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Center for Disability Rights Inc
Rochester, NY · EIN 223141275 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE R23Z · Civil Rights & Advocacy · Very Large (>$50M) · cdrnys.org
revenue
$56.1M
expenses
$49.6M
net assets
$30.8M
employees
2,225
volunteers
8
program ratio
92%
mission · from form 990

CDR works for civil rights and full integration and independence of people with disabilities.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Center for Disability Rights (CDR) is a disability-led nonprofit advocating for civil rights and full integration of people with disabilities. Based in Rochester, NY, it combines direct services with systemic advocacy, policy analysis, and community organizing. CDR operates under an Independent Living Model, promoting self-determination and consumer control in services for people with disabilities and seniors.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $162K
    NHTD Case Management - NHTD Service Coordination is provided to individuals enrolled in the Nursing Home Transition Waiver on a monthly and as needed basis. Those enrolled in the program receive this service to secure and maintain benefits and services, to which they are entitled. To qualify for this program, individuals must have a documented disability and be a recipient of Medicaid. Service Coordination has a responsibility of overseeing waiver and community services to ensure the health and welfare, in addition to facilitating independence for the individual.
  2. #2 $700K
    Sign Language Connection (SLC) - sign language services are provided to individuals that require interpretation services in American Sign Language and Spanish. SLC has a responsibility to oversee scheduling interpreters on a daily basis and receives requests from vendors on a daily basis. By providing interpreting services, this ensures that the Deaf community and their partners are receiving equitable language access. SLC has over 200 contracts with vendors in the medical, legal, education, and community fields.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Community Habilitation
Medicaid-funded one-on-one service helping individuals develop skills in self-advocacy, communication, mobility, and community living to promote independence.
Consumer Directed Personal Assistance
Enables individuals with disabilities to hire, train, and manage their own personal care assistants to support independent living.
NHTD Case Management
Provides service coordination for individuals enrolled in the Nursing Home Transition Waiver to secure and maintain community-based services and supports.
Olmstead Housing Subsidy (OHS) Program
Supports housing stability and community integration for people with disabilities through rental assistance and housing navigation services.
Sign Language Connection (SLC)
Provides American Sign Language and Spanish interpretation services through 200+ vendor contracts in medical, legal, education, and community settings.
activities · 9 groups

What they do

  • Website Accessibility Implementation 1 activity
    • Accessibility Support for Website Users
      Provides instructions for adjusting on-screen font size using keyboard shortcuts on Mac and PC devices to support digital accessibility.
  • Senior Independence Support Services 1 activity
    • Collaborative Independent Living Support Networks
      Collaborates with the Regional Center for Independent Living and All About You Home Care to coordinate services and supports that enhance independent living for people with disabilities and seniors.
  • Consumer-Directed Personal Care Administration 1 activity
    • Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance and Support Programs
      Administers Consumer Directed Personal Assistance services and Consumer Directed Services programs that enable individuals with disabilities to hire, manage, and direct their own personal care workers and support staff, demonstrating consumer-directed models of care.
  • Disability Rights Advocacy & Self-Advocacy Empowerment 1 activity
    • Disability Rights Advocacy and Policy Engagement
      Advances disability rights through direct action, coalition building, community organizing, policy analysis, litigation, advocate training, and public education at national, state, and local levels. Engages in legislative analysis, public statements, and advocacy campaigns on issues including disability funding, justice in crisis response, and opposition to medical aid in dying legislation.
  • Supported Employment for Developmental Disabilities 1 activity
    • Independent Living Services for People with Disabilities and Seniors
      Provides non-residential, non-medical services using the Independent Living Model to promote autonomy, community access, and personal control over living choices for people with disabilities and seniors. Services include consumer-directed personal care, home and community support, and skill-building in self-advocacy, communication, mobility, and self-care, primarily delivered in homes and community settings.
  • Developmental Disability Service Coordination 1 activity
    • Service Coordination and Benefits Support
      Provides service coordination to help individuals with disabilities access, manage, and maintain benefits and services across systems, including specialized coordination for individuals enrolled in the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) Waiver program.
  • Language Access Services 1 activity
    • Sign Language and Multilingual Interpretation Services
      Operates the Sign Language Connection program to provide American Sign Language and Spanish interpretation services, ensuring equitable language access for Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Spanish-speaking individuals. Manages over 200 vendor contracts and coordinates daily interpreter scheduling across medical, legal, education, and community sectors.
  • Day Habilitation Services 1 activity
    • Social and Recreational Programs for Adults with Disabilities
      Operates structured day services, social adult day programs, and recreational activities to promote social engagement, community integration, and quality of life for adults with disabilities.
  • Supplemental Needs Trust Management 1 activity
    • Supplemental Needs Trust Administration
      Administers a Community Supplemental Needs Trust to help individuals with disabilities save money without jeopardizing eligibility for public benefits.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$56.07M
Contributions & grants$234K0%
Program service revenue$49.93M89%
Investment income$897K2%
Other revenue$5.01M
expenses
Total expenses$49.63M
Program expenses92%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$44.23M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$36.63M
Cash$8.42M
Investments$17.02M
Liabilities$5.85M
Net assets$30.78M
Liquid reserves6.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -6.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 5
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Bruce E Darling President/CEO 50 $255K
Jeff Sykes Director of Information Technology 45 $121K
Marsha Sweet Vice President of Pooled Trust 45 $115K
Jesse Baker Director of Finance 45 $103K
Andrew Ruffin Director of Finance 45 $97K
board members · 8
  • Anita Cameron — Director
  • Dawn Russell — Vice Chair
  • Gary Meyer — Vice Chair
  • Joe Miller — Treasurer
  • Justin Alexander — Secretary
  • Kenyatta DaCosta — Chair
  • Mary Talbo — Director
  • Ray Kenney — Director
relationships · 19

Who they work with

  • ADAPT Partner — Collaborates with ADAPT on disability rights and access advocacy
  • All About You Home Care Partner — Licensed Home Care Agency that partners with CDR to provide home-based services enabling independent living.
  • Center for Community Inclusion (CCI) Partner — Collaborates on community integration and inclusion initiatives
  • Center for Disability Policy and Advocacy of New York State (CDPAANYS) Network — Member of the Center for Disability Policy and Advocacy of New York State
  • Concrete Change Partner — Partner organization focused on accessible housing design and policy
  • Firefox Partner — Provides guidance on using Firefox accessibility features.
  • Google Chrome Partner — Provides guidance on using Google Chrome's accessibility features.
  • Governor Hochul Government — Responds to policy proposals and executive actions from the Governor, particularly regarding health and disability policy.
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer Partner — Provides guidance on using Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 11 accessibility features.
  • NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council Network — Member of the NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
  • National Council on Independent Living Network — Recognized as an Independent Living Center and part of a national network providing non-residential and non-medical services.
  • National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Network — Member of the National Council on Independent Living
  • New York Association of Independent Living (NYAIL) Network — Member of the New York Association of Independent Living
  • New York State Legislature Government — Engages in advocacy and policy analysis related to state budget and legislation affecting people with disabilities.
  • Not Dead Yet Partner — Partner organization advocating against assisted suicide legislation
  • Nursing Home Transition Waiver Government — Provides NHTD service coordination to individuals enrolled in the Nursing Home Transition Waiver.
  • OPWDD Waiver Government — Provides Community Habilitation services under the OPWDD Waiver, a Medicaid-funded program.
  • Regional Center for Independent Living Partner — Collaborates to support independent living for people with disabilities and seniors through coordinated services.
  • Rehabilitation Council of the Independent Living (RCIL) Partner — Collaborates with RCIL on independent living initiatives
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Civil Rights Framework for Disability Equity
    methodology: civil-rights-based approach
    By advancing disability rights through enforcement of civil rights protections and full community integration, we produce systemic change because legal and societal inclusion is foundational to personal independence and dignity.
  • Consumer-Controlled Governance
    methodology: consumer_control
    By ensuring leadership and decision-making are led by people with disabilities, we produce more responsive and authentic advocacy and services because those with lived experience are best positioned to define their own needs and solutions.
  • Independent Living Model
    methodology: independent_living_model
    By centering autonomy, self-determination, and community integration, we produce greater independence for people with disabilities because these principles enable personal choice and control over living settings and daily life.
  • Peer-Led Mentorship for Self-Advocacy
    methodology: peer_model
    By connecting people with disabilities through peer mentorship, we produce stronger self-advocacy and independent living outcomes because lived experience fosters trust, relatability, and empowerment.