504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for State Assembly Ariel Ferreira's 2010 response)

Candidate Name: Ariel Ferreira

Candidate for Assembly District: 71 (Manhattan)

Contact Person: Alicia Torres, 646-319-8180, e-mail: alica@voteferreira.com

Campaign Address: 809 West 177th Street, (5E), New York, N.Y. 10033

Phone: 917-202-1297

Email: ariel@voteferreira.com

Website: www.voteferreira.com

Endorsements: Hamilton Heights Progressive Democratic Club & Soledad Hiciano (ACDP)

If there is a Campaign office(s), is it wheelchair accessible?

As of right now, we don't have a campaign office. We are in the process of searching for one and we will make sure it is wheelchair accessible.
How have you incorporated people with disabilities into your campaign?

Yes, Martin Baez, who is a wheelchair user, is part of my team.
If you are not an incumbent,
1. Is your present office/work place accessible to people with disabilities? If not, what have you done to rectify the inaccessibility?
  
  I run my consulting business out of my home and we have any elevator in the building allowing accessibility to all. There are steps in the front of the building but there is a ramp that goes to the lower level where anyone on wheelchair could take the elevator. In addition, when I meet with clients outside of my home office, I make sure it is in location that is in their best convenience.
2. If the present district office is inaccessible, do you intent to find an accessible office?
  
  If elected, my office will be an accessible office. If not elected and my business grows, I will find an accessible office as well.
What personal and professional experience have you had with people with disabilities in your personal life and in the workplace?

First, one of my close friends, Sasha Quinones, has multiple sclerosis and throughout the years, I have witnessed her gradually becoming disabled. She went from walking, to using a walker, and now she is a wheelchair user. Every time, we attend events and/or business trips, I made sure all her needs as disabled person where met and that she was always accommodated. Second, when I worked in the New York City Council, as legislative and budget director, I supervised an intern, Martin Baez, who is a wheelchair user. I ensured that Martin received every accommodation necessary to feel comfortable in the workplace. I even gave him my desk to work because it was spacious and comfortable for him to work in his wheelchair. Working with Martin Baez, I also became aware and informed on the organized groups led by disabled leaders. In addition, I worked on various constituent cases protecting disabled constituents' rights when it came to accessible housing, transportation, and healthcare.
What type of jobs would you be willing to hire and to provide reasonable accommodation (e.g. flex or part time) for staff members with disabilities?

I am willing to hire Martin Baez, who is a wheelchair user, to work as liaison between the office and the disabled community. I will give him a part time job and reasonable accommodations for traveling.
While in public office and/or prior to this campaign, what have you accomplished in regard to advancing disability rights? This can include work towards accessible housing, transportation, employment, health care, education, and including people with disabilities in the political process?

When I work in the New York City Council, I work various constituent cases in regards to protecting a disable constituents rights when it came to accessible housing, transportation, and healthcare.
Will you commit to only attend and/or sponsor events that are accessible to people with disabilities including providing written materials in alternate formats, providing assistive listening systems, and sign language interpreters, as well as ensuring that locations are accessible to people who use mobility aids, like wheelchairs and walkers?

Yes, I will commit to sponsor events that are accessible to people with disabilities including providing written materials in alternate formats, providing assistive listening systems, and sign language interpreters, as well as ensuring that locations are accessible to people who use mobility aids, like wheelchairs and walkers.
Do you pledge to use your office to affirm or strengthen, rather than weaken, civil rights protections to persons with disabilities?

Yes, I pledge to use my office to affirm or strengthen civil rights protections to persons with disabilities.
How do you propose your active involvement/availability to the disability community?
1. Will there be a specific person in your office responsible to this community?
  
  Yes, I intend to hire Martin Baez, who is also a member of the 504 Dem Club, to be responsible for the disabled community.
2. Will have regular office agenda meetings on these issues?
  
  Yes, I will have regular office agenda meetings on the issues.
3. What would you do to have direct contact with our community?
  
  I will have Martin Baez, work as my liaison to keep me direct contact with your communities events, meetings, and forums.
How will you work closely with the disability community to assure passage of vitally needed legislation? What will be your strategy?

I will meet with the disabled community and political groups on a constant basis to discuss the issues that affect their communities. In addition, I will step out of my office to act as liaison and voice for the community and speak to the other assembly members. Since nobody ever says "No" to numbers, I will work closely with the leaders of the disable communities to create Fact Sheets per district that show the amount of disabled people living in each district and how many are registered number in other to create a sense of power and unity when meeting with other members. I would also like to create a public list of accessible venues for people to use that will allow the disable community to attend events held in these venues.
How would you change the laws of New York State to protect the rights of its citizens with disabilities?

I will make changes the laws of New York State that will help provide better quality of life for the people of the disabled community tackling issues such as access to education, healthcare, transportation, and employment, housing. It will be a priority to assure that the changes made in the laws provide equal civil rights for the disabled community, including all ages, and protect them.
While the State is focused on reducing the costs of Medicaid and other programs, persons with disabilities need to continue to have access to the services and supports they need and choose.
1. Would you oppose proposals which would negatively affect eligibility, benefits, coverage, and/or access to services for Medicaid beneficiaries and eliminate the systemic bias that leads to unwanted placement in nursing homes and other institutions?
  
  Yes, I would oppose these proposals.
2. Would you seek to promote comprehensive long term care reform that will not reduce coverage or access to services?
  
  Yes, I would seek to promote comprehensive long term care.
3. Would you increase rental/housing subsidies to participants in the new Nursing Facility Transition and Diversion Medicaid waiver program?
  
  Yes, I would increase rental/housing subsidies to participants in the new Nursing Facility Transition and Diversion Medicaid waiver program.
Would you expand Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program (EPIC) to provide the same level of eligibility and coverage to persons with disabilities under age 65?

Yes, I would expand Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program (EPIC) to provide the same level of eligibility and coverage to persons with disabilities under age 65.
Will you support moving funds from nursing homes to moving patients out of nursing homes and back into the community?

Yes, I will support moving funds.
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. Do you support the creation of a housing trust fund for persons with disabilities?

Yes, I do support the creation of a housing trust fund for persons with disabilities.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires housing developers to set aside a certain percentage of accessible units for persons with disabilities when federal funds are used for construction. Do you favor incorporating these provisions into State law so that the Department of Housing and Community Renewal can be empowered to enforce these provisions?

Yes, I favor incorporating these provisions into State law so that the Department of Housing and Community Renewal can be empowered to enforce these provisions.
Visitability sets guidelines to ensure newly constructed multi-family dwellings have basic accessible/adaptable features to permit people with disabilities can visit, and for residents to "age in place," without having to move out when age and/or disability set in. Do you support incorporating the concept of "visitability" in the New York State Building Code?

Yes, I do favor incorporating these provisions into State law so that the Department of Housing and Community Renewal can be empowered to enforce these provisions.
At present: SCRIE (Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption) Household income cap is $29,000. DRIE (Disabled Rent Increase Exemption) is $19,284/single and $27,780/2 or more. What is your position on increasing DRIE income eligibility to match SCRIE?

I favor the increase DRIE income eligibility to match SCRIE.
While localities have acquired voting machines that attempt to meet the accessibility standards of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), many poling places in New York State remain inaccessible to persons with disabilities. Do you favor the elimination of provisions in Section 4-104 (1-a) of the New York State Election Law allowing waiver of polling place accessibility standards?

Yes, I favor the elimination of provisions in Section 4-104 (1-a) of the New York State Election Law allowing waiver of polling place accessibility standards.
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, I will support a fully funded office of disability services on each SUNY and CUNY campus to assist students with disabilities in securing accommodations.
How do you propose dealing with school districts that deny civil rights to disabled students even after the Sate Division of Civil Rights affirms the student's rights such as to use a service animal?

I will work to defend the rights of disable students. Plus, I will present legislation that makes sure that the Department of Education abides by theses civil rights of the disabled students and protects their rights in the school districts. If a class action suit needs to take place to defend the rights of our students I will lead the case.
Do you support legislation requiring car services, and shuttle services to purchase wheelchair accessible vehicles or otherwise ensure that they have the capacity to serve persons with disabilities?

Yes, I support legislation requiring car services, and shuttle services to purchase wheelchair accessible vehicles or otherwise ensure that they have the capacity to serve persons with disabilities.
Will you or do you support Assembly Member Kellner's proposed bill requiring New York City to transition to a 100% accessible taxi fleet?

Yes, I do Assembly Member Kellner's proposed bill requiring New York City to transition to a 100% accessible taxi fleet. In addition, I would fight to make sure that outrageous fees aren't charged.
Persons with disabilities have historically been under-represented within the Democratic Party leadership. According to the 2000 census, persons with disabilities comprised 20.6% of New York State residents and 23.1% of those 18 years and older. Previously, we were told that only those groups included in the Voting Rights Act were included in the goals and timetables for delegate selection. Yet the lesbian and gay communities were included for the first time at the 2000 convention and again at the 2004 and 2010 conventions. Would you support a campaign to set a goal that 10% of the total New York State Delegation to the 2012 Democratic National Convention be comprised of persons with disabilities.

Yes, I would support a campaign to set a goal that 10% of the total New York State Delegation to the 2012 Democratic National Convention be comprised of persons with disabilities.

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