We're a civil rights organization that has been fighting for equality for people with disabilities since 1970.
We are a civil rights organization committed to ending discrimination against people with disabilities — all disabilities. We fight to eliminate the barriers that prevent us from enjoying full equality in American society. Founded in 1970, DIA is a democratic, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, membership organization. DIA consists primarily of and is directed by people with disabilities.
We believe in the motto, "Nothing about us, without us!"
Post Office Box 30954
Port Authority Station
New York, NY 10011-0109
Tel. & Fax 718-261-3737 (Voice/TTY)
Statement of Edith Prentiss,
chair, Taxis For All Campaign
on withdrawal of accessible taxi proposal
May 18, 2013
The Taxis For All Campaign is very disappointed that the City Council will not vote on Intro. 433-A, Council Member Koppell's proposal for a gradual transition to an 100 percent accessible yellow-taxi fleet. The bill had a veto proof majority of sponsors.
Unfortunately, this week the Council Member had decided to move forward with a much different proposal than Intro. 433-A, in part because Speaker Quinn would not support Intro. 433-A. His new proposal would have made the accessibility requirement null and void if the cost of running an accessible taxi was 5 percent or higher than a non-accessible taxi. That's a loophole big enough to drive a fleet of cabs through.
The Council's new bill put a price tag on civil rights, which no one should accept. However, we did suggest the Council include a way of mitigating the cost of accessible taxis so that higher costs to taxi purchasers would be offset -- a reasonable proposal that has support in the taxi industry. However, Council Member Koppell and, apparently, Speaker Quinn rejected this approach.
This is not over. Under Speaker Quinn, the number of accessible taxis has remained stuck at about 231 since 2007 out of 13,237 taxis. That's a record that must change.
Please visit the Taxis For All Campaign website
The DIA Singers' second CD
...and the Parking Spots
Are Nothing But the Best
$15.00 per CD ...and the Parking Spots Are Nothing But the Best
(descriptive booklet included, with lyrics and bio's)
$25.00 per "gift set"
of 2 CD's, including ...and the Parking Spots Are Nothing But the Best (booklet included, as above) and IN MOTION, The DIA Singers' first CD (booklet included, with lyrics and bio's)
Printer-friendly format of The DIA Singers CD order form
(Link opens in a new browser window)
Listen to audio from The DIA Singers' first CD
IN MOTION
Listen to audio from The DIA Singers' second CD
...and the Parking Spots Are Nothing But the Best
Help getting materials from HRA in accessible formats
July 3, 2012
People who are blind and those with vision impairments have a right to government documents in alternative formats!
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires State and local government agencies to provide written materials in alternative formats to people with disabilities who need them to access the information in those materials. This obligation applies to the New York City Human Resources Administration, which is the City Medicaid and Food Stamp agency, as well as other City and State government agencies.
An alternative format can be:
Braille
Large print
Electronic documents in a text format that can be read by a screen reader
DVD with a soundtrack
Audio cassette
A qualified reader to read to you
Other formats
Agencies do not have to give you your first choice of formats but do have to give you materials in a format that works for you.
To get agency materials in other formats, ask for them in writing and keep a copy of the letter.
The National Center for Law and Economic Justice (NCLEJ) can help you ask for materials in alternative formats from HRA. If you would like their help, contact:
Cary LaCheen, NCLEJ, 212-633-6967 or lacheen@nclej.org
NCLEJ may also be able to help you if you have already asked for materials in alternative formats and the agency said no.
Also, view our Duane Reade Lawsuit: Updates section
