Few people know it, but in New York the official state pass-time is budget watching.

Every year there is the exciting countdown to April Fools Day, when the budget is legally due, and the inevitable disappointment when Albany misses the deadline. Sure, some of the die-hards keep a vigil for the budget after that, counting the number of days late it is, but for most of us, Albany season is over.

Just like Yankee Stadium after the World Series, the Legislature fades into obscurity in the back of our minds after the budget. We know it's still there, but it feels irrelevant to our daily lives.

But those of us in the Independent Living Center world care very deeply about what happens in the Legislature all session - and so should you.

Monday, May 12, was The New York State Assembly Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day in Albany. It was a day where places like Options go door to door in the Legislative Office Building to meet members of the Assembly and Senate to educate them about bills that would help people with disabilities in New York.

This year the state budget cut funding for ILCs (like Options) by 2 percent, despite a growing need for services to people with disabilities. This reduction in funding makes our Disability Priority Agenda even more critical.

Here are a few highlights of what we are asking the Legislature to support by the end of the Legislative session:

A.5178a/ S.2644a would expand coverage under EPIC to people with disabilities under age 65.

S.6311/A244a would require polling places abide by ADA accessibility requirements so nobody is denied their right to vote because they can#'t get into a building.

S.6928/A.8520 would require taxis, limousines and hotel shuttles services to purchase accessible vehicles or otherwise ensure that they have the capacity to serve people with disabilities.

S.3956a/ A.7138 would ensure that housing protections offered to people with disabilities under Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act are also offered, and therefore enforceable, on the state level as well.

S.2172/A.2571 would incorporate Title II of the ADA into the State#'s Human Rights Law.

S.7193/A.6837 would establish standards for “visitability” in state law to require all newly constructed single-family houses, townhouses and ground-floor units of duplexes and triplexes built with public funds to be made accessible.

We do what we can to advocate with our legislators to protect the rights of people with disabilities. But there is only so much we can do. We need all of you to do your part. Hold your senators and assemblymen accountable for their votes. Tell them about bills that are important to you, and ask for their support.

We have a great Albany delegation that represents Cayuga County. Help them serve you better. Make sure they support the Disability Priority Agenda.

Collin M. Sullivan is the ADA/access advocate for Options for Independence.