Hurricane Season Starts This Month

The City has made some changes in emergency preparedness for people with disabilities since we won our court case in 2014. Their website has more information to address some issues for New Yorkers with disabilities; the plan for canvassing buildings now includes training for canvassers on working with people with disabilities; more evacuation centers and shelters are accessible (see link below) and more accessible transportation options should be available during a City-ordered evacuation.

The City’s website includes tips on preparing for emergencies or disasters. We would encourage you to review this information – some tips may be helpful for your planning.

If you don’t have access to a computer, you can contact 311 and ask for printed versions. If that doesn’t work, please call us at 212-674-2300 and tell us you couldn’t get a print copy of the City’s E-prep information online.

You can take some action:

  • If you live in a high rise building or if you depend on elevators, find out if your building has a plan for people with disabilities in case of power outages or if elevators cannot be used in evacuating.
  • If you have neighbors or family members you trust, you may want to work out a plan together for what to do if the power goes out or if an evacuation is ordered.
  • You may want to find out where the closest accessible shelter is and then make a transportation plan in case you have to evacuate to a shelter.
  • Know your rights. At an accessible shelter, you should be able to charge your equipment; refrigerate your medications if necessary; have an accessible cot; be able to use the bathrooms; be able to get information in alternate formats and to get other accommodations, including ASL interpretation. Guide and service animals can be with you at any shelter. Each accessible shelter has a disability and functional needs coordinator to help with accommodations.
  • See if there is a community group or community board in your area working on E-prep issues and find out what they are doing.
  • If you have comments on the City’s plan or their tips for New Yorkers with disabilities, contact us at info@cidny.org or call 212-674-2300 and leave a message asking to speak to someone about emergency preparedness.  

We Need Your MTA Stories

If you or someone you know are a person with a disability who lives in, works in, or travels to locations in the vicinity of any of these stations and who is impacted by the fact that they’re not accessible, we’d love to talk with you.

  • Broadway Junction (J/Z Lines Only)
  • Bay Ridge Avenue (R)
  • Bay Parkway (N)
  • Borough Hall (4/5 Lines Only)
  • 30th Avenue (N/W Lines)
  • Broadway (N/W Lines)
  • Court Square (G Line Only)
  • Metropolitan Avenue (G/L). 
  • 238th St. (1)
  • 168 Street  (1)
  • 181 St (A)
  • 191 St (1)
  • 190 St  (A)
  • 181 St (1)

Please fill out this form so we can contact you.

MTA Stories

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

Urge Governor Cuomo to include a funding increase of only $5 million for Independent Living Centers in his budget proposal!

It is that time of year again where we need to ask for your help. We all know how crucial Independent Living Centers like Center for Independence of the Disabled, NY are in communities across the State. We provide a wide array of supports and services that help people be independent and integrated in their communities.

Yet, Governor Cuomo has failed to include a funding increase for Independent Living Centers in his proposed budget over and over again.

Governor Cuomo is developing his 2019-20 Executive Budget proposal, scheduled for next month. The Board of Regents again recommends he include a $5 million increase to the network of ILCs in this year’s budget. Now we have to make sure he follows this recommendation by telling him how important it is to people with disabilities across the State!

ACTION: Email Governor Cuomo. Urge him to include a funding increase of only $5 million to ILCs across New York in his Executive Budget proposal!

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