NEW YORKERS TAKE ACTION to stop changes to the companionship rules which will hurt attendant service users and attendants!
Call Senators Schumer & Gillibrand NOW!
The Obama Administration has not finalized the Department of Labor (DOL) companionship exemption rule changes yet. That means we still have time to delay this in order to continue to push for changes that will not result in the institutionalization of people with disabilities and the loss of income for our attendants.
The White House has heard from us, but it has NOT heard from our federal Senators. Both Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand.
RIGHT NOW, call both of your Senators. Tell them:
I’m calling to urge the Senator to contact the White House immediately to delay Department of Labor companionship exemption rule changes because New Yorkers with disabilities and our attendants will be hurt by these changes which will:
– result in the institutionalization of people with disabilities;
slash the hours and earnings of attendants;
undercut consumer directed services.
Senator Charles Schumer: (202) 224-6542
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: (202) 224-4451
Toll-Free Switchboard (you’ll have to ask for each office):
1-866-220-0044
We’ve been fighting these rule changes for over a year and now is the time to fight even harder! Call both Senators right now!
BACKGROUND:
Disability rights organizations across the country have been pushing back against a proposal by the US Department of Labor to change the companionship exemption which will have a negative impact both on people with disabilities and attendants. These rules will ultimately result in caps on hours attendants can work, reducing their earnings while cutting the available workforce. According to DOL’s own analysis, people with disabilities will be institutionalized as a
result of these rules.
For more information go to:
http://www.adapt.org/main/compstate
Thank you,
Dean DeRusso
Deaf Systems Advocate
