35 Years of Access and Advocacy

A Report from the Office of the Chief Disability Officer & the Office of People With Developmental Disabilities with the support of members of the Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council.


The New York State disability rights movement, rooted in decades of activism and advocacy, has achieved significant progress in making the state more inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities. Key achievements include establishing the first municipal office focused on the disability community, founding Disabled in Action, and advocating for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The movement has also played a crucial role in making New York City more accessible, such as through the CIDNY v. MTA lawsuit.

*Please note that outdated terminology may be used when referring to a given name of an organization or past formal use.

Key Milestones and Organizations

The timeline below highlights the key milestones that led up to the law's signing and the important progress that has been made since then to the present day. This is followed by a listing of the organizations that played a significant role in the law's enactment.

• The New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB) is established under Chapter 415 of the Laws of 1913 to help people who are legally blind find employment, research the causes of blindness, and advance blindness prevention.

•  The deinstitutionalization movement for people with mental health diagnoses begins.

• The deinstitutionalization campaign for people with developmental disabilities begins, assisting people to move from large institutions to smaller group homes and community-based services.

1968

• The nation's first municipal office focused on the disability community is established in New York City.

1970

• Judy Heumann and other activists with disabilities found Disabled in Action.

1972

• The Willowbrook Lawsuit (New York State Association for Retarded Children v. Rockefeller) is filed following a series of investigations that revealed the inhumane conditions for residents.

1973

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act - The first federal civil rights law protecting people with disabilities is enacted and states that no one with a disability can be excluded from programs that get federal money
   
• The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities in New York City is initially established in 1973 as the Mayor’s Office for the Handicapped by Executive Order 81.

1975

• Congress establishes the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities program, marking the beginning of the Protection and Advocacy national network to uphold the rights of people with disabilities
   
• New York Governor Hugh L. Carey signs the Consent Decree, establishing that residents of the Willowbrook State School have a constitutional right to be protected from harm and requiring New York to take immediate actions to improve living conditions.

Mid-1970s

• Disabled In Action protests the lack of lifts on MTA buses.

1977

• 504 Sit-Ins - People with disabilities protest for 25 days in San Francisco to force the government to sign Section 504 regulations, which prohibit discrimination against people enrolled in federally funded programs. It becomes a landmark moment for disability rights.

1978

• The Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities was created to implement the Willowbrook consent decree and the resulting closure and downsizing of institutions. The name was later changed to Office for People With Development Disabilities
   
• First Independent Living Center in New York State, Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York is opened.

1984

NY Accessible Transportation Act is signed into law, providing for MTA paratransit services and more lift access in MTA subway stations.
 

• America’s first playground for children with and without disabilities is built in Queens, New York City.

1986

• Congress passes the Air Carrier Access Act, which prohibits airlines from discriminating against passengers with disabilities

   

1987

• Governor Mario M. Cuomo declares Willowbrook State School on Staten Island 
  “officially and forever closed.”

1988

• The Americans with Disabilities Act is introduced to Congress - Congress begins working on a new law to protect civil rights in all areas of life, not just federally funded programs.
   
• Congress passes the Fair Housing Amendment Act, which extends the protection of the original Act to include people with disabilities and families with children.
   
• ‘Deaf President Now’ movement at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. - Protestors demand that the world’s only university for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students should have a president who is deaf.
   
• Association of People Supporting Employment is founded, establishing equitable employment opportunities for all people.
   

1990

• The first Disability Pride Day takes place in Boston, shortly after the Americans with Disabilities Act is signed into law. It was organized by a coalition of disability rights advocates who wanted to create a space where people with disabilities could come together to celebrate their achievements and push for further progress.
   
• Drafting and introduction of the original ADA Bill Deaf President Now movement at Gallaudet University Boston Disability Pride Day.
   
• On March 12, over 1000 activists march from the White House to Congress demanding Congress pass the Americans with Disabilities Act. Some protestors take part in the ‘capitol crawl’ to demonstrate the public buildings’ inaccessibility. 
   
• The Americans with Disabilities Act is signed by President George H.W. Bush, a landmark federal law prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities on July 26, 1990. 
   

• New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities is established through Executive Order No. 17, renamed from the Mayor’s Office for the Handicapped. 

   

1991

• Americans with Disabilities Act regulations go into effect - businesses, transit systems, and state and local governments must begin removing barriers and making public areas accessible. 

   

1992

• Disabled In Action sues the Empire State Building to make it accessible. 
   

1996

• Taxis for All Campaign launches to lobby for an accessible NYC taxi fleet.
   
•  New ADA standards Taxis for All Campaign The ADA signed into Law. Capital Crawl Protest 1996: Federal Telecommunications Act is enacted, requiring computers, telephones, closed captioning and many other telecommunication devices and equipment be made accessible. 
   

1999 

• Olmstead Decision - The U.S. Supreme Court rules that people with disabilities have the right to receive services in the most integrated setting possible. This has been credited with helping many people leave institutions and live in their communities.

2002

• New York’s Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council (MISCC) is created to guide the implementation of the Olmstead decision. It meets quarterly, continuing to the present day. 

2004

• Chicago’s Disability Pride parade is first held, with over 2000 people attending.

2006

•  Americans with Disabilities Act comes to the internet, putting tech accessibility on the map. The courts rule on a class action, finding that the Americans with Disabilities Act can be applied to websites. 

2008

• Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act - The law is updated to restore broad protections. It makes clear that more people are covered, including those with invisible or chronic conditions. 
   
• Disability history starts to be taught in schools. West Virginia becomes the first state to mandate the teaching of the disability rights movement in schools from K-12

2010

• New Rules for Physical and Digital Access - The U.S. Department of Justice issues new Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Websites, parking lots, hotels, and more are now held to updated accessibility standards. 
   
• Rosa’s Law is signed into law, replacing references in federal law from mental retardation to an intellectual disability.

2013

• The Regional Centers for Workforce Transformation is established to help Direct Support Professionals in New York State enhance job performance. 

2014

• The ABLE Act is passed, creating a special savings tool for people with disabilities. Account holders are able to save and pay for many expenses without jeopardizing other financial benefits and programs they receive.
   
• Employment First policy for New York State is signed, aiming to increase the employment rate of people with disabilities by 5%, decrease the poverty rate of individuals with disabilities by 5%, and engage 100 businesses in adopting policies that support integrated employment of individuals with disabilities.

2015

•  New York City holds its first Disability Pride Parade, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 
   
• New York State celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act with a celebration in West Capitol Park. 

2017

• CIDNY v. MTA lawsuit alleges inaccessible subway stations violate New York City's Human Rights Law.

   

2020

Americans with Disabilities Act 30th Anniversary – celebrations are held nationwide — many virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Advocates reflect on what’s been accomplished and what’s still needed. 

 

2022

• Web accessibility takes center stage - court rulings and new guidance push for greater digital accessibility — making websites, apps, and virtual spaces usable for everyone.
   
• A settlement is reached in CIDNY v. MTA, requiring half of NYC's subway stations to have alternatives to stairs by 2035 and nearly all to be wheelchair accessible by 2055. 
   
• Governor Kathy Hochul establishes the Office of the Chief Disability Officer, seeking to increase the employment rate of people with disabilities and make NY the most inclusive place to live. 
   

2023

• Governor Hochul issues Executive Order 31, committing New York State to being a model employer for people with disabilities. 
   

2024

• Governor Hochul establishes the NYS Office of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing.
   
• Governor Hochul issues Executive Order 40, committing New York to becoming an Employment First state for people with disabilities. 

2025

•  Americans with Disabilities Act Turns 35! New York celebrates 35 years of progress and recommits to building a more accessible, inclusive, and equitable future.

Please note: This is not an exhaustive list as there have been so many self-advocates, self-advocacy groups and family advocacy groups that all deserve recognition for their role in the disability rights movement in New York State. New York celebrates these advocates on the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and applauds their endless contributions to ensuring that their rights as Americans and as New Yorkers are upheld.

• Disabled In Action: A not-for-profit organization that fights discrimination against people with disabilities.
   
• Disability Rights New York: A not-for-profit organization that provides free legal and advocacy services to people with disabilities. 
   
• Museum of the City of New York: Curates an exhibit on disability activism in NYC. 
   
• NYS Independent Living Council: Promotes independent living for people with disabilities in New York State and provides a network of community-based Centers for Independent Living.
   
• New York Association on Independent Living: Leads statewide efforts among Independent Living Center to eliminate barriers to achieving full independence for all people with disabilities.
   
• NYC Disability Rights Archive: A project that collects and maintains documentation of the disability rights movement. 
   
• Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York: Provides free legal representation in cases of denied or terminated Social Security benefits. 
   
• New York State Division of Human Rights: Enforces the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act. 
   
• The Office of the Chief Disability Officer: Works to make New York more inclusive and integrated for people with disabilities. 
   
• New York State Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Office: provides information for state agencies, local governments and organizations to better serve people of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing communities.