who are we

OUR MISSIONThe Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York’s (CIDNY) goal is to ensure full integration, independence and equal opportunity for all people with disabilities by removing barriers to the social, economic, cultural and civic life of the community.

Who Are We

“Nothing for us without us.” CIDNY’s board and staff reflect the community we serve. We are a group of peers offering assistance and understanding to each and everyone of our consumers.

Who We Serve

CIDNY serves any person in New York City with any type of disability. Through our offices in Manhattan and Queens CIDNY served 19,000 New Yorkers with Disabilities, their families and service providers in 2010.

*The disabilities in this chart represent primary diagnoses, 25% of CIDNY consumers report having multiple disabilities.

What We DoIntake calls are referred to CIDNY Benefits Counselors.

CIDNY benefits counselors advise on:  

Health Coverage and Care

Housing issues

Transportation

Education

Employment

Public Benefits

Deinstitutionalization

Health Coverage and Care:•Medicaid •ADAP•EPIC•Pharmacy Assistance•Medicare•HHC Medical Coverage•Navigational Assistance •TBI Waiver•NHTD Waiver•MLTC•Home Health Aides•Personal Care•DME•Transportation•Transitions in care

Housing Issues:•DRIE•SCRIE•NYCHA•HUD•Waiting lists •Supportive housing•Home modification programs •Housing search strategies•Eviction prevention •Accessibility•Problems with landlords •Repairs•Hoarding•Payment plans

Transportation: •Access-a-Ride •MTA Half Fare

Education: •Assistance with IEP development •School transportation problems IDEA and ADA-related issues•Transition planning •Advocacy for financial support for college and training•Student loan debt assistance•Eligibility and applications for vocational rehabilitation

Employment: •Ticket to work programs•PASS plans• Medicaid Buy-in •Vocational and higher education advisement•Youth-oriented job clubs

Income Support and other Public Benefits: •SSI•SSDI•TANF•WeCare problems•Food Stamps•Access to Soup Kitchens/Food Pantries

Deinstitutionalization: •Community support services•Home health services•Financial supports including One-shots for moving expenses and deposits

Our policy specialists work with consumers to identify issues, draft policy options, comment on legislation, educate state and local policy makers on: Health Care and Coverage, ADA enforcement, Voting Rights, Housing, Education, Employment, Deinstitutionalization, and Transportation. We coordinate a network of 480 people with disabilities and provide education on advocacy techniques, story collection, and community-based research.

CIDNY Public Policy and Grassroots Advocacy

Community Education •Workshops & Clinics•Training•Fact Sheets & Publications•Recreation•Mainstream and Social Media-based Public Education

Manhattan: Queens:Manhattan 212-674-2300 Queens 646-442-1520 Manhattan Video phone: 646-350-2681 (TTY) Queens Video phone: 866-

948-1064Manhattan’s TTY 212-674-5619 (Tel) Queens 718-886-0427www.cidny.org

Our offices are fully accessible and located at accessible transportation hubs.There are no charges for CIDNY services.