Disability Services and Support

• ADAPT Community Network: A leading non-profit organization in New York City that provides innovative programs and services—including education, technology, health, residential, and recreational programs—to support individuals with disabilities and promote a more inclusive society.
• Bronx Independent Living Services (BILS): Bronx Independent Living Services (BILS) is a non-profit, community based organization dedicated to empower all people with disabilities to understand and exercise their civil and human rights in order to live fully integrated lives in mainstream society. BILS assists individuals by providing them the necessary tools to make informed decisions about their own lives through access to education, skills development, and access to the appropriate resources.
• Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled (BCID): Their mission has been to empower persons with disabilities by improving the quality of their lives and fostering their integration into the mainstream. Their programs include Comprehensive Information & Referral Resources, Counseling, Advocacy, Support Groups, Outreach among others.
• Center for Independence of the Disabled NY: CILs support community living and independence for people with disabilities of all types. Although specific services and programs vary from center to center based on the needs of the people they serve, all offer programs that can assist people living with limb loss, paralysis and TBI. These services may include: access to psychological counseling, assistance in securing housing or shelter, personal assistance services, transportation referral and assistance, physical therapy, mobility training, rehabilitation technology, recreation, and other services necessary to improve the ability of individuals with disabilities to function independently in the family or community and/or to continue in employment.
• Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP): This Medicaid program provides services to chronically ill or physically disabled individuals who have a medical need for help with activities of daily living (ADLs) or skilled nursing services. Services can include any of the services provided by a personal care aide (home attendant), home health aide, or nurse.
• Harlem Independent Living Center: The Harlem Independent Living Center (HILC) is a community-based agency providing services free of charge to individuals with disabilities who live or work in Harlem. The center provides peer counseling, assistance with applications for food stamps, Public Assistance, SSI and SSDI, Medicaid and Medicare, housing assistance, assistive device training, van transportation for the disabled, architectural barrier removal assistance, and referral to other programs.
• The DSF Program: Disability Service Facilitators (DSF) are appointed to city agencies as liaisons to New Yorkers with disabilities, connecting people with disabilities to city government. Visit their website for list of DSF’s.
• NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities: Operating since 1973, the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) is the liaison between New York City government and the disability community. In partnership with all City offices and agencies, MOPD consistently ensures that the rights and concerns of the disability community are included in all City initiatives and that City programs and policies address the needs of people with disabilities.
• NY Connects: CIDNY’s NY Connects program is a free, trusted resource for information about services and resources that support people with disabilities. They work with New Yorkers of all ages and with any type of disability, whether living at home, in a nursing home, or in another residential setting. Their counselors assist individuals with disabilities in making informed decisions about short-term and long-term services and support options, including help with benefits enrollment.
• NYC Spinal:  NYC Spinal is an affiliate chapter of United Spinal Association, the largest organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with SCI/D in the United States. The chapter serves the community by sharing knowledge, promoting SCI awareness and injury prevention, advocating for disability rights and providing financial assistance and emotional support to survivors of spinal cord injury and their families.
• For more disability services and support resources visit our About Spinal Cord Injury and National Programs & Organizations Resources pages.

Financial Assistance

• EmpoweredNYC: EmpoweredNYC focuses on enabling New Yorkers with disabilities across the five boroughs to improve their financial stability. Using a three-tier approach, the NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and EmpoweredNYC partners advances financial capability through broad engagement and education, tailored one-on-one financial counseling enhanced with new expertise, outreach and tools, and specialized benefits support services.
• NYABLE: New York State’s Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program, which allows individuals with disabilities to save money without affecting their eligibility for government benefits. The program provides tax-advantaged savings accounts that can be used for qualified disability-related expenses, such as housing, healthcare, and education.
• For more financial assistance resources, visit our National Programs & Organizations Resource Page

Health and Wellness

• Medicaid Buy-In Program for Working People with Disabilities: The Medicaid Buy-In program offers Medicaid coverage to people with disabilities who are working, and earning more than the allowable limits for regular Medicaid, the opportunity to retain their health care coverage through Medicaid.
• Independence Care System: Independence Care System is dedicated to supporting senior adults and adults with physical disabilities and chronic conditions to live at home and participate fully in community life.

Housing and Accessibility

• Access to Home Program: The NYS Access to Home Program provides financial assistance to make residential units accessible for low- and moderate-income persons with disabilities. Assistance with the cost of adapting homes will enable individuals to safely and comfortably continue or return to live in their residences instead of residing in an institutional setting.
• Adele Friedman Housing Accessibility Fund: Established in 2016 by the Fair Housing Justice Center (FHJC) for the purpose of providing targeted financial assistance to benefit low and moderate income persons with disabilities who need reasonable modifications made to the housing they occupy to make it accessible.
• Barrier Free Living (BFL): A NYC based nonprofit offering the nation’s first fully accessible emergency shelter and a suite of specialized services including therapy, support groups, permanent supportive and transitional housing, and tailored advocacy for survivors of domestic violence with disabilities and their families.
• Rebuilding Together NYC: Provides critical home repairs, accessibility modifications, workforce training, and community revitalization services to low-income New Yorkers.
• Wheels of Progress: Empowers individuals with spinal cord injuries by providing accessible housing, advocacy, and resources to promote independent living.

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Linking to publications, materials or websites of other organizations or entities does not constitute endorsement by Mount Sinai of such publications, materials or websites. Mount Sinai provides these references and links because they may be of value to persons interested in SCI.