Government & Community Affairs

Community Connections >
Part 5, Health and Social Services >

Support Services for the Physically Challenged

• Central Harlem Association of Montessori Parents
  
  Barbara Gettys Hamilton,
  Director
  
  340 Convent Avenue
  New York, NY 10031
  
  Tel: 212-491-4088
  Fax: 212-491-3988
  
  Hours: Monday through Friday:
  8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  
  Services: Central Harlem Association of Montessori Parents offers communication, occupational therapy, and physical therapy for preschool children with delays in their overall development.



• Commission for the Blind & Visually Handicapped
  
  Dan Callahan,
  Director
  
  163 West 125th Street,
  13th Floor
  New York, NY 10027
  
  Tel: 212-961-4440
  Fax: 212-961-4133
  
  Hours: Monday through Friday:
  9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  
  Services: The Commission for the Blind & Visually Handicapped is a state rehabilitation agency offering rehabilitation services to children and adults with legal blindness.



• Harlem Agencies for Neighborhood Development
  
  William Lester,
  Executive Director
  
  271 West 125th Street,
  Suite #414
  New York, NY 10027
  
  Tel: 212-864-4846
  Fax: 212-864-7375
  
  Hours: Monday through Friday:
  8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  
  Services: Harlem Agencies for Neighborhood Development provide a residential day rehabilitation program for patients with mental retardation, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy. The agency offers case management and advocacy services for community residents with disabilities.



• Harlem Independent Living Center
  
  Christine Curry,
  Executive Director
  
  5-15 West 125th Street
  New York, NY 10027
  
  Tel: 212-369-2371
  Fax: 212-369-9283
  
  Website: www.retrofit.net/hilc
  
  Hours: Monday through Friday:
  9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  
  Services: The Harlem Independent Living Center (HILC) is a community-based agency providing services free of charge to individuals with disabilities who live or work in Harlem. The center provides peer counseling, assistance with applications for food stamps, public assistance, SSI and SSDI, Medicaid and Medicare, housing assistance, assistive device training, van transportation for the disabled, architectural barrier removal assistance, and referrals to other programs. In addition to the core independent living services, HILC focuses on serving consumers who show signs of drug or alcohol abuse as a secondary disability. The goal of the Harlem Independent Living Center is to assist individuals with disabilities to live independently. This is done by assisting the individual, as well as family members, friends, and significant others, in acquiring skills that ensure optimal integration of individuals with disabilities. The agency is determined to educate and sensitize the community about the physical, attitudinal, and societal barriers existing in Harlem and in New York that prevent full and equal access by individuals with disabilities. The staff advocates for persons with disabilities. Workshops on housing issues, legal rights and entitlement, accessibility, employment, and other areas supported by the Americans with Disabilities Act are planned throughout the year.