Last year a bill was introduced in the New York State Legislature requiring children in grades K-12 in New York State be taught through a curriculum developed by the Museum of disABILITY History the history of people with disabilities. The bill and curriculum aim to promote greater awareness and understanding of people with disabilities by amending current NYS Education Law 801 to make available to all students “suitable curriculum materials to aid in the instruction, understanding and acceptance of students with disabilities.” The bill is sponsored by Senator Mark Grisanti of Buffalo and Assemblymember Michael Cusick of Staten Island. Cusick is also the Chair for the NYS Assembly’s Disabilities Task Force.

“Teaching kids this important history will open their minds to the unfortunate past of how people with disabilities have been treated while at the same time show them the contribution they make and will continue to make to society,” said James M. Boles, Ed.D., president and chief operating officer of People Inc.

Presently the bill is in the Education Committees of both houses of the Legislature. The goal is to get the bill passed by the end of the Legislature’s legislative session this June.

For more information, contact People Inc. Public Affairs Director Kevin Horrigan at Khorrigan@people-inc.org or 716.817.7475.