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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Disability Organizations Protest Use of “R-Word”
at Premiere of Tropic Thunder

"People with disabilities are not going to be victims anymore. 

This time, we're fighting back!"

 

Over 50 people from a cross section of Big Apple disability organizations united on August 13 at the NYC premiere of DreamWorks film Tropic Thunder to demonstrate against its negative use of the inflammatory word “retard” and its demeaning portrayal of people with intellectual disabilities.

"People with disabilities are not going to be victims anymore.  This time, we're fighting back!" says Disabilities Network Director of Advocacy Lawrence Carter-Long.

Many thanks to everyone who came out, especially our co-organizers at the Self-Advocacy Association of NYS. Watch the news coverage from WABC-TV Channel 7 below!

 

More on this issue...

CONTACT AND QUESTIONS:

Lawrence Carter-Long

Disabilities Network of New York City

917-684-3235

lawrence@dnnyc.net

 

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Comptroller To Audit Access-A-Ride,

Support Co-op Bill

Thompson Declares at Community Forum 

Thanks to all who attended the Disabilities Network's Community Forum with NYC Comptroller William C. Thompson in early June. 

The Comptroller announced two news items at the Forum.  In his opening remarks, he announced that he will audit Access-A-Ride, the City’s problem-plagued van service for residents with disabilities.

Later, under questioning from Craig Gurian of the Anti-Discrimination Center, Thompson declared his support of the Co-op Disclosure Bill, which would require housing cooperative boards to explain rejections of potential residents in writing.

He also fielded questions on numerous issues affecting New Yorkers with disabilities.  For a transcript of the Forum, please click here.

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FREE Housing Workshop

for People with Disabilities

Sponsored by the Disabilities Network & NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA)

Thanks to all who participated in our June 25th Free Housing Workshop with NYCHA.  The Workshop covered NYCHA's application process, priorities, practices and procedures and how to request a reasonable accommodation or file a grievance to an audience of people with disabilities, service providers and advocates.

This was our second Free Housing Workshop with NYCHA.  Future workshops planned!  To keep up-to-date on future events, please subscribe to our ListServ.

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Message to Treasury:

Stop Discriminating Against the Visually Impaired

Decision is "an Equalizer," "Sensible," "Forward-Thinking"  

The Department of Treasury must redesign U.S. currency with tactile or visual cues for people with blindness and low vision, said NYC Comptroller William C. Thompson and the Disabilities Network at a June 2 press conference.  Several Network Members joined to call on the the Treasury to accept the recent federal appeals court decision that the currency discriminates against Americans with limited vision and must be changed.  

The decision is "an equalizer," said Alberta L. Orr, Disabilities Network Executive Director.

More....

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Bills Aim for Better Service for Train, Bus Riders with Disabilities: 

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

UPDATE: Riders Council Bill Passes Assembly!

The Disabilities Network joined elected officials on May 10 to announce bills to reform how the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) serves riders with disabilities.

The bills would create a Riders Council for People with Disabilities and require daily inspection of station elevators, bus lifts, and other access features.

Director of Advocacy Lawrence Carter-Long spoke at the press conference with Assembly Member Micah Kellner, numerous other officials and representatives of the Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled, VISIONS/Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired, the United Spinal Association, Disabled in Action , the 504 Democratic Club, Taxis For All and the NYC Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.  NY1 and WCBS covered the conference. 

More....

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

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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 Intro 685 to Further Fair Housing Law, which includes various segregation-reducing actions, such as the creation of a database of inaccessible buildings and notification of landlords and the Human Rights Commission of access problems.

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 endorse 685, email center@antibiaslaw.com. 

More info on the bill...