RI Governor’s Commission on Disabilities
The Commission consists of 24 volunteer commissioners appointed by the Governor, a 5.6 person staff, several college fellows; and many volunteers who serve on committees (listed below).
Committees and Boards of the Commission
h. State Coordinating Committee on DIsability Rights
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.
Commission’s Goals
are:
To ensure full participation in all aspects of society
for people with disabilities through legislative activities, public awareness
and in concert with the following:
A. Approve all state and state funded construction and renovation design plans to ensure compliance with state/federal accessibility codes;
B. Provide technical assistance to agencies, businesses, and citizens in complying with federal & state laws protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities;
C. Resolve disability discrimination complaints relating to physical barriers in government, public accommodations and commercial facilities, through technical assistance to encourage voluntary compliance and when necessary by hearing and corrective action orders;
D. Election assistance to individuals with disabilities; by inspecting polling places and funding renovations to boards of canvassers to remove any physical barriers, training election officials and educating adults with disabilities on how to vote and why it's important to register and vote;
E. Ensure all state agencies comply with state/federal disability rights laws and people with disabilities have an equal opportunity for employment and the benefit of services, programs, or activities, through training, removal of physical barriers at state owned facilities and when needed legal action to ensure compliance;
F. Ensure access to and the opportunity to participate in state and local government "public bodies" i.e.. open meetings by inspecting meeting locations and granting waivers to the ban on members of public bodies using telephone / telecommunication devices as reasonable accommodations; and
To expand economic opportunities for people with disabilities
A. Assist disability business enterprises and rehabilitation facilities successfully bid on government contracts and encourage entrepreneurship;
B. Promote work as the lifestyle amongst the disability community and the use of work incentives rather than dependence on government support;
C. Provide assistive technology accommodations in state government facilities to ensure equal opportunity for employment and the benefit of services, programs, or activities;
D. Provide college students with disabilities work experience through the Mary Brennan Fellowship program, including editing the ”Legislative Letter” (a weekly newsletter on legislation affecting people with disabilities), developing and updating the Commission’s website http://www.disabilities.ri.gov , and providing information regarding rights and services.
Statutory Responsibility:
a. State
42-51 State Affairs and Government –
Governor’s Commission on Disabilities
17-9.1-31. Elections – Registration Of Voters –Voter registration
advisory board
23-29.1-3. Health and Safety - Rehabilitation Building And Fire Code For
Existing Buildings And Structures Content, adoption, and administration
of the rehabilitation building code for existing buildings and Structures.
23-6-22 Health and Safety – Prevention and Suppression of Contagious
Diseases – Discrimination prohibited
28-5.1-9. Labor and Labor Relations – Equal Opportunity and Affirmative
Action – State employment services
30-15-6. Military Affairs And Defense – Emergency Management –
Advisory Council.
31-28-7.3. Motor and Other Vehicles – Parking Facilities and Privileges
– Disability Parking Enforcement Program
37-2.2 Public Property and Works - Disability Business Enterprises Act
37-8-15 Public Property and Works – Public Buildings – Access for
people with disabilities
37-8-15.1. Public Property and Works – Public Buildings –
Accessibility of leased or rented facilities for people with disabilities
40-14-8.Human Services – Equipment Loan Fund for People with Disabilities
–Rules and regulations
42-46-13. State Affairs and Government – Open Meetings –
Accessibility for persons with disabilities
42-46-5(b)(3). State Affairs and Government – Open Meetings –
Purposes for which meeting may be closed - Use of electronic communications --
Judicial proceedings -- Disruptive conduct
42-47-7.1. State Affairs and Government – Commission on State Government
Internships – Summer internships for students with disabilities
42-87-5. State Affairs and Government – Civil Rights of People with
Disabilities - Enforcement of anti-discrimination provisions
RI Constitution Article I § 2 Declaration of Certain Constitutional
Rights and Principles – Laws for good of whole - Burdens to be equally
distributed - Due process - Equal protection - Discrimination - No right to
abortion granted
b. Federal
29 USC 794 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 as Amended
42 USC 12101 et. seq. Americans with Disabilities Act
42 USC 15461 Section 261 of the Help
Committees
and Boards of the Commission
a. Accessibility Committee
Is responsible for overseeing the removal of environmental and communication barriers at state owned facilities and for reviewing municipal and state agency Disability Parking Enforcement Annual Reports and recommending improvements.
b. Assistive Technology Committee
Is responsible for promoting accessible design of information technology and authorizing the purchase of assistive technology as responsible accommodations for state employees, clients and residents of state institutions.
c. Disability Business Enterprise Committee
Is responsible for 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. The Committee’s membership is restricted by law to: 2 people with disabilities; 3 representatives of rehabilitation facilities; and the designees of the directors of the departments of Mental Health, Retardation, and Hospitals & Human Services, the Purchasing Agent, and the Economic Development Corporation. The Commission Chairperson (or designee) chair’s the Committe
d. Election Assistance Committee
Is responsible for overseeing the Election Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities: develop training modules to be used by election officials and poll place workers to better prepare them to meet a variety of voter needs; recruit 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.
Is responsible for overseeing implementation of the Human Resource Investment Council’s Promoting Work Grant and the provision of training and technical assistance regarding the employment provisions of the ADA .
f. Hearing Board
Is responsible for conducting hearings and rendering decisions on matters relating to:
RIGL 42-87 hearing and ordering corrective action on disability discrimination complaints (involving physical barriers to services or employment) in public and private entities;
RIGL 37-8-15.1 approving Transition Plans from state agencies requesting to lease inaccessible facilities; and
RIGL 42-46-13 approving Open Meeting Transition Plans from local and state government entities.
Is responsible for 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.
h. State Coordinating Committee on Disability Rights
Is responsible for overseeing the State Government’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal/state disability rights laws. The Committee’s membership is set forth in law, representatives of: the 5 General Officers; the 3 Boards of Education; the Public Transit Authority; the House of Representatives and Senate; and representatives of the general public and Executive branch of state government, chosen by the Commission chairperson. Last year the Chair appointed the chairs of the ADA related Committee’s to represent the general public/Executive branch.
Is responsible for internal management of the Commission and making policy decisions between Commission meetings. The committee consists of the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Commission and its Committees.