Center for Disability Rights

Center for Disability Rights CDR is part of a nationwide independent Living Movement begun in 1972 as an outgrowth of the disability rights struggle.

Operated and administered by persons with disabilities who live in the communities we serve, the same individuals who receive and benefit from the programs decide which programs CDR will provide and how they will be administered. For people with disabilities, independent living means the opportunity to have a house or an apartment, to work, raise and support a family and partake in the social, rec

reational and political aspects of the community. These basic life goals are often denied to persons with disabilities because of institutionalized attitudes that prevent them from being in the mainstream of society. The goal of independent living centers is to incorporate person with disabilities into society.

ALERT: Severe Hot Weather Protocol Activation 11 AM Tuesday 7/14 to 5 PM Thursday 7/16Gov. Ned Lamont yesterday announce...
07/14/2026

ALERT: Severe Hot Weather Protocol Activation 11 AM Tuesday 7/14 to 5 PM Thursday 7/16

Gov. Ned Lamont yesterday announced that he is directing Connecticut’s Extreme Hot Weather Protocol to be activated effective at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, and remaining in effect through 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2026.

Cooling centers are opening across Connecticut. Anyone in need of a place to get out of the heat can locate their nearest cooling center by calling 2-1-1.

“Anyone who is vulnerable to the heat is advised to take precautions over the next couple of days as high temperatures are expected to impact the state,” Gov. Lamont said. “Cooling centers will be available throughout Connecticut and can be located by visiting www.211ct.org or calling 2-1-1. I also want to remind everyone that pets are just as vulnerable to extreme temperatures as humans and to take the necessary precautions to make sure your pets have a place to cool off and stay hydrated.”

Although anyone can suffer from heat-related illnesses, some people are at greater risk than others:

Infants and young children are sensitive to the effects of high temperatures and rely on others to regulate their environments and provide adequate liquids.

People 65 years of age or older may not compensate for heat stress efficiently and are less likely to sense and respond to change in temperature.

People who are overweight may be prone to heat sickness because of their tendency to retain more body heat.

People who overexert during work or exercise may become dehydrated and susceptible to heat sickness.

People who are physically ill, especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as those for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation, may be affected by extreme heat.

Some prevention tips to stay safe in extreme heat include:

Stay cool: Keep your body temperature cool to avoid heat-related illness

Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. If you must be outdoors, try to limit your outdoor activity to the morning and evening. Try to rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to cool off.

Find an air-conditioned shelter. (Call 2-1-1 for a list of cooling centers). Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device.

Avoid direct sunlight.

Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.

Take cool showers or baths.

Check on those most at-risk several times a day.

Pets that cannot be brought indoors should be provided ready access to water and shade to keep them cool.

Stay Hydrated: Because your body loses fluids through sweat, you can become dehydrated during times of extreme heat
Drink more water than usual.

Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink more fluids.

Drink from two to four cups of water every hour while working or exercising outside.

Avoid alcohol or liquids containing high amounts of sugar.
Remind others to drink enough water

https://portal.ct.gov/governor/news/press-releases/2026/07-2026/governor-lamont-activates-extreme-hot-weather-protocol-from-tuesday-through-thursday?language=en_US

Press Release Homepage Governor Lamont Activates Extreme Hot Weather Protocol From Tuesday Through Thursday 7/13/2026 Cooling Centers Will Open and Can be Located by Visiting www.211ct.org or Calling 2-1-1 (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is directing Connecticut’s Ex...

07/09/2026
06/23/2026

As a member Center for National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), we at Center for Disability Rights would like to share NCIL's response to the Trump Justice department recent Memo that contradicts our hard fought right to live in the community. What this memo is saying is that if a State provides services to people with disabilities and seniors in nursing homes, then it doesn't have to provide services in the community or at home. This is just plain wrong.

NCIL Statement Condemning and Rejecting the Department of Justice’s Memo Attempting to Undermine Disability Civil Rights
June 19, 2026

The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) strongly condemns the recent Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) memo that attempts to undermine the integration mandate at the heart of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the landmark Olmstead v. L.C. decision.

For decades, the Olmstead v. L.C. decision has affirmed a simple truth: segregation of people with disabilities is discrimination. The integration mandate is not optional — it is the foundation of disability civil rights, ensuring that people with disabilities can live, work, and participate fully in their communities.

The OLC memo claims that federal disability rights laws do not require services in the most integrated setting. This contradicts decades of legal precedent and the lived experiences of our community. This position threatens hard-won progress and risks re-legitimizing institutionalization and segregation. From the perspective of the Independent Living Movement, this is unacceptable.

The Independent Living Movement is grounded in the principle that people with disabilities have the right to self-determination, dignity, and full inclusion. We are not problems to be managed or hidden away. The Independent Living Network was established by and for people with disabilities to secure these rights and resist institutionalization and segregation in all its forms.

At its core, Independent Living is about community: the right of disabled people to live where they choose, with the supports they need, and to participate fully in society.

NCIL has long affirmed that:

People with disabilities have the right to live outside of institutions.
People with disabilities have the right to live in, and participate fully in, their communities.
Governments must enforce civil rights laws that protect these freedoms.

These are not abstract ideals. They are non-negotiable civil and human rights.

The OLC memo stands in direct opposition to these principles and to NCIL’s mission to advance the disability-led Independent Living Movement and expand the rights of all people with disabilities.

Let us be clear:

We will not accept any reinterpretation of law that diminishes our right to live in the community.

We will not accept a return to policies that isolate, segregate, or institutionalize disabled people.

We will not stop advocating for our rights.

The disability community fought for generations to secure the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA, and to establish the integration mandate as a cornerstone of civil rights. These victories were achieved through organizing, protest, and persistent advocacy. We remain committed to that struggle today. Until every disabled person has the freedom, support, and power to live fully in their community on their own terms, our work is not done.

We call on policymakers, advocates, and allies to stand with us in defending and fully realizing the rights of disabled people.

06/18/2026

It was 38 years ago on June 18, 1988 that the group of people with disabilities who had been peer supporting one another and advocating for access to public transportation and the public libraries decided to formally incorporate as a non-profit.

A little more than a year later, in December of 1989, GNHDRA, Inc. opened the doors to their Center for Independent Living called then "Center for Independence & Access" - now called the Center for Disability Rights.

We have come a long way since, but one thing has not changed: our commitment to challenging those barriers which prevent the full inclusion of people with disabilities in our community.

Happy Anniversary!

Come on down and support CDR supported "Wheel Life" Theater Troop" as they present "Witches and Fairytales" this Saturda...
06/17/2026

Come on down and support CDR supported "Wheel Life" Theater Troop" as they present "Witches and Fairytales" this Saturday, June 20th at 2 Pm at the Theater Arts Center at 515 Sherman Avenue, Hamden, CT. Tickets are only $10.00

Join the Wheel Life Theatre Troupe for an explorative performance with Shakespeare & Fairy Tales! - Sat, Jun 20, 2026 - Hamden, CT

We should persist in our efforts to advocate for what is morally just. Reach out to your legislators, visit the Legislat...
03/24/2026

We should persist in our efforts to advocate for what is morally just. Reach out to your legislators, visit the Legislative Office Building, send emails, and write letters. These matters have a profound impact on our collective well-being.

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine’s Day! 💘

Each follow for Custom Illuminations and each share of this post will support WHEAT!

Thank you so much for your kindness.

Address

369 Highland Street
West Haven, CT
06516

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+12039347077

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