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Thirty Two Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law 32 years ago today. It was a landmark achievement and life-changing legislation. So much work has been done, so much has been achieved, but there’s still more work to do. On this anniversary, we would like to share a personal story from executive director Dr. Sharon McLennon-Wier reflecting on the ADA.

The following story is from CIDNY executive director Dr. Sharon McLennon-Wier:

On July 26, 1990, Pres. George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act. Since this seminal piece of legislation was enacted, July has been disability pride awareness month, and we take this opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments that this critical legislation provided for people with disabilities living in the United States.

This law characterized that a person with a disability was classified as having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a person from completing a major life activity. Life activities such as seeing, hearing, understanding and processing information, writing, reading, talking, walking, breathing, thinking and so much more.

This legislation provided the disabled person the right to access and further required integration for persons with disabilities into life activities such as employment, entry into environmental spaces, transportation, technology and recreational spaces.

In 1990, I was an undergraduate-biology student attending Syracuse University. I was totally blind, and I had much optimism for this new legislation. I had the conviction that despite my blindness, I could work hard and I would achieve a degree in medicine.

My belief was that my hard work, fortitude, intelligence, passion and resilience coupled with this new legislation providing access to the sciences would help me to achieve my medical goal. I did not think that one’s preconceived notions, ableism, prejudice and stigma would be further obstacles in the road to my vocational goal.

Legislation can help to remove the obvious physical barriers for people with disabilities, but there are so many invisible barriers encompassed via the human disposition toward preconceived notions, ableism, prejudice and stigma. Therefore, as we reflect on this disability pride awareness month, we acknowledge the many accomplishments that this legislation achieved for people with disabilities.

More people with disabilities became employed. More people with disabilities have access to standard bus and train service. More people with disabilities can use a restroom which provides room for their wheelchair. More people with disabilities can cross a street in the middle of New York City by using auditable pedestrian signaling and curb cuts. More people with disabilities can use a bank ATM independently and so much more.

However, we still have a long way to go. We still need to improve the way people without disabilities think about people with disabilities. Having a disability does not mean that your life is over. At times, it could mean that it is just beginning.

We need to remember that the life activities such as family, love, work and play are critical for all. We all want to achieve these milestones, we just need an environment free of physical and human-dispositional barriers. As a result, we have disability-rights organization like CIDNY to help advocate and educate all people regarding diversity, equality and inclusion for a society built on difference.

We all can achieve our goals – it just takes one step at a time. By the way, I am happy to report that I was able to achieve a career in the field of human service and psychology despite having a visual disability. Please pursue your dreams and CIDNY is here to help you!

This story first appeared in an issue of Able Newspaper.

If you would like to support our work and the people we serve, you can do so at https://www.cidny.org/donation/.

A Statement on the US Supreme Court Appointment of Ketanji Brown Jackson

In a historic moment, Ketanji Brown Jackson has been confirmed as the first Black Woman and first public defender, to the United States Supreme Court. CIDNY applauds the decision to appoint and confirm a highly qualified individual who will help ensure that the makeup of the highest court in the land represents the people of the United States. This is a strong statement toward equity and inclusion at the highest level. We hope that this well-qualified justice will continue to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities!

A Tribute to Gabriel Gherasim

Photo of Gabriel Gherasim, MA, Borough Manager, NY Connects at CIDNY

It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of our colleague, Gabriel Gherasim. Gabriel had been with CIDNY since 2017 and most recently served as the Borough Manager for Manhattan for the NY Connects program.

Gabriel was born in Romania and came to the United States from Italy as a refugee. After graduated high school, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from Portland State University and a Master’s degree in Mediation, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from California State University. Gabriel also received a Substance Abuse Counseling Certification from the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services.

For more than 20 years, Gabriel has worked with a number of non-profit organizations, service-first government agencies and as an educator at the Long Island Business Institute. Gabriel has also authored 10 books (available from Vervante Press here). More of his writing is available on his website at http://gabrielgherasim.com. Gabriel’s dedication to helping others, especially people with disabilities, was paramount.

Gabriel once said that life, freedom, health, employment, and just every day are gifts. Let us continue to honor him with the work that we do each day. Gabriel, you will be missed.

Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York Announces Retirement of Executive Director Susan M. Dooha and the Appointment of Dr. Sharon M. McLennon-Wier as CIDNY’s New Executive Director

Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York Announces Retirement of Executive Director Susan M. Dooha and the Appointment of Dr. Sharon M. McLennon-Wier as CIDNY’s New Executive Director

New York, NY, July 06, 2021 – The Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY) announced that Susan M. Dooha, J.D., is stepping down after 19 years as CIDNY’s Executive Director. It announced that Sharon M. McLennon-Wier, Ph.D., has been appointed as CIDNY’s new Executive Director.

Ms. Dooha became CIDNY’s Executive Director in 2002. Together with the Board, staff, grassroots leaders, and allies, she built a strong, racially/ethnically diverse disability-led organization that is recognized as a leading advocate in New York. CIDNY’s mission 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. With offices in Manhattan and Queens, CIDNY employs more than 80 people, and annually serves more than 40,000 New Yorkers with disabilities, many with multiple disabilities, in all five boroughs of New York City. Some of CIDNY’s successes during Ms. Dooha’s tenure include:

Bringing about suits to enforce disability civil and human rights laws which resulted in 11 cases related to emergency preparedness, curb cuts, library access, homeless shelters, subway access, and voting access.
Helping people with disabilities to achieve a key tenet of disability rights to live in the community and move home from institutions, also saving taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.
Creating a robust support system which helps the disabled address hunger, housing, health care, transportation, and education.
Building CIDNY’s annual budget eight-fold.
Introducing use of statistical research as a tool in education and outreach campaigns, the design of programs, legislative initiatives, and litigation.
Addressing disparities between people with disabilities and those with no disability as well as inequities based on race/ethnicity.
Diversifying CIDNY staff to mirror the diversity of New York. 80% are Black, Latino/a/x, and Asian Americans. 55% are bilingual, with staff capability in 24 languages. CIDNY staff members are disabled and experts in their fields.
Educating the public through thousands of appearances in major media outlets.

“After nearly 20 years, I am stepping down as CIDNY’s Executive Director. I am proud to have worked with CIDNY’s Board, staff, volunteers, grassroots advocates, allies, and people with disabilities in our community,” said Susan Dooha. “Together we made New York a better place to live for people with disabilities. The work is unfinished and will remain so as long as people with disabilities are discriminated against, segregated, and experience inequities in education, employment, income, health, transportation, civic participation, and housing. I am confident that CIDNY’s new Executive Director will open new opportunities for CIDNY and the people we serve. I look forward with enthusiasm to her leadership.”

Martin Eichel, who serves as Chair of CIDNY’s Board, said “It has been my distinct pleasure to work with Susan for the past two decades. Her relentless pursuit of equality for people with disabilities has improved the lives of so many New Yorkers, including those without disabilities. I thank her for her tireless dedication, and look forward with great confidence to the next stage of the organization’s growth under Dr. Sharon McLennon-Wier’s leadership.”

Dr. Sharon M. McLennon-Wier has extensive professional expertise in the field of disabilities and was chosen after a national search. She is a Black woman who is totally blind and has more than twenty-five years of experience in academia, non-profits, and disability advocacy. She previously served as the Director of Disability Services at Berkeley College and District Manager of the Harlem Office for the New York State Commission for the Blind. She earned a Ph.D. degree in Counseling Psychology from Seton Hall University, a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Hunter College, a U.S. Law and Methodology Certificate from New York University, and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Syracuse University. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and an adjunct professor.

“I’m delighted to be joining CIDNY and look forward to working with our staff and our Board to advance the goals of independence, equality, and equity for people with disabilities. I want to thank Susan Dooha for building a strong organization. I look forward to advancing the mission of CIDNY”, said Dr. McLennon-Wier.

About Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY):

The Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York is a leading advocate for people with disabilities in New York City. It was founded in 1978 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. For more information, visit www.cidny.org.

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