Center for Disability Rights (CDR) and Regional Center for Independent Living (RCIL) are hosting a Town Hall Meeting to collect feedback from the community that will be presented to the Interagency Coordinating Council for services to persons who are deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing. The Town Hall will be, Thursday, June 30, 2011 from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Stardust Ballroom, Edgerton Recreation Center, 41 Backus St., Rochester NY.

Why should you be there?

The Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) for services to persons who are deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing is a group mandated by the state government to report to them on what the needs are of deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing people. At end of 2011 the Council will be sending its report to Albany. From this, the Governor will decide on whenever the ICC should continue or not. You can influence the Governor’s decision with your comments on June 30th.

What has the ICC been doing?

To read about what the 10 things the ICC has been working on, please visit their website at http://cqc.ny.gov/advocacy/interagency-coordinating-council. Their last step before creating and submitting their report to the Governor is to collect data from the community on their five priorities.

• Interpreters/Special Service Providers (SSP)
• Assistive Technologies
• Quality of Education
• Community Education
• Mental Health

These are the topics we are asking people to comment on at our Town Hall Meeting. If the five priorities do not meet your needs, there will be an opportunity to talk about other topics.

What if I cannot make the Town Hall?

There is an online survey that you can fill out instead of attending the Town Hall Meeting in Rochester. The survey is at http://esad.org/survey/iac.php. However you participate, it is important for the ICC and the Governor get your perspective on the needs of the deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing community.

Sign language interpreters, CART and FM Loop System will be provided but to request any other accommodations, please contact Shana Gibbs at sgibbs@cdrnys.org by June 27th.

Light refreshments are being provided by Purple Communications