Recently, Gotham Gazette published an op-ed by ICD's Co-Presidents, Joseph T. McDonald III and Dio Gica, titled "Mayor Adams Is On The Right Track: New York City Should Prioritize Addressing Disabilities Early."
In the piece, ICD’s Co-Presidents say,
New York City Mayor Eric Adams understands the challenge faced by the city’s nearly 1 million New Yorkers living with a disability – and the importance of diagnosing and addressing disabilities early. . . Early diagnosis is key, but it must be accompanied by strategies to address the disability. That’s where New York City has an opportunity to set a new, cost-effective, national standard through collaboration among government, the nonprofit sector, and the business community.
Currently, ICD is spearheading this initiative through our two-school pilot program launched in the Fall of 2022 in partnership with Discovery High School in The Bronx and Richmond Hill High School in Queens.
ICD’s “School to Success” program provides each school with a full-time, on-site Navigator available to work with any student who has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan to prepare the student to make the jump to college or vocational training and embark upon a career.
With partnerships across the nonprofit, government, and business sectors, it is our hope that this model can grow to be citywide.
To read the full piece, click here.
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