Brooklyn Center For Independence Of The Disabled

What Brooklyn Center For Independence Of The Disabled does

Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled (BCID) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1956 in Brooklyn, New York, operated by and for people with disabilities. The organization provides free independent living services to Brooklyn residents with disabilities, including benefits counseling, free tax preparation as an IRS VITA site, financial coaching, housing advocacy, nursing home transition (Open Doors), peer support groups, a community health worker program, a disaster case management program, and a newly launched NYC Disability Warmline. Services are delivered through its 25 Elm Place headquarters and a secondary 27 Smith Street office, plus phone, TTY, and email channels.

BCID also runs systems-change advocacy, most notably as plaintiff or co-plaintiff in precedent-setting cases that resulted in a 2022 settlement requiring the MTA to make almost all subway stations accessible, a 2013 settlement requiring 60 accessible emergency shelters across the five boroughs, and litigation as part of the Taxis For All Campaign requiring 50% wheelchair-accessible yellow taxis by 2020. The organization is a member of the National Council on Independent Living, the Independent Living Network of New York (ILNNY), AARRG!, the Ban Income Bias NY Coalition, and the NYAIL Systems Advocacy Network.

Revenue comes from three streams: government contracts, foundation grants (including the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation grant funding the Community Health Worker Program), and private donations. All services are free to consumers, and the organization employs 11-50 staff, the majority of whom have disabilities themselves. Executive Director Joseph G. Rappaport has led BCID since 2012.

Name

Brooklyn Center For Independence Of The Disabled

Legal name

Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled, Inc.

Website

https://bcid.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled (BCID) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1956 that provides free independent living services, peer support, housing advocacy, and disability rights litigation for Brooklyn residents with disabilities, funded by government contracts, grants, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy and Independent Living Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy services
• Independent living support
• Peer support groups
• Housing advocacy services
• Benefits counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts: BCID depends on government contracts as a primary funding source for services and programs.
2. Foundation Grants: BCID receives foundation grants to fund specific programs such as the Community Health Worker Program funded by Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.
3. Private Donations: BCID is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that accepts donations from private contributors. Donations are used to expand and enhance program services, expand advocacy and outreach efforts, and ensure equal and integrated access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BCID provides community education, peer support groups, advocacy, and direct services for people with disabilities in Brooklyn. Its offerings include benefits counseling, free tax preparation (VITA), financial coaching, housing advocacy, nursing home transition (Open Doors), peer support groups, a Community Health Worker Program, and a Disability Warmline, all delivered free of charge. The organization also runs systems-change advocacy campaigns such as the Access-A-Ride Reform Group (AARRG!) and Enable Brooklyn (Opening Doors).

Product overview

BCID is a non-profit, grass-roots organization operated by and for people with disabilities since 1956. Rather than a technology product company, BCID offers a portfolio of independent living services including benefits counseling, tax preparation (VITA), financial coaching, housing advocacy, nursing home transition services, peer support groups, a disability warmline, and community health worker programs. The organization also runs advocacy initiatives including the Access-A-Ride Reform Group (AARRG!), the Enable Brooklyn/Opening Doors business accessibility program, and participates in systems-change advocacy at city, state, and federal levels. BCID is a member of the National Council on Independent Living and the Independent Living Network of New York (ILNNY).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Benefits Counseling
• Tax Preparation (VITA Site)
• Financial Coaching
• Housing Advocacy
• Transition from Nursing Homes (Open Doors)
• Peer Support Groups
• NYC Disability Warmline
• Community Health Worker Program
• Disaster Case Management Program
• Free Disability Rights Legal Clinic
• Access-A-Ride Reform Group (AARRG!)
• Enable Brooklyn (Opening Doors)

Quantifiable outcome

• BCID played a major role in settling cases with the MTA that requires them to make almost all subway stations accessible (2022).
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Mother Cabrini Health FoundationmajorOthers · 1 January 2021The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation provided a grant to fund BCID's Community Health Worker Program, which offers peer support and guidance to New Yorkers with disabilities navigating the health care system.
• National Council on Independent LivingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCID is a member of the National Council on Independent Living, enabling advocacy at the national level for people with disabilities and access to resources and best practices from the independent living movement.
• Independent Living Network of New York (ILNNY)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCID is a member of ILNNY, enabling advocacy at the state level for people with disabilities across New York.
• Disability Rights AdvocatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCID has partnered with Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) on legal cases including lawsuits against the MTA regarding subway accessibility and elevator maintenance. BCID and other ILCs are key partners in DRA's legal work.
• Taxis For All CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCID is a member of the Taxis For All Campaign, a coalition advocating for wheelchair-accessible for-hire vehicles. Members include Bronx Independent Living Services, Center for Independence of the Disabled NY, Disabled In Action, and others.
• Access-A-Ride Reform Group (AARRG!)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCID is a core member of AARRG!, which advocates for better paratransit service. Other members include Center for Independence of the Disabled NY, Mobilization for Justice, and New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.
• New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCID participates in NYAIL's Systems Advocacy Network (SSAN) organized by NYAIL, working toward the full inclusion of people with disabilities across New York State.
• Ban Income Bias NY CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCID joined 41 other groups in a letter to Gov. Cuomo and the state legislature calling for amendments to New York State Human Rights law to prohibit source of income discrimination in housing.
• Enterprise Community PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnterprise Community Partners leads the Ban Income Bias NY campaign to end source of income discrimination, a key issue for renters with disabilities who rely on vouchers.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Center for Independence of the Disabled, NY (CIDNY): Manhattan-based Center for Independent Living providing the same portfolio of disability rights advocacy, benefits counseling, housing advocacy, and independent living services to NYC residents. BCID's closest sister CIL and fellow Taxis For All and AARRG! coalition member.
• Bronx Independent Living Services: Bronx-based Center for Independent Living offering disability advocacy, peer support, and independent living services. Active BCID coalition partner in the Taxis For All Campaign and NYC disability rights movement.
• Harlem Independent Living Center: Harlem-based Center for Independent Living providing disability advocacy, benefits counseling, and peer support services to Upper Manhattan residents. Operates under the same federal CIL funding model as BCID.
• Staten Island Center for Independent Living: Staten Island-based Center for Independent Living delivering the same federal CIL model of disability advocacy, peer support, and independent living services. Sister CIL within NYC's borough-based CIL network.
• Independence Care System: NYC-based nonprofit providing Medicaid managed long-term care and disability-competent health services to seniors and people with disabilities. Operates a peer-led model comparable to BCID's Community Health Worker Program, with overlapping nursing home transition and care coordination services.
• Access Living (Chicago): Chicago-based Center for Independent Living and nationally recognized disability rights advocacy organization. Operates the same federal CIL model with peer counseling, independent living skills training, and high-profile systems-change advocacy — directly comparable to BCID's mission and operating model.
• Boston Center for Independent Living: Boston-based Center for Independent Living providing disability advocacy, peer support, and independent living services under the same federal CIL framework. Comparable in mission, service portfolio, and community-based delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: Large national nonprofit providing disability services, employment support, and advocacy across many states. Operates with significantly broader scope and budget than BCID but overlaps in disability services delivery and advocacy.
• The Arc of the United States: Large national disability advocacy organization with state and local chapters serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Operates a much broader footprint than BCID but shares core advocacy and community-based service mission.

Others

• National Disability Rights Network: National network of Protection & Advocacy systems and Client Assistance Programs providing legal advocacy and disability rights enforcement. BCID partners with member organizations (e.g., Disability Rights Advocates) on litigation; NDRN represents the broader federal-mandated advocacy infrastructure that complements BCID's work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BrooklynBCID
• Facebookfacebook.com/BrooklynBCID

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brooklyn Center For Independence Of The Disabled