N.Y. Education Law § 1121: Service centers for independent living; purpose and duties

§ 1121. Service centers for independent living; purpose and duties.

1. A service center for independent living shall be a community based

non-residential program designed to promote independent living for

persons with disabilities.

(a) Such center shall:

(i) be a private not-for-profit corporation, pursuant to subdivision

five of paragraph a of section one hundred two of the not-for-profit

corporation law; provided, however, that persons with disabilities

comprise at least fifty-one percent of the membership of the board of

directors;

(ii) be staffed by persons experienced in assisting persons with

disabilities;

(iii) provide services designed to meet the needs of persons with

disabilities, including such services as assisting persons with

disabilities to obtain housing, employment referral, transportation

referral, attendant care, independent living skills, peer counseling,

advocacy services, job training, health care, homemaker services, and

other such services as approved by the commissioner;

(iv) train personnel for the purpose of attendant care in assisting

and serving persons with disabilities; and

(v) serve persons with disabilities.

(b) Such center may also, but need not limit itself to, provide

disability awareness programs, peer counseling, role modeling and any

other appropriate services within elementary and secondary schools.

2. Such service centers shall not be established or operated as a

residential or housing facility.

3. Such service centers shall make maximum use of existing resources

available to persons with disabilities and shall not duplicate any

existing services or programs, to the extent that such services or

programs are available through other state sources to meet the needs of

persons with disabilities. Such centers shall however provide necessary

information and referral to assist a person with a disability in

obtaining such services and coordinate where possible the delivery of

such services to persons with disabilities.

4. Such service centers shall be in compliance with all applicable

local laws and ordinances.