The Remarks Of Speaker Sheldon Silver

2008 Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day

Empire State Plaza, Well Of The Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY
Monday, May 12, 2008 [Noon]

[As Prepared For Delivery]

My friends, welcome to Albany and to our annual Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day.

I commend you, each and every one of you, for taking the time and making the effort to gather in our state capital and to speak for the thousands of New Yorkers with disabilities who could not be here to speak for themselves today.

To those of you who are dedicated to serving and advocating for people with disabilities, let me take a moment to express my admiration. Not only is your calling a noble and a compassionate one, it is essential to the integrity of our democracy.

For when we allow the rights of this community or that community to be neglected or ignored, then the rights of all New Yorkers are at risk. My colleague, Assembly Member Peter Rivera is absolutely correct when he says that all New Yorkers benefit from the battles you are fighting.

For your courage and for your perseverance, I thank you.

On that note, let me congratulate this year's "Doctor Henry J. Viscardi, Jr. Advocacy Award" winner, Frank Pennisi.

My congratulations as well to the winning artists and to all of the children who participated in Assembly Member Michael Cusick's "Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day" poster contest.

If you have taken part in our past Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day events, then you know that in the Assembly Majority, you have leaders you can count on;

Leaders who are listening to you;

Leaders who are seeking your advice and who are taking action on your recommendations;

Leaders who are defending your rights to fairness and equity, integration, independence and accessibility day in and day out across this state.

As Speaker of the Assembly, I know better than most what great advocates and what talented leaders you have in our Task Force Chair, Assembly Member Michelle Titus;

In our Mental Health Committee Chair, Assembly Member Peter Rivera;

In our Task Force Executive Director, Kim Hill;

And in all of the Assembly members and staff who were here earlier, who are here now, and who will be meeting with you as the day goes on.

We work with you continuously in crafting the legislation to ensure that men, women and children with disabilities receive the fairness, the justice, and the opportunities for self-empowerment and self-fulfillment that all New Yorkers expect and deserve.

We developed these bills in concert with you and we intend to pass all 17 bills this week.

This has been a difficult year for state government in New York, but it has been an historic year as well.

On March 17th, David Paterson became the first legally blind person to take the Oath of Office as Governor.

Governor Paterson has fostered an atmosphere of partnership in our government. He has rekindled the spirit of hope in our state.

Most important of all, Governor Paterson has demonstrated clearly and potently that a person with a disability is not a person without capability.

With only 23 days of experience under his belt and with an economy in recession, Governor Paterson led us to a budget that is both fiscally sound and responsive to the needs of working families throughout our state.

Working with the governor and despite a difficult economy, we in the Assembly were able to restore $1.5 million for Independent Living Centers.

Let's not forget that New Yorkers also have strong and aggressive champions of social justice in our Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo and in our State Comptroller, Tom DiNapoli.

I know you have legislators to meet with and exhibitors on hand, so let me close by repeating what I say every year on Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day.

The Legislature and the Governor answer to you. We work for you. No elected leader in this Empire State Plaza, no elected leader anywhere in this state, is more important than you are.

So, make your voices heard. Be direct. Be persistent. Educate your elected leaders.

That is how you make democracy better.

Please remember that my door and the doors my Assembly Majority colleagues will always be open to you.

By all means, make today the most successful Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day ever!

Thank you for coming. Thank you for listening. Enjoy your day in Albany, and be successful!