Relates to protecting the communication rights of individuals with disabilities; provides that each person with a disability has the right to communicate in their preferred manner.
Impact
The implementation of A07363 is expected to significantly enhance the communication rights of individuals with disabilities, adapting to modern understandings of assistive communication techniques. By mandating the use of validated methods, it aims to eliminate reliance on scientifically unproven techniques such as facilitated communication, thus improving the integrity and independence of communication among those affected by disabilities. The bill establishes several rights relating to communication methods, including access and recognition of these methods in various settings such as schools and healthcare facilities.
Summary
Bill A07363 aims to establish comprehensive communication rights for individuals with disabilities within the state of New York. The proposed legislation amends the mental hygiene law by introducing a New York State Communication Bill of Rights specifically designed to protect and ensure that individuals with disabilities can communicate in their preferred manner without restrictions imposed by state agencies, schools, community residences, or service providers. The bill emphasizes the importance of validated communication methods, defining these as techniques recognized and accepted by authoritative professional organizations, ensuring individuals have access to methods that lead to independent communication.
Contention
Debate surrounding the bill may arise from differing views on the definition of 'validated communication methods' and the exclusion of certain techniques deemed unproven. Critics might argue that the strict criteria for validating communication methods could limit options for some individuals or families who seek various forms of communication support. Furthermore, there may be concerns raised by stakeholders in education and healthcare regarding the feasibility of providing the required support, such as staff training and access to validated assistive technologies, across the state's facilities.
Same As
Relates to protecting the communication rights of individuals with disabilities; provides that each person with a disability has the right to communicate in their preferred manner.
Establishes the office of community living to advocate on behalf of persons with disabilities and assure that persons with disabilities are afforded the opportunity to exercise all of the rights and responsibilities accorded to citizens of the state of New York and to promote and fund services that assist persons with disabilities to live independently in their home communities.
Prohibits the use of materially deceptive media in political communications when the information content provider that creates the communication has actual knowledge that such communication is materially deceptive without disclosing such use.
Requires the department of civil service to establish an accessible list of persons with disabilities and veterans with disabilities employed by the state; and to make persons with disabilities and veterans with disabilities employed by the state eligible for the HELP program.
Establishes a co-navigation services program for persons who are deaf-blind to provide services to a person who is deaf-blind that assist the person to physically access the person's environment and to make informed decisions, including providing visual and environmental information or sighted guide services and assisting with communication accessibility by communicating in the preferred language and communication mode of the person who is deaf-blind.
Establishes a co-navigation services program for persons who are deaf-blind to provide services to a person who is deaf-blind that assist the person to physically access the person's environment and to make informed decisions, including providing visual and environmental information or sighted guide services and assisting with communication accessibility by communicating in the preferred language and communication mode of the person who is deaf-blind.
Requires any political communication, whether made by phone call, email or other message-based communication, that utilizes an artificial intelligence system to engage in human-like conversation with another shall, by reasonable means, apprise the person of the fact that they are communicating with an artificial intelligence system.