Syracuse University recently submitted a solicitation of interest to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to run an agency that will monitor treatment of people with disabilities.

SU responded to a letter from the governor’s office, which said it is considering redesignating the state’s Protection and Advocacy system, said Michael Morris, executive director of the Burton Blatt Institute.

The solicitation of interest is just the first step to replace New York state’s current Protection and Advocacy system, the Commission on Quality of Care for Persons with Disabilities, which will end in June of 2013, Morris said.

Redesignating is not an annual process, Morris said, and most governors do so every 10 or 20 years.

The federal government gives New York state approximately $6.5 million, which it then allocates to the Protection and Advocacy system, he said.

Gina Lee-Glauser, vice president for research of SU’s Office of Research, said she called an interest meeting made up of advocacy groups, faculty from various colleges and centers on campus to determine if there was enough interest and expertise on campus to support such an agency.

The agency would present an opportunity, she said, to bring all of the disability experts on campus under one umbrella.

Experts that could be involved in the agency range from The Center on Human Policy, Law and Disability Studies; the Burton Blatt Institute; social works faculty; the College of Law; and the School of Information Studies, among others, Lee-Glauser said.

“This is a proposal that is building on strengths in the university in many schools,” Morris said.

The agency will have several roles, Morris said, including providing legal support, advocating for reform, promoting inclusive education and protecting against abuses, to name a few.

“It also includes training and outreach activities to help individuals with disabilities, and families and family members to be better prepared to advocate for themselves and be empowered, and their relationships with publicly funded services and supports,” he said.

The governor’s office asked SU and Disability Advocates Inc., a nonprofit organization, to consider submitting a joint proposal, Lee-Glauser said.

SU and DAI are currently discussing a collaboration, Morris said.

Lee-Glauser and Morris both said the agency seemed to be a natural fit for SU, given its long history of disability advocacy.

Said Lee-Glauser: “I think this is a deep-rooted background that I don’t think anybody could throw away.”

Published on October 17, 2012 at 12:50 am

Contact Casey: cffabris@syr.edu | @caseyfabris