NEWS From
Assemblymember
101st Assembly District
Kevin Cahill

ALBANY OFFICE:
Room 557 LOB, Albany, NY 12248 • (518) 455-4436
DISTRICT OFFICE:
Governor Clinton Building, One Albany Ave., Suite G-4
Kingston, NY 12401 • (845) 338-9610

For Immediate Release
Date: May 1, 2004
Contact: Kathy Keyser
(845) 338-9610

Assemblymember Cahill's Able Column
NYS Assembly Legislative Disabilities Awareness
Day to be Held June 16, 2004


I am using this month's column as an opportunity to invite all Able News readers to attend the Assembly's annual Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day in Albany. The event is being held this year on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 and is cosponsored by the Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities, which I chair, and the Committee on Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, chaired by Assemblymember Peter Rivera. Disabilities Awareness Day is held every year to provide an opportunity for legislators, their staffs and the general public to be educated on the issues that our community faces, and at the same time, to recognize the achievements and accomplishments of advocates and people with disabilities.

Disabilities Awareness Day consists of many exciting events to which we will welcome New York's disabilities community and its advocates, members of the Assembly and honored guests. The proceedings of the day are kicked off with the opening ceremony at 10 a.m. in the Well of the Legislative Office Building (LOB). In addition, organizations from all over the state that provide the latest services, programs and technology for people with disabilities will be on hand with exhibits in the Well of the LOB and on the Third Floor Terrace to answer questions and demonstrate their offerings. We are also sponsoring several seminars on issues of interest to people with disabilities throughout the day.

For the first time ever, we are sponsoring a poster contest with several fourth grade classes displaying their creativity through drawings that depict their perception of the issues that people with disabilities face. Each entry we receive for this contest will be prominently displayed.

Finally, a package of legislation crafted with significant input from disabilities advocates will be on the floor of the Assembly. The Task Force is currently working on several legislative measures regarding such issues as ADA protections, election reform, housing, and Olmstead implementation, many of which we hope to address on Disabilities Awareness Day.

Since this month's Able News issue is focusing on travel, it is appropriate to encourage Able readers to save the date on your calendars to visit us in Albany. I truly hope that you will consider joining us on June 16th. Please contact Kimberly Hill, Director of the Task Force on People with Disabilities, for additional information about Disabilities Awareness Day, or if you would like to be added to our list to receive future mailings about this informative event. I hope to see you there.

Assemblymember Kevin A. Cahill, Chair
New York State Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities
Agency Building 4, 13th Floor, Albany, NY 12248
518-455-4592
cahillk@assembly.state.ny.us


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