New York state is redefining disabilities – literally

There is a new program officer for education and human justice at the New York Community Trust. Eve Stotland has taken on the role of managing education and human justice grantmaking at the trust, Philanthropy New York reported on March 25. She previously led legal services at The Door for seven years and has a J.D. from Yale Law School.

SCO Family of Services is today’s big winner in New York City contracts – and it’s not even close. The Long Island-based nonprofit has received a $6 million contract from the New York City Department of Homeless Services, according to the City Record. The money will fund a family shelter located at 99 Stockholm Street in Brooklyn.

Community Healthcare Network will provide an infant mortality reduction initiative on behalf of the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, per a $132,239 contract. The Young Women’s Christian Association Of Queens will provide $104,206 worth of health services on behalf of the agency as well.

The Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, meanwhile, is looking for a vendor who can provide training on the procurements process. The deadline to submit a bid is April 8. Got meat and poultry? The Administration for Children’s Services wants your help.

The Legal Aid Society is not liking this idea of putting more NYPD officers onto city buses to deter fair evasion. New York City Transit President Andy Byford has argued that more law enforcement is needed to help shore up the beleaguered agency’s finances – NYC Transit is a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority – but Tina Luongo, chief defender of the Criminal Practice at Legal Aid, says that is a bad idea:

Statement from @LegalAidNYC‘s Tina Luongo on MTA Transit President Andy Byford’s call for cops on buses. (https://t.co/Gcp30uopu0). pic.twitter.com/5dg6W5LroJ

— Vincent Barone (@vinbarone) March 26, 2019

State Sen. James Skoufis wants to redefine disabilities in state law. The state Senate has unanimously passed a bill sponsored by the Hudson Valley lawmaker that would replace outdated – and sometimes offensive – terminology for people with disabilities. This follows changes made in 2010 that updated the name of the state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities to the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. A similar bill passed the state Assembly in 2017 and 2018 and would likely pass the chamber again.

“The passage of this bill is an important step in moving away from a system that has allowed stigmatization to seep into our language and consequently, our legislation,” Doug Hovey, president of Independent Living Inc., said in a press release. “As architects of the evolving disabilities services system, we bear the responsibility of developing language that respectfully represents the very people receiving services.”