BEINEINU NEWS & NOTES
JANUARY 20, 2025
Congestion Pricing In New York City
The Congestion Toll has been added in NYC which you can avoid if you or your child has a disability. A plan called the Individual Disability Exemption Plan has been put into effect to avoid this toll for anyone that is transporting an individual with a disability. This is available for people (or their caregivers) that have a physical disability preventing them from taking public transportation. The exemption will be placed on the car via the EZ Pass Account. The car must be registered under the individual or caregiver's name. In order to apply for this exemption, you will have to show proof of disability. This can be done with one of the following options:
- A copy of his/her Access A Ride ID card
- A New York City Parking Permit for people with disabilities
- Getting an assessment done at an IDEP assessment center.
If you have one of these options, you can follow this link to sign up https://idep.mta.info/idep/. If you do not have any of the above, you will first have to establish eligibility. You can do this at an IDEP eligibility assessment center. Schedule an appointment by calling any of the preferred locations: Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx 844 - 233 - 3377 Manhattan 888-811-1050 Staten Island 866-685-0690
IdeaSpark Program
IdeaSpark is a 26-hour virtual program sponsored by The Viscardi Center and the Hynes Institute of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Iona University which engages individuals with disabilities in developing an entrepreneurial mindset. Participants will explore the core principles of innovation and entrepreneurship by engaging in a series of activities designed to help them identify entrepreneurial opportunities and create feasible business ideas. There will be opportunities for participants to interact with experts in their fields, as well as work with Iona University student peer mentors. Participants will tackle challenges that encourage them to develop and apply entrepreneurial skills in real-world scenarios.
The program culminates with a Pitchfest event, where participants will refine their presentation skills, share insights from their personal learning journeys, and pitch their business ideas to compete for equity-free cash grants.
This free program begins with an orientation on May 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. Class sessions will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from May 13 through July 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. Application deadline is March 10, 2025. For more information see https://viscardicenter.org/ideaspark
Kohanim Alert
As a service to Kohanim traveling from the USA to Israel, El Al Airlines has announced that its flights from Newark, Boston, and Fort Lauderdale remain coffin-free. Coffins are transported to Israel only on flights from JFK airport.
New Shabbos Bnos Group
Yaldeinu Respite has started a new Shabbos Bnos group in the 30's and Avenue N area of Midwood, Brooklyn NY. Groups will take place from 2:30-4:00 pm on Shabbos afternoons. Children will be escorted to and from the program. For more information contact Yaldeinu at 718-305-7137 ext 248