Protecting the disabled

While observing the annual Disabilities Awareness Day recently, the New York Assembly passed legislation to protect those with disabilities from discrimination.
“The Assembly’s annual observance of Disabilities Awareness Day not only recognizes the accomplishments and contributions of people with disabilities and New York’s disability advocates, but it also zeros in on some of the challenges they face,” said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
“I’m pleased to say that the legislation we approved today includes anti-discrimination measures for the protection of people with disabilities that will ensure their most basic rights in the areas of housing, emergency preparedness, transportation and the election process,” Silver said.
Part of the legislation clarifies “the obligations of state and local governments to ensure that the services, activities and programs they administer do not prevent the participation of people with disabilities.”
The package of legislation also calls for the availability of sign language interpreters for public hearings and meetings; require high-rise buildings to have emergency evacuation plans to aid occupants or visitors who are disabled; and mandate counties “maintain a confidential registry of people with disabilities who may require evacuation assistance and shelter during a disaster.”
Registered voters who are blind or have a visual impairment can now have absentee ballots that are in Braille or have large print mailed to them.
Additionally, the New York State Human Rights Law, which defines “service animal,” will be amended so that it will have the same definition as the Civil Rights Law.
Other measures are meant to address housing and transportation discrimination issues. They include transportation companies receiving tax credits; new vehicles that are handicap accessible; creating a minimum width for parking spaces that are handicapped accessible; establishing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Riders’ Council for People with Disabilities; and giving lower floor housing preferences for New York City Housing Authority projects.