The New York state Senate has unanimously passed a bill that has to do with references to people with disabilities.
The bill sponsored by Democratic Hudson Valley state Senator James Skoufis replaces outdated and offensive references to people with disabilities. In 2010, New York changed the name of the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) to the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). Although references to the OMRDD were changed to OPWDD in the Mental Hygiene Law, there are still numerous references to the old name in other sections of state law. Skoufis says the bill makes corresponding changes in all of New York State laws. This bill passed the Assembly in 2017 and 2018, and Skoufis is optimistic the Assembly will pass it again this year.
