Office for
People with Disabilities

 What is SCAT, and how do I apply?

SCAT Paratransit is a shared-ride bus system, an extension of public transit in Suffolk County, designed to transport individuals with disabilities. Please note that it is not intended for emergencies, such as hospital visits. To apply for SCAT Paratransit services, download the application from our website's application section (left side under applications) or call 631-853-8333 to request an application via mail or email. Further details on eligibility criteria and application instructions are included in the application.

 What is the Disability Discount Card, and how can I obtain one?

The Disability Discount Card offers discounts at parks, beaches, and public buses. Apply through our website's application section. If certified as disabled by your physician, you can also obtain a “Green Key” card for additional benefits. For more details, contact the Suffolk County Office for People with Disabilities at (631) 853-8333 or the Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation at (631) 854-4956.

 How can I get a handicap parking tag?

Local townships provide handicap parking tags. Please contact your local township to request an application.

  I am having trouble accessing a business. Can you help?

Yes, our office assists with accessibility issues related to residential and commercial properties. Please contact us for assistance.

  Does your office provide financial assistance?

Our office does not directly offer financial assistance. However, such services are provided by DSS (Department of Social Services) and SSI (Social Security Administration). For applications or inquiries about pending cases, please contact these departments.

  I am a disabled person looking for employment. Are there any resources available?

Yes, our office provides information on employment opportunities for disabled individuals and programs like 55a. Feel free to contact us for more information.

• Disability Rights New York (DRNY) – the federally and state-authorized Protection and Advocacy System and Client Assistance Program (P&A/CAP) for people with disabilities in New York State. DRNY provides free legal and advocacy services to individuals with disabilities. Working tirelessly to protect and advance the rights of children and adults with disabilities, DRNY is committed to enabling those we serve to exercise their own life choices and fully participate in community life. DRNY provides these services under our federal grant-funded mandates listed below. These grants have been established by Congress to protect and advocate for the rights, safety, and autonomy of people with disabilities.

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• New York Alert – Free service to receive critical, emergency-related information including instructions and recommendations in real-time by emergency personnel. Information may include severe weather warnings, significant highway closures, hazardous material spills, and other emergency conditions. All areas of New York State are included in the system, and you can decide which area you would like to receive alerts about. Messages can be received by phone, email, text, and fax.

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• New York Connects – provides free, unbiased information about long-term services and supports in New York State for people of all ages or with any type of disability.

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• New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities – responsible for coordinating services for New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, and other neurological impairments. It provides services directly and through a network of approximately 500 nonprofit service-providing agencies, with about 80 percent of services provided by private nonprofits and 20 percent provided by state-run services.

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• New York State Commission for the Blind – working to enhance employability, maximize independence, and assist in the development of the capacities and strengths of people who are legally blind.

• The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) – a federally funded program that helps low-income homeowners and renters pay for utility and heating bills.

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• National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) - provides free telecommunication evaluations, training, and equipment for children and adults who have combined vision and hearing loss, and who qualify financially.

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• National Library Service at the Library of Congress (NLS) - a free braille and talking book library service for people with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical, perceptual, or reading disability that prevents them from using regular print materials. Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS circulates books and magazines in braille or audio formats, that are instantly downloadable to a personal device or delivered by mail free of charge. Suffolk County residents may apply through the Andrew Heiskell Library.

Suffolk County is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or discriminated against under its projects, programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin (including Limited English Proficiency), gender*(in the context of education), disability or age, as provided in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.