NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities Highlights 2024 Achievements in Accessibility and Inclusion - MOPD

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities Highlights 2024 Achievements in Accessibility and Inclusion

December 20, 2024

New York - The NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) proudly announces a year of transformative initiatives and achievements aimed at making New York City inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities. Through programs, partnerships, and community engagement, MOPD continues to pave ways for people with disabilities to participate in everything New York City has to offer.

“From day one, our administration has focused on creating a safer, more affordable New York City. In 2024, we continued to deliver on that vision and ‘Get Stuff Done’ for working-class New Yorkers,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Thanks to our extraordinary public servants, America’s safest big city got even safer this year, with overall crime down and thousands of illegal guns, mopeds, and ghost cars taken off city streets. We passed historic legislation to turn New York into a ‘City of Yes,’ shattered affordable housing records once again, and put billions of dollars back into New Yorkers’ pockets. We broke records for the most jobs and small businesses in city history and moved millions of trash bags off our sidewalks and into containers. But we know that there is even more we can do to continue to uplift working-class families. As we look to the future, our administration remains committed to keeping New Yorkers safe and making our city more affordable for the millions of New Yorkers who call our city home.”

“Accessibility is not just a requirement; it is a fundamental right and a cornerstone of an inclusive society. Our work at MOPD reflects a commitment to breaking down barriers, whether through digital inclusion, workforce development, or physical accessibility improvements,” said Christina Curry, Commissioner of NYC MOPD. “By fostering collaboration across city agencies and community partners, we aim to empower New Yorkers with disabilities to participate in everything our city has to offer. This year’s accomplishments demonstrate that meaningful change is possible when we prioritize equity, listen to the needs of our communities, and come up with new ways of solving problems.”

A Five-Year Plan for Accessibility

Under Local Law 12 of 2023, NYC agencies are developing Five-Year Accessibility Plans to advance Digital Accessibility, Workplace Inclusion, Effective Communication, Physical Accessibility, and Programmatic Access. With more than 60 city agencies engaged, these plans demonstrate NYC’s commitment to ensuring:

Physical, digital, and programmatic access across city services.

Inclusive workplace environments and improved communication for people with disabilities.

The agencies’ accessibility plans can be viewed here.

Employment Program Expansion: NYC:ATWORK

MOPD’s employment initiatives have transformed the landscape for job seekers with disabilities, fostering pathways to meaningful careers. Through strategic programs and collaborative efforts, MOPD has successfully enhanced opportunities for job seekers with disabilities. This year's pivotal achievement was the integration of the NYC:ATWORK employment initiative pilot into one of the Workforce 1 Centers located at 9 Bond Street in Brooklyn, providing comprehensive employment services tailored to the needs of job seekers with disabilities.

Highlights include:

A team of 3 to 6 employees, connecting over 73 individuals with disabilities to quality jobs, including 10 placements in City government roles.

Hosting two job fairs attended by over 150 job seekers and 10 employers, fostering meaningful connections.

Delivering Disability Etiquette and Awareness Training (DEAT) to organizations like NYCEDC, CUIMC, and York College, promoting inclusive workplace cultures.

By expanding collaborations with SBS, Workforce1, DCAS, and community organizations, MOPD has strengthened the support network for job seekers with disabilities, creating outcomes for diverse employment opportunities.

Digital Accessibility: A Step Forward

MOPD established a network of Digital Inclusion Officers (DIOs) across city agencies, which is set to expand in 2025. These officers are critical in ensuring NYC.gov digital assets meet accessibility standards, monitoring outgoing communications for accessibility, and acting as subject matter experts for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) procurement. They also coordinate digital accessibility training for staff, contributing significantly to a more inclusive digital environment across NYC agencies. Ultimately, this initiative empowers people with disabilities by improving their access to vital digital resources and services, fostering greater independence and participation in civic life.

Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Outreach

This year marked a significant step forward with the return of the Deaf Town Halls, which focused on critical topics such as employment, accessible voting, and public safety. These events fostered open dialogue between the Deaf community and city agencies, providing a platform for addressing concerns and sharing insights. Additionally, MOPD improved access by offering ASL training to Department of Social Services employees, equipping staff with essential skills to better communicate with Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals and support their needs effectively.

Disability Etiquette and Awareness Training (DEAT)

The Disability Etiquette and Awareness Training (DEAT) provides an engaging and informative introduction to disability justice, preferred language, and best practices for interacting with people with disabilities. Participants then dive deeper into focused overviews based on specific disability types, including mobility disabilities, Blind/low-vision, and Deaf/hard-of-hearing. Presented by MOPD employees with lived experience as people with disabilities, the training creates a safe space for attendees to ask questions and engage in open discussions. This year, the program delivered impactful sessions to approximately 20 private and public sector organizations and City agencies, reaching about 500 individuals citywide.

Empowering Disability Service Facilitators (DSFs)

Disability Service Facilitators (DSFs) are dedicated city employees from every agency who are committed to making city agencies more inclusive. This year, MOPD provided DSFs with enhanced guidance and training, fostering collaboration and promoting knowledge sharing among facilitators. These efforts have strengthened their ability to ensure compliance with ADA regulations, ultimately improving access for people with disabilities to essential city resources for individuals with disabilities.

The list of DSFs for city agencies can be viewed here.

Physical Accessibility Enhancements

MOPD has made progress in improving physical accessibility across New York City. This year, the agency trained over 450 housing providers on barrier-free construction and ADA standards, equipping them with the knowledge to create inclusive and accessible spaces for people with disabilities. Additionally, since bringing on a new Senior Director of Physical Accessibility in May 2024, MOPD conducted 24 site assessments to facilitate ADA compliance and issued approximately 40 ADA code recommendations, addressing critical barriers in both public and private spaces to enhance accessibility for all New Yorkers.

About NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities

The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) has been the liaison between New York City government and the disability community. In partnership with city offices and agencies, MOPD ensures that city initiatives, programs, and policies address the needs and interests of people with disabilities. The office regularly engages in advocacy and policymaking at the local, state, national, and international levels to make sure accessibility and full inclusion are key priorities for all public and private stakeholders alike.

For more information about MOPD and its initiatives, visit nyc.gov/mopd or follow us on social media:

X (formerly Twitter): @NYCDisabilities

Instagram: @nyc_disabilities

Facebook: facebook.com/NYCDisabilities