The event also renewed a push to make New York\u2019s Preferred Source program permanent by removing a provision that requires the program\u2019s authorization to be periodically renewed by the state Legislature.<\/p>\n
![\"Maureen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787927414_854_IMG_1322.jpg\")
Maureen O\u2019Brien (L.), president & CEO of New York State Institute for the Disabiled and Patrick Bardsley (R.), co-founder and CEO of Spectrum Designs discussed the new research.<\/p>\n
\u201c85% of all voters in New York state think that disability employment should be a priority,\u201d said Maureen O\u2019Brien, president and CEO and co-founder of New York State Industries for the Disabled. \u201c90% think that the Preferred Source program should be expanded and have priority in the Legislature to be expanded.\u201d<\/p>\n
The survey, conducted by Global Strategy Group on behalf of NYSID, polled 1,000 registered New York voters from April 13 to April 20. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Brien said NYSID is preparing to seek renewal of the legislation when the Legislature reconvenes in January. She said sponsors in both the Senate and Assembly are expected to move the legislation forward, with the organization seeking to ultimately make the program permanent.<\/p>\n
The Preferred Source program allows state agencies and other public entities to purchase goods and services from organizations that employ people with disabilities.<\/p>\n
![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG_1313-rotated.jpg\")
John Beyer shared how Spectrum Designs provided his son with a job and a paycheck.<\/p>\n
NYSID\u2019s work, according to the Rockefeller Institute report, has a significant economic impact across the state. The report found that NYSID facilitated a $292 million contract portfolio that employed nearly 5,000 workers with disabilities. Those businesses generated $470 million in economic output, supported the equivalent of 4,794 full-time jobs and provided nearly $80 million in wages.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Brien said NYSID worked with about 100 agencies across the state and handled about 3,000 contracts, describing the network as a ready-made system for expanding employment opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are folks going to work, participating in their communities, paying taxes, just like everybody else,\u201d O\u2019Brien said.<\/p>\n
Spectrum Designs CEO and 2026-27 said the organization demonstrates what can happen when people with disabilities have access to meaningful employment.<\/p>\n
Spectrum Designs, a full-service brand and merchandise business headquartered in Port Washington, operates three locations. More than 70% of its workforce is made up of people with disabilities, according to Bardsley.<\/p>\n
![\"Kelli](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/IMG_1318.jpg\")
Kelli Fisher, an employee at Spectrum Designs, shared how the company changed her life. Larissa Fuentes<\/p>\n
Bardsley said Spectrum Designs has been a member of NYSID for more than a decade and that the Preferred Source program has helped make New York state its largest customer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe report shows that people with disabilities want to work, they want to contribute, and they want to build independent lives,\u201d Bardsley said. \u201cBut, unfortunately, too many are still facing barriers that stand in the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among those barriers are concerns about losing health care and other public benefits, complicated eligibility requirements and a lack of employment supports, according to the Rockefeller Institute research.<\/p>\n
Joseph Ramirez, Nassau County regional representative for the governor\u2019s office, said Gov. Kathy Hochul\u2019s Executive Order 40 established New York as an \u201cEmployment First\u201d state, emphasizing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll New Yorkers deserve to work with dignity, regardless of ability,\u201d Ramirez said.<\/p>\n
North Hempstead Town Council Member Mariann Dalimonte also called on state lawmakers to eliminate the sunset provision.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we support Preferred Source businesses, we are investing in people and in our communities,\u201d DeMonte said. \u201cWe are helping individuals develop skills, gain valuable work experience, earn a paycheck and build confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said the benefits extend beyond individual workers to their families, employers, communities and taxpayers.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew York state elected officials, please, I am asking you to help make this legislation permanent and to end the existing sunset,\u201d Dalimonte said.<\/p>\n
North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena praised Spectrum Designs and other organizations for creating opportunities for people with disabilities and said the community benefits from their work.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need this product. You put out the best, the best products,\u201d DeSena said. \u201cBut most importantly, is that we all are valued and that we all contribute.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Kelli Fisher, a marketing development specialist at Spectrum Designs, the issue is personal. She spoke about her experience working in marketing and social media and the confidence and independence she has gained through her career.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmployment is about so much more than a paycheck,\u201d Fisher said. \u201cIt\u2019s about being valued, being a part of a team, learning, growing and knowing that your work matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said people with disabilities need opportunities to demonstrate their abilities rather than sympathy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope my story reminds people that individuals with disabilities don\u2019t need sympathy. We need opportunities,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
John Beyer, a Port Washington resident and business owner whose son has worked at Spectrum Designs for 15 years, also spoke about the organization\u2019s importance. Beyer said his son, who has autism, was unable to secure paid employment after spending three years training at a large retail store.<\/p>\n
Spectrum Designs ultimately hired him, allowing him to earn a paycheck for the past 15 years, Beyer said.<\/p>\n
Beyer said Spectrum Designs provides an opportunity that is difficult to find elsewhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just amazing, and it\u2019s so enriching for these people to get a paycheck, and really earn a living,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The press conference concluded with O\u2019Brien reiterating NYSID\u2019s goal of eliminating the sunset provision and making the Preferred Source program permanent when lawmakers return in January.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need the sunset taken off the Preferred Source Law, and we\u2019re going to work on that in January,\u201d O\u2019Brien said. \u201cSo I hope that we can get everyone\u2019s support.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New York voters overwhelmingly support expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities, advocates and business leaders said during…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":331856,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[9,11,10,49,51,61111,50,47124,3730,124862,124863],"class_list":["post-331855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-headlines","tag-new-york-news","tag-new-york-state","tag-new-york-state-headlines","tag-new-york-state-industries-for-the-disabled","tag-new-york-state-news","tag-port-washington","tag-research","tag-spectrum-designs","tag-the-rockefeller-institute-of-government"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/331855","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=331855"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/331855\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/331856"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=331855"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=331855"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=331855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}