In mid-March, the Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity announced a Request for Information (RFI) for a new initiative to “co-design and pilot new workforce development programs for New Yorkers with disabilities." 

This initiative was significantly influenced by the Center for an Urban Future’s research, op-ed in City Limits, and testimony before the City Council. Our 2022 report, Access Opportunity: Expanding Economic Opportunity for New Yorkers With Disabilities in the Post-Pandemic City, specifically CUF’s call to develop “new RFPs specifically focused on serving New Yorkers with disabilities.” 

CUF commends the Adams administration for continuing to take action to expand pathways to well-paying jobs for more of the nearly one million New York City residents with disabilities. This new program will provide much-needed city support to co-design and launch innovative workforce programs for people with disabilities, and should be expanded to help incentivize other highly effective workforce programs to build accessibility and accommodations into their programs.