As annoying as dealing with the MTA is for everyone, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer wants to make it a little less painful to two sets of vulnerable riders: seniors and the disabled. Today, Stringer pointed out that the current process for senior citizen and disabled customers to replace their reduced-fare Metrocards was "stressful and cumbersome," creating a "dangerous situation" for these very vulnerable riders. So, just how bothersome is the process? more ›

The Long Island mother who is accused of killing her 8-year-old disabled daughter with a poisonous dose of peanut M&M's pleaded not guilty to charges yesterday. Veronica Cirella has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of her daughter Julie, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as an infant and was confined to a wheelchair. Julie was also apparently deathly allergic to peanuts—and she died July 23 after her mother had given her the peanut M&Ms as a special treat for her participation in their cousin's wedding the following day. more ›

Governor Cuomo has two more days to sign Mayor Bloomberg's taxi bill that would put 1,500 more yellow cabs in the city, allow livery cabs to pick up street fares almost everywhere in the city and (in thoery) generate more than $1 billion in revenue. But Cuomo has pushed back against the legislation, countering that it doesn't do enough to provide cabs for the disabled. According to the Daily News, Cuomo spent the weekend devising a plan that he finds acceptable, or the legislature can try their luck in January. "This could be 'Gov. Steamroller again steamrolling on behalf of the yellow cab medallion owners who oppose the bill," one statehouse source said. more ›

Someone named "Joey Boots" (if that is your real name) has posted a video on YouTube showing an encounter with a "selfish and inconsiderate bitch" (his words). He explains that he dislocated his knee last week and has a cane and knee brace, which is keeping his leg outstretched. Yesterday morning our hobbling protagonist "got on the 4 train in the Bronx... the seats in the corners have signs above them saying that is seating for disabled/handicapped passengers. So I asked this lady if I could have the seat as I had to stretch my leg out and didn't want others stepping on it or it being in the way of others and she loudly refuses saying I should sit somewhere else... I point out the sign to her and she just starts cussing and refusing to move." more ›

A custodian at Kings County Hospital Center has been arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a deaf, mute and mentally disabled psychiatric patient as he took a shower. The Daily News reports that 30-year-old Larry Taylor has been accused of attacking a 28-year-old patient on Feb. 11, and has been charged with first-degree criminal sex act and third-degree sexual abuse—both felonies, according to the Times. more ›

A hospital employee is being investigated for allegedly raping a male patient a the shower in the psychiatric unit of Kings County Hospital Center—where a 49-year-old woman died in a waiting room after being repeatedly ignored by staffers. The victim, described in the Daily News as "developmentally disabled, deaf and mute," reported the attack to relatives two weeks ago. After scanning surveillance footage and conducting forensic tests, police are reportedly nearing an arrest. more ›

Here we go again. After countless allegations of fraud and abuse of police parking placards, a new report indicates that some 22,000 parking decals for disabled drivers are missing, and they might have fallen into the wrong hands. According to city Comptroller John Liu, the massive number of missing permits means there could be a lucrative black market for the handicapped stickers. "Fraudulent permits are easily created using these seals," he said. more ›

In an article that shouldn't come as a shock to anyone, the Daily News reports that disabled people — just like their non-disabled counterparts — love to gamble at casinos, and they use public transportation to get there. According to the tabloid, Access-A-Ride vans and cars don't just shuttle disabled people to doctors' offices, pharmacies, and supermarkets, they also bring handicapped New Yorkers to the Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway. more ›

The wheelchair-bound man suspected in a gruesome slaying in an East Village shelter stabbed his disabled victim more than 20 times, according to the Daily News. After being teased about the size of his manhood, investigators believe that 51-year-old Felipe Rivera-Cruz stabbed 24-year-old Ronal Garcia four times in the chest, knocking the victim out of his wheelchair. Once on the ground, Cruz is accused of cutting the defenseless victim in the back and side in "excess of a dozen" more times with a folding knife, according to the criminal complaint. more ›

Two wheelchair-bound residents of an East Village shelter got into a deadly argument early yesterday morning. Witnesses say that 24-year-old Ronal Garcia was killed after being stabbed repeatedly by 51-year-old suspect Felipe Rivera-Cruz after the pair exchanged insults. more ›

Back in March we learned about just how many people don't stand up for people with disabilities while riding public transit. At the time, NYC Transit's Paul Fleuranges told us about a new campaign coming up, and now CityRoom points out that it's launched. With a firmer tone than the ads have had in the past, the new posters remind straphangers that not all disabilities are visible, and declare that giving up one's seat is "not only polite, it’s the law." Fleuranges commented that "It's the first time we've really stressed this," and warned that those who won't give up their seat on request will face up to a $50 fine. But with robotic trains, a slimmed down staff, and no one on hand to even gauge the effectiveness of the campaign, how will it even be enforced on subways? more ›

Sorry, poor elderly, disabled and/or blind legal residents of New York State; the Court of Appeals has ruled that you're still limited to $352 a month in public aid, about half of what lower courts ruled you should get. Of course, since many of you have died since lawyers filed the class action lawsuit in 2004, Tuesday's decision might not matter much. But thousands of poor legal immigrants desperate for public assistance are shattered by the 5-2 ruling, which held that the state had no duty to fill in for a federal program that ended benefits to most disabled legal immigrants in 1996. Since the early '50s, legal NY residents who fell on hard times were entitled to a higher level of aid if they were elderly, blind or disabled, but when D.C. took over the program in the '70s, the state supplemented the benefit to reach the higher level it had set earlier. That's over now. The NY Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance applauded the ruling, saying it could save the state and local governments $100-270 million. But in a strongly worded dissent, two judges wrote that "the majority today has turned its back on the history of New York’s commitment to protect its most fragile and vulnerable populations." more ›

While Governor Paterson's press conference announcing the introduction of same-sex legislation was an monumental landmark event, there was a very awkward moment. Right before Mayor Bloomberg was to speak, some music started playing which made him freak out more than a little. more ›

Passive-aggressive blogging is the new passive-aggressive note-leaving. The crutches-bound blogger behind the People Who Sit In The Disability Seats When I’m Standing On My Crutches website documents able-bodied straphangers who won't give up their seat for the disabled. He says he doesn't take pictures of anyone "if there's an open seat within sight. I also don't take pictures of elderly people, visibly pregnant women, or anyone who looks like they might have a disability." But even those getting some subway shut-eye could land on the site. Do you get up from your seat if someone clearly needs it? Seems not everyone pays attention to the “Stand Up for People with Disabilities” campaign. more ›

After drivers of Access-a-Ride vehicles went on strike yesterday, a federal mediator will step in and attempt to help negotiations along. The drivers have been unhappy with a tentative contract that put more of the burden of health care on them, which then makes a pay raise less substantial. The strike affects about 40% of the Access-a-Ride drivers; there are about 20,500 people who use the service. MTA, which uses Access-A-Ride but is not part... more ›

Drivers from four different companies that operate vehicles for disabled and ill passengers have gone on strike. The 1,500 drivers want a new contract with the bus companies. The union has rejected a settlement with some wage increase and a slight increase in medical benefits twice. And not all drivers wanted to walk off the job - one driver told WCBS 2, "To have use go out on strike right now during the Christmas holiday... more ›