It was 20 years ago Monday that landmark legislation opened doors for the disabled, and today Westchester County continues to make inroads by increasing public awareness while making it easier for people to obtain services and enjoy a high quality of life.
July 26 commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, one of the nation’s most important civil rights laws. The legislation made it illegal to discriminate in areas such as employment, public accommodation and transportation and granted people with disabilities equal access to a full civic, economic and social life.
In the years since, Westchester has taken many steps to make the county an accessible, open, understanding and equal community.
“Great strides have been made and the situation has improved exponentially, but we aren’t all the way there yet,” said County Executive Robert P. Astorino. “Many people in the disabled community continue to strive for the same level of accessibility and opportunity that many others are able to take for granted. Our Office for the Disabled is there to help.”
In Westchester, the Office for the Disabled provides many mandated services such as coordinating sign language interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing populations and offering a Handicapped Parking Education program to teach the public the importance of not parking in spaces designated for the disabled. Staff show a handicapped parking video and serve as an advocate and troubleshooter for people who don’t know their rights or want assistance.
The Office offers a free disability resource guide that makes it easier to locate services and maintains a Special Needs Registry, a database of residents who may require additional assistance, transportation or a place to stay if told to evacuate in the event of an emergency or disaster. Volunteers visit schools and community agencies to raise disability awareness and present a puppet show that gives children insight into what it’s like to have a disability.
All Bee-Line buses are now handicapped accessible and reduced fare passes are available to riders with disabilities. ParaTransit, a curb-to-curb service, offers rides to people who can’t ride the regular buses. An individualized travel training program teaches the disabled how to ride the buses in a safe and efficient manner.
Five years ago, the county built a handicapped accessible playing field and became the first local government to host a Miracle League chapter, offering hundreds of children and adults a chance to play baseball. This year the county has 180 children and more than 500 adults in its leagues. Special events include an annual free day at Playland and a Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at the County Center.
The Office for the Disabled also partners with the departments of Health, Community Mental Health and Social Services to offer additional services, such as an Autism Advisory Board and depression hotline. The Office also partners with the Office for Women and the Family Justice Center on domestic violence issues within the disabled community.