Emily Keller-O'Donnell, Journalist

Nassau County Announces Plan to Merge Departments

    Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano recently announced plans to merge six county departments into two, including several that serve people with disabilities.

    On June 7, the county legislature passed the plan, which will save the county $2 million annually. The change is part of the legislature’s overarching goal to reduce the $343 million deficit that the county faces this year. The merger will eliminate several management positions and vacate some office space.

Court Holds Hearing About Affordable Care Act

    On June 9, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta, Georgia held a hearing to review a recent court decision in favor of revoking the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

    U.S. District Court Judge Roger Vinson ruled in January in favor of a lawsuit brought by 26 states against the act, saying the mandate on individual responsibility to purchase insurance is unconstitutional. President Obama repealed the ruling, sending the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Staten Island Parents Settle Wheelchair Dispute with Condo Board

    Maria and Michael Stasinski of Bulls Head, Staten Island have settled a disagreement with their building’s condo board over the installation of a wheelchair lift for their four-year-old daughter Giuliana. The lift has now been installed.

    Giuliana has cerebral palsy. The Stasinskis received a donation of a $5,000 wheelchair lift from the Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation. However, the Richmond Mews condominium complex where they live did not initially approve its installation at the location they requested.

Independent Living Centers Form New Organization

    A group of independent living centers (ILCs) in New York State have joined together to form an organization focused on collaborating with a network of groups that serve people with disabilities.

    The Independent Living (IL) Network of New York offers technical assistance to member centers and plans to use advocacy and outreach to expand funding opportunities and give ILCs a greater voice in Albany.

Long Island Bus Selects Operator

    Nassau County has chosen an operator for Long Island (LI) Bus, taking the next step in its plan to form a private-public relationship to replace the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)’s role in the service.

    A panel formed in 2010 to evaluate bids for a public-private partnership with the county has selected Veolia Transportation Inc. to operate LI Bus operations starting next year. The company was chosen from three bids. It is unclear how Able-Ride paratransit service will be affected by the change.

Parents Group Works to Improve Transportation

    A group of parents have joined forces to seek improvements to school bus transportation for students with disabilities.

    Parents to Improve School Transportation (PIST) is working for long-term improvements to special education school busing provided by the Department of Education's Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT) and seeking to prevent potential budget cuts that could impact service.

Taxi Lawsuit Will Go Forward

    A class action lawsuit by disability rights advocates charging the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) with discrimination will go forward, according to a federal judge.

    On May 24, Judge George Daniels refused to dismiss a lawsuit that seeks to force the TLC to make all taxis accessible. The plaintiffs charge that the city’s low number of accessible taxis – less than 300 in a fleet of 13,000 vehicles – violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversary

    On July 26, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will have a 21-year anniversary. The landmark legislation mandates equal rights for people with disabilities in the areas of transportation, employment, public and commercial buildings, housing and telecommunications.

    The ADA was introduced in Congress in 1988 and signed into law in 1990. It was the result of years of activism through individual and community efforts to advocate for the rights of people of all ages with disabilities and oppose institutionalization. Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, which banned discrimination against people with disabilities by groups that receive federal funds, paved the way for the landmark legislation.