skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, October 3, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The death toll from Hurricane Helene tops 200 as search and rescue efforts continue in North Carolina, community health centers in Florida struggle to serve patients as storm recovery strains resources, a new program offers Ohio residents relief from medical debt and voter advocacy groups say poor maintenance has led to inaccurate voter rolls in Indiana.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Biden voices concerns over Israeli strikes on Iran, Special Counsel Jack Smith detailed Trump's pre-January 6th pressure on Pence, Indiana's voter registration draws scrutiny and a poll shows politics too hot to talk about for half of Wisconsinites.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Cheap milk comes at a cost for residents of Washington's Lower Yakima Valley, Indigenous language learning is promoted in Wisconsin as experts warn half the world's languages face extinction, and Montana's public lands are going to the dogs!

NYC public schools still not fully ADA compliant

play audio
Play

Monday, September 9, 2024   

Although classes are back in session, all New York City public schools still aren't entirely disability accessible.

Reports find more than two thirds of schools across the five boroughs don't comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The previous capital improvement plan invested $750 million for ADA school upgrades. But, this only made one third of schools accessible.

Molly Senack, education and employment community organizer with the Center for Independence of the Disabled New York, said this is unfortunate for students with disabilities.

"Those students are limited in the way they can choose what schools they want to attend," said Senack, "and it also means families and caregivers of students are limited in the way that they get to participate in their children's education."

Some groups want the city's Department of Education to allocate more than $1 billion for ADA compliance upgrades. Though this seems like a lot, it's making up for lost ground.

In 2015, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York reported the city failed to meet its ADA compliance requirements.

But Senack noted that the biggest challenge is staffing shortages throughout the Department of Education.

Beyond physical disabilities, New York City schools also face shortcomings in helping students with intellectual disabilities.

Reports show there aren't enough Special Education Certified teachers for students who need them. Senack said lacking professionals prevents some students from getting the education they need.

"For students with any disability," said Senack, "unfortunately, there is a pretty significant backlog in misrelated services where families have essentially filed complaints and requests for these missed services, and they are still waiting years later."

Lawsuits have been filed over the years to bring the city into compliance, though it's uncertain how effective those have been.

The most recent case relates to providing compensatory services for students who couldn't get regular school services during the pandemic.



Disclosure: Center for Independence of the Disabled New York contributes to our fund for reporting on Disabilities. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Georgia has the fourth-largest prison population in the country, with approximately 50,000 incarcerated people in state custody. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

The U.S. Department of Justice has released a report on the state of Georgia's prisons, citing horrific conditions and extreme violence. The …


Health and Wellness

play sound

A 2024 study showed almost 26% of Nebraskans reported having a mental-health illness in the past year -- nearly 3% higher than the national average…

Health and Wellness

play sound

Experts warn health insurance premiums could rise an average of $1,000 a year for more than 2 million Californians who buy coverage on the individual …


About 6,500 South Dakotans are in state or federal prisons, local jails and other kinds of facilities, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. (Wikimedia Commons)

Social Issues

play sound

Recent problems in South Dakota prisons have concerned lawmakers, corrections commission members and family members of those incarcerated, who formed …

Environment

play sound

By Jennifer Oldham for Sierra.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public New…

A rendering depicts the proposed entryway for Teague Park in Longview, Texas. (Photo courtesy City of Longview)

Environment

play sound

The City of Longview, in east Texas, will use a $1.3 million federal grant to make upgrades to one of its largest parks. Teague Park sits in the …

Social Issues

play sound

Social behavior experts said teens have fewer safe spaces to gather, with technology-driven isolation complicating matters. It is more pronounced in …

Environment

play sound

This week, federal officials announced a new round of funding for passenger rail projects. It is part of a larger push to expand and restore service…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021