Back to Coming to Terms with Disabilities
Access Pass
An Access Pass permits a resident of New York State with a permanent
disability free use of parks, historic sites and recreational facilities
operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation and the Department of Environmental Conservation. The
passholder may have free use of facilities operated by these offices for
which there is normally a charge (for example; parking, camping, greens
fees and swimming). To qualify for an Access Pass, an applicant must be
a resident of New York State and must provide proof of disability in the
form of certification from the appropriate agency, or by verification of
disability by a physician.
For complete information on the criteria for eligibility and an
application, contact:
Access Pass
Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Empire State Plaza
Agency Building 1
Albany, New York 12238
(518) 474-3714
Accessible Transportation
A specially designed transportation for any individual who by reason of
illness, age, injury or congenital malfunction or other permanent or
temporary incapacity or disability, is unable, without special
facilities, special planning or design, to utilize mass transportation
facilities as effectively as members of the general public.
(1) Accessible Para-Transit: A transportation service specifically
designed to serve the needs of persons with disabilities using special
vehicles and operating on a door-to-door basis.
(2) Accessible Fixed Route Service: A regularly scheduled fixed route
bus system fully equipped and designed to be useful for people with
disabilities. This system can also be available on a direct call basis.
(3) New York City Accessible Transit Committee: A committee
established under Section 15-b of New York State
Transportation Law. The purpose of the Committee is to assist
in the development of a coordinated accessible transportation
system within the City of New York. The Committee consists of
an advisor to the Office of the Mayor of the City of New
York, Director of the Mayor' s Office of the Handicapped,
Commissioner of the City' s Department for the Aging,
Commissioner of the State Department of Transportation, State
Advocate for the Disabled, Director of the State Office for
the Aging and four people with disabilities who reside or
work within the City of New York appointed by the Governor,
two of which must be recommended by the Mayor of the City of
New York and another who resides and works in the City of New
York who has experience with transportation services for
people with disabilities.
For more information, please contact :
New York State Department of Transportation
Transit Division
Governor Harriman State Campus
Building 4, Room 115
Albany, New York 12232
(518) 457-7664
Mayor's Office for the Handicapped
52 Chambers Street
Room 206
New York, New York 10007
(212) 566-5700
New York State Department of Transportation
Region II
47-40 21st Street
Long Island City, New York 11101
(212) 482-4594
Access Travel
For information on this subject you may wish to obtain the following:
Access Travel: Guide to Accessibility of Airport Terminals.
Can be obtained from:
Architectural and Transportation Barriers and
Compliance Board
11111 8th Street, N. W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
(202) 653-7834
Travel Like Everybody Else: A Practical Guide for Disabled Travelers by
Jacqueline Freedman and Susan Gersten.
Can be obtained from:
Adama Books
306 West 38th Street
New York, New York 10018
(212) 594-5770
Accessibility
A term which refers to freedom for people with disabilities to equally
participate in activities of daily life including employment,
transportation, housing, recreation and education without being limited
or denied due to architectural and/or attitudinal barriers.
For more information write to:
Office of Civil Rights
U. S. Department of Education
Region II, Federal Building
26 Federal Plaza
New York, New York 10278
(212) 264-4633
Association of Independent Living
Centers in New York, Inc.
190 Murray Street
Rochester, New York 14606
(716) 254-3650
(716) 546-6990 (TDD)
Achievement Tests
Achievement tests are given to determine how much a child has already
learned in several different subject areas. These subject areas include
reading, mathematics, language, spelling, social studies and science.
The information that achievement tests provide can be used to help
school personnel to develop educational programs and services that meet
a child' s needs in each school subject. For specific information on the
types of achievement tests given in individual school districts and
related data, contact the local school administrations in your area.
Acute
A term which refers to a disease or illness which is short and severe,
not long and drawn out (chronic).
Adaptive Physical Education
Adaptive physical education means a specially designed program of
developmental activities, games, sports and rhythms suited to the
interests, capacities and limitations of pupils with handicapping
conditions who may not safely or successfully engage in unrestricted
participation in the activities of the regular physical education
program.
Advocacy Group
A general term describing a group or agency comprised of persons or
organizations with similar goals, working together to bring to public
attention, their views and the proposals they support in order to effect
positive change.
Affirmative Action
A term used to describe the hiring and promoting of qualified
individuals regardless of disability, race, sex, national origin or
ancestry, providing the individual can perform at the minimum accepted
standards.
Aging-Out
A term used to describe individuals with disabilities who are no longer
eligible for mandated educational services because they have attained
age 21. In order to circumvent an abrupt halt in educational services
for these persons, the following laws were enacted to provide
transitional fun-ling and a planning/referral process to enable those
who were "aging-out" to retain services while appropriate adult
placements were found for them: Chapter 544 (1982)-- for children with
handicapping conditions in residential facilities located outside the
State who will require in-State services after age 21; Chapter 570
(1983)-- for persons in residential facilities located in New York who
will require services after age 21; and, Chapter 462 (1984)--for
youngsters receiving non-residential special educational services for a
full school day who will need adult services after age 21.
For further information contact:
New York State Office of Advocate for the Disabled
One Empire State Plaza, 10th floor
Albany, New York 12223
(518) 474-2825
(518) 473-4231 (TTY/ TDD)
1-800 522-4369 (Voice and TTY/TDD)
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
As explained by information from the AIDS Institute of the New York
State Department of Health (see term for definition), AIDS (Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome) causes the body to lose its natural
defenses against disease. The body then becomes open to attack by a
whole set of illnesses, ranging from mild infections to life-threatening
conditions, which usually do not pose a threat to anyone whose immune
system (see term for definition) is working normally. Some people with
AIDS develop a rare form of pneumonia (Pneumo-cystis carinii pneumonia)
caused by an organism that has no ill effect on healthy people. Others
develop Kaposi's sarcoma, a cancer that affects the skin and lining of
the blood vessels, and may spread throughout the body. Also, unusual
bacterial and fungal infections are often found in persons who have
AIDS. Symptoms may include one or more of the following: unexplained
tiredness, combined with headache, dizziness or lightheadedness;
continued fever or night sweats; weight loss of more than 10 pounds
which is not due to dieting or increased physical activity ; swollen
glands in the neck, armpits or groin ; heavy, dry cough that is not from
smoking and has lasted too long to be a cold or flu; thrush (a thick
whitish coating of the tongue or throat), which may be accompanied by a
sore throat; shortness of breath; bruising more easily than normal ;
purple or discolored growths (patches) on the skin, possibly first
seen on the ankles and legs, or the mucous membranes inside the mouth;
unexplained bleeding from any body opening or from growths on the skin
or mucous membranes.
For more information, contact :
AIDS Institute
New York State Department of Health
Corning Tower
Empire State Plaza
Albany, New York 12237
1-800 541-AIDS (Statewide information hot line)
AIDS Institute
The AIDS Institute is part of the New York State Department of Health,
Office of Public Health. The institute is responsible for encouraging
and supporting AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome-- see term for
definition) research and community programs that promote and provide
patient services and public education. The Institute has also
established a program to provide assistance with emergency problems
related to the treatment of people with AIDS, or discrimination against
members of risk groups. AIDS patients, their families and friends, as
well as hospital staff, can call (518) 473-0641 or (212) 340-3388 in the
event a problem exists that cannot be resolved at the local level.
Problems with patient care , social service concerns including medical
bills , housing , etc., as well as funeral arrangements, can be handled
by the office. Additionally, AIDS Institute Newsletter is published
periodically by the Institute to provide updates on information relating
to prevention, incidence, treatment, research and services.
For more information, contact :
AIDS Institute
New York State Department of Health
Corning Tower
Empire State Plaza
Albany, New York 12237
1-800 541-AIDS (Statewide information hot line)
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's Disease is a progressive, degenerative disease that can
cause memory loss, confusion, inability to make decisions, difficulty in
speech and movement, inability to recognize even family members, loss of
basic and learned skills and the ability to live independently. A
characteristic of this disease is the death of neurons (nerve cells
vital to the functioning of the brain) which significantly decreases
the ability of the brain to relay messages and recall stored knowledge.
For further information, contact :
New York State Department of Health
Empire State Plaza
Corning Tower
Albany, NY 12237
(518) 474-7354
Burke Rehabilitation Center
Dementia Research Service
785 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, New York 10605
(914) 948-0050 Ext. 2477
Ambulatory Care
Services for diagnosis and treatment of a variety of medical conditions
for patients who do not require inpatient care (care in a hospital or
medical institution).
American National Standards Institute, Inc. (ANSI)
In May 1959, ANSI, acting on the request of the President's Committee on
Employment of the Handicapped (PCEH) (see term for definition), began a
standards-development project to provide guidance to builders and
designers to eliminate architectural barriers (see term for definition)
which can cause problems for persons who are mobility impaired. In
subsequent years, in conjunction with many groups including PCEH, the
National Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children and Adults, National
Center for a Barrier-Free Society, National Association of Home
Builders, American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities, and the
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, ANSI has
revised, expanded and improved these standards to provide detailed
specifications by which accessibility and usability can be achieved in
the workplace, in residences, and in social gathering places. Commonly
referred to as "ANSI Standards, " these specifications have been
recommended for adoption and enforcement by administrative authorities
in the construction, rehabilitation, and alteration of buildings,
facilities, and site development, so that those individuals with
physical impairments may pursue their interests and aspirations, develop
their talents, and exercise their skills. These detailed specifications
can be found in American National Standard Specifications for Making
Buildings and Facilities Accessible to and Usable by Physically
Handicapped People (ANSI-A117. 1-1980).
In 1984 the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) were issued.
These are now the generally accepted standard for use in compliance with
the accessible design provision of Section 504.
For more information, contact :
American National Standards Institute, Inc.
1430 Broadway
New York, New York 10018
(212) 354-3300
Office of Civil Rights
U. S. Department of Education
Region II, Federal Building
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
(212) 264-5189
Amputee
A term which refers to a person who has amputation, or the complete
surgical removal of any limb (s) or part of a limb (s) from the body
. This procedure is undertaken only when there is disease or damage
beyond treatment or repair. Industrial and/or road accidents are the
major causes of severe limb damage, but the necessity for amputation may
occur as the result of such diseases and conditions as cancer, diabetes,
gangrene (death of part of the tissues of the body usually as a result
of direct injury or inadequate blood supply), frostbite (freezing of the
skin and tissue due to exposure from extreme cold) and hardening of the
arteries. An amputee may experience many post-operative symptoms
including phantom limb pain (the feeling that the absent limb is still
there and that it, or part of it, is painful). Among the methods used
for adaptive/rehabilitative education is the use of a prosthesis-- an
artificial device (which may be electronic) to substitute for the
missing part.
For more information, contact :
National Amputation Foundation
12-45 150th Street
Whitestone, New York 11357
(212) 767-0596
The 52 Association
441 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
(212) 986-5281
National Association of the Physically Handicapped
76 Elm Street
London, Ohio 43140
National Rehabilitation Information Center
4407 Eighth Street, N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20017
(202) 635-5884 (Voice and TTY/TDD)
Aphasia
A medical term which means "loss of language"; it refers to all aspects
of language loss, not only speech. People with aphasia often have
difficulty with one or more of the following things: speaking, reading,
writing, arithmetic, spelling, counting, telling time, understanding
what is said, and recognizing objects. Two specific examples of aphasia
are: expressive aphasia-- a condition in which it is difficult or
impossible to make one's own thoughts or wants known to others; and
receptive aphasia-- a condition in which it is difficult or impossible
to understand what others are trying to communicate.
For more information, contact :
NYS Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NYSSLHA)
111 Washington Avenue,
6th Floor
Albany, New York 12210
(518) 463-5272
Aptitude Tests
Aptitude tests provide information about a child's ability to learn in
school. The results of these tests can help school personnel plan a
child's educational program so that it will not be too difficult or too
easy for the individual. Aptitude tests do not measure how well a child
will do in specific school subjects, but they do measure a range of
skills such as understanding and use of words. For specific information
on the types of aptitude tests given in individual school districts, and
related data, contact your local school administration.
Architectural Barriers
This term refers to building design which limits usage by persons who
are mobility-impaired. In order to move toward eliminating architectural
barriers, New York State enacted Chapter 707 of the Laws of 1981, which
created the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council (within the
Division of Housing and Community Renewal). The Council was charged with
preparing a new State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code to be
used by all municipalities within the State effective January 1, 1984
and amended in October, 1987. The Code contains provisions for the
construction and maintenance of buildings including such structural
elements as: space and fire safety requirements; plumbing, heating,
electrical, ventilating and fire protection equipment; and facilities
for persons who are physically handicapped and hearing impaired.
Information on the establishment of specifications for accessibility
including bathrooms, kitchens, and curb ramps can be found under
"American National Standards Institute, Inc. "
For more information, contact :
Office of Civil Rights, Region II
U. S. Department of Education
Federal Building
26 Federal Plaza
New York, New York 10278
(212) 264-5189
Law Bureau
Division of Housing and Community Renewal
1 Fordham Plaza
Bronx, New York 10458
(212) 519-5749
Arthritis
Arthritis means inflammation of a joint, and generally refers to over
100 rheumatic diseases (a group of diseases which affect muscles,
ligaments, tendons, joints, and other body parts) which have different
symptoms, patterns and treatments. The most commonly recognized forms of
diseases included under the umbrella term "arthritis" are:
juvenile arthritis-- forms of arthritis which differ from the kinds
found in adults that may appear any time after birth, may be mild or
serious, can change from day to day, and may include the symptoms of
skin rash, fever, inflammation of the eyes, slowed growth, swelling of
lymph nodes, fatigue, and swelling and pain in the muscles and joints;
rheumatoid arthritis-- an auto-immune disease in which the body's immune
system forms antibodies against itself and can involve chronic
inflammation of joint membranes and tissues which may cause fatigue,
weight loss, anemia, and stiffness and malformation of the joints in
knees, hands and feet ;
osteoarthritis-- the most common form of arthritis, which involves the
chronic breakdown of cartilage in the affected joints, such as fingers,
hips, knees, spine and may result in painful bony growths in the finger
joints;
scleroderma (progressive systemic sclerosis)-- meaning "hard skin", a
disease that may cause a thickening of the skin and problems with the
blood vessels, joints, kidneys, lungs, digestive tract and bowels, and
systemic lupus erythematosus (see "Lupus" for full definition).
For more information, contact :
Arthritis Foundation
Northeastern New York Chapter
1237 Central Avenue
Albany, New York 12205
(518) 459-5082
NYS Department of Health
Empire State Plaza
Corning Tower
Albany, New York 12237
(518) 474-7354
National Institute of Arthritis, Diabetes, Digestive
and Kidney Diseases
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
(301) 496-8188
Article 89 of New York State Education Law
This section of the State Education Law defines the educational
responsibilities that each local school district's Board of Education (
BOE) and the State Education Department have for providing services for
children with handicapping conditions. These responsibilities include
identifying and accounting for all pupils who are disabled and reside
within the school district, determining the extent to which an
individual pupil's educational performance is adversely affected by a
handicapping condition, and providing a free appropriate public
education for such pupils through specially designed educational
programs and services in keeping with the unique needs of each pupil.
The Board is also required to review, at least annually, the
appropriateness of the special education programs and services provided
by the school district. In fulfilling each of these important
responsibilities, every pupil' s right to procedural due process (see
term for definition) must be safeguarded. Parts 100 and 200 of the
Rules and Regulations of the Commissioner of Education delineates what
must be done to implement the law (See Part 100 and Part 200 for more
information). State law also requires each BOE to appoint a Committee on
Special Education (CSE) to assist it in meeting these responsibilities
. The CSE membership must include at least a school psychologist, a
teacher or administrator of special education, a school physician, and a
parent of a child with a disability residing in the district. (See
Committee on Special Education for more detailed information.)
For more information, contact :
Office of Education of Children with Handicapping Conditions
State Education Department
Education Building Annex
Albany, New York 12234
(518) 474-5548
Assistive Listening Devices
This term refers to personal (individual) acoustic communication
equipment that could be made available in facilities such as public
auditoriums to improve the transmission and auditory reception of sound
for persons who are hearing impaired. Such equipment may include
transmission of sound through an amplitude modulation signal (AM), a
frequency modulation signal (FM), an audio induction loop (an antenna-
type device which acts as a miniature transmitter/receiver) or an
infrared light sound system (a system similar to an audio induction
loop, but which uses infrared light to transmit and receive audio
signals instead of electrical impulses). Legislation in New York State
was passed in 1987 which requires that the Governor's Press Room, the
Senate and Assembly Chambers and the Hearing Rooms in the Legislative
Office Building be equipped with assistive listening devices.
For more information, contact :
Burke Rehabilitation Center
785 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, New York 10605
(914) 948-0050
Hearing Rehabilitation Center
Albany Medical Center Hospital
New Scotland Avenue
Albany, New York 12208
(518) 445-4535
Manhattan Eye Ear and Throat Hospital
210 East 64th Street
New York, New York 10021
(212) 605-3739 or 3740
Millneck Foundation
P. O. Box 100
Millneck, New York 11765
(516) 922-3880
National Technical Institute for the Deaf
One Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, New York 14623
(716) 475-6476 or 6473
New York League for the Hard of Hearing
71 West 23rd Street
New York, New York 10010
(212) 741-7650
(212) 255-1932 (TTY)
Self Help National Information Center on Deafness
Gallaudet University
Washington, D. C. 20002
(202) 651-5051
Asthma
Asthma is a condition in which the air tubes (bronchial) of the lungs
become narrowed by tightened muscles, mucus plugs, and swollen tissues
causing difficulty in breathing. Many of the victims are young children.
It accounts for about half of all chronic illness of childhood but can
also affect adults. It may be caused by substances in the air to which
an individual is sensitive, which causes an allergic reaction. Some of
these substances are : pollens, molds, animal dander ; irritants like
cigarette smoke, certain fragrances, etc. ; also certain food. It
affects an estimated 6. 6 million persons throughout the United States
(2. 7 million of whom are under 18 years old).
For more information, contact :
American Lung Association of New York State
8 Mountain View Avenue
Albany, New York 12205
(518) 459-4197
Ataxia
This is a rather uncommon type of Cerebral Palsy, varying between one to
15 per cent of the population of persons with CP. The person has a
disturbed balance sense and has greatly decreased ability to maintain
balance or coordination. The person may exhibit a high stepping gait and
may stumble, lurch and fall easily. Nystagmus (involuntary rapid eye
movement) and tremor of the head may be seen.
Athetosis
Athetosis is a type of Cerebral Palsy found in approximately 20 to 25
percent of children with CP. Purposeful movements are contorted and the
person has abnormal posturing and uncoordinated jerky, uncontrollable,
twisting movements of the extremities. The head is often drawn back with
the mouth open. In trying to talk, the person may grimace. Ability to
walk may vary according to circumstances, perhaps improving when the
person is not anxious and is well rested.
Atlanto axial instability
Atlanto axial instability is a condition which affects 10 to 12 percent
of individuals with Down syndrome. Common symptoms are: (1) neck
pain; (2) head tilted and rotated; (3) progressive or transient
weakness; (4) change in gait pattern; (5) increased clumsiness;
(6) bowel or bladder incontinence; (7) hyperactive or spastic reflexes.
Treatment for this condition may include surgery. However, those
individuals who are without symptoms may only need to have restrictions
on some activities which flex and extend the neck such as tumbling,
diving, etc. However, follow-up examinations and x-rays should be
performed on a routine basis.
Attendant/Attendant Care/Personal Care Assistant
Attendant care, more recently called personal care assistance, refers to
assistance in carrying out those activities of daily living which
individuals are unable to adequately perform for themselves because of
functional limitations. These limitations may be caused by physical,
sensory, mental, or developmental impairment, and are usually of long-
term duration. This service includes : assistance with basic self-care
tasks, such as personal hygiene, dressing, grooming, eating, drinking,
using and caring for assistive devices, communication and mobility ;
home care tasks, such as cleaning, laundry, shopping and meal
preparation; and cognitive tasks, such as managing finances, planning,
and making decisions.
For more information:
Association of Independent Living Centers in New York, Inc.
190 Murray Street
Rochester, New York 14606
(716) 254-3650
(716) 546-6990 (TDD)
Audiology
Audiologists provide and coordinate services to individuals who are
hearing impaired, including prevention and detection of the problem and
management of any existing communication handicaps. The broad
categorical services that audiologists may provide include:
Audiologic evaluation which includes air conduction, bone conduction and
speech thresholds, word / sentence recognition tests, acoustic emittance
(impedance) tests, communication handicap inventories, evoked potential
response tests, and electronystagmography.
Auditory prosthesis (e. g., hearing aid or assistive listening device)
evaluation and auditory (aural) rehabilitation which may include
orientation to auditory prosthesis, auditory training and speech reading
training.
For more information, contact :
New York State Speech Language Hearing Association
111 Washington Avenue
Sixth Floor
Albany, New York 12210
(518) 463-5272
Autism
Autism can be defined as a bio-neurologically caused disorder of
communication and behavior which can be present at birth or have its
onset usually within the first 30 months of life. Autism occurs by
itself or in association with other disorders which affect the functions
of the brain such as viral infections, metabolic disturbances, and
epilepsy. Characteristics of this developmental disability may include:
slow development or lack of physical, social and learning skills,
immature rhythms of speech, limited understanding of ideas, and use of
words without attaching the usual meaning to them, abnormal responses to
sensations such as sight, hearing, touch, pain, balance, smell, taste,
the way a child holds his body, abnormal ways of relating to people,
objects and events and repetitive movements such as rocking and
spinning, head banging and hand twisting. Any one or a combination of
these symptoms may be evident.
For more information, contact :
New York State Society for Autistic Citizens
Suite 201
10 Colvin Avenue
Albany, New York 12206
(518) 459-1418
NICHY (National Information Center for
Handicapped Children and Youth)
7926 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, Virginia 22102
(703) 893-6061
The National Society for Children and
Adults with Autism
1234 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Suite 1017
Washington, D. C. 20005
(202) 783-0125
Biopsy
The surgical removal of tissue from the living body for microscopic
examination to aid in diagnosis of a disease or condition.
Birth Defect
A term which refers to disorders of body structure, function, or
chemistry present at birth which may be inherited or may have resulted
from environmental interference during embryonic (earliest stages of
development) or fetal life (three or more months after conception).
For more information:
Birth Defects Institute
New York State Department of Health
Empire State Plaza
Corning Tower
Albany, New York 12237
(518) 474-7592
Blind and Visually Impaired See "Visually Impaired"
BOCES (Board of Cooperative Education Services)
Made possible by legislation enacted in 1948. The major role of BOCES is
to provide shared services which supplement and support the educational
programs of two or more local districts. Through BOCES, school districts
and the State Education Department have developed shared services in
occupational education, in education for students who are disabled, in
planning, in educational communications, and in many other endeavors.
While other services vary from one BOCES to another, drug and health
education programs, continuing education, staff development, data
processing and cooperative purchasing are most often among those
services available to subscriber local districts. Smaller school
districts may receive specialized instructional services on a part-time,
shared basis, to compensate for their low enrollment, population
sparsity, and other conditions which may limit their capabilities.
For more information, contact :
New York State Education Department
Education Building
Albany, New York 12234
(518) 474-2251
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