Independence Care System (ICS)

05/25/2026

Inclusion is a strategic advantage!

According to Disability Belongs, companies leading in disability inclusion report 1.6× higher revenue, 2.6× greater net income, and 19% more innovation revenue. Teams with diverse leadership make better decisions 87% of the time.

With 25% of U.S. adults living with a disability and a $1 trillion consumer market, accessibility is vital to business. Inclusive workplaces attract and retain top talent, especially as younger generations seek employers based on their values.

05/22/2026

Blocked bus lanes aren’t just frustrating; they’re a real barrier for many in our community.

According to new MTA data, UPS trucks were caught blocking NYC bus lanes over 25,000 times last year- almost twice as often as Amazon. These delays hit hardest for people with disabilities who rely on accessible transit to stay connected. When companies park “just for a few minutes,” those minutes add up to lost independence and missed opportunities.

Have you experienced blocked lanes in your neighborhood? We’d love to hear your story.

Most of the worst offenders for lane-clogging were delivery businesses who racked up thousands of violations.

05/21/2026

Big news for health equity in New York!

New York State just set aside $25 million to make health care more accessible for people with disabilities. NYU Dentistry received a substantial slice of that - $5 million - so they can ramp up their services and cut down those long wait times. This is a real step forward in making sure folks with developmental disabilities get the care they need, when they need it.

Just in time for the upcoming National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day, New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul announced 30 awards statewide totaling $25 million to expand health clinics and improve access to dental healthcare services for people with developmental disabilities as part of her 2025 State of t...

05/18/2026

Thank you to Civics League for Disability Rights for continuing to raise awareness about the urgent challenges facing people with physical disabilities across New York State.

This article reflects the reality many of our members face every day: delays, instability, loss of services, and a healthcare system that too often does not understand the needs of people with physical disabilities.

For more than 25 years, ICS has worked to provide disability-expert care that helps people remain healthy, independent, and living in their communities.

We encourage our community to read and share this important piece:
https://ablenews.com/they-were-warned-the-fight-to-save-ics-and-the-failure-of-new-yorks-disability-care-system/

There are moments when a protest becomes more than a demonstration. It becomes a reckoning. On May 5, more than one hundred people with physical disabilities, advocates, family members, and allies gathered outside Gov. Kathy Hochul’s New York City office to protest the closure of Independence Care...

05/15/2026

Join us May 19 for the Living Well with MS Educational Workshops, a supportive and informative wellness series focused on mobility, bladder health, and practical tools for living well with MS.

Open to everyone. Light lunch, giveaways, and mobility device tune-ups included.

Register:
[email protected]
646.581.7104
Text WELLNESS to 888.984.5101

05/08/2026

Flying with a wheelchair shouldn’t feel like taking a gamble.

For ages, airlines have brushed off the idea of letting passengers stay in their own wheelchairs during a flight, saying it was for “someday.” Well, “someday” just got closer. Airbus and Collins Aerospace rolled out new test models at the Aircraft Interiors Expo this year, and for the first time, they’re showing how someone could stay in their own wheelchair, properly secured, actually comfortable, and not worrying about damage or being separated from it.

It’s not ready yet - there are a pile of regulations to sort out, but the progress feels real.

John Morris visits the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Germany to test two new in-cabin wheelchair seating systems and find the answer to one important question: When will they be available on actual…

05/07/2026

“The relationship between a personal assistant and a consumer is not transactional…
It is built on trust. On dignity. On mutual reliance… It is a relationship like no other.” — Marcus Johnson

As the city considers Intro. 303, this opinion piece highlights the essential role of home care in supporting more than 13,000 New Yorkers with disabilities. Home care is more than a service; it’s a vital support system.

Effective policy must reflect the realities of those who rely on 24-hour care and the professionals who deliver it.

Read the full article:

Right now, New York City is considering a proposal known as Intro. 303, a measure that would effectively limit 24-hour home care shifts to 12 hours by penalizing agencies that continue to provide live-in care. The intention is to address real and urgent concerns about how home care workers are treat...

05/06/2026

Yesterday, members of the Civics League for Disability Rights (CLDR), alongside ICS members and advocates, gathered outside Governor Kathy Hochul’s NYC office to defend the services that thousands of New Yorkers with physical disabilities rely on every day.

Community members spoke powerfully about the importance of coordinated care, wheelchair services, independence, and the right to live safely in the community with dignity and support.

We are grateful to everyone who showed up, shared their stories, and raised their voices.

Please take a moment to read and share CLDR’s post below.

05/06/2026

National Coverage on an NYC nonprofit empowering athletes with disabilities.

Achilles International, a New York City nonprofit, recently got a well-deserved spotlight on The Kelly Clarkson Show. They help athletes with disabilities take on marathons, triathlons, and other adaptive events.

Francesco, their NYC Director shared his own journey, how he found confidence again after losing his vision, thanks to the support of his community. Two other athletes, Sarah and her guide Jen, added some personal stories as well, talking about the laughs and singing they share during races, which turns tough miles into moments of pure joy.

The segment also gave a shoutout to Team Achilles Kids, a program offers free adaptive workouts to children with disabilities all over NYC, making sure every kid gets a chance to join in. And there was a great surprise at the end, so give the segment a watch!

This kind of support is what makes the city stronger. Every athlete deserves a shot to train, move, and feel unstoppable.

Are there any adaptive sports programs that have changed your life?

8 likes, 1 comment. "Kelly Clarkson Loves Nonprofit Empowering Athletes With Disabilities To Run Marathons"

05/05/2026

In the subway, staffing decisions can be accessibility decisions.

Unstaffed subway booths make the system less safe and harder to use. That’s why transit workers and disability advocates are suing the MTA - part of a long running legal fight.

When there’s no one in these booths, riders lose access to help. New Yorkers with disabilities, in particular, depend on booth staff for things like directions, updates on service changes, or help during emergencies.

Learn about the most recent charges against MTA and New York City Transit - and let us know how station agents impact your subway commute.

New lawsuit from Transport Workers Union Local 100 is the latest move in long-running legal fight

05/04/2026

The End of 24 Hour Shifts?

Home care workers in New York City recently went on hunger strike, fighting against the city’s insistence on grueling 24-hour shifts. This system puts an incredible strain on workers, and it doesn’t really serve people with disabilities well, either- they end up with tired, overworked caregivers instead of steady, attentive support. But living in a nursing home isn't an option either; "a fate worse than death" says Jose Hernandez, a person with a spinal cord injury who supports workers rights to be fully compensated and relies on 24 hour care.

What changes would make home care more sustainable for you or your loved ones?

The battle over 24-hour shifts has pitted the mostly immigrant women working in the home care industry against vulnerable patients.