North Country Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, helped pass a series of bills protecting people with disabilities and strengthening their rights in recognition of Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day.

“From everyday tasks to finding suitable housing and even voting, people with disabilities are forced to confront challenges and overcome barriers for things most of us take for granted,” Jenne said. “This legislation seeks to break down those barriers and ensure New Yorkers with disabilities have the necessary protections and opportunities.”

Jenne, a member of the Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, has been an advocate for men and women in uniform and their families. To help ensure they have access to the resources and services they need when they return home, she helped pass a measure establishing the New York State Interagency Coordinating Council for Service-Disabled Veterans to identify the needs of these veterans (A.5931).

"The men and women of our military sacrifice every day to defend and protect our country. We have a moral obligation to make sure that our warriors that return home from battle with new physical challenges are treated properly when they transition to civilian life," she said.

To help protect people with disabilities from housing discrimination, the legislative package includes a bill ensuring they can have a service animal when need (A.7283). Further, the package includes measures providing tax credits to homeowners who make their homes more accessible for people with disabilities (A.5333, A.5950-A).

Jenne supported measures to protect New Yorkers with disabilities in the event of an emergency by requiring counties with local emergency management plans to maintain a confidential registry of residents with disabilities who may need assistance or shelter during a disaster as well as requiring owners of high-rise buildings to establish an emergency evacuation plan for occupants and visitors with disabilities (A.6865, A.6287).

The assemblywoman also voted for bills that would provide blind or visually impaired voters with Braille or large-print absentee ballots, ensure state employees with disabilities have equal protection under the law and increase access to trust programs that can help people with disabilities get the care they need and stay in their homes (A4961-B, A.2546, A.6743, A.5175-A).

“New York has never shied away from fighting for equality and standing up for what’s right,” Assemblywoman Jenne said. “But that progress needs to extend to each and every person in the North Country and this state. No one can be left behind. I’ll always fight to make sure people with disabilities are given a fair shot at success.”