Independence Care System (ICS)

06/18/2026

Wondering how ABLE accounts can help you build real savings without risking your benefits? Join an upcoming online Q&A and get clear answers live from the experts.

Mark your calendar: Thursday, June 25, 2026, from 12 to 1 PM ET. Captioning and ASL available.

Professionals at Illinois ABLE, STABLE Accounts, and the ABLE National Resource Center will explore the topics that matter most, like:
• Smart ways to manage your ABLE account
• Rules around contributions and rollovers
• Tips on investing
• How ABLE accounts and trusts work together
• What you need to know about public benefits
• Long-term financial strategies

If you’re running your own ABLE account, considering one, or helping someone else with theirs, this Q&A session is for you. Walk away with real guidance and a clear plan.

Sign up here using the "register now" button at the bottom: https://ow.ly/mi4k50Z9Vhb

06/17/2026

If you live in the mid-upper East Side of Manhattan and need legal guidance but lack the funds for it, an opportunity is coming your way.

Senator Liz Krueger is bringing NYLAG’s Mobile Legal Help Center to the neighborhood for a free intake day, open to anyone in NY Senate District 28. This encompasses the Upper East Side, Midtown East, Turtle Bay, Kips Bay, Murray Hill, Gramercy, and parts of the East Village.

Date: Tuesday, June 30
Time: 10 AM to 3 PM
Location: 211 East 43rd St., 20th Floor
You *must* live in District 28 to attend; appointments required. Call (212) 490-9535 to schedule.

NYLAG’s team can help with a wide range of issues such as housing, disability or public benefits, healthcare, workers’ rights, immigration, and problems like intimate partner violence, divorce, or custody. They also advise on simple wills, consumer credit, debt, identity theft, and homeowner rights.

If you or someone you know needs civil legal support, don’t miss this chance.

06/16/2026

CMS recently introduced a new federal rule: Starting in 2027, certain adults on Medicaid will have to meet work and community-engagement requirements.

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) wants the disability community to know what this really means and to speak up during the public comment period that’s happening now.

It’s important to note: There’s solid research showing that work requirements don’t boost employment. What they do is push eligible people off Medicaid, mostly because of all the paperwork. Losing Medicaid is dangerous because it is needed for medical care, home and community services, and long-term support.

Key points:
- The rule is open for public comments until July 31.
- The exemptions in this rule don’t go far enough to protect many people with disabilities.
- History tells the story: Whenever work requirements appear in other programs, a lot of eligible people lose coverage.
- AAPD will put out resources soon to help folks make their voices heard.

ICS will keep an eye on this and share more resources as soon as they’re ready.

Source: AAPD and the Federal Register (CMS-2454-IFC)

For Immediate Release: June 1, 2026 Contact: Jess Davidson, [email protected]; 202-465-5528 WASHINGTON – Today, June 1, 2026, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shared their intent to publish an Interim Final Rule on Wednesday, June 3rd, regarding new Medicaid community engagement a...

06/15/2026

Join Disability Unite and NYC Commission on Human Rights for a FREE HYBRID celebration of community on July 12th!

Where: Central Park Naumburg Bandshell (In-Person) and https://ow.ly/njk950Z7hNz (Virtual)

When (all times EDT): Sunday, July 12th, 11AM - 4PM (Hybrid) & 4PM - 6PM (Virtual Exclusive)

Who: Free For All To Join!

Captioning, Sign Language Interpretation and Audio Description Will Be Provided

RSVP for the Festival at the link below.

Sign up for news and information about live online events celebrating ADA30 and 30 years of progress in access and inclusion. We are stronger together.

06/11/2026

“We oppose any legislation that will upend the lives of thousands of hard‑working Caregivers and their families, as well as the clients who rely on this high standard of personal care.” -DC37 Executive Director Henry Garrido

Right now, home care workers, disability advocates, and their labor allies are pressing the NYC Council to toss out Intro 303. They argue that this bill threatens jobs, benefits, and the steady care that thousands of New Yorkers with disabilities count on. At a rally in City Hall Park, AFSCME District Council 37, Home Care Employees Local 389, and leaders from the disability community pointed out that cutting 24-hour shifts without a Medicaid-funded alternative would throw both workers and clients into chaos.

The shift change goes against Medicaid regulations and doesn’t come with any real funding plan. Advocates are worried this move will push people with severe disabilities into institutions or nursing homes, stripping them of the personalized support they depend on every day.

The demand: any real reform to home care involve securing proper funding, and bring everyone- workers, clients, and policymakers - together. What they don’t want is a quick fix that disrupts care for those who need it most.

Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York

06/10/2026

"Successful healthcare begins with a friendly face, a loving spirit, unshakable motivation to help others, and timely treatment."

People with disabilities often run into a system that rushes them through appointments, misses the warning signs, and just doesn’t get what it’s like to live in a wheelchair. Here's one man's story about the long, tough path just to get the care he deserved. What made the difference? He found that rare doctor who truly listened, took the time to ask real questions, and stepped in when things got critical.

- Listening can be a lifesaver
- When disabilities are complex, doctors need to slow down and pay attention to the bigger picture
- Sometimes, remote advocacy is what tips the scales
- Our health system should focus on people, not just speed

Read more below and comment if you have a doctor who really listens.

As a full-time wheelchair user with complete T11 paralysis for 60 years, I’ve learned the importance of truly dedicated, caring medical specialists, how difficult it can be to find them…

06/09/2026

When you or a loved one can no longer bathe, dress, or manage medications independently, most New York families discover the same hard truth: the coverage they counted on does not exist.

– Medicare does not cover long‑term care
– Private insurance is unaffordable for most households
– Medicaid requires families to spend down nearly all savings first (though trusts and ABLE accounts can help - speak to an advocate to learn more)

Another state has already built the safety net New Yorkers need. Washington State’s WA Cares Fund, launching this year, is the first public long‑term care insurance program in the country. Workers contribute just 0.58% of their paycheck and earn a lifetime benefit they can use for in‑home care, family caregivers, home modifications, transportation, meal delivery, and more.

As Cathy Knight, Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging said:
“It’s not a lot. But for a lot of people, it’s just what they need to get them through a crisis.”

New York Senate Bill S1179, now in committee, would bring a similar program here, giving working families a way to plan for care without losing everything first.

Read the full article to learn:
– How Washington’s program works
– What the benefit covers
– How little it costs workers
– What New York caregivers can do *right now* to support S1179

06/08/2026

New York State has been planning a World Cup Experience like no other and has gone to great lengths to make the World Cup experience accessible and inclusive so people of all abilities and from all walks of life can enjoy what Governor Hochul has aptly called a "once-in-a-generation opportunity for New Yorkers."

The Office of the Chief Disability Officer (OCDO) is teaming up with the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) to ensure the accessibility, inclusivity and safety for all people with disabilities who participate in the exciting, family-friendly activities for match day on June 12.

Starting at 1:00 PM, OCDO will be staffing an ADA location inside of the Stony Brook stadium. Please come find them if you have any accessibility questions once you arrive, or just to say “Hello.” OPWDD will also be hosting a sensory tent and Special Olympics will be running soccer skills clinics on Stony Brook's beautiful field.

Additionally, there will be so much more for you to experience and enjoy at this rain or shine event. Join thousands of fellow New Yorkers as we watch live matches on giant outdoor screens, enjoy entertainment (including a 45 minute performance by Third Eye Blind), and celebrate the world’s game together!

Get free tickets at the link below.

2026 WORLD CUP WATCH EXPERIENCE STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCIA PARA VER LA COPA MUNDIAL 2026 STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY NAVIGATION GET YOUR TICKETS EVENT INFORMATION SCHEDULE PARKING & TRANSPORTATION ACCESSIBILITY FAQ OBTÉN TUS BOLETOS INFORMACIÓN DEL EVENTO HORARIO ESTACIONAMIENTO Y TRANSPORTE AC...

06/05/2026

With deep sadness, Independence Care System announces the passing of William S. Franz, a cherished member of our community who dedicated his work to supporting adults with physical disabilities as social program facilitator for many years.

A memorial service celebrating Will’s life will be held on Saturday June 13th from Noon-4 PM with both in‑person and virtual livestream attendance options. The livestream link will appear shortly before the start time on the obituary page; live attendance will be at Walter B. Cooke Funeral Home, 352 E 87th St, New York, NY 10128.

https://bit.ly/wsfmemorial

06/04/2026

Disability Competence is Infrastructure, Not a Luxury

“Disability competence is not a marketing term. It is the difference between understanding that a wheelchair repair delayed by weeks can become a medical crisis” In a powerful article for Able News, Marcus Johnson reflects calls out the New York State budget for neglecting people with disabilities. We're talking about a budget of $268 billion, and yet the only Health Home intended for people with physical disabilities is about to shut down this July. If that happens, crucial programs like On A Roll and Thrive could disappear, too.

These services aren’t perks or niceties. They’re basic essentials when it comes to health and independence. Have a look at the article to learn more - this matters to all of us.

The chants that stayed with me on May 28 was not “Save ICS.” It was: “Disabled Lives Matter.” “We Are Human Too.” Those words should never have to be chanted outside the office of a governor in one of the wealthiest states in the nation. Yet there we were, wondering how many more times w...