Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
New York city bus “kneeling” to help the elderly
Center
Wheelchair access
Right
Tour bus
Special Needs
Information
Sources
Hospital Audiences, Inc,
publishes Access for All
($5), a guide to available
resources at all New York's
cultural institutions. The
Mayor's Office for People
with Disabilities provides
services to residents and
also has information on
city facilities.
d
Hospital
Audiences, Inc: 212 575
7660
•
People with Disa-
bilities: 212 788 2830
d
Theater Access Project:
212 221 1103
•
Hands
On: 212 822 8550
Legal Assistance
The Legal Aid Society
offers free advice and
referrals; Legal Services
for New York City, a non-
profit referral service,
also offers assistance
to those with legal
problems. d
The Legal
Aid Society: 212 577
3300
•
Legal Services
for New York City: 212
431 7200
Aids for the
Sight-impaired
Lighthouse International
is an organization devoted
to enabling the vision-
impaired to cope through
rehabilitation and educa-
tion. It offers tips for
travelers, and also lends
receivers so that you can
hear the new talking traffic
signs at 59th Street and
Lexington Avenue. d
Light-
house International: 111
East 59th Street, between
Park & Lexington avs
•
Map H4
•
800 829 0500
Facilities for
Infants and
Toddlers
Department stores are
equipped with diaper
changing stations (
see
p64
); because space is so
tight in New York, other
facilities tend to be scarce.
Most restaurants do have
highchairs these days, but
it is always wise to call
and check what facilities
they have for children
before you set out.
Other Useful
Numbers
Help is at hand in the city
for various eventualities.
d Clothing repairs:
Ramon's Tailor Shop
212 226 0747.
All-night drugstores:
Duane Reade 212 541
9708, Genovese 212
772 0104.
Emergency
car repairs:
Citywide
Towing 212 924 8104.
Lost and found for buses
and subways:
212 712
4500.
Lost and found for
taxis:
311
.
Accommodation
for the Disabled
New York city law requires
that all facilities built after
1987 provide entrances
and accessible restroom
facilities for the disabled.
All city buses now
have steps that can be
lowered to allow wheel-
chair access, and most
street corners also have
curb cuts for wheelchairs.
Special Tours
Hands On is an
organization devoted to
the hearing-impaired, and
publishes a calendar of in-
formation on museum and
backstage tours, perfor-
mances, films, and other
events available with sign
language interpretation.
d
Hands On: 212 822 8550
Student
Identification
Foreign students will
benefit from having an
International Student
Identity Card (ISIC)
which can help to
secure discounts on
transportation, rental
cars, hotels, and
various attractions in
New York and across
the U.S. The cards cost
$22 and are available
from the Council on
International Educational
Exchange (CIEE).
d
CIEE: 633 3rd Avenue
•
Map J4
•
800 407 8839
Babysitting
The Babysitter's Guild,
established over 60 years
ago, is a reliable source
for babysitting. Staff can
accommodate 16 different
languages and rates are
$15 per hour, for a four-
hour minimum, plus $4.50
for transportation ($7
after midnight). d
The
Babysitter's Guild: 212
682 0227
Aids for the
Hearing-Impaired
All Broadway shows have
free amplification devices
for the hearing-impaired,
and sign language inter-
pretation can be arranged
with the Theater Access
Project or Hands On.
For New York's Top 10 places for children
See pp66-7
168
