08/23/2021
This is out of character for me, but I am forced to ask you for a favor. My daughter Nikki, who many of you know cannot talk, needs your voice. Based on new CDC guidelines, NY State has issued an edict that all healthcare workers including all staff at hospitals, long term facilities, nursing homes and “other congregate settings” be required to be vaccinated by September 27th. However group homes for the disabled, including the one Nikki lives in which is run by the Rockland ARC, are exempt from this edict. It is totally unacceptable that the health care workers providing services to people like Nikki, in congregate settings, are exempt!!!!! There are 125,000 disabled people like Nikki who receive their care through the NYS Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). It is unconscionable to think that although a heath care provider at a nursing home needs to be vaccinated that a health care worker can come into Nikki’s group home and spread COVID to helpless disabled souls. Please help.
If you live in NY State, please send the following letter (or similar letter), to your NY State Senator - here is the link to find your Senator - https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator
Regardless of where you live, can you also send the letter to Jennifer O'Sullivan at OPWDD. She can be reached at [email protected]
And lastly, please share with others.
Dear (insert Senator or Jennifer O’Sullivan’s name),
It has come to my attention that although NY State has now mandated vaccinations for all heath care workers in NY State hospitals, long term facilities, nursing homes and “other congregate settings”, there is an exception for those workers providing services to the 125,000+ at-risk disabled people under the auspices of NYS OPWDD. How are vulnerable disabled people less important, less valuable to society? Once again, those who cannot speak for themselves are the most impacted. Please add your voice to the voiceless. We ask that the recent ruling by NYS be amended to include group homes run by the OPWDD.
