Ditch the Wheelchair, or Find a New Place

In an article in today’s New York Times, Paula Span describes how people who use wheelchairs are being denied admission to certain adult care facilities, and the lawsuit filed on behalf of the Fair Housing Justice Center by MFJ and the AARP Foundation. The lawsuit names several adult care facilities along with the NYS Department of Health and its commissioner, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Although Federal regulations prohibit discrimination in housing based on disability, New York State’s 40-year-old regulations governing adult care facilities allow them to refuse services to wheelchair users. The lawsuit seeks to bring New York State’s regulations in compliance with Federal fair housing statutes and end discrimination against people who use wheelchairs in adult care facilities.

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