Open Forums for People with Disabilities

The Governor's Commission on Disabilities and a variety of other organizations will be co-hosting public forums throughout the state of Rhode Island. These forums are an opportunity for ALL people with disabilities and their families to speak out and voice their concerns. There will be a panel of representatives present from several state agencies and community-based organizations to listen to the participants. These forums are being held throughout the state during the week of July 24th – 28th, as part of the 27th year anniversary celebration of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Public forums on the Concerns of People with Disabilities and their Families will be held on:

Monday, July 24th, 2017, from 4 – 6 PM, at the Rogers Free Library's Meeting Room, 525 Hope Street, Bristol, RI. Hosted by The National Federation of the Blind.

Tuesday, July 25th, 2017, from 4 – 6 PM, at the Warwick Public Library, 600 Sandy Lane, Warwick, RI. Hosted by the Ocean State Center for Independent Living

Wednesday, July 26th, 2017 from 3:30 – 5:30 PM, at the Peace Dale Library, 1057 Kingstown Rd, Wakefield, RI. Hosted by National Multiple Sclerosis Society Greater New England Chapter

Wednesday, July 26th, 2017, from 4 – 6 PM, at the Cumberland Public Library, 1464 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, RI. Hosted by the Seven Hills Foundation

Thursday, July 27th, 2017, from 4 – 6 PM, at the Middletown Public Library, 700 W Main Rd, Middletown, RI. Hosted by Opportunities Unlimited For People With Differing Abilities

Friday, July 28th, 2017, from 3 – 5 PM, at the Rochambeau Library, 708 Hope St, Providence, RI. Hosted by the Brain Injury Association of Rhode Island

Sign language interpreters and real-time captioning will be used at the sights, and a transcript will be compiled of the testimony. Assistive listening systems will be available upon request at the hearing. Requests for other language interpreting should be made to 462-2130 at least 3 business days in advance.

Comments may be made in person during the forums. They can also be faxed to 462-0106 or e-mailed to GCD.Disabilities@gcd.ri.gov, or mailed by August 8th to Governor's Commission on Disabilities, John O' Pastore Center - 41 Cherry Dale Court, Cranston, RI 02920-3049.

For more information, or to request an accommodation, call 462-0100 or 462-0101 (tty).