Matt Hofele Runs for SANYS Board of Directors
Campaigning for Positive Change
Inspired by his life experience and self-advocacy journey, Matt Hofele, a Personal Outcome Measures Interviewer and Training Clerk, is running for a seat on the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State (SANYS) Board of Directors, representing Long Island-Suffolk.
SANYS represents New York with offices in all five regions. Representatives advocate for increased independence, inclusive language, choice of housing, employment opportunities, and living wages for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), among other issues.
At the helm of SANYS is its board of directors who represent regions of New York State and attend four board meetings a year in Albany. Board members also go to regional self-advocacy meetings, make public appearances, and attend events.
Matt served as a board member before the pandemic and looks forward to advocating for issues facing the I/DD community, such as increased funding for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs).
On the issue of New York State increasing funding for DSP wages, Matt said, “I hear firsthand that staff love the job, but they have to go feed their families or go pay for their lives, and because of that, staff do leave. In another job, you can get paid so much more.”
Improper funding leads to low retention rates and doesn’t only impact DSPs, Matt, who resides at Manor Road in North Greenlawn, added. It also impacts people who receive support like himself, who get to know DSPs and must ensure trust in them for crucial care.
“Working as a DSP, they bathe people, they feed people, they cook, they give out medication. They also must drive us to doctor’s appointments, to day program, to work, and wherever else we want to go when we’re able to. If you think about it, it leaves you speechless,” explained Matt.
As a board member, Matt would like to advocate for equity for people with I/DD.
“If you think about it, rights for people with disabilities are not the same,” Matt said. “We don’t get treated as other people in society because people label us.”
Access to employment opportunities with equal pay for people with I/DD are among the rights Matt would advocate for as a member of the board of directors.
For his campaign so far, Matt has designed and printed flyers to distribute around the Citizens’ office in Plainview. He has also posted about the campaign on social media.
Recently, Matt also joined a group of self-advocates for the annual SANYS Statewide Conference in Albany to learn about key issues, meet advocates from around the state and engage in team building activities.
This past April, Matt joined Citizens Options Unlimited CEO Stanfort Perry and AHRC Nassau Board President Saundra Gumerove at the Disability Policy Seminar in Washington D.C.
“Matt advocates on an individual basis, and he also advocates within the agency and outside the agency,” said Colleen Tapia, Quality Assurance Administrator. “He speaks for what life is like receiving services.”