Events

Upcoming Events

Selected Highlights from Recent Events

June 2, 2006 – Capital Region Rally for Timothy's Law
On June 2nd, more than 100 supporters of Timothy's Law from throughout the Capital Region, and beyond, converged on Saratoga Springs' Congress Park. Supporters were calling upon NYS Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno to bring Timothy's Law to the floor of the Senate for a vote. - more...

May 25, 2006 - Candlelight Vigil for Timothy's Law in Hudson
Timothy's Law supporters in the Hudson Valley gathered in Hudson, NY for a candlelight vigil in support of Timothy's Law on May 25th. These supporters were calling upon NYS Senator Stephen Saland to support Timothy's Law. - more...

May 24, 2006 - Mental Health Awareness Walk and Picnic For Parity in Watertown
Nearly 100 North Country residents came out for the 2nd Annual Mental Health Awareness Walk and Picnic For Parity on May 24th, displaying true support for Timothy's Law. - more...

May 12, 2006 - Rally for Timothy's Law in Utica
On Friday, May 12th, Timothy's Law supporters in the Mohawk Valley and Central New York marched through downtown Utica to the State Office Building, where they then held a rally calling for passage of Timothy's Law (S.6735-a) in the NYS Senate. - more...

May 5, 2006 - Rally for Timothy's Law in White Plains, Westchester County
The Timothy's Law rally in White Plains, NY turned out hundreds of residents of Westchester County to call upon their Senators to pass Timothy's Law (S.6735-a). - more...

May 7, 2006 – Thousands March on Long Island's Jones Beach
On Sunday, May 7, 2006, thousands of people from across Long Island came out to Jones Beach for NAMI's annual Walk For the Mind of America and to support Timothy's Law. - more...

April 21, 2006 - March and Rally for Timothy's Law in Binghamton, NY
Supporters of Timothy’s Law demonstrated the broad support Timothy’s Law enjoys in New York’s Southern Tier by holding a march through downtown Binghamton, NY. The march ended at the Binghamton State Office Building, where a rally in support of Timothy's Law was held, urgning NYS Senator Thomas Libous to pass Timothy’s Law (S.6735-A). - more...

May 5, 2005 - Timothy’s Law Advocates Release Balloons with ‘Messages to Timothy’

Gathering at the steps of the NYS Capitol in Albany, Timothy’s Law supporters today celebrated what would have been the 17th birthday of Timothy O’Clair, the Schenectady, NY boy who took his own life 4 years ago after his parents were unable to get him the mental health services he needed. Supporters wrote messages to Timothy on helium filled balloons, which were then released skyward from locations throughout the state. Those messages consisted mostly of the support of millions of New Yorkers to enact the legislation named in Timothy’s memory – legislation that would end discrimination in insurance coverage for people with mental health and addiction needs.

Under current law, health insurance plans restrict the amount of coverage they provide or charge higher co-payments for mental health and addiction services than they do for other physical health services. Tom and Donna O’Clair struggled for nearly 5 years to get Timothy the services he needed. However, due to these mental health service restrictions, they were forced to ration the care that Timothy so desperately needed. As a result of this insufficient treatment, Timothy O’Clair hanged himself in his bedroom closet at the age of 12.

Timothy’s Law would require health insurance policies to provide mental health and addiction services equally to the other physical health services they provide. This would allow those with the most severe mental health and addiction needs to access services as long as it is medically necessary. Such additional coverage has been estimated, based on the experience of 34 other states and the Federal government in providing parity-based mental health and addiction services, to cost an additional $1.26 per person per month – what equates to the price for a cup of coffee.

Timothy’s Law supporters from throughout the region came together today to mark Timothy’s birthday, as others in various locations throughout the state did the same. Here in Albany, Timothy’s father, Tom O’Clair, stood at the steps of the NYS Capitol, saying that he could feel the support of those gathering in other locations statewide.

“Knowing that we are not alone in this fight to enact Timothy’s Law gives me great comfort,” O’Clair said. “I can feel the support of those releasing balloons with messages to my son.

I can only imagine how it looks from Timothy’s perspective, seeing hundreds, probably thousands of balloons rising from locations all over New York State toward his vantage point in heaven,” O’Clair said.

April 15, 2005 - Children's Mental Health: Navigating the System

Tom O’Clair took part in a panel discussion as part of the Carter Center's Conversations at the Carter Center series. The event, Children's Mental Health: Navigating the System, is available online in RealPlayer format.

From the Carter Center's website:

Children are often the first to suffer when public health systems cut budgets. The Center's Mental Health Program leads a discussion about the well-being of children in light of recommendations from the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. A panel representing children, families, and policy-makers will offer personal experiences on navigating the children's mental health system and provide insight into systems of care that emphasize treatment of and recovery from mental illnesses.

March 16, 2005 - Vigil for Timothy's Law

Wednesday, March 16th, was the anniversary of Timothy O’Clair’s death by suicide. Timothy’s Law advocates spent a good portion of the day at the Capitol circulating remembrance cards to legislators and staff. In addition, at 4:00, many supporters joined Tom O’Clair in the Capitol for a brief vigil in memory of Timothy.

While no legislators were specifically invited, when word of mouth got to Senate Minority Leader David Patterson, he immediately joined Tom and Timothy’s Law supporters. In addition, as Speaker Silver was returning to his office, he happened upon the vigil and remained with us, standing in silence for several moments to remember the tragic loss of Timothy O’Clair.

November 18, 2004 - Alexandra Zimmerman Walks 122 Miles in Support of Timothy’s Law and Hundreds Rally at the NYS Capitol

Hundreds of peopole gathered at the NYS Museum to welcome Alexandra Zimmerman, a young woman from Orange County who walked 122 miles from Warwick, NY in memory of her high school classmate Robin Desrats, who completed suicide while the two were in school together. Alexandra trekked across the state in memory of Robin and in support of Timothy’s Law.

Alexandra then led those Timothy’s Law supporters down the Empire State Plaze to the East steps of the New York State Capitol, where she stood, holding balloons representing Timothy O’Clair, Robin Desrats, the hope for a livable cure, and hope for those living with mental illness, and began the rally by recounting her six day journey by foot to Albany.

Alexandra told the hundreds of people gathered at the Capitol, “It is due to the spirit and support of Robin and Timothy that I was able to make this journey, and today we all gather in their memory, to ensure that nobody else has to endure what they did.”

The rally also introduced Small Businesses for Timothy’s Law, a coalition formed by Susan Wheeler of Binghamton, NY, that will serve as a voice for small businesses who support mental health parity. Susan is the owner and proprietor of the Star Group in Binghamton, which serves as an employment services agency for those living with disabilities. In announcing the group, Susan Wheeler responded to arguments posed by those purporting to represent her and other small businesses in Albany by stating, “It’s not a matter of ‘can we afford to?’ It’s a matter of ‘can we afford not to?’”

She explained to the crowd, “As small businesses, we are more dramatically effected by mental health issues. Issues such as lost worker productivity and absenteeism have a much more dramatic effect on us, because we do not have a sea of workers to call upon that can pick up the slack. In a marketplace geared toward larger corporations, any policy that does not provide small businesses with parity-based benefits only serves to place us at a competitive disadvantage.”

As usual, Tom O’Clair acted at the rally’s emcee, telling everyone that it was time for the Senate to pass Timothy’s Law, noting that Timothy’s Law is the perfect example of the gridlock that has come to symbolize Albany, lately. “Timothy’s Law is supported by 80% of New Yorkers and represents the perfect opportunity for all sides to come together and begin to end the years of legislative gridlock that have existed in this state.”

May 5, 2004 - Overnight Vigil in Support of Timothy’s Law

On Timothy’s 16th birthday, Tom and Donna O’Clair sat in front of the Capitol all night, holding vigil, calling for the Senate to pass Timothy’s Law. Though it got cold and there was some occasional rain, the O’Clairs stayed the entire night until the sun rose over the Captiol the next morning. Unfortunately, Timothy’s Law did not pass.

Tom likened the vigil to the night held vigil in the hospital the night Timothy was born. Joined by family and friends, including one of Timothy’s closest friends, and a small band of hearty advocates, the vigil attracted statewide attention and helped move the dabate over Timothy’s Law forward.

March 16, 2004 - Rally at Capitol

Braving nasty weather conditions, hundreds of Timothy’s Law supporters gathered at the Capitol to memorialize Timothy O’Clair on the third anniversary of his suicide, calling upon the Senate to pass the bill named in his memory.

Nearly 150 students, many of them former classmates of Timothy’s and his brother Christopher, joined the ranks of those rallying on the steps of the Capitol. Waving signs and chanting in the cold and blowing snow, these teens provided a heartfelt reminder of why we pursue this law – the love we have for our families, our children and our friends.

Jessica Lynch and Tom O’Clair both addressed the crowd, sharing with them their stories of successful survival and incomprehensible pain, respectively.

September 16, 2003 - March and Rally

Led by Tom O’Clair riding his bicycle and towing Timothy’s empty bike, nearly 300 people rode bicycles, walked and marched to the Capitol in the late summer afternoon sun. While supporters of Timothy’s Law organized in Albany’s Washington Park, the Senate dashed through their September 16th special session – wrapping up moments before the rally began.

On the steps of the Capitol, people whose lives had been torn apart because of the inability to access mental health and chemical dependency services through their health insurance shared their stories and bared their souls. Support came from around the state – New York City, Central New York, the Hudson Valley, the North Country Region; family members, students, survivors, Teamsters, public and private union groups, all there to support a deeply personal effort to change a terrible law.