FROM:              THE RUSSIAN TEA ROOM

                        150 West 57^th Street

CONTACT:        RUBENSTEIN COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

For Immediate Release

UNITED SPINAL ASSOCIATION AND SATH ANNOUNCE LAUNCH

Of Website Dedicated to Visitors With Disabilities

Site to Promote Accessible Travel & Consumer Opportunities in NYC

___

NEW YORK - October 20, 2009 - Denise McQuaid, Vice Chair of the United Spinal Association will announce Accessible NYC (www.accessiblenyc.org), a private website designed to help the visitor with disabilities navigate New York City and raise awareness for this constituency within the business sector.  Commissioner Matthew Sapolin from the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities will also speak at the event to support the mission of the founding partners, Society for Accessibly Travel & Hospitality (SATH), United Spinal Association, and Vega Transportation.  The press conference will take place on Tuesday, October 20 at The Russian Tea Room located at 150 West 57^th Street in Manhattan at 10:30 AM.

More than 40 businesses have joined the website to date, including The Russian Tea Room, Lincoln Center, Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center, and The Hilton Times Square.

WHO:               Denise McQuaid, Vice Chair of the United Spinal Association; Commissioner Matthew Sapolin, from the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities; Ken Biberaj, Vice President of The Russian Tea Room

WHAT:             A press conference to announce website dedicated to visitors with disabilities

WHEN:             Tuesday, October 20^th at 10:30 AM, sharp

RSVP:              Carolyn Nurnberg at (212) 843-9316 / CNurnberg@Rubenstein.com

# # #

About Vega Transportation - Since 1985 Vega Transportation has specialized in luxury ambulette services and has one of the largest and newest fleets in New York’s paratransit industry. Vega is recommended by NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission and provides wheelchair accessible transportation for over 150 luxury limousine and black car companies in New York City.

About The Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH) -  Founded in 1976, SATH is an educational non-profit membership organization whose mission is to raise awareness of the needs of all travelers with disabilities, remove physical and attitudinal barriers to free access and expand travel opportunities in the United States and abroad. Members include travel professionals, consumers with disabilities and other individuals and corporations who support our mission.

About United Spinal Association - A national nonprofit membership organization formed in 1946 by paralyzed veterans who pioneered the disability rights movement.  Our mission is to improve the quality of life of all individuals living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), including multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, Lou Gerigh’s Disease (ALS), and post polio.  The core belief of United Spinal is that, despite living with a disability or mobility impairment, a full, pro-active, and rewarding life is not only possible, it is within the reach of anyone with the strength to believe it and the courage to make it happen.