCOR Connect is just the latest platform where we can share our effective and inspirational tactics to be of benefit to people with disabilities nationwide.

John T. Vlachos Appointed as CPU Board Chair

On June 30, 2025, CPU will welcome John T. Vlachos as our new Chairman. Currently the head of the Audit, Compliance, and Risk Committee, Mr. Vlachos has served on the Board of Directors since 2019 and steps into this new role with the appreciation of the entire CPU community.
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Together We Shine: Open Mic Event on Sept. 18

Join us for our second Together We Shine Open Mic: A special event that aims to bridge gaps in accessibility in the arts while raising critical funds for I/DD supports and services on Staten Island.
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New Op-Ed in NY Daily News

If social care and public health begin to break down, the inevitable result is that more people will seek crisis care at our hospitals. Hospitals will face significant deficits from treating ballooning numbers of uninsured people. Providers will no longer be able to bill Medicaid for patients who still desperately need care. Even if New Yorkers with disabilities retain their coverage, they will feel the strain of an underfunded system — both in their communities and at the hospital.
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Employees of the Quarter: Q2 2025

CP Unlimited celebrated nearly twenty of our own as we awarded them Employee of the Quarter awards for Q2 2025. Their work and dedication on behalf of the people we support represent the best of the Agency and we honor their efforts and impact throughout New York City and the Hudson Valley.
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Advocacy

John T. Vlachos Appointed as CPU Board Chair

Together We Shine: Open Mic Event on Sept. 18

New Op-Ed in NY Daily News

Employees of the Quarter: Q2 2025