HERO
Safman Consulting
Disability Inclusion Strategist—preparing businesses and policymakers to lead the 2034 transition.
We help governments, businesses, and community organizations build accessible programs, strengthen disability inclusion, and partner meaningfully with the disability community.
WHY NOW: THE 2034 SHIFT
By 2034, older adults will outnumber children in the U.S. for the first time in history. As the population ages, disability prevalence rises, workforce, marketplace, electorate, and customer base of nearly every institution.
This is already an economic force. The global disability economy is estimated at $23 trillion; in the U.S. alone, the disability consumer market is worth $675 billion, with $107 billion in annual discretionary income (Disability: IN/American Institutes for Research, 2026).
Organizations that plan now will lead. Those that wait will be reacting to problems they could have solved years in advance. This is not compliance work. It's strategy.
ABOUT
Founded by Marc Safman, a Disability Inclusion Strategist, Safman Consulting combines lived experience as a DeafBlind accessibility professional with three decades in compliance, public policy, accessibility, and disability rights.
Marc helps organizations move from reactive compliance to proactive strategy, getting ahead of the demographic and economic shifts already reshaping the workforce, marketplace, and electorate.
SERVICES
Community Engagement
Connecting organizations with disability communities through trusted partnerships, outreach, and stakeholder engagement, so programs are shaped with the people they serve, not just for them.
Government Relations & Public Policy
Legislative strategy, testimony, and coalition-building on disability policy. Marc actively tracks and engages on legislation including:
- DeafBlind Co-Navigation Services Program (A5020/S3743)—a statewide co-navigation program for DeafBlind New Yorkers
- Real Accessible Pedestrian Signal Act (A10399/S9605)—tactile maps on new NY pedestrian signals
- DeafBlind DATA Act (H.R. 2947)—requires the Census Bureau to collect data on the DeafBlind population
Disability Inclusion Strategy
Inclusion planning, employment strategy, supplier diversity, and organizational assessments that prepare workplaces for demographic change.
Accessibility Consulting
Ensuring communications, meetings, events, and digital resources are accessible today and scalable for tomorrow. Includes barrier-free operations reviews and guiding employers through the interactive process for reasonable accommodations. Marc brings direct experience navigating complaints and compliance with the NYC Commission on Human Rights (NYCCHR), NY State Division of Human Rights (NYSDHR), and DC Office of Disability Rights (ODR).
ADA compliance • Barrier-free operations • Interactive process guidance • WCAG • CART • ASL • DeafBlind accommodations • Accessible events
Reasonable Accommodation Support for Businesses
Practical, experience-based guidance that helps businesses respond to accommodation requests with confidence and helps employees with disabilities thrive.
- Interactive process plans Written, step-by-step plans for handling accommodation requests, including the cooperative dialogue NYC law requires and the written final determination that must follow.
- Accommodation request review An independent review of specific requests and your proposed response, with practical options when the first request isn't workable.
- Workplace operations review A review of how work actually gets done (tools, software, communication, schedules, meetings, physical space, and policies), with a clear explanation of the adjustments that will let an employee with a disability do their best work.
- Assistive technology guidance Matching employees with the right tools, such as screen readers, captioning, CART, ASL interpreting, and DeafBlind communication supports, and making sure they work with your existing systems.
- Policy and procedure review Updating accommodation policies, request forms, and HR procedures so they are clear, consistent, and accessible.
- Manager and HR training Helping supervisors recognize accommodation requests, respond appropriately, and avoid common mistakes.
- Inclusive event planning Making meetings, trainings, and events accessible from the start.
- Early dispute resolution Helping resolve accommodation disagreements before they become complaints, drawing on direct experience with the NYC Commission on Human Rights, the NYS Division of Human Rights, and the DC Office of Disability Rights.
Rates
Free initial consultation. $85 per hour, plus travel and expenses if necessary.
Schedule a free consultationSafman Consulting provides consulting, not legal advice. We work alongside your counsel when legal questions arise.
Civic Engagement & Voting Accessibility
Helping election officials, nonprofits, and campaigns improve participation by disabled voters: voter education, Ballot Marking Device demonstrations, and poll worker training.
Inclusive Campaigns—Every campaign issue has a disability dimension. We help candidates build accessibility into GOTV, door knocking, outreach and visibility, policy positions, volunteer management, mail-in and early voting education, and Election Day support.
Economic & Workforce Development
Preparing organizations for a labor force and customer base where disability plays a growing role, and positioning them to capture a share of the $23 trillion global disability market.
The CRA Opportunity—The Community Reinvestment Act rewards banks for serving low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities. Many disabled consumers qualify as LMI through SSI, SSDI, low wages, or fixed income, but few banks have a real disability outreach strategy. We help close the gap through:
- Financial Education—accessible literacy programs covering budgeting, credit, benefits/work incentives, and homeownership
- Consumer Service Training—equipping frontline staff to serve DeafBlind, Blind, and Deaf customers
- Product Development—accessible design for digital banking, ATMs, and loan products, built in rather than retrofitted
Responsible Mining & ESG Accessibility Consulting
Mining standards like IRMA and CMSI require companies to demonstrate labor rights, diversity, and community engagement for certification. We help mining companies build real disability inclusion into those commitments, from accessible worksite design to engagement with disabled community members.
Speaking & Training
Disability Inclusion • DeafBlind Accessibility • Voting Accessibility • Workplace Inclusion • Financial Accessibility • The 2034 Demographic Shift
WHY WE EXIST
Accessibility is more than legal compliance, it's expanding opportunity. We work to ensure people with disabilities are included in employment, financial services, civic life, education, and community, and we help organizations prepare now rather than scramble later.
FEATURED INITIATIVES
Activate Disabled New York!
A grassroots coalition increasing civic participation for disabled New Yorkers. A 2026 AAPD REV UP Movement Grant recipient (1 of 9 nationwide), the project provides accessible voter education, Ballot Marking Device demonstrations, DeafBlind co-navigators, ASL/Tactile ASL, CART captioning, and multilingual materials for New York's 2026 elections.
DeafBlind CoNavigator Initiative—Expanding independence through community-based support.
Disability Workforce Development—Creating employment pathways and economic opportunity.
Financial Inclusion—Partnering with financial institutions to improve accessibility for disabled customers.
WHO WE SERVE
Government agencies • Nonprofits • Financial institutions • Employers • Educational institutions • Election officials and campaigns • Foundations • Mining and extractives companies pursuing IRMA/CMSI certifications
RESOURCES (Free Downloads)
Accessibility checklist • Voting accessibility guides • Community engagement guides • Preparing Your Organization for the 2034 Demographic Shift
CALL TO ACTION
Need help with disability inclusion strategy, community engagement, accessibility consulting, public policy, voting accessibility, or professional speaking?
Community Events
Stay informed about upcoming community events, public forums, and special presentations hosted by elected officials and community organizations. Events may be held virtually or in person. Browse the flyers below for more information.
Insights and Publications
- Disability Employment and Poverty Across New York City
- Broadway West 30th and Manhattan APS Field Report
- East 14th Street to Union Square APS Field Observation
- One Centre Street Brooklyn Bridge APS Field Report
- ABLE News article: Not a New Era—Just More Audacious Ableism July 16, 2026
- Triple Pundit: Disability Inclusion is the Untapped Market Hiding in Plain Sight
- Amsterdam News article: Will Mayor-elect Mamdani's New Era strengthen NYC's workforce or continue to exclude disabled New Yorkers?
Media Mentions
RevUp! 2024 Microgrant
CONNECT
(917) 825-1471
Astoria, NY 11105
BYLINE
Marc Safman
Disability Inclusion Strategist | Community Engagement Strategist
Preparing businesses and policymakers to lead the 2034 transition