NKD supports responsive, representative, and equitable government. Our work is committed to opening government to those historically underrepresented and disenfranchised. As part of this process, we are committed to reflecting on our own processes and supporting the work of disability rights advocates. Our work reflects accessible and inclusive practices to meaningfully engage people with disabilities in campaigns, planning, and decision making.

Roughly 11.2% of the city’s population disclosed living with a disability on the American Community Survey in 2014. Progressing accessibility for those who live with a disability, whether through birth, injury, disease, or the process of aging, ensures a more accessible world for us all. Disabled New Yorkers--and all New Yorkers--want to participate in society, shop at local stores, send kids to school, meet with teachers, take public transportation, be civically engaged, and live independently. We support, and hope to embody, the values of independent living, self-determination, self-direction, and choice. New Kings Democrats believe in policies which promote and protect the civil rights of all people, including people with disabilities.

It’s vital that we create and ensure access to all aspects of our life in all parts of our city. To that aim, New Kings Democrats supports candidates and policies that work toward:

• Engaging people with disabilities in planning and decision making processes.
• Increased accessibility on public transportation, including the addition of ramps and elevators throughout the New York City subway and train stations (LIRR, Metro North, NJT, SIRR), as well as wheelchair accessibility at all bus stops, shelters, and ticket kiosks.
• Increased physical accessibility on our streets and sidewalks, such as well-maintained curb cuts and general pavement maintenance.
• Accessible communication including, but not limited to, closed-captioning, eCART (Communication Access Real-time Translation) and sign language interpreters. 
• Ensuring all voting locations provide language access (translation and interpretation) and are physically accessible (including voting locations, booths, and ballots) so all people can vote and do so independently.
• Tax credits and other financial subsidies for businesses and landlords who make their place of business and apartments accessible.
• Upgrading and retrofitting public buildings, such as schools, libraries, and government services, to create more accessible spaces.
• Increased equity in education, employment, housing, and access to services (e.g. health) including but not limited to non-restrictive environments, appropriate options for supportive accommodations, full and fair funding/wages, and internet accessibility as a basic requirement for all.

Adopted May 2021.