Candidate’s Hour presented by Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York

The Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York (DDAWNY) will host Candidate’s Hour, a public forum, on Friday, October 12, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at 181 Lincoln Street, Depew, NY (a People Inc. location). This event is a powerful opportunity where candidates present their campaign positions and speak about current issues of government policy that affect people with developmental disabilities and their families. 

Candidates Hour is a format which allows candidates to speak unfiltered and uninterrupted, as each addresses issues of concern to their constituencies, including the special needs of people with developmental disabilities served by various human services agencies in Western New York. 

The candidates will be asked their position on various topics, including: the minimum wage increase for direct support professionals and the “bFair2DirectCare” campaign, the critical housing need for people with developmental disabilities and the concerns of family members, as well employment opportunities and transportation challenges for people with developmental disabilities. 

Elected officials scheduled to be part of the panel discussion include: Assemblymember Erik Bohen, Assemblymember David J. DiPietro, Candidate Carmina El Behairy, Michael P. Kearns, Senator Patrick Gallivan, Congressman Brian Higgins, Senator Chris Jacobs, Senator Timothy M. Kennedy, Candidate Karen McMahon, Assemblymember Angelo Morinello, Assemblymember Mike Norris, Assemblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes, Senator Robert Ortt, Senator Michael Ranzenhofer, Senator Sean M. Ryan, Assemblymember Robin Schimminger, Candidate Joan Elizabeth Seamans, Assemblymember Monica Wallace and Assemblymember Raymond W. Walter. 

The Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York is a collaborative group of member voluntary agencies that provide services to people with developmental disabilities. While honoring individual agency missions, it is the intent of the Alliance to assist agencies to develop relationships, promote unified strategies and share risks for the mutual gain with and for the benefit of people with developmental disabilities.