504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for State Assembly Jeffrey Dinowitz's response)

Candidate Name: Jeffrey Dinowitz

Phone: 718-796-6177

Campaign Name: Friends of Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz

Campaign Address: 304 West 231st Street, Bronx, N.Y. 10463

Contact Person: Tom McNeil

Phone: 516-660-9903

Assembly District: 81

Please describe any experience with disability you have had in your life or career.

While neither I nor anyone in my family or office is disabled, I am a strong advocate for the disabled, as proven by my legislative record.
Is your campaign headquarters accessible to persons with disabilities? If you are an incumbent, is your district office accessible to persons with disabilities? If you are in private practice, is your office accessible to persons with disabilities? If not, what have you done to ensure access?

Yes. Yes.
How will you incorporate people with disabilities into your campaign?

I encourage all interested volunteers to be part iof my campaign.
Are you willing to hire and use flex-time and job-sharing if necessary?

Yes.
Seventy (70%) percent of people with disabilities of working age are unemployed at any given time, no matter how well or poorly the economy is doing. How will you use your office to advance employment opportunities for people with disabilities?

The Assembly Democratic Majority's record on fighting for those with disabilities, including issues related to employment, is excellent. I support & co-sponsor many of its bills and work closely with the Chair, Assemblywoman Paulin.
What will you do to reverse the negative impact of recent decisions in Federal Courts which are undercutting the powers of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 to protect the civil rights of people with disabilities in New York State? How would you change the laws of New York State to protect the rights of its citizens with disabilities?

The Assembly Democratic Majority's legislative package for people with disabilities protects the rights of the disabled. We stand for expanding protection, not contracting them.
Currently, over 130,000 people reside in nursing homes and other care facilities in New York State. In 1999, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) found in L.C. v Olmstead that individuals with disabilities have a right to live in the most integrated setting. What will you do to encourage Olmstead implementation in New York?

I am committed to the implementation of Olmstead. Our legislative program clearly demonstrates our commitment to fighting for people with disabilities.
We are in the midst of a housing crisis. Accessible, affordable housing is in short supply. People with disabilities are being priced out of the market. What would you do to develop a housing policy that would lead to the development and maintenance of accessible, affordable and integrated housing stock?

The housing crisis in New York is pricing countless people out of the market, including people with disabilities. We need to create a new Mitchell-Lama type program to provide housing for middle class and working class New Yorkers, including those with disabilities.
Timothy's Law was designed to end health insurance discrimination by enacting parity in coverage for people with biologically-based psychiatric disabilities. To address cost concerns raised by small businesses, the agreement directs the state Superintendent of Insurance to develop a methodology that would hold businesses with 50 or fewer employees harmless from any increase in insurance premiums that result from this measure. It also requires the state Insurance Department and the Office of Mental Health to conduct a two year study to determine the effectiveness and impact of mental health parity legislation in New York and other states. What would you do to help small business?

We need to pass Timothy's Law now, I'm disappointed that the bill that's expected to pass both houses is a watered down bill that doesn't even include coverage for chemical dependence. The one house bill passed by the Assembly is the ideal bill.
Under Kendra's Law, a state-funded Medicaid grants program has been established to provide medications for eligible individuals with a psychiatric disability upon release or discharge from institutions. This will help eliminate some of the problems associated with the Medicaid coverage gap. Do you support Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility legislation which would eliminate the standard 45 days without coverage, and thus without access to treatment?

Yes.
By passing the Help America Vote Act of 2002 the U.S. Congress has tried to ensure that people with disabilities will, by 2006, be able to cast an independent, private ballot for the first time. What will you do to ensure successful implementation HAVA?

As a member of the Assembly Election Law Committee, I have fought to ensure everyone has access to voting - to cast an independent, private ballot.
Disabled children in grades K-12 are entitled to receive a "free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment," but there have been major problems. Most often, schools are not physically accessible and not accommodating their students' needs. What do you propose to correct this problem?

We do have strong laws on the books, but need real very strong enforcement.
Despite Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, students with disabilities face problems when pursuing higher education. These statutes do not specify how students should request accommodations or assistance in asserting their rights under the law. Will you support a fully funded office of disability services on each SUNY and CUNY campus to assist students with disabilities in securing accommodations?

Yes.
What is your position on expanding DRIE (Disabled Rent Increase Exemption) to be the same as SCRIE (Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption) to low-income, eligible persons with disabilities under the age of 62 on the same basis and income level (currently the SCRIE's income cap is $25,000, while DRIE's is $17,000)?

I was a co-sponsor of the DRIE legislation, which was a major victory. Now, the DRIE limit should be raised to match SCRIE which is currently $26,000and will be raised by $1,000 in each of the next three years.
Do you support the extension of Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) to low-income persons with disabilities regardless of age? What would you do to ensure this?

Yes. Support legislation in the Assembly.
What would you do to expand accessible transportation options for people with disabilities in NYS?

The same as I have in the past - support legislation and budget allocations to accomplish this goal.

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