On August 9th, 2023, the Institute for Career Development (ICD) opened the first fully accessible GED Test Center in New York City. The ribbon cutting for the new space in lower Manhattan was co-hosted by the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), and marked a remarkable and long overdue step in leveling the playing field for students with disabilities.
ICD’s 15-seat accessible GED Test Center is the first of its kind in New York City. Photo: NYCETC
Kicking off the remarks to over 40 providers, employers, staff and students in the room, Joseph T. McDonald III, President of Development and Communications of ICD exuberantly shouted “We could not have done this without you!” and continued his remarks by touching on a brief history of ICD’s commitment to people with disabilities including serving Veterans through their workforce programming, creating accessible curriculums for careers in tech, and more recently serving youth with disabilities in their transition to careers. Dio Gica, ICD’s President of Programs and Operations, shared that the creation of the GED Test Center was nearly five years in the making. He said, “We wanted to make sure that we didn’t forget about students who dropped out of school because in many ways they received the least amount of support. Now at the GED Test Center, they will get the support they deserve. For many, this will be a life changing experience.”
Recognizing the significance of this accomplishment, Martha Jackson, MOPD Assistant Commissioner and newly appointed Interim Executive Director for the Center for Workplace Accessibility and Inclusion emphasized the importance of ICD’s GED Test Center in breaking the cycle of poverty, particularly for those facing unemployment due to the lack of educational credentials. She pointed to Eric Adams’ personal struggle with undiagnosed dyslexia and highlighted the fact that accommodations aren’t “special treatment,” but rather a means of leveling the playing field for all to access the same opportunities.
The aforementioned advocates have done a lot of the heavy lifting but the real stars of this milestone are the students themselves – individuals like David Mitchell and Robert Maldanado, who shared their personal stories during the program, and plan to complete their GED in the new space. Learn more about the GED Test Center on ICD’s website. Providers may make referrals to Stephan Rogers at hse@icdnyc.org.
Left, Dio Gica, Robert Maldonado, Luis Osorio, David Mitchell, and Joseph T. McDonald III. Photo: NYCETC