14 Facts About Sandra Schnur

Sandra Schnur was a pioneer American disability rights leader and author, working mainly in New York City.

Sandra Schnur had a long period of rehabilitation, including much time spent in an iron lung.

In 1952, Sandra Schnur was evaluated by the New York Vocational Education program, and was advised to become a basket weaver.

In 1963 Sandra Schnur published "New York With Ease", a wheelchair-access guide to the City of New York, published by the Easter Seals Society.

In 1965 the State of New York agreed to allow Sandra Schnur to attend college.

Sandra Schnur attended Hunter College and New York University, earning a Bachelor's degree and Master's degree in Counseling.

Sandra Schnur became Director of the New York City Half-fare Program for the Handicapped.

Sandra Schnur brought together a group of individuals, which included Marilyn Saviola, Muriel Zgardowski, Vincent Zgardowski, Ira Holland, Ed Litcher, Daniel Ginsburg, and Gertrude Schleier, to demand consumer-directed personal assistance services.

Sandra Schnur formulated a paper calling for a voucher program, a precursor to the Consumer-Directed Cash and Counseling project that was eventually adopted in several states, which she presented to the administration of Governor Mario Cuomo.

Subsequent to the death of Victoria Holland in 1979 and the adoption of the new Consumer Board of Directors in 1980, Sandra Schnur became the President of Concepts of Independence.

Sandra Schnur served this role until her death from melanoma on February 2,1994.

Sandra Schnur was inducted into the New York State Disability Rights Hall of Fame in 2019.

Concepts of Independence awards an annual plaque in memory of Schnur, the Sandra Schnur Emerging Leadership Award.

Sandra Schnur's husband began hosting an annual memorial Seder after her death, to which large groups are invited.