504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for District Leader {Female} of Assembly District 68 Evette Zayas' response)

Candidate Name: Evette Zayas

Phone: 646-245-1892

Fax: 212-534-7688

Contact Person: Evette Zayas

Email: ezbaker2@aol.com

Assembly District: 68

State Senate District: 28 and 30

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

A constituent was being evicted from a NYCHA apartment because a drug found in her apartment. Because she was going blind she claims she didn't see her son's drugs.
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?

I don't have a office for my campaign. But my office of employment is accessible.
How will you incorporate people with disabilities into your campaign?

I would like to hear different concerns so that I may be more aware of this situation.
Are you willing to hire and use flex-time and job-sharing if necessary?

I don't hire.
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?

I can only post job opportunities and keep in mind any disabilities one may have to suit someone in a position posted.
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 am not too knowledgeable about this. But I can say the playing field foe everyone should be the same. We have to help those who need it the most if they want it.
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 would suggest a slightly higher percent of housing stock be set aside for Americans with disabilities and their families. But when the percentage goes to the Community Board, you'd have to be on one list or another.
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?

Persons with disabilities receiving SSI should have a policy in place to protect them in regards to not being priced out.
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?

If a plan is good and a small business needed my help implementing for someone disabled and I can help I will. Anyway I can.
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.
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?

I don't know much about HAVA but I am for everyone having the opportunity to vote.
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?

Mandate them by the courts.
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 have a child with a learning disability. Anything for education I am for.
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)?

It should be the same.
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 would support this. I would advocate to the company that they should include persons' with disabilities.

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