REMARKS
Council Member Kamillah Hanks speaks in support of Intro 871 for caregiver accommodations
0:10:14
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137 sec
Council Member Kamillah Hanks addresses the Committee on Civil and Human Rights to express her support for Intro 871, a bill she introduced to provide reasonable accommodations for caregivers of individuals with permanent disabilities, particularly autism. She emphasizes the importance of this legislation for parents and guardians facing challenges in balancing work and caregiving responsibilities.
- Highlights Staten Island's high rate of autism and the need for workplace accommodations
- Mentions upcoming testimony from Richard Quinn, a city worker and single father of a child with autism
- Stresses the urgency of the legislation to address workplace discrimination against caregivers
Kamillah Hanks
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Thank you, Chair.
0:10:16
Good afternoon.
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I'm Camilla Hanks, and I am proud to represent the North Shore of Staten Island.
0:10:22
Thank you for the opportunity to hear Intro 8 71 before the Civil and Human Rights Committee.
0:10:27
I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude to Chair Williams, this Committee, and, my cosigners for convening this hearing and for her leadership on these issues affecting New Yorkers, the workforce, and families.
0:10:40
I'm here today to speak in support of intro 871, a bill I introduced last spring that aims to provide critical support for parents and guardians who serve as primary care, caregivers to individuals and registered permanent disabilities, including autism.
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This legislation seeks to ensure employers are provide provided with reasonable accommodations, such as remote work options, flexible schedules, to caregivers who face unique and often overwhelming challenges.
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New York State recently became the first in the nation to guarantee paid family and and maternal leave.
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This council has consistently led the way in advancing worker protections.
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This bill would be the 1st in the country to mandate flexible scheduling and remote accommodations for caregivers with individuals with autism.
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Staten Island has the highest rate of autism per capita in the state and one of the highest in the nation.
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For many of care caregivers, balancing work and caregiving is extremely challenging and often requiring them to use their own sick or vacation time to care for their child.
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As you will hear today from Richard Quinn, a city department of transportation worker and single father, to Sean, affectionately known as Shawnie Bear, a nonverbal young man living with autism.
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Like many parents and guardians of children with autism, Richard faces constant challenges providing certified care aids to support his son's needs.
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Currently, Richard is working from home because his certified aid is out with COVID.
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This experience highlights the urgent need for this legislation, and Richard will testify remotely today, balancing his caregiver responsibilities with work, giving him less time to recover from his own illnesses.
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Parents and guardians of children with autism often face workplace discrimination due to their caregiver responsibility.
0:12:27
This absolutely must change.
0:12:29
Thank you for your time today, and thank you, Chair Williams.
