Darling, a Hilton, Monroe County, resident and CEO of the Rochester-based Center for Disability Rights, said the activists left after confirming the union would support changes to the health and education laws that were acceptable to the group.
“They’re pushing that language today, so we declared victory and left their offices,” Darling said Wednesday. “We got what we needed, so we’re thrilled.”
The protesters had stayed in the office 24 hours a day, with protesters sleeping on chairs, the floor and air mattresses, Darling said. Darling himself only left the property once over the week, he said.
The change in state law would help implement the federal Community First Choice Option, which took effect in 2011 and gave states the option to provide home-based attendants to Medicaid enrollees with disabilities. The program comes with a 6 percent boost in federal matching funds for any related services provided to patients.