Govt « DeafROC

Entries categorized as ‘Govt’

Action Alert - Tell the State Board of Elections We Want a Choice of Voting Machines!

February 2, 2008 · 1 Comment

Hi everyone…

I was at Medley Center In Irondequait, NY trying to look at the new voting machine. It was amazing, because the machine was made for hearing people and not yet tested by disability people and even worst deaf people. I don’t know what they are thinking…

I was extremeously disappointed with the machine. They did not invite any of our deaf-blind or deaf people to test this machine. The Board of Election committee did not even provide an interpreter to show that they want to know our needs…

I viewed the machine and the lights was too bright I felt not accessable for deaf-blind members and they need to test it because it seems only good for audio and we know our deaf people can not depend on audio at all. Please review the below email. Any questions feel free to contact me.

Please don’t let New York State Board of Election approve of a machine that is not tested or approved by the deaf people either!!

Take Action at below link:
http://capwiz.com/rochestercdr/issues/alert/?alertid=10908241&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

Later,

Dean DeRusso
Deaf Systems Advocate
Regional Center for Independent Living
Advocacy and Independent Living Services for Individuals
497 State Street
Rochester, NY 14608

Sorenson VP: 585 546-7598
VP: 74.39.189.195
Voice Callers 1: (877) 467-4877 ext 07598
Voice Callers 2: 866-327-8877 ext 585.546.7598
TTY: (888) 839-8208
Fax: 585.546.5643
E-Mail: dderusso@rcil.org

Categories: Advocacy · Govt · RCIL/CDR

Friday: Watch Candidates via Webcast at RCIL

October 31, 2007 · No Comments

Hi everyone!!

On Friday at CDR and RCIL’s office, we will provide a web cast that will show several presidential candidates. If you would like to come to our office and watch it. Please feel free to do so. It would be great if we could have a few deaf people together and discuss as the candidates are done.

Hope you can join us!! Please read below for more information.

Dean DeRusso
Regional Center for Independent Living (RCIL)

—–Original Message—–
From: Center for Disability Rights [mailto:acameron@rochestercdr.org]
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 1:03 PM
To: Dean DeRusso
Subject: PRESIDENTIAL FORUM ON DISABILITY - Come Join Us to Watch!

PRESIDENTIAL FORUM ON DISABILITY - Come Join Us to Watch!

On Friday, November 2, 2007, the Center for Disability Rights (CDR), and the Regional Center for Independent Living (RCIL) will host a webcast viewing of the National Forum on Equality, Opportunity, and Access at 497 State Street, in Rochester, NY. Several presidential candidates, including Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Senator, Chris Dodd (D-CT), Senator Joe Biden (D-DE), and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) will participate in this forum.

Plan to be at CDR/RCIL at 9:30 am for the opening remarks by Andrew Imparato, of AAPD. At 9:55 am, Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) will be the first candidate to speak. You can join us for as much of the forum as you want… arrive and leave at times that work for your schedule.

Lunch is on your own at 12:30, so please bring your own lunch, or money for lunch. There are several places near the office where you may purchase food.

See you on Friday!

Schedule for Friday’s webcast of the Presidential Disability Forum:

8:30 am Registration

9:00 am Opening Ceremonies
- Presentation of Colors- National anthem
- Welcome by Clyde Terry, Executive Director of Granite State Independent Living Center
- Grace Sullivan, Executive Director, Manchester Community Television

9:25 am Opening Remarks - Andrew Imparato, President & CEO, American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)

9:35 am Moderator - Ted Kennedy, Jr. - AAPD Board Secretary

9:45 am - NH State Senator Lou D’Allesandro

9:55 am - CANDIDATE: Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY)

10:30 am - Entertainment - Keith Jones

10:45 am - BREAK

11:00 am - CANDIDATE: Senator Joe Biden (D-DE)

11:30 am - CANDIDATE: Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT)

12:00 noon - Entertainment - Keith Jones

12:30 pm - LUNCH

1:30 pm - CANDIDATE: Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM)

2:00 pm - CANDIDATE: Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)

2:30 pm - CANDIDATE: Former Congressman David Bonior, Campaign Manager for Senator John Edwards (D-SC)

3:00 pm - CANDIDATE: Senator Mike Gravel (D-AK)

3:15 pm - BREAK

3:30 pm - CANDIDATE: Senator John McCain (R-AZ)

4:00 pm - CANDIDATE: Invited - Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY)

4:15 pm - Retiring of the Colors

4:25 pm - Wrap Up

—

Categories: Events · Govt · RCIL/CDR

Reminder - Today’s the Day

October 16, 2007 · No Comments

Today’s the day to be at the Regional Center for Independent Living (497 State St., Rochester) from 3 to 5 pm when Gary O’Brien, chairperson of the Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (CQCAPD) will be on hand to hear the concerns of the Rochester deaf and hard-of-hearing community. The CQCAPD is the commission that will run the new interagency council of services for New York residents who are deaf or hard of hearing. To read an earlier post on this event, click HERE.

Categories: Events · Govt · RCIL/CDR

Robach and Morelle Honored at RIT

October 9, 2007 · No Comments

In recognition of their consistent support of the state’s deaf and hard-of-hearing community, State Senator Joseph Robach (R-Greece) and Assemblyman Joseph Morelle (D-Irondequoit) were honored at a reception marking Deaf Awareness Day, September 26 in the Dyer Arts Center at Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

To see the full story on RIT’s website, click HERE.

Categories: Govt · RIT/NTID

Reminder: Speak Up on October 16

October 5, 2007 · No Comments

The chairperson of the state commission that will host the new council for deaf New Yorkers will be in Rochester on October 16 to hear the concerns of local deaf and hard-of-hearing residents.

Gary O’Brien, chairperson of the Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (CQCAPD) will be at the Regional Center for Independent Living (RCIL), 497 State Street, Rochester, NY 14608 from 3 to 5 pm.

Mr. O’Brien’s commission is where the new Interagency Council for Services to Persons Who Are Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard-of-Hearing will be located.

“Now is your chance to tell the NY State Officials what the Interagency Council should focus on improving!” says the RCIL.

To download a flyer for the event, click on: deaf_interagency_council_2007-10-16final.pdf

Source – Dean DeRusso at RCIL

Categories: Advocacy · Events · Govt · RCIL/CDR

Oct. 16 Meeting on New Interagency Council

October 2, 2007 · No Comments

The following is from Dean DeRusso, Deaf Systems Advocate at the Regional Center for Independent Living. He adds, “Please let me know if you’re going to be there so I can be sure that we have the correct number of people attending.”

++++++++++

Hi everyone, Do you all remember the Interagency Council of Services of Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf/Blind in New York State? It’s still there and still needs your help.

At Regional Center of Independent Living office of 497 State Street, Rochester NY, there will be a General Public Forum where the Chairperson Gary O’Brien and his staff will be in Rochester, NY from 3 to 5 pm.

They will be voicing their future with this new Council, and they would like to hear what people from around the state would want from this service. It’s important that you attend this forum and tell them what you want and feel that New York State needs. It will help them understand the needs of the deaf community all over New York State.

Remember, your voice will show them why this bill is important for all of us and why they need to appoint the correct 8 people to run this group.

Please reserve that time slot and RSVP that you will be at this meeting. I would like to know how many are coming. So, that way the visit of the Chairperson and his staff will be worth their visit. Please keep your schedule open and be there!

Thank you,