Migrant families can deal with physical and intellectual disabilities in NY through the ‘Ramírez June’ campaign

The Ramírez family came from Oaxaca, Mexico, a New York in 2003 in search of a better life for his children Herminia, Mónica, Humberto and Víctor. Little Humberto, when he turned eight years old, began to show signs of some motor limitations. that showed that something was not right in their development process.

“He could not keep his gaze fixed in one place, his bones began to grow much more than his tendons. At that time it was very difficult for a family like ours to get help with certain health codes. However, after he was first diagnosed with cerebral palsy and connected with help at a community civic center, everything changed,” he said. Monica Ramirez.

Despite his health challenges, today Humberto is a happy young man, 27 years old, as his sister Mónica explains: “He’s doing great.. Our lives wouldn’t be the same without him. “He got all the help he needed.”

The stories of the Ramírez family and another Malaysian family (June), which overcame the complex barriers that immigrant communities faced in accessing services related to intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), the name inspired the ‘Ramirez June’ Campaign of the New York Governor’s Office for New Americans (ONA), which expand resources with vital information and services, to people who are in the same situation.

This initiative is the first of its kind in the entire country and was created in 2019 as an expanding pilot program.

“Our goal is to tell communities, regardless of where they are from, and regardless of their immigration status or language, that New York State which has resources that allow, first of all, the performance of a early diagnosis of any developmental disability, which can be the difference between a multifaceted approach in time, which allows you to improve your quality of life,” he said. Laura Gonzalez, director of the ONA.

Based on the definition of National Institute of Child Development and Health (NIH) IDD are disorders that are usually present at birth and that “negatively affect the process of physical, intellectual and/or emotional development of a person.” Many of these diseases affect multiple body parts or systems.”

An intellectual disability begins to appear at any time, before the child turns 18, subraya el NIH.

Humberto Ramírez (wearing a blue t-shirt and cap) is today a 27-year-old young man who his family describes as a happy man. (Photo courtesy of the Ramírez family)Credit: Courtesy

Mission: Distribute these programs

The New York State Office for New Americans was created in 2012, to welcome immigrants and help them, through various initiatives, to integrate into their new life.

Through the state network of community providers, for five years now, the ‘Ramírez-June’ campaign has connected with migrant communities to spread a clear message: In New York, there are free resources to help families, with various programs that help deal with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In this act of distribution, the ONA believes that they have distributed 4,200 free copies of Voyage, a multilingual illustrated resource book, who created the initiative early recognition of disabilities.

They are also distributed 4,500 copies of the “Act Early” campaign.targeting new American families, community groups, and pediatric practices.

“It is important to reinforce our aim, identify more people who need help and direct them to special programmes, especially in some ‘wilderness’ areas in New York State, where there is not as much access to information and organizations, c“As is the case with the Big Apple.”said Gonzalez.

Currently, this state office is showing progress in expanding the language access, demographic identification and cultural competence.

This partnership between ONA and the New York State Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD) seeks to improve the lives of New Yorkers with developmental disabilities and their families through programs that encourage self-advocacy, participation and inclusion in all aspects of community life.

New resources

The CDD has a video presents the work of the ‘Ramirez June’ Campaign and its impact on new Americans by developmental disabilities, their families, and the systems that support these communities.

The video discusses the cause of the initiative, highlights the partnerships that made the project possible, and shares the stories of families of new Americans, which is trying to access DD services.

The video also shows the the Ramírez family and the Siewling (June) Lum family, in honor of which the program was named.

How and where can you get help?

• Any immigrant who needs advice on how to access ONA programs is asked to call the New Americans Hotline at 1-800-566-76369am to 8pm ET, Monday through Friday. All calls are confidential. Support is available in over 200 languages.

• If you want to organize activities Multilingual access to new American communities or service providers in New York State or connect with ONA’s Ramirez June Campaign, contact New Americans@dos.ny.gov.

• Please share any tips, success stories, concerns or information you want. about new Americans with disabilities, on the portal: Ramirez June Enterprise (office.com)

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