The Arc’s 2024 National Convention in Columbus, OH, brought together disability advocates and professionals from across the country to discuss the critical issues people with disabilities and their families will confront in the coming months. AHRC NYC’s own Kate Hoy, Director of Advocacy Services, was a presenter and Christina Muccioli, who recently joined AHRC NYC’s Board of Directors after a distinguished career leading AHRC NYC’s Educational Services, received an award from the Arc’s National Council of Executives.
Threats to Medicaid
A common topic of discussion at the convention was upcoming threats to Medicaid due to the results of the 2024 election. Medicaid is a primary vehicle for funding disability services throughout much of the United States. Individual states build out their own Medicaid programs based on rules and regulations set by the federal government; funding is then provided by Congress to match states’ spending based on an established formula. New York State has one of the most robust and successful Medicaid programs in the country, for people with disabilities.
Now, the incoming administration and new leaders of Congress have intimated that they may overhaul Medicaid in their attempts to find savings in the budget, with potentially devastating consequences for people with disabilities, their families, and disability service providers like AHRC NYC. This can manifest in a number of ways, most probably with proposals for limiting the amount of money the federal government such as capping Medicaid programs, or instituting block grants.
Advocates at the conference were urged to forcefully advocate for Medicaid and other federal disability service programs. All of our voices will be necessary to heed off these dire threats to services. Contact your federal officials early and often to let them know how important the Medicaid program is to people with disabilities and their families. We cannot go back to a time when people with disabilities are not provided with the life-changing services they are entitled to.
AHRC NYC Presents and Celebrates
AHRC NYC’s CEO, Marco Damiani and Jennifer Cohen, Associate Professor at Miami University presented the first-ever study of the lived experiences of 4,500 DSPs and Frontline managers across New York State, informing providers with strategies that enable policy change and enhance working relationships with the people they support.
Katherine Hoy presented with Katy Schmid, The Arc’s Senior Director of National Program Innovation, about self-determination initiatives for young people with disabilities. The Arc defines self-determination as the right of all people to control their lives, including where, how, and with whom they live, and to have authority over the resources that support them. Students with self-determination skills are more likely to be successful in postsecondary life, including employment. Kate and Katy explained how The Arc@School program helped many New York City-based students and families learn self-determination strategies and solutions.
Christina Muccioli was honored by the Arc’s National Conference of Executives with its 2024 Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award. For more than two decades, Christina led AHRC NYC’s Educational Services, providing opportunities for thousands of children with disabilities to go to school and become full members of society. Christina thanked her many colleagues over the years and spoke from the heart about her son, Keith, who has autism. AHRC NYC is so proud of Christina Muccioli and we are grateful for her incomparable contributions to our agency and our field.
