Christina Curry

Christina Curry

Christina Curry is a fierce advocate and trailblazer who has spent over two decades fighting for the inclusion, empowerment, and recognition of people with disabilities, especially those within Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and minority communities. Known for bridging gaps between marginalized groups and mainstream services, Christina’s leadership has transformed access to education, emergency preparedness, healthcare, and independent living resources across New York City and beyond.

Beginning her tenure at the Harlem Independent Living Center in 1999, Christina quickly rose to Executive Director, where she launched wide-reaching sensitivity trainings for law enforcement, hospitals, domestic violence shelters, and schools, ensuring that institutions better understood and served disabled and Deaf individuals. She worked on the front lines of emergency management, partnering with FEMA in Puerto Rico and New York City agencies to center disability access in disaster response planning.

Beyond her local impact, Christina has shaped policy and practice at the state and national levels through her service on multiple advisory boards, including the New York State HIV Advisory Board, the National Council on Independent Living, and the New York State Commission for the Blind. Her advocacy work has challenged stereotypes, dismantled systemic barriers, and empowered individuals to assert their rights and thrive independently.

Today, as the Commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, Christina continues to champion an intersectional, inclusive vision for a more equitable society.