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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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 numerous Network Members joined elected officials on May 10th to announce a package of bills tha would reform the way that the MTA responds to the needs of transit riders with disabilities.

 

The first bill creates the MTA Riders Council for People with Disabilities, a 14-member appointed council representing riders who use NYC Transit, the Long Island Rail Road, and Metro North systems. The second bill requires daily inspections of elevators, escalators, bus lifts, and other accessibility features in MTA facilities and establishes documentation requirements and oversight for their repair.

 

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

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Eliminate Housing Segregation: 

Support Intro 685!

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

That's why the Disabilities Network supports passage of Intro 685 to Further Fair Housing Law.  Under 685, the City would take action to reduce segregation in a variety of forms.

Among them: the bill would have the Buildings Department create a database of inaccessible buildings and notify the building owner and the Human Rights Commission of the problem.

We thank Councilmember Letitia James for introducing Intro 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

On March 17, David Paterson was sworn in as New York State Governor and will serve out the remainder of the current gubernatorial 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 a Disabilities Network Forum in July, 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.....

The Disabilities Network 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!