We Have Moved

NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT LIVING HISTORY TIMELINE

 

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Education of Handicapped Children Act of 1975 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 provide fundamental civil rights protections. During these years, independent living centers (ILCs) began to evolve. As stated in the Rehabilitation Act of 1992, disability is a natural part of life, which does not diminish the rights of individuals to live independently, make choices, contribute to society, pursue careers or enjoy integration in mainstream American society.

 

There are five basic characteristics of ILCs. They are consumer controlled, community based, provide cross-disability service, are non-residential and are non-profit.

 

Independent living centers serve individuals with all kinds of physical and mental disabilities, all age groups, parents, spouses, siblings, school personnel, business and industry, local government, human service groups, volunteer and civic organizations, hospitals and the medical community.

 

Core services provided by independent living centers include peer counseling, independent living skills, information and referral services, and individual and systems advocacy.

 

New York State’s network of independent living centers began to grow in 1978. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (and amendments) under Title VII authorized the establishment of independent living centers. The first centers were established in 1978 with federal funds. With the amendment of State Education Law (Sections 1121-1124), state funding began in 1982. Between 1978 and 1982, 18 ILCs were established in New York State. By 1987, 16 additional centers were established. Many ILCs and satellites have been established since 1990.

 

Timeline

 

1935

The League for the Physically Handicapped (New York City) was formed to protest discrimination by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). 300 League members were denied WPA jobs. The Home Relief Bureau of New York City stamped all applications  with “PH” which stood for physically handicapped. Members of the League held a sit-in at the Home Relief Bureau for nine days and held a weekend sit-in at the WPA headquarters. These actions eventually led to the creation of 1500 jobs in New York City.

 

1944

Howard Rusk at the U.S. Army Air Force Convalescent Center in Pawling, New York began a rehabilitation program for disabled airmen. Dubbed “Rusk’s Folly” by the medical establishment, rehabilitation medicine became a new medical specialty.

 

1948

We Are Not Alone (WANA), a mental patients’ self-help group, was organized at the Rockland State Hospital in New York City.

 

1950’s through 1960’s

U.S. Civil Rights Movement

Self-Help Movement

Deinstitutionalization Movement

Demedicalization Movement

Consumerism movement

Women’s Movement

 

 

1951

The Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at the New York University Medical Center (New York City) was opened by Howard Rusk.

 

1965

The National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York was established by Congress.

 

1970

Disabled in Action was organized by Judy Heumann at Long Island University, New York.

 

1971

The Mental Patients’ Liberation Project was initiated in New York City.

 

1972

New York ARC v. Rockefeller - parents of residents at the Willow Brook State School in Staten Island, New York filed suit to end the appalling conditions at that institution. A television broadcast from the facility outraged the general public. Eventually, thousands of people were moved into community-based living.

 

Disabled in Action demonstrated in New York City protesting Nixon’s veto of the Rehabilitation Act. Led by Judy Heumann, eighty activists staged a sit-in on Madison Avenue. A flood of letters and protest calls were made.

 

1973

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was passed. Sections 501, 503 and 504 prohibited discrimination in federal programs and services and all other programs or services receiving federal funds. Key language in the Rehabilitation Act, found in Section 504, states “No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States, shall, solely by reason of his handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."

 

1976

Disabled in Action picketed the United Cerebral Palsy telethon in New York City, calling telethons “demeaning and paternalistic shows which celebrate and encourage pity.”

 

1977

The Handicapped Parking Program was created.

 

Investigation of the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped was made based on consumer complaint.

 

1978

The Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York (C.I.D.N.Y.) was established in New York City. This was the first ILC in New York State. Created with federal funds, it opened on February 6, 1978.

 

Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled, Brooklyn was established.

 

Separation of OMRDD and OMH.

 

1979

Access to Independence and Mobility, Corning was established.

 

Rochester Center for Independent Living, Rochester (now Regional Center for Independent Living) was established.  http://www.rcil.org/

 

ARISE, Syracuse was established.  http://www.ariseinc.org/

 

Creation of the New York State Office of the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities.

1980

Pat Figueroa, C.I.D.N.Y., began advocating for state funding in the New York State legislature. He asked Judy Heumann for a copy of California legislation (AB204). He hoped to enter this same legislation in New York State.

 

The Western New York Independent Living Project, Buffalo was established. http://www.wnyilp.org/

 

Long Island Center for Independent Living, Inc., Levittown was established.

 

1981

Capital District Center for Independence, Albany was established.  http://www.nobleharbor.com/~cdci/

 

Westchester Independent Living Center, White Plains was established. http://www.wilc.org

 

Service Centers for Independent Living Bill passed. It took so long to pass that many centers lost 40-60% of their funding. Centers were in dire financial straits, scrambling to save programs. Once passed, all legislators wanted centers in their communities. 10 new CILs were established.

 

The Association of Independent Living Centers of New York was created.

 

1982

Suffolk Independent Living Organization, Islandia was established.

 

Resource Center for Accessible Living, Kingston was established.

 

State Education Law, Sections 1121-1124 (amendment) authorized state funding for ILCs.

 

1983

Queens Independent Living Center, Inc., Jamaica was established. http://www.qilc.org/

 

Southwestern Independent Living Center, Inc., Jamestown was established.

 

Resource Center for Independent Living, Utica was established.

 

Section 89 Education of Handicapped Children Law passed.

 

1984

Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc., Yonkers was established.

 

Southern Tier Independence Center, Binghamton was established.

 

Self Initiated Living Options, Inc., Holtsville was established.

 

Staten Island Center for Independent Living, Inc., Staten Island opened.

 

1985

Bronx Independent Living Services, Bronx was established. http://www.bils.org/

 

1986

Taconic Resources for Independence, Inc., Poughkeepsie opened. http://www.taconicresources.net/

 

Rockland Independent Living Center, Spring Valley was established. http://www.rilc.org

 

1987

Expansion funds were provided to existing centers if more centers were developed. Rural and smaller centers were established.

 

Action Toward Independence, Slate Hill was established.

 

Amsterdam Independent Living Center, Amsterdam was established.

 

Independent Living, Inc., Newburgh was established.

 

Genesee Region Independent Living Center, Batavia opened.

 

Glens Falls Independent Living Center, Glens Falls opened.

 

Northern Regional Center for Independent Living, Watertown opened.

 

Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley, Troy was established.  http:www.ilchv.org/

 

Massena Independent Living Center, Inc., Massena was established.

 

Supported employment system was established in New York State.

 

1988

Finger Lakes Independence Center, Ithaca opened. http://www.fliconline.org/

 

Directions in Independent Living, Olean opened.

 

Catskill Center for Independence, Oneonta opened. http://www.wpe.com/!ccfi/

 

Niagara Frontier Center for Independent Living, Inc., Niagara Falls was established.

 

Options for Independence, Auburn was established.

 

1989

Mouth: The Voice of Disability Rights began publication in Rochester, New York.

 

1990

Access to gas stations was placed into law.

 

New York Relay Program was established.

 

1991

Harlem Independent Living Center, Harlem opened.

 

State Transportation Act required the purchase of accessible vehicles and paratransit programs in the nine largest cities in New York.

 

1992

Rehabilitation Act Amendments called for the development of state independent living councils.

 

The Coalition on Independent Living was established.

 

1993

Wheelchair lemon law was passed.

 

Medicaid waiver for developmental disabilities was established.

1994

Glens Falls Independent Living Center, Saratoga Springs was established.

 

Genesee Region Independent Living Center, Warsaw opened.

 

Native American Independent Living Services, Buffalo opened.

 

Reinvestment Act was passed.

 

Medicaid waiver for traumatic brain injury began.

 

1995

Action Toward Independence, Monticello opened.

 

Access to Independence and Mobility, Elmira was established.

 

Minority Outreach Services, White Plains opened.

 

1996

North Country Center for Independence, Plattsburgh opened. http://www.ncci-online.com/

 

ARISE, Oswego was established.

 

1997

Access to Independence of Cortland County, Inc., Cortland opened.

 

School Tax Assistance and Relief (STAR) program provided reduction in school taxes for persons with disabilities.

 

1998

Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley, Hudson was established.

 

Reasonable Accommodation Act was passed.

 

1999

New York Cares Program was initiated.

 

With the support of the CIL network, New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer sued three upstate rural counties over the lack of accessible polling places.

 

2000

Options for Independence, Seneca Falls opened.

 

New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s Civil Rights Bureau set a precedent in federal district court by winning an injunction that forced all New York State counties to ensure the substantial compliance of polling place accessibility.

 

2001

The Center for Disability Rights, Rochester joined the independent living statewide network as a federally funded center. It is the 37^th center.

 

Centers established a formal statewide systems advocacy network (SSAN).

 

The SSAN forced the New York State Building and Fire Prevention Code Council to overturn a decision that would have severely limited the accessibility of new apartments. A code was established to ensure 100% adaptability in all new apartments with three or more dwelling units.

2002

A Medicaid Buy-In Program was approved in New York State scheduled to start in April 2003.

 

A Most-Integrated Setting Law was passed in New York State to establish a coordinating council that will develop and implement a comprehensive Olmstead Implementation Plan.

 

New York State advocates worked hard with their nationwide colleagues to get the Help America Vote Act signed into law.

 

 

 

 

Sources

    

     Fleischer, D. Z., & Zames, F. (2001). The disability rights movement: From charity to confrontation. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

 

     Francis, L. P., & Silvers, A. (Eds.). (2000) Americans with disabilities: Exploring implications of the law for individuals and institutions. New York: Routledge.

 

     New York State Independent Living Council, Inc. (1998). NYSILC. Retrieved September 1, 2001 from http://www.nysilc.org/.

 

     Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities. (1998). Independent living centers: 20 years of service in New York State: A report to the New York State Board of Regents. Albany, New York.

 

 

We extend our special thanks to Brad Williams, Pat Figueroa, Barbara “Bobbi” Linn, Becky Usiak, Judy Heumann, Darrell Jones and Fred Francis for historical information.

 

 

©2001, 2003 rev., by the Rehabilitation Research & Training Center on Independent Living Management.

 

RRTC-ILM Website:  http://www.rrtcilm.org

 

This publication of the Rehabilitation Research & Training Center on Independent Living Management is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education under grant number H133B000002. The opinions contained in this publication are those of the grantee and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Education.