BCID Available to Work with People with Disabilities Post-Sandy

Velmanette Montgomery

November 14, 2012

The Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled, Inc. (BCID) wants victims of Hurricane Sandy to know that is available to provide special assistance to people with any type of disability in the wake of this natural disaster. The BCID is a non-profit, community-based, consumer-controlled organization.

Services Include

With respect to Hurricane Sandy, BCID can assist people with disabilities with completing paperwork for FEMA, insurance forms, Medicaid, SNAP (Food Stamps) and other programs.   We can also provide information about other storm-related programs and resources that may be available.

In addition, BCID offers supportive programs and services on an ongoing basis, including comprehensive information and referral, benefit and entitlement counseling, advocacy and mediation, peer support groups, independent living skills training, community education and outreach, deafness advocacy and interpreter services, college outreach and youth transition services, and Employment Network services.  BCID’s Parent Center can provide information and referral for parents of students in special education.

   Accessibility

* Our office is fully wheelchair accessible

* We have an American Sign Language interpreter available on Tuesdays; other days may be available by request. 

* We have a Versapoint Duo Braille embosser than can reproduce documents into Braille.

* People with disabilities may use the computers in our Computer Lab at no cost by appointment.  These computers are equipped with accessible technology.

* Our staff also speak Russian and Polish.

For more than 55 years, our mission has been to empower people with disabilities so they can improve the quality of their lives and have the same access to opportunities as their non-disabled peers. By law, BCID is operated by a majority of people with disabilities, and most of our staff have disabilities as well.

Consumers should contact BCID at 718-998-3000 to request an appointment.