Category: Advocacy

Right to Know Act

The interactions that people with disabilities have with police are too often potentially dangerous​​​. If you are stopped by the police, it is important to know your rights. This blog post will explain the law and what your rights are when you are stopped by a police officer. It is the police officer’s job to protect you, but unfortunately, for people with disabilities, police do not always act in a way that respects your rights. The best thing you can do when you are stopped by the police is to stay calm and not get angry with the police officer. Below are some important things to remember if you are ever stopped by a police officer.

 

What You Need to Know:

 

The Right to Know Act has been in effect as of October 18, 2019, and applies to everyone living in New York City. You have rights, including:

 

  • Police officers must tell you who they are at the beginning of certain interactions by providing their name, rank, command, and shield number.
  • Police officers must have business cards that have this information. These business cards must tell you where you can comment or complain about an encounter with an officer and where you may request any body-worn camera footage of the interaction.
  • You may always ask a police officer for their business card but police officers are only required to offer the card in certain circumstances, such as during a frisk, searches of your person, property, vehicle, or home, or at sobriety checkpoints.
  • If a police officer does not have a warrant to search you, your vehicle or your home, they should not search you unless they get your permission. The only times a police officer can search you is if:
    The police officer asks for your permission.
    The police officer tells you that a search won’t be done without your permission and checks to make sure you understand what they have said.
    And you gave permission to be searched.
  • If English is not your preferred language or you are Deaf or hard of hearing, you have a right to ask for appropriate interpretation services.
  • Police officers should always let you know how you can view a copy of the recording from the officer’s body camera. You can file for a copy of the recording .
  • If a police officer searches you without your permission, you should ask for their business card since this is a violation of your rights. Remember, they don’t have to ask for permission if they are arresting you or if they have a court summons.
    If you do not want to give permission for the police officer to search you, the best thing to say is: “I do not consent to this search.”
  • You are always allowed to ask “Am I free to leave?” if you are not being detained. The police officer should tell you that you are free to go.

**If you have any other questions about how you may be affected by the Know Your Rights Act, please reach out to us at 212-674-2300. **

In Light of Tragedy, Demand Subway Accessibility Now

All New Yorkers send our condolences and sympathy to the family of Malaysia Goodson, who tragically died at the 7th Ave and 53rd St subway station on Monday after she fell down a flight of stairs carrying her baby in a stroller.

Our groups – disability, transit and advocates for pregnant women – assert that this tragedy should not be in vain. Currently, fewer than 25% of the city’s subway stations are accessible. In 2017, many of our groups sued the MTA, which Governor Cuomo controls, in state court charging the lack of subway elevators is a violation of the city’s Human Rights Law. The Governor and the MTA have not settled the lawsuit.

Today, join us in urging Governor Cuomo to settle our lawsuit with a commitment for a plan of full subway accessibility.

Call Gov. Cuomo at 212-681-4580 and tell him: Make the subways safe and accessible for all New Yorkers!

Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled (BCID) • Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY) • Bronx Independent Living Services • Disabled In Action • NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign • People’s MTA • Riders Alliance •Rise and Resist • TransitCenter • UP-STAND

Tell Your Senators to Uphold Disability Rights by Opposing the Nomination of Judge Kavanaugh

CIDNY joins AAPD and others in opposing the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court. Judge Kavanaugh’s previous rulings and statements on health care, self-determination, employment, and education threaten the rights of all Americans with disabilities.
  1. He is a threat to your health care.
  2. He would allow the President to wield dangerous power.
  3. He is dismissive of the fundamental rights of people with disabilities.
  4. He won’t protect the rights of workers with disabilities.
  5. He would narrow the protections of civil rights laws.
  6. He promotes school voucher programs that leave students with disabilities without key protections.
  7. He discounts the role of the administrative agencies that enforce your rights.
  8. He would allow states to impose restrictive voter ID laws.
  9. He imposes barriers for people seeking justice in courts.
  10. He will not protect the rights of all people, including people with disabilities.

Take Action

Educate yourself and others about Judge Kavanaugh’s record.
 
Contact your Senators to express your opposition and emphasize the importance of health care and self-determination for all Americans with disabilities. Judge Kavanaugh’s Senate confirmation hearing starts on September 4th – contact your Senators today to oppose to his nomination!

Target States

Senators need to hear from the disability community on how Judge Kavanaugh will roll back disability rights if confirmed. It is especially important to contact Senators from the following states:
  • Alabama – Senator Doug Jones
  • Alaska – Senator Lisa Murkowski
  • Indiana – Senator Joe Donnelly
  • Maine – Senator Susan Collin
  • North Dakota – Senator Heidi Heitkamp
  • Nevada – Senator Dean Heller
  • West Virginia – Senator Joe Manchin

Call your Senators

Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or (202) 224-3091 (TTY) and ask to be connected to your Senators.

Email your Senators

Contacting Congress provides unique links to email your Senators directly.

Engage your Senators through Social Media

Tweet your Senators – find their Twitter handles here.

CIDNY Receives 40th Anniversary Proclamation from NYC Council

The Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY for short) was honored with a proclamation from NYC Council for our 40th anniversary today. It was presented by Speaker Corey Johnson, who thanked us for our advocacy by and for people with disabilities. He said that the City “needs to do better” to reduce barriers and make the city more accessible.

We are grateful for the recognition of our efforts and our history as the first independent living center in New York. And we agree that our work is far from over.

You can see the proclamation in our Manhattan office.

It reads:

The New York City Council is proud to honor the Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY) for its 40 years of outstanding service bringing people with disabilities closer to full and equal access to health care, housing, public services, education, employment, voting, emergency planning, and transportation; and

WHEREAS:  On July 26, 1990, the United States enacted the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the world’s first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities and one of our nation’s most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation. In addition to prohibiting discrimination and guaranteeing that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life, the ADA also mandated the establishment of TDD/telephone relay services; and

WHEREAS: The significance of the ADA cannot be overstated. In the United States, nearly one in five Americans lives with a disability. In New York City alone, nearly one in eight residents live with a disability. For people with disabilities, the ADA is a monumental piece of civil rights legislation, providing them with increased access to critical services while empowering them to reach their greatest potential. The ADA has also benefitted their loved ones as well as every person without a disability too for it has meant greater inclusion, diversity and community – all the traits that have defined our nation since its earliest days; and

WHEREAS: CIDNY, a non-profit organization founded in 1978, serves as the voice of people with disabilities in New York City. Its staff and board include social workers, lawyers, and other highly qualified professionals, most of whom are people with disabilities. Racially and ethnically diverse, they all share a strong belief in self-determination and bring invaluable life experiences and insights to their critical work; and

WHEREAS: From its start four decades ago, CIDNY has passionately advocated for civil rights and a strong safety net of benefits and services, while ensuring that the concerns of people with disabilities are heard whenever and wherever issues affecting their lives are being decided. Additionally, it advises government officials on ways to make public services like transportation, health insurance, education, and entitlements work better; monitors public and private initiatives that affect people with disabilities and offers constructive solutions to problems; and conducts a wide range of training and technical assistance activities to public officials, health care workers, and other service providers on disability awareness and disability-related issues; and

WHEREAS: Since the ADA was enacted 28 years ago, CIDNY has witnessed even more people with disabilities strive and succeed in education and in the workplace, live independently in the community, and access and benefit from services provided by schools, hospitals, and public transportation – all of which has greatly strengthened our city, state and nation; and

WHEREAS: Even with the ADA, removing all barriers for people with disabilities has remained a challenging goal. Yet, thanks to the collective action of activists and organizations like CIDNY, great advances continue to be made in society, in courtrooms, and in our communities; now, therefore

BE IT KNOWN: That the New York City Council is proud to honor the Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York in celebration of its 40TH ANNIVERSARY and for its extraordinary service to people with disabilities throughout New York City’s five boroughs and beyond.

Signed this 18th day of July in the year Twenty Eighteen.