Accessibility

The Accessibility Team at NYCEDC strives to make every project, program, and investment more accessible for New Yorkers. By embedding Universal Design; maintaining ADA compliance; and collaborating with teams, partners, and communities, we create environments that are welcoming, usable, and inclusive.

Our focus areas:

• Agencywide Strategy: Develop accessibility plans for new and existing projects
• Regulatory Compliance: Maintain ADA and other accessibility standards across assets
• Universal Design: Apply principles across projects and initiatives
• Staff Training: Build internal capacity and awareness through accessibility trainings

Key Initiatives

Digital Accessibility

• Launched NYCEDC’s first Digital Accessibility Guide and staff training
• Added an accessibility widget to the website and continue enhancing ADA compliance

Effective Communication

• Launched SOP for reasonable accommodations to support office events
• Created a digital office map highlighting accessible routes and entrances, coming soon to the website

Physical Access

• Developing NYCEDC’s first Universal Design guidelines with ARUP
• Launching pilot projects at MADE, Brooklyn Army Terminal, and Pier 6 to advance Universal Design goals.

Workplace Inclusion

• Conducted Disability Etiquette trainings
• Partnered with Partnership for Inclusive Internships to implement inclusive hiring practices and enhance workforce diversity
• Supported NYCEDC’s Disability Inclusion Alliance (DIA) Employee Resource Group (ERG) to provide year-round programming to promote disability inclusion, foster a supportive community for employees with disabilities, and raise awareness across NYCEDC