RI Governor’s Commission on Disabilities

 

 

Governor’s Commission on Disabilities

The Commission’s objective is to ensure that all people with disabilities are afforded the opportunities to exercise all the rights and responsibilities accorded to citizens of this state and  each person with a disability is able to reach his/her maximum potential in independence, human development, productivity and self-sufficiency.

The Commission meets Mondays 5 – 7 PM: 02/02^nd; 04/27^th; 07/20^th; 09/14^th; and 11/16^th 

Accessibility Committee. 1

Assistive Technology Committee. 1

Disability Business Enterprise Committee. 1

Election Assistance Committee. 2

Employment Committee. 2

Hearing Board. 2

Legislation Committee. 2

State Coordinating Committee on Disability Rights. 3

Executive Committee. 3

 

Accessibility Committee

Overseeing the removal of environmental and communication barriers at state owned facilities and

Reviewing municipal and state agency disability parking enforcement annual reports and recommending improvements.

The Accessibility Committee meets Mondays 2 – 3:30 PM: 01/26^th; 03/23^rd; 05/18^th; 06/22^nd; 10/05^th; and 11/23^rd

Assistive Technology Committee

Providing technical assistance to agencies requesting assistive technology accommodations, and

Granting waivers that allows a member of a public body (as defined by the RI Open Meeting Law) to participate by electronic communication or telephone communication only if the member's disability would prevent him/her from being physically present at the meeting location, and the use of such communication is the only reasonable accommodation.

The Assistive Technology Committee meets on the 3^rd Wednesday 2:30 – 4 PM: 01/21^st; 03/18^th; 05/20^th; 07/15^th; 09/16^th; and 11/18^th

Disability Business Enterprise Committee

Certifying rehabilitation agencies and businesses owned by people with disabilities or whose workforce consists of 60% of more people with disabilities for preferences on bidding for state contracts and

Promoting the selection of rehabilitation facilities and disadvantaged small businesses owned by people with disabilities in the awarding of state government contracts.

The Disability Business Enterprise Committee meets the 2^nd Wednesday 9 – 10:30 AM:  01/14^th; 02/11^th; 03/11^th; 06/10^th; and 10/14^th

Election Assistance Committee

Overseeing the Election Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Grant:

Awarding polling place renovation grants to municipal boards of canvassers;

Developing training modules to be used by election officials and poll place workers to better prepare them to meet a variety of voter needs;

Recruiting people with disabilities to serve as trained poll workers, and/or serve, on an as-needed basis, as advisors to the Commission, the RI Disability Law Center, Secretary of State’s Election Division, and the State Board of Elections’ ongoing attempts to ensure polling site accessibility and greater participation by people with disabilities in the electoral process; and

Monitoring the RI Disability Vote Projects voter registration and education outreach programs.

The Election Assistance Committee meets the 4^th Wednesday 9 – 10:30 AM: 02/25^th; 04/22^nd; 06/24^th; 10/28^th; and 12/16^th

Employment Committee

Overseeing implementation of the provision of training and technical assistance regarding the employment provisions of the ADA Grant and

Promoting Work and Work Incentives.

The Employment Committee meets the 3^rd Thursday 9 – 10:30 AM: 02/19^th; 04/16^th; 06/18^th; 10/15^th; and 12/17^th

Hearing Board

Conducting hearings and rendering decisions on matters relating to:

Disability discrimination complaints involving physical barriers to public and private entities [RIGL 42-87];

Transition Plans from state agencies requesting to lease inaccessible facilities [RIGL 37-8-15.1]; and

Open Meeting Transition Plans from local and state government entities [RIGL 42-46-13].

The Hearing Board meets only to conduct hearings

Legislation Committee

Conducting public forums annually to identify the concerns of people with disabilities and their families,

Drafting legislation to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities, and

Reviewing and commenting on legislation impacting on people with disabilities.

The Legislation Committee meets Mondays 3 – 4:30 PM: 01/12^th; 02/9^th; 03/9^th; 04/13^th; 05/11^th; 06/8^th; 07/13^th; 09/21^st; 10/19^th; and 12/14^th. The Committee also conducts public forums on the concerns of people with disabilities annually during the week of July 27^th – 31^st celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990.

State Coordinating Committee on Disability Rights

Overseeing the State Government’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal/state disability rights laws, and

Promoting awareness of the ADA Titles II & III.

The State Coordinating Committee on Disability Rights meets the last Tuesday 2:30 – 4 PM: 01/27^th; 05/26^th; and 09/29^th

Executive Committee

Oversees internal management of the Commission;

Making policy decisions between Commission meetings; and

Interviewing applicants and appointing the Mary Brennan (Public Awareness) Fellows; Edward J. Schroeder (Legislative) Fellow; and G. Frank Hanaway (Architectural Awareness) Fellows, to college students with disabilities or pursuing a degree in an area of study relating to people with disabilities.

The Executive Committee meetings Tuesdays 4 – 5:30 PM: 03/03^rd; 05/12^th*; 06/23^rd*; 08/18^th; and 12/08^th*

* selection of fellows