Assemblyman Marc Butler visits RCIL

Resource Center for Independent Living hosts community forum in Herkimer

Assemblyman Marc Butler recently met with individuals and their families who receive services at RCIL’s Herkimer Office on East German Street to discuss challenges faced by people with disabilities in daily living and in the current economic environment.

The conference room was full on February 23, 2012 with a group invited to dialogue about issues such as employment, housing, transportation, and education. One of the central topics covered in the forum were the difficulties faced when a youth or adult has multiple problems not easily categorized for services. Serving the whole person in this situation may require a team approach including RCIL staff, medical providers, social workers, guidance counselors, teachers, and/or family members and a collaborative approach from local agencies assisting individuals.


Assemblyman Butler listened intently to the comments made and explained some of the budgetary changes being enacted by the current governor and legislature possibly affecting the availability of services for persons with disabilities.  The information included the new 2% property tax cap, the legislative budget process with its complexity of formulas, and the history of the Medicaid program, compared from its original design from 1960 to today.


RCIL will be following up with attendees requesting assistance and those who expressed an interest in serving on the Herkimer RCIL Advisory Board. This board reviews current practices and helps plan future programming and initiatives.

The Resource Center for Independent Living (RCIL) believes that everyone one of us is entitled to maintain our basic human dignity. We support your right to have individualized services that you direct. Dignity begins with having a choice – and then choosing what’s best for you. Call RCIL in Herkimer at 866-7245 or Utica at 797-4642.