The Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York's (CIDNY) goal is to ensure full integration, independence and equal opportunity for all people with disabilities by removing barriers to the social, economic, cultural and civic life of the community.

CIDNY is a non-profit organization founded in 1978. We are part of the Independent Living Centers movement -- a national network of grassroots and community-based organizations that enhance opportunities for all people with disabilities to direct their own lives.

CIDNY Is Your Voice: CIDNY is the voice of people with disabilities in New York City. Our staff includes social workers, lawyers and other highly qualified professionals, most of whom are people with disabilities. Along with their professional credentials, the staff all have a strong belief in self-determination and bring valuable life experiences and insights to their work. CIDNY's staff is also ethnically diverse, with language capacity to assist consumers in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Hindi, Russian and American Sign Language.

CIDNY speaks for everyone who lives with a disability, whether it came at birth, by injury, disease, or during the process of aging. Together we educate the public. We advocate for our civil rights and a strong safety net of benefits and services. CIDNY makes sure that our voices are heard where and when issues affecting our lives are decided.

CIDNY Advocacy/Policy: Throughout our history, CIDNY has advised government officials on ways to make public services, like transportation, health insurance, education and entitlements work better. We monitor public and private iniatives that affect people with disabilities and offer constructive solutions to problems we see. CIDNY conducts an array of training and technical assistance activities for public officials, health care workers, and other service providers on disability awareness and disability-related issues. CIDNY also provides information and workshops for its consumers on everyday skills, such as searching for housing, budgeting, transportation, housekeeping, self-advocacy, goals planning, and attendant management. For more information, click here.

CIDNY's Consumer Services: CIDNY's offices in Manhattan and Queens provide benefits counseling, direct services (e.g. housing assistance, transition services for youth with disabilities, employment-related assistance, healthcare access, peer support groups), information and referrals, and recreational activities. There are no charges to consumers for CIDNY's services. For more information, click here.