Rockland Post

BY: Robert Jowaiszas, Community Editor/Reporter

The Fieldhouse at Rockland Community College will again be filled with signs, voices and advocates on Friday, March 13, beginning at 11 am, when Jawonio hosts its Rally in the Valley for Disability Rights, a day designed to send a clear message to Albany and Washington that support for people with disabilities must be more than a policy footnote.

For nearly eight decades, Jawonio has been part of the fabric of Rockland County. Founded in 1947 as the Cerebral Palsy Society of Rockland County, the agency grew from early childhood services into a full spectrum of supports — early intervention, education, employment, residential options, and lifelong community programs — serving more than 5,000 children and adults each year. Its evolution mirrors a basic truth advocates will highlight at the rally: disability services are not a one‑stage need but a lifelong commitment.

At the center of this call is Randi Rios‑Castro, Jawonio’s CEO, who has become a familiar voice in state and local advocacy. In past Rally in the Valley events, she has urged officials to understand that “protecting funding for services is essential, that Medicaid is essential, and that paying staff a living wage is essential,” reinforcing that Medicaid is the lifeline that keeps community services alive.

This year’s event comes at a critical election season, and organizers are pushing the message that disability services must be a priority issue for candidates at every level. With discussions underway around federal and state budgets, advocates argue that elections offer an opportunity to hold leaders accountable for policies that directly affect people’s daily lives — from early intervention and employment to supported independent living.

A bipartisan group of elected leaders is expected to participate or be directly engaged, reflecting the broad impact of this advocacy. U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler has attended past rallies and publicly vowed to support Medicaid as a core federal program, emphasizing that his legislative history includes advocacy for people with disabilities. State Sen. Bill Weber and Assemblyman Pat Carroll are also expected to be among local lawmakers invited to stand with families and providers, continuing a tradition of regional representation at these events. Previous rallies have included appearances by county leaders such as Ed Day and Rockland legislators who understand that disability services touch every corner of the community.

Beyond Rockland, disability advocates have called on state leaders including those in Albany to back a meaningful targeted inflationary increase and workforce investments, with other state legislators publicly advocating for stronger investments in services and direct‑support workforce compensation.

Families and self‑advocates in the crowd will represent every stage of life — children in early intervention programs, young adults learning job skills, parents planning for the long term, and older adults who live independently thanks to supports that are often tied to Medicaid. For many, the rally is not just an advocacy event but a visible reminder that the choice between adequate funding and service cuts is a choice between independence and hardship.

Longtime community members note that Jawonio’s history and Rally in the Valley’s growth reflect the county’s commitment to neighbors. This is a place where providers stand with families, workers stand with the people they support, and advocates stand with one another for a shared goal.

As the day unfolds, the comparison to a hometown team pushing for gold feels apt. There are no medals handed out, but each success — a child’s first job, an adult living independently, a family secure in the knowledge that services will continue — is its own victory.

In this election year, the message from Rockland will be clear: supporting people with disabilities is not a secondary issue or a line item to be negotiated away. It is a priority for every candidate, a moral and community commitment, and a test of whether our leaders truly value dignity, independence and inclusion.

When the Fieldhouse rises together on March 13, what Rockland County will be urging is simple: stand for people of all ages and abilities — and make disability services a key issue this election year.