Building strong relationships with elected officials is one of the most effective ways to strengthen advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
To encourage more in-district engagement, New York Disability Advocates (NYDA) has launched a Legislative Engagement Challenge running July 15 through October 15, 2026.
The challenge invites not-for-profit I/DD provider agencies across New York State to connect with their State Senators and Assemblymembers by hosting site visits, meetings, and other meaningful interactions. Agencies earn points for each qualifying activity, with the winning agency receiving a $2,500 donation.
When legislators have the opportunity to meet the people we support, visit programs, and hear directly from providers, they become stronger advocates for the I/DD community during budget and policy discussions.
We encourage all DDAWNY member agencies to participate, share the important work happening in your communities, and help strengthen our collective advocacy efforts.
Remember to submit each qualifying interaction within five business days using NYDA’s reporting form.
Good luck to all participating agencies! We look forward to seeing the impact you make!