Enviable Life Ball Honoree

Advocacy in Action Award

John Mannion
New York State Senator

Senator John W. Mannion is the Chairman of the New York State Senate Committee on Disabilities and represents the 50th Senate District, which includes portions of Central New York. He has been instrumental in giving the I/DD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) community, families and support people a voice in the Senate. Examples of his advocacy include holding roundtables to assess the response in residential facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, enhancing a job expansion program for people with disabilities, creating an ombudsman program at OPWDD and removing outdated language from state law.

Striving to always improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities, Sen. Mannion has showcased the artwork of ACLD artists in his Albany office. Sen. Mannion sponsored a bill that was recently signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul to create a public awareness campaign to combat stereotypes of people with disabilities. He also sponsored a bill signed into law giving people with disabilities more flexibility and inclusivity when it comes to supported decision making.

Sen. Mannion resides in Central New York with his wife and three children. He has nearly three decades of classroom experience as a teacher in public schools. He spent his final 21 years as an Advanced Placement Biology teacher in the West Genesee School District. Sen. Mannion has been a strong ally for teachers and students, serving in the capacity of President for the West Genesee Teachers’ Association. He continues to champion the needs of special education schools; sponsoring a bill to amend the tuition methodology for 4410 programs and 853 schools.

ACLD is proud to honor Senator Mannion with the “Advocacy in Action” award for all his efforts to protect the rights and advocate for children and adults with autism, intellectual and other developmental disabilities across New York State.