Capably Disabled Members
Welcome to the UFT Committee for Members who are Capably Disabled.
We are educators with disabilities just like you. The members of our commitee run the gamut of visible and invisible disabilities. We know what it is like to face the challenges of a school environment while working with a disability. We've been there. We know what it's like and we know how to help.
The UFT established the committee in March, 1990 to focus on the concerns of members seeking certain accommodations to continue their work as educators. However, you do not have to be a person with a disability in order to be a member of the committee. We also include persons who, based upon medical prognoses, expect to be disabled in the future. We also have members who simply support our colleagues in the pursuit of their legal and contractual rights.
A capably disabled person is qualified to perform an assignment but might require a reasonable accommodation to do it well. Our committee fights for capably disabled UFT members who are working with a disability and we have scored some impressive victories in recent years. For example, our unrelenting efforts convinced the New York City Board of Education to hire a Disability Rights Coordinator. As a result, members with disabilities who requested work accommodations found the process a bit smoother because the Disability Rights Coordinator intervened on their behalf.
The Committee can provide you with:
- Information
- Advice
- Support
- Assistance with a work accommodation request
Certain rights of the disabled are guaranteed by federal, state and local laws. However, those rights are meaningless unless members know them and report violations to us so we can make sure the laws are enforced. We understand that some people are reluctant to complain or be identified as a person with a disability because of concerns about social stigmas. But no one should give up his or her rights and settle for working under adverse conditions. The UFT is here to make sure that does not happen.
Our goal is to help you so that you can perform like the professional you are. The committee holds meetings to keep you up to date on the latest information about working with a disability. Members without disabilities who wish to support members with disabilities are also welcome. We urge you to attend our next meeting at UFT headquarters in Manhattan. Just look at the monthly meeting section of our web site or call the committee at 212-598-7711 from 10 AM to 6 PM daily for more information.
With the Committee for Members who are Capably Disabled behind you, you can stand up for your rights successfully without fear of resentment or reprisals.
You need not stand alone!
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We are pleased to provide you with a vast array of invaluable disability-related information and resources. You can tap into this information by clicking the links below.
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- Educators Unlimited Newsletter
- Photogallery
- Monthly Meeting Schedule
- Committee for Members who are CAPABLY DISABLED
- Working with a Disability
- Points to Consider when Applying for a Reasonable Accommodation
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How to Obtain Additional Information
- In the News & Happenings
- Useful Links
