Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley

06/22/2026

NCIL Statement Condemning and Rejecting the Department of Justice's Memo Attempting to Undermine Disability Civil Rights

The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) strongly condemns the recent Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) memo that attempts to undermine the integration mandate at the heart of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the landmark Olmstead v. L.C. decision.

For decades, the Olmstead v. L.C. decision has affirmed a simple truth: segregation of people with disabilities is discrimination. The integration mandate is not optional — it is the foundation of disability civil rights, ensuring that people with disabilities can live, work, and participate fully in their communities.

The OLC memo claims that federal disability rights laws do not require services in the most integrated setting. This contradicts decades of legal precedent and the lived experiences of our community. This position threatens hard-won progress and risks re-legitimizing institutionalization and segregation. From the perspective of the Independent Living Movement, this is unacceptable.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4aH3kKw

Image: Statement Condemning and Rejecting DOJ Memo – Advocacy and Action graphic features two abstract letters A, reflected horizontally in purple and green. NCIL Logo: National Council on Independent Living. Graphic features a fingerprint.

06/21/2026

As we celebrate Father’s Day, our team at the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley is grateful for the fathers and father figures who bring strength, encouragement, and compassion to their families and communities.

We see every day how dads, caregivers, and mentors play an essential role in supporting people with disabilities, championing independence, and fostering inclusion across the Capital Region.

Whether you're celebrating, being celebrated, or honoring the memory of someone who shaped your journey, we hope today brings connection and gratitude.

Thank you to all who continue to show up with purpose.

06/19/2026

Juneteenth is a day to honor the long fight for freedom and the resilience of Black communities. It marks June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned they were free—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

At the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley, we recognize how this history connects to the ongoing work for equity, access, and community inclusion for all. We encourage our community to take time to reflect, learn, and celebrate.

Our office will be closed on June 19 in observance of the holiday. We will reopen on Monday, June 22.

We hope everyone has a meaningful and empowering Juneteenth.

06/17/2026

ILCHV is a plaintiff in the New York lawsuit filed last Thursday to stop the NY law allowing assisted su***de from being implemented.

🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨

Today, we filed two new lawsuits in New York and Illinois challenging assisted su***de laws.

These laws create a dangerous double standard by treating su***de as a tragedy for some people and a solution for others. People with disabilities deserve equal protection under the law, not policies that put vulnerable patients at risk.

We're proud to stand alongside plaintiffs, disability advocates, and allies fighting for justice, equality, and genuine care.

https://endassistedsu***de.org/

06/16/2026

🌈🌈🌈

🌈 Pride Month is a reminder that disability rights and LGBTQ+ rights are deeply connected.
Across the country, more than 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ adults identify as having a disability, and research shows that LGBTQ+ people are nearly twice as likely to experience a disability compared to non LGBTQ+ peers. These intersections matter — because systems that fail one community often fail another.
At NYAIL, we fight for a New York where disabled LGBTQ+ people can live independently, safely, and with full access to the supports they need. That means advocating for inclusive housing, accessible healthcare, community based services, and policies that respect every part of a person’s identity.
Pride is about liberation — and liberation must include disabled people.
This month and every month, we honor the disabled LGBTQ+ New Yorkers leading change, building community, and demanding equity.
🌈 Disability justice is LGBTQ+ justice.


Image Description: A rainbow-striped June calendar, a disability access symbol inside a Pride-colored circle, and bold text that reads, “Pride is Intersectional. Disability Justice is LGBTQ+ Justice. June is Pride Month.”

06/16/2026

Finding the right support can feel overwhelming, but ILCHV is here to help connect individuals and families with disability-related information and community resources tailored to their needs.

Our Information & Referral services can help provide guidance on topics including:

🔹Adaptive equipment and home modifications
🔹Accessible housing and transportation options
🔹Benefits and community resources
🔹Interpreters for the Deaf
🔹Accessibility information and disability-specific services

If we do not already have the answer, we will help point you in the right direction.

Everyone deserves access to information that supports independence and full participation in community life. Learn more at www.ilchv.org

06/09/2026

♿ Urge Assembly to pass Right to Wheelchair Repair Bill (A.6569)!
On Tuesday, the Senate passed the Consumer Wheelchair Repair Bill of Rights (A.6569-B/S.4500-B) unanimously, after hard work from the Independent Living community to move the bill forward. This bill would improve repair processes for wheelchair users by requiring wheelchair manufacturers to provide any documents and parts needed to consumers who want to perform repairs themselves. It also establishes a timeline repair providers must adhere to for timely wheelchair repairs, eliminates prior authorizations for repairs, and establishes oversight of repair processes.
In the Assembly, A.6569-B is stalled, and there are only two days left to pass it. The Assembly is holding the bill due to concerns from two large national repair providers, even though this is a consumer bill of rights. Being without functional mobility equipment can leave wheelchair users bed bound, at high risk for pressure sores and other life-threatening issues. When repairs do not happen in a timely manner, people lose the ability to engage meaningfully with their community, cutting them off from their job, family, friends, and medical care. Despite hearing from advocates who shared their firsthand experiences with repair delays, the Assembly has prioritized appeasing corporations instead of standing up for the well-being and independence of wheelchair users.

Disabled New Yorkers wait months for their wheelchairs to be repaired. The legislature shouldn't make us wait months for a solution too. Call Assembly Speaker Carl Heastier TODAY to tell him A.6569-B (Bores) must be passed!

To call Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie: Call the Assembly switchboard at 518-455-4100 and ask for the Speaker's office.

06/08/2026

The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) is offering scholarships to attend their Annual Conference to youth with disabilities ages 18–26 who may otherwise be unable to afford the cost of attendance.
The 2026 Annual Conference on Independent Living will take place July 20–23, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, DC.
Scholarships cover the costs associated with full participation in the conference, including registration, travel, and hotel accommodations.
The only requirements to apply are identifying as disabled or as a person with a disability (or disabilities); and being between the ages of 18 and 26.
Interested individuals can apply for the scholarship at the link here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DFS9ZDG

06/05/2026

TEMPORARY MARKET LAYOUT CHANGES
Saturday, June 6, 2026

We’re excited to still host a full and safe Farmers Market this Saturday while HBO’s The Gilded Age wraps on overnight filming on Broadway and Second Street!

So we’ve made a few adjustments to keep everything running smoothly for you:

Key Changes:

- Produce vendors will be relocated from Second Street to the First Street parking lot and First Street.

- Makers vendors will be relocated from Broadway to Franklin Alley and The Landing on River Street (next to No Fun and the stairs to the Park).

Access:

Broadway and Second Street will be closed to market activity, but restaurants and storefronts will remain open. You can still walk these streets to reach the market. Full street access expected later in the day.

Parking & Driving:

Normal parking restrictions around the market will still apply.
The First Street Parking Lot will not be available for parking.

We can’t wait to see you at the market tomorrow.