[Nfb-new-hampshire] {Disarmed} Fw: News from The Governors Commission on Disability
Ed Meskys
edmeskys at roadrunner.com
Tue Mar 22 16:56:43 UTC 2011
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----- Original Message -----
From: The Governors Commission on Disability
To: edmeskys at roadrunner.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 12:40 PM
Subject: News from The Governors Commission on Disability
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The Governor's Commission
on Disability
March 2011
In This Issue
Volunteers Wanted!
Quotes for the Month
2011 EMPLOYMENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS
New ADA Regulations are Now In Effect
Legislative Training
We're Moving!
GCD Thanks Its Volunteers
Upcoming Events
DVR Requests your Opinion
Meet our New Accessibility Coordinator !...
Quick Links
Our Web Site
We also support and provide:
the NH Client Assistance Program
the Architectural Barriers and ADA programs
Information and Referral Services
We partner with the Statewide Independent Living Council
http://www.silcnh.org/
Volunteers Wanted!
You may have heard that the budget of the State of New Hampshire is not getting any larger , but rather quite the opposite. Our staff, likewise, is not expanding, and we have a host of opportunities for people who are interested in , and supportive of, making New Hampshire a better place for people with disabilities.
What are your interests, what would you like to do?We have specific needs in a few areas of interest and in a few regions around the state.
Please call and - let's figure something out !
John
271-6895
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.
William James
If you can dream it, you can do it.
Walt Disney
Genius is more often found in a cracked pot than in a whole one.
E. B. White
(he wrote Charlotte's Web)
Patience and the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown.
Chinese Proverb
NOMINATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED - 2011 EMPLOYMENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Yes you read it correctly, the 2011 nomination process is now under way. The 2011 Employment Leadership Award Breakfast will be held October 13th, 2011 at the Radisson in Manchester, NH.
You may submit a nomination by visiting: http://www.nhletsworktogether.org/
New ADA Regulations are Now In Effect
The Department of Justice's revised Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations, which apply to businesses of all sizes that serve the public, took effect on March 15th.
Further information
is available at www.ADA.gov/regs2010/
smallbusiness/
smallbusprimer2010.htm
Welcome to Edition #4 !
A Very Successful Legislative Training held at the Governor's Commission on Disability
The New Hampshire Governor's Commission on Disability is pleased to have hosted and co-presented a Legislative Leadership Series with the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire. Sixteen people participated and heard from a variety of speakers, including Bob Dunn of Devine, Millimet and Branch, and Representative Peter Schmidt from Dover and Dennis Powers of CSNI. A final session will include a guided tour of the statehouse.
We focused on the ways in which an idea turns into a law as well as how citizens can have an impact on the legislative process. The goal of the Series is to support the development of self-advocacy and leadership skills in NH citizens who wish to effect change at a personal, community, and statewide level through public policy and/or legislation.
An Update on the Governor's Commission on Disability
We're Moving! (not very far !)
When: the last week of April, but we will be in on Monday, May 2, 2011
Where: 57 Regional Drive, Suite 3
Concord, NH 03301
Note - same phone , same fax
front of the same building
NEW Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Governor's Commission on Disability Thanks Its Volunteers
The Governor's Commission on Disability would like to formally thank its volunteers for their many and varied contributions to the workings of the Commission. So that our readers can get a sense of the many and diverse tasks presently completed by our volunteers, we would like to highlight them and give you a brief sense of their roles:
Sally Creighton and Leann Blaney are volunteers through the Senior Community Service Employment Program and are with us on a part-time basis every week.
Our regular volunteers include:
Denise Sampson is a volunteer with the Statewide Independent Living Council.
Josh Madison is greatly helping us to prepare for our move.
Elizabeth Kenney is assisting us with a project we have called "Collecting Our Stories" .... The real lives of people with disabilities.
Belinda Ryan-Magoon is assisting us with research and information requests.
We are very pleased to note that we have almost as many volunteers as we have paid staff. Talk about being efficient!
Many heartfelt thanks to all! Without your help, our work would hardly be possible!
John W. Richards
* And this individual list does not even begin to include the many who serve on the Commission itself or on one of our committees.
Upcoming Events
-- NAMI NH Annual Conference will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2011 from 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Grappone Conference Center, Concord.
-- MS Society Conference
Living Well with MS Conference & Wellness Expo
Sunday March 27 - Concord, NH
National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is holding their Annual Meeting on Friday and Saturday, April 15 & 16
Holiday Inn, Concord
Brain Injury Association of NH - Annual Conference May 18
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Requests your Opinion
VR State Plan Forums are being held throughout the state. Further, the link below is to the survey where VR is asking its customers, community partners, state-wide organizations, parents, and others to complete. It would really be most appreciated if you could share this link, and go to and fill out the survey yourself.
NHVR really appreciates your willingness to help them reach the broadest audience possible, as this will help inform the work of the State Rehabilitation Council's State Plan Committee. Please feel free to share this further.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6LQLV8Z
Meet our New Accessibility Coordinator!
By way of introduction, my name is Michelle Bonsteel and I recently joined the staff of the New Hampshire Governor's Commission on Disability as the Accessibility Specialist.
My career path led me from New York State, where I was a Building and Plumbing Inspector for sixteen years, to New Hampshire in 2001, where I continued in the code enforcement field.
As a member and Treasurer of the New Hampshire Building Officials Association, President of the Lakes Region Safety Officials Association and Board Member of the New Hampshire Certified Public Manager's Association, I have many contacts throughout the state through which I can spread our message. Soon, I hope to deliver a seminar to the NHBOA on the various changes in the ADA that recently went into effect. This will help fulfill the training and educational aspects of my position.
The most fulfilling work I have ever and continue to perform, in addition to my primary employment, is as a Compliance Inspector for the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. My duties, which are provided on an "as needed" basis on weekends and holidays, ensure that accessible features in disabled veteran's homes are constructed and installed properly. I truly believe that accepting that work placed me on my true vocational path where I could do the most good through the NH Governor's Commission on Disability.
One of my responsibilities as the Accessibility Specialist is to monitor legislative actions that may impact the disabled community in our state. As you are undoubtedly aware, in an effort to control spending and maintain or lower taxes, various bills have been introduced that would directly affect existing social programs.
HB (House Bill) 038 was introduced to provide for a smooth, paved, 36" wide access strip in walkways serving public buildings or located in public rights-of-way. Many people have difficulty navigating sidewalks where brick or cobblestone pavers were installed instead of concrete or macadam. Frost heaves, weeds, grass and tree roots cause these pavers to pop up creating tripping hazards. Wheel chair and walker access becomes treacherous. If this bill is enacted into law, new sidewalks and reconstructed sidewalks in public ways would be required to include a 36" wide smooth, paved surface. Existing sidewalks would be unaffected by this legislation. It is important to note that this change may result in reduced costs for maintenance and installation for the state, towns and cities. Existing language in the various codes affecting accessibility is ambiguous. This House Bill is an effort to clarify the materials that are considered to meet the regulations.
There is an obvious and overwhelming need for our agency, which supplies critical information and guidance to architects, engineers, town planners, administrators, code enforcement officials and the general public. Although the example above is a positive bill for the citizens of New Hampshire, there are many others that will negatively impact the disabled and other "at risk" populations. I urge you to check the legislative updates available at nh.gov and to let your legislators know your position, either by attending the legislative hearings or sending your letters and e-mails.
The following sentence is "good advice" from the folks who make this newsletter software. They say:
"End your newsletter with a kick -- consider a postscript to reinforce one of the key product or service benefits."
So here is the postscript from the Governor's Commission:
GET INVOLVED!
Sincerely,
John Richards, Executive Director
The Governors Comission on Disability
57 Regional Drive,
Concord, NH 03301
603-271-2773
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The Governors Comission for Disability | 57 Regional Drive | Concord | NH | 03301
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