The Disabilities Network of New York City is a coalition of consumers, advocates and professional organizations working for full inclusion of people of all ages with motor and sensory disabilities in society.

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The Disabilities Network of New York City invites you to a

Community Forum

with NYC Comptroller William C. Thompson

VISIONS at Selis Manor, 135 West 23rd Street (between 6th & 7th Avenues)
Wednesday, June 4, 2-4 pm

 

Join us as Comptroller Thompson speaks on the NYC Budget & its effect on individuals with disabilities.  The Comptroller holds a key position in NYC - he keeps the public informed of the City government's performance, including how it spends money.  Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear him speak directly to the disability community!

RSVP to ernesto@dnnyc.net or 212-284-4160.  Please contact us to request sign language interpretation, real-time captioning, materials in large print or electronic format, or other accommodations.

 

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Elected Officials Announce Legislative Package to Improve MTA Access for People with Disabilities: 

Would Require Daily Inspection of Elevators, Bus Lifts, and Create an MTA Council for Riders with Disabilities

The Disabilities Network and many Network Members joined elected officials on May 10th to announce new bills that would reform how the MTA responds to the needs of transit riders with disabilities.

The first bill creates the MTA Riders Council for People with Disabilities to represent riders who use NYC Transit, Long Island Rail Road, and Metro North. The second requires daily inspections of station elevators, bus lifts, and other access features, better documentation and oversight for repair.

Director of Advocacy Lawrence Carter-Long spoke at the press conference with Assembly Member Micah Z. Kellner, State Senator Thomas K. Duane, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Assembly Members Michele Titus (Chair of the Assembly Taskforce on People with Disabilities) and Linda B. Rosenthal and Network Members Marvin Wasserman of Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled, Nancy D. Miller of VISIONS/Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired, Terence J. Moakley of United Spinal, Edith M. Prentiss of 504 Democratic Club, Joe Rapporport of Taxis For All and Robin Einbinder of the NYC Chapter of the National MS Society.

The conference was covered on NY1 and WCBS. 

Photos: Top: Network Member Carr Massi of Disabled in Action.  Bottom: Network Director of Advocacy Lawrence Carter-Long; Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer stands to his left. Photos courtesy of Assembly Member Kellner.

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Eliminate Housing Segregation: 

Support Intro 685!

Despite NYC’s reputation for “diversity,” levels of residential segregation remain very high.  Indeed, the City is “more segregated now than it was in 1910."  This includes the segregation that results from the hundreds of thousands of buildings that are inaccessible to people with disabilities. 

That's why we support passage of Intro 685 to Further Fair Housing Law, which would require various actions to reduce segregation.  Among them: the Buildings Department would create a database of inaccessible buildings and notify building owners and the Human Rights Commission of the problem.

We thank Council Member Letitia James for introducing 685 and invite her colleagues to cosponsor it. And thanks to the Anti-Discrimination Center for organizing support for 685.

 

To add your endorsement, email center@antibiaslaw.com.  For more on 685, go to http://www.antibiaslaw.com/localafffurth.html.

 

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Disabilities Network Welcomes

Governor Paterson

Record Shows Commitment to Justice,

Diversity & Disability

In March, David Paterson was sworn in as New York State Governor to serve out the remainder of the current term.  The Governor's history shows his long commitment to social justice, diversity and disability.

"The Americans with Disabilities Act is an unfinished agenda," said Paterson when he addressed an enthusiastic audience at the Disabilities Network in 2006. "You can have an act on paper, but it isn't trickling down to the streets."

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Thanks to Our Donors.....

We could not do its work without YOU, our members and donors.  That's why we'd like to thank Dr. Irma Ozer for kicking off our Major Giving Campaign.

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Free Housing Workshop a Success

Thank you to all who participated in our FREE HOUSING WORKSHOP with the New York City Housing Authority on March 12th.  And thank you to the Authority and everyone who helped organize it!

Future housing workshops are planned.  To stay up-to-date, please join our ListServ!