NEW YORK — Independence Care System (ICS), a recognized leader in disability-expert care and the first and only organization operating a Health Home program in New York State with specialized expertise in supporting people with physical disabilities, kicked off its program expansion with a wheelchair maintenance workshop at The Staten Island Center for Independent Living (SICIL).

The event was led by ICS Senior Vice President, Rehab and Mobility Services Jean Minkel and geared toward educating wheelchair users on keeping their power and manual chairs in prime condition. Attendees also learned how ICS could enhance their health, mobility and independence.

For more than 20 years, ICS has served adults with physical disabilities in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan and Queens, ensuring they receive critical services and equipment to help them live healthy and independently in the community. The first phase of ICS’ expansion in New York State focuses on Richmond County — an area where adults with physical disabilities have long expressed great interest in accessing ICS’ services.

“We are the forgotten borough, and I’m so glad you’re here,” resident Sandra Torres, a wheelchair user, told ICS staff. “It’s really a miracle. You’ve been so warm and inviting, and so helpful. This is wonderful that you’ll be able to support people with disabilities on Staten Island.”

Fatima Vuillemey, a wheelchair user and former volunteer at ICS, was visibly moved and ecstatic to re-connect with ICS. “People here don’t know where to turn for support,” she said. “We want to be seen and to be valued members of society. ICS understands us.”

“We are grateful for SICIL’s partnership for this wonderful event,” said ICS President and CEO Regina Martinez-Estela. “We are excited to bring our disability-expert care and services to support people with disabilities across the borough — one of the most underserved and vulnerable populations in New York — and ensure they are healthy and independent in the community.”

“People with disabilities may need support and services so they can live independently and confidently in their communities,” said SICIL Executive Director Michelle Sabatino. “We were happy to partner with ICS for this event as they kick off their expansion and look forward to continued collaboration as they make a difference in the lives of Staten Island residents.”  

To learn more about the ICS Health Home, visit www.icsny.org.

About Independence Care System (ICS)

ICS is a nonprofit organization founded in 2000 as a pioneering, innovative community of professionals dedicated to serving people who, prior to ICS, were often forced to spend their lives in institutions.

People with disabilities have turned to ICS for more than 20 years because of our expert, disability-competent staff who help them to improve their health and avoid hospitalizations, achieve goals, improve their quality of life, and be active members in the community. Our foundational pillars — health, mobility and independence — ensure for true health equity for people with disabilities so they can thrive while receiving the quality care they deserve. 

We have developed a model of care designed to address the vast health disparities experienced by our members and those in underserved communities. We continue to work alongside our members and advocate for their specialized care, because we have seen the effects of a healthcare system that fails to address their needs. ICS offers disability-expert care coordination, educational and recreational programming that enriches members’ lives, and is a premier provider of specialized mobility assessments for wheelchair users through our comprehensive On a Roll wheelchair program.

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