504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for State Assembly Freddie Hamilton's response)

Candidate Name: Freddie Hamilton

Campaign Manager: Mireille Massac

Phone: 718-230-4224 or 917-204-0276

Campaign Name: Freddie Hamilton for Assembly

Campaign Address: 1101 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11238

Contact Person: Mireille Massac or Robin James

Phone: 718-230-4224

Email: fhamilton2@verizon.net

Website: www.freddiehamilton.com

Assembly District: 57

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

My partner of 33 years is bi-polar, I have problems with the circulation in my legs. Also many of my friends have disabilities of one sort or another.
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, my office is accessible to persons with disabilities.
How will you incorporate people with disabilities into your campaign?

All people are wrelcome to join my campaign and we are prepared to make accomodations.
Are you willing to hire and use flex-time and job-sharing if necessary?

Yes, to the extent possible.
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?

Many employers need to be educated about the abilities and talents that disabled individuals can bring to the workforce.
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?

I will be an advocate within the NYS legislature to encourage strengthening the laws within NYS to protect the rights of citizens with disabilities.
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 will encourage housing for special population and in particular housing set aside that can accommodate the needs of 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?

As we address the housing crisis for all vulnerable New Yorkers I will work to ensure that the affordable housing needs of people with disabilities are also met.
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?

I will work to ensure the provisions of Timothy's Law are met and I will use the results of the two year study to determine what other help small businesses might need.
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, I support Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility legislation.
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?

We have a long way to go in NYC but I am committed to providing real access to disabled voters (at the polling sites).
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?

This is a huge problem that's not easy to address. I think that parents should know all their options when selecting the best educational setting for their child.
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 will support increasing DRIE to $25,000.
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. I will work toward making such provisions.
What would you do to expand accessible transportation options for people with disabilities in NYS?

no answer

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