AWARDS RECE IVED ACROSS NYS
JAMES HAYES NAMED NY ALLIANCE’S 2022 PUBLIC POLICY & SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD RECIPIENT
Jim has significant experience in helping people with disabilities and their families. He has handled hundreds of proceedings to appoint guardians for people with developmental disabilities or with mental illness, and for elderly individuals with reduced cognitive ability. He has assisted many families in establishing special needs trusts to preserve eligibility for government benefits and in long- range planning of estates and trusts for families with disabled children. Jim also has extensive experience in developing and financing subsidized housing for the elderly and people with disabilities, including the use of low-income housing tax credits and historic preservation tax credits as financing devices. During the past 47 years, Jim has continued his work not only with ACHIEVE, but also with The Arc New York, where he served on the Guardianship Committee for over 25 years, including time as Chairperson. Jim worked tirelessly with other members and staff of The Arc New York on Amendments to Article 17A SPCA and the Health Care Decision Act legislation and participated in lobbying efforts over many years to ensure its passage. This critical legislation allows the parents and legal guardians of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities to make end-of-life decisions on their children’s behalf. Jim also served and chaired The Arc New York Legal Committee and was a trustee for The Arc New York Trust, providing numerous presentations for parents and professionals on Guardianship, Life Planning and Trusts both locally and around the state. When asked to look back and describe his career in three words, Jim said “Active, Caring and Advocate” – three words that he’s dedicated his life to living by. Congratulations on this award, Jim! You deserve it!
James “Jim” Hayes was recently selected as the NY Alliance’s (New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation) 2022 Public Policy and Social Justice Award Recipient. The Public Policy and Social Justice Award honors leaders in the disability and human service fields who have made exceptional contributions to the betterment of society through the advancement of policy and life enrichment opportunities for all individuals. Jim was selected for this award because of his superior leadership and contributions to the field of services for individuals with disabilities. Jim originally joined the ACHIEVE Board of Directors in 1971 to improve services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He has been a caring and dedicated advocate to the agency’s mission of serving the disabled. He served as both the President of the Board of Directors and Chairperson of the ACHIEVE Foundation. Jim is a partner in the law firm of Hinman, Howard and Kattell in Binghamton. He joined the law firm in 1968 and focuses his practice on housing issues, guardianship, estate planning, special needs trusts, and disability issues, including Medicaid, Medicare and disability benefits, as well as banking and commercial law. Jim's son Paul was supported by ACHIEVE for many years. As an attorney and the parent of a child receiving services from ACHIEVE, he is uniquely aware of the trust placed in the hands of corporate guardians. He has worked to put parents at ease when they name ACHIEVE as a standby guardian for their children.
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