RI Governor’s Commission on Disabilities PDF Print E-mail
Public Forums on the Concerns of People with Disabilities and their Families

Every year during the week that includes July 26th (the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act) the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities and over 20 other state and non-profit agencies conduct a week long series of public forums to hear the concerns of people with disabilities and their families. The forums are open for anyone to come in and speak; representatives of the sponsoring agencies will be there to listen.

It is important for state policy makers and planners to hear from people with disabilities and their families, their concerns about current services, needs that are not being addressed, and suggestions for improving services and expanding opportunities.

Comments may be made in person at one of the forums, faxed 462-0106, e-mailed This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or mailed to the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities, John O. Pastore Center – 41 Cherry Dale Court, Cranston, RI02920-3049, by the end of July. Or, you can send us an email through our website at:www.disabilities.ri.gov by the following November.

 


State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Public Forums to identify the concerns of people with disabilities and their families

Monday July 27, 2009 1:30 - 3 pm
Barrington Public Library's Gallery Room
281 County Road, Barrington

Monday July 27, 2009 4 - 6 pm
RI Department of Administration's 2nd floor Conference Room A
One Capitol Hill, Providence

Tuesday July 28, 2009 3 - 5 pm
Warwick Public Library's Community Room
600 Sandy Lane, Warwick

Wednesday July 29, 2009 4 to 6 pm
Neighborhood Guild,
325 Columbia St, Wakefield, RI

Thursday July 30, 2009 10 am - Noon
Cumberland Public Library's Community Room
1464 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland

Thursday July 30, 2009 3 - 5 pm
Middletown Public Library's Community Room
700 West Main Road, Middletown

Comments may be made in person during the hearing, or you can e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , fax 462-0106 or mail them by August 9th to:

Governor's Commission on Disabilities
John O. Pastore Center
41 Cherry Dale Court
Cranston, RI 02920-3049

We ask that you use unscented personal care products. Please realize that what may seem to you to be a mild fragrance can constitute a toxic exposure for a person with an environmental illness.

CART Recorders (real-time captioning) and assistive listening devices will be at all sites, courtesy of the Assistive Technology Access Partnership.

"The RI Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing will provide sign language interpreters; contact the CDHH (voice) 222-1204 or (tty) 222-1205 to confirm which forums will have interpreters.

When making the ADA reservation with RIde to get to and from the public forum, tell the RIde reservationist (1-800-479-6902) that this trip is for the Governor's Commissions Public Forums in order to guarantee your return trip, after normal RIde hours of operation. The ADA fare is still applicable.

For more information or to request accommodation needed, please call: 462-0100 at least 3 business days in advance; arrangements will be provided at no cost.

Requests for language interpreting should be made to 462-2130 at least 3 business days in advance.

Assistive listening devices and real-time captioning services are available at each of the forums so people who are hard of hearing will know what is being said (everyone’s words will be projected onto a screen) and a transcript will be complied of the testimony. Interpreters for the deaf will be available at most of the six forums, check with the RI Commission on the Deaf to confirm which forums will have interpreters. The Department of Human Services will provide language interpreters upon request, contact 462-2130. The RIde will transport people back from the forum after the RIde’s normal working hours if when making the ADA reservation with RIde (800-479-6902) the rider tells the RIde reservationist the trip if for the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities Public Forums.

To download the prior years’ recommendations and forum transcripts:

2001 Public Forums, August 20 – 24, 2001

2002 Public Forums, July 22 – 26, 2002

2003 Public Forums, July 21 – 25, 2003

2004 Public Forums, July 24 – 30, 2004

2005 Public Forums, July 25 - 28, 2005

2006 Public Forums, July 25 - 27, 2006

2007 Public Forums, July 23 - 27, 2007

2008 Public Forum, July 21 – 25, 2008