Category: Take Action

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.  

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.

Hands Off SNAP (again)

The House of Representatives won’t take the hint.

They Voted to Take Away SNAP and FAILED – thanks to you! Now they want to try again.

We did it once, we can do it again! Join Center for Independence of the Disabled, NY and other advocacy groups across the country for a National SNAP Call-In Day today, Wednesday, June 20th to #SaveSNAP and Defeat the House Farm Bill (Again)

Urge New York Representatives like Rep. Dan Donovan, Rep. John Faso, Rep. Elise Stefanik, and Rep. Lee Zeldin to “Vote No” on the House Farm Bill, H.R. 2, which would cut SNAP and take food off the tables of more than 2 million low-income people, including people with disabilities. The House is expected to reconsider H.R. 2 on or before June 22, after failing to pass the bill in May.

On Wednesday, June 20th 2018 – Call 1-888-398-8702 (Toll-Free Feeding America number) or Call 202-224-3121 (U.S. Capitol Switchboard) and enter your zip code to be connected to your Representative. Urge him/her to “Vote No” on H.R. 2. Check out FRAC’s talking points and CBPP’s talking points for more information about what to say when you call.

New Yorkers, Keep Up The Pressure!

If you live in any of the districts listed below, we ask you to please call in and urge your Representative to “Vote No.” Their votes critical in ensuring that working families and children are able to keep food on their tables. We need a bipartisan bill that strengthens and protects SNAP, and what they have proposed is certainly not it! Please consider calling the district offices if you are unable to get through via the other numbers listed below.

Rep. Dan Donovan – District 11

Brooklyn District Office

7308 13th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11228

Phone: 718-630-5277

Staten Island District Office

265 New Dorp Lane, 2nd Floor

Staten Island, NY 10306

Phone: 718-351-1062

Rep. John Faso – District 19

Delhi District Office
111 Main Street
Delhi, NY 13753
Phone: (607) 746-9537

Kinderhook District Office

2 Hudson Street

Kinderhook, NY 12106

Phone: (518) 610-8133

Kingston District Office

721 Broadway

Kingston, NY 12401

Phone: (845) 514-2322

Rep. Elise Stefanik – District 21

Glens Falls Office

136 Glen Street

Glens Falls, NY 12801

Phone: (518) 743-0964

Plattsburgh Office

23 Durkee Street Suite C

Plattsburgh, NY 12901

Phone: (518) 561-2324

Watertown Office

88 Public Square Suite A

Watertown, NY 13601

Phone: (315) 782-3150

Rep. Lee Zeldin – District 1

Main District Office

31 Oak Street

Suite 20

Patchogue, NY 11772

Phone: (631) 289-1097

Remember: Today, Wednesday, June 20th 2018 – Call 1-888-398-8702 (Toll-Free Feeding America number) or Call 202-224-3121 (U.S. Capitol Switchboard) and enter your zip code to be connected to your Representative. Urge him/her to “Vote No” on H.R. 2.