With almost 20 million people living in New York state, and only 130,000 people being served by agencies under the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) umbrella, it can seem that these advocate voices would not be heard.
However, each one of those 130,000 individuals has a circle of support that expands that number exponentially, including their families, friends, neighbors, co-workers and more. Arc GLOW believes everyone has the power to advocate for people with disabilities and can help provide them with the resources to make an impact.
Family Advocacy
Support from friends and family can become a circle of influence. With that influence, you can let our elected officials know that your vote comes with a condition: support and maintain the needs and rights of individuals with disabilities!
Amplify your voice as part of a larger group. Follow us on social media, become an agency member, write or call your representatives, join the advocacy group or its mailing list, and encourage someone you know to do the same.
Self-Advocacy
Self-advocacy means speaking up for yourself about the rights and responsibilities in your life. People who do so are called “self advocates,” and having once learned how to speak up for themselves can assist others in doing so as well.
Arc GLOW currently has three active self advocacy groups: Advocates Coming Together (ACT) in the southern region and Friends for the Future and Self Advocacy All Stars in the northern region.
2026-2027 Budget Asks
Decades of inadequate funding caused severe staff shortages and left nonprofit provider agencies struggling to maintain facilities and provide quality care and support for New Yorkers with disabilities. Recent investment by the state made progress toward addressing this crisis and stabilizing the system of care, but without sustained investment, that progress will be lost.
New Yorkers with disabilities need your support for:
- A 4% Targeted Inflationary Increase to ensure funding acocunts for the increased cost of living and providing services.
- The Careforce Affordability Initiative to support affordable housing, childcare and healthcare for direct care staff.
Recent state investments made progress towards addressing this crisis and stablizing the system of care, but without sustained investment, that progress will be lost.
Most providers used this funding to increase staff wages. As direct care pay increases, staffing improves.
A decade without investment in our care system left providers unable to pay fair wages or recruit and retain the essential direct care staff that keep our services strong.
This lack of investment drove severe staffing shortages, inequity for direct care staff, and reduced access to critical services and support for New Yorkers with disabilities.
Investment has finally made progress.
To sustain that progress, investment MUST be ongoing.
NYS Budget Priorities | SFY 2026-27 Executive Budget Priorities | SFY 2026-27 Executive Budget Priorities Details
How to Advocate
With almost 20 million people living in New York state, and only 130,000 people being served by agencies under the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) umbrella, it can seem that these advocate voices would not be heard.
However, each one of those 130,000 individuals have a circle of support that expands that number exponentially, including their families, friends, neighbors, co-workers and more. Arc GLOW believes everyone has the power to advocate for people with disabilities and can help provide them with the resources to make an impact.
On this page, you will find Arc GLOW’s position on various pieces of legislation and how you can get involved.
2026 Legislative Priorities Include
- A 4% Targeted Inflationary Increase
- Careforce Affordability
Advocacy Legislation
Federal Government Representatives
Senator Charles E. Schumer
780 Third Avenue, Suite 2301
New York, NY 10017
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Kenneth B. Keating Federal Office Building
100 State Street
Room 4195
Rochester, NY 14614
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, 24th District
New York’s 24th District includes all of Cayuga County, Wayne County, Seneca County, Yates County, Ontario County, Livingston County, Wyoming County, Genesee County, almost all of Oswego County, the southern half of Jefferson County, the southern half of Orleans County, and the eastern half of Niagara County.
Lockport District Office
169 Niagara Street
Lockport, NY 14094
Phone: (716) 514-5130
Congressman Joseph Morelle, 25th District
New York’s 25th District includes all of Monroe County and the northern part of Orleans County.
3120 Federal Building
100 State Street
Rochester, NY 14614
State Government Representatives
New York State Sen. Pamela Helming, 54th Senate District
New York’s 54th Senate district includes Livingston, Monroe, Ontario and Wayne counties.
Geneseo Satellite Office
6 Court St.
Room 304
Geneseo, NY 14454
Phone: (315) 568-9816
Fax: (585) 393-0825
New York State Sen. George M. Borrello, 57th Senate District
New York’s 57th Senate district includes Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee and Wyoming counties.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Genesee County
420 E. Main St.
Batavia, NY 14020
Phone: (585) 507-8139
Office Hours: noon to 4 p.m. Mondays or by appointment
County Government Building
143 N. Main St.
Warsaw, NY 14569
Phone: (585) 786-5048
Office Hours: 12:30-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays or by appointment
New York State Sen. Robert G. Ortt, 62nd Senate District
New York’s 62nd Senate district includes Monroe, Niagara and Orleans counties.
District Office
175 Walnut Street, Suite 6
Lockport, NY 14094
Phone: (716) 434-0680
Fax: (716) 434-3297
Assemblywoman Andrea K. Bailey, Assembly District 133
New York’s 133rd Assembly district is comprised of Livingston County and parts of Monroe, Ontario, Steuben and Wyoming counties.
District Office
79 Genesee St.
Avon, NY 14414
Phone: (585) 218-0038
Fax: (585) 226-2022
Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Assembly District 139
New York’s 139rd Assembly district is comprised of Genesee and Orleans counties, and parts of Erie and Monroe counties.
District Office
121 N. Main Street
Suite 100
Albion, NY 14411
Phone: (585) 589-5780
Fax: (585) 589-5813
Assemblyman David DiPietro, Assembly District 147
New York’s 147th Assembly district contains the southern halves of Erie and Wyoming counties.
District Office
411 Main St.
Aurora, NY 14052
Phone: (716) 655-0951
Fax: (716) 655-0970
Want to learn more about our advocacy efforts and how you can help?
Contact us at (585) 658-2828 or Info@ArcGLOW.org.