accessibility

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.

Fight for Accessible Taxis: Tell Your State Senators to Oppose S.7833-A (Golden)/A.6201-A (Pichardo)

We are part of a coalition of disability rights groups that oppose S.7833-A and A.6201-A. This is a backdoor attempt to overturn a long-awaited New York City Taxi and Limousine (TLC) regulation intended to get wheelchair-accessible for-hire vehicles (FHV) on the road across New York City.

The TLC regulations these bills seek to do away with are the result of years of advocacy by the disability community. They passed after more than a year of study by the TLC and after extensive public input.

These bills would isolate people with disabilities into a separate, unequal service. Like most New Yorkers, we want full integration of all people, no matter who they are, into daily life.

The dispatch system S.7833-A and A.6201-A propose was tried by the TLC and by the FHV industry before and failed.
FHV companies have opposed any attempt to get them to offer accessible service for at least two decades. These bills are no different.
The TLC rules are a crucial first step toward providing wheelchair-accessible service across the city. They have widespread support in the disability community.

Dozens of individuals and organizations spoke in support of the TLC proposal at a hearing on September 2017. Wheelchair users described how the ability to travel by accessible yellow taxis changed their lives for the better.

Call your NYS Senator now and insist that they oppose these bills. Find your Senator here. Let’s not move backward on progress!

Show Love for People with Disabilities: No on HR 620

This Valentine’s Day, show some love for people with disabilities by speaking out against HR 620.

Please take a moment to call and tweet our Representatives TODAY and TOMORROW. Urge them to vote NO on HR 620, a bill that would turn back the clock on the Americans with Disabilities Act.

It is especially important to call Long Island Democrat Kathleen Rice (NY-4) because she’s a cosponsor of the bill.

All Reps can be reached at the Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 or (202) 224-3091 (tty). Direct office contact information can be found at Contacting Congress.

Can’t call? You can also text RESIST to 50409 or contact elected officials online.

Learn more about the bill here.

CIDNY’s Poll Site Accessibility Summary for the 2017 General Election

On Election Day, CIDNY staff and volunteers conducted comprehensive polling site surveys for accessibility.

The survey findings showed many of the same problems identified in previous years. This demonstrates that the New York City Board of Elections has not sufficiently addressed the barriers faced by voters with disabilities.

With surveys completed at 59 polling sites, we found that 35, or 59%, of the sites had at least one physical access barrier. Those barriers included narrow doorways, inadequate signage, pathways with broken concrete, non-ADA compliant ramps, and poorly placed machines.

CIDNY’s volunteers and staff completed survey training and surveyed polling sites in the 5 boroughs on Election Day. Volunteer Christine Serdjenian Yearwood says: “CIDNY provided an excellent training that prepared me to serve as a poll site accessibility monitor for the general election this year. It was a great experience, and I was happy to be able to serve in this way. I will most certainly do it again next year.”

If you have a story about access to your polling site, you can still fill out our individual voter survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9RV6JX3 or contact Monica Bartley at 646/442-4152 or mbartley@cidny.org.

Image description: IS 70 333 West 18th St., Manhattan. Approximately 1 ¼” high bevel with cracked cement creating tripping hazards and barriers for people who are blind or those using wheelchairs, scooters, or walkers.

Image description: PS 130, Brooklyn. Bad bevel. This beveled area is inadequate for people using wheelchairs, scooters, or walkers to access the sidewalk.

Image description: 777 Concourse Village, Bronx. Broken concrete along the pathway.

Image description: New Heights, Brooklyn. Traffic cone propping door blocking access to the entrance (a poll worker eventually came out to hold the door open).