About the GCD
The New Hampshire Governor's Commission on Disability and the Architectural Barrier-Free Design Committee are authorized by RSA 275-C.
What does the Commission Do?
- Advise the Governor, state agencies and the NH Legislature on the needs, rights and interests of citizens with disabilities
- Coordinate and monitor state agency compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Make legislative and policy recommendations regarding the adequacy of state programs, plans and budgets for services for persons with disabilities
- Recommend legislation while monitoring and reporting on bills of interest to persons with disabilities
- Sponsor programs to educate the public about disability issues
- Implement and operate the federally funded Client Assistance Program designed to resolve problems that arise between persons with disabilities and vocational rehabilitation and independent living programs
- Administer a program to distribute telecommunication devices to persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf/blind or who have speech or mobility impairments that affect telephone use
- Serve as state affiliate for the Disability and Business Technical Assistance (DBTAC) - New England ADA Center
- Operate an information resource and problem-solving center
- House the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) , an independent cross-disability council, which provides leadership and advocacy in support of the independent living philosophy for persons with significant disabilities
- We have developed a strategic plan with our priority action items. Please see strategic plan
Governor's Accessibility Awards
NH Governor's Accessibility Awards - Criteria
The NH Governor's Accessibility Awards recognize the outstanding accomplishments and leadership within a business, organization or individual that supports independence, inclusive, accessible environments and services for individuals with disabilities. These awards recognize achievements and /or demonstrate the efforts that go above and beyond normal requirements and business responsibilities in any or all of the following criteria areas of:
- Providing contributions and advocacy efforts of a significant nature on behalf of persons with disabilities living in New Hampshire
- Helping to make a positive and significant difference in the lives of persons with disabilities living in New Hampshire
- Making substantial efforts at inclusion or integration of persons with disabilities into the life of the community and/or their respective organization or work environment.
- A leadership role working towards a variety of steps and actions to ensure that people with disabilities are afforded the same opportunities in life as people without disabilities
- A project(s) that implement universal design principles and service accessibility that goes beyond the minimum legal definition of accessibility
- Involvement in government or private sector to improve programs/services for individuals with disabilities
- Showing leadership in advocacy and implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines.
The goal of the ADA Coalition and the Governor's Commission on Disability is to continuously ensure that the educational environment, communities and work places in NH are accessible for people who have disabilities. The Accessibility Award is given to recognize leaders in New Hampshire communities who adhere to best practices and/or who offer services that are inclusive to individuals living with a disability.
The 2013 Governor's Accessibility Awards categories are:
- NH Businesses (nonprofit organization and/or for-profit business)
- Individual and/or State Employee and/or Legislator
- Community-wide and/or building project
Nominations
Eligibility is open to individuals, communities, educational facilities, businesses/employers, nonprofit organizations, state employees and legislators that develop or works towards improved access for individuals living with a disability within New Hampshire.
Nomination(s) can be completed by any New Hampshire citizen. Nominations must include a Nomination form and one page typed narrative.
All nomination submissions should be mailed to the Governor's Commission on Disability, 57 Regional Drive Suite 3, Concord NH 03301 or e-mailed to disability@nh.gov . Please write ATT: AWARD NOMINATION and submit by June 1, 2013.
A special NH Governor's Accessibility Awards subcommittee will be assembled to review and score all nominations based on the criteria listed above, finalists will be selected from each category.
The finalists will then be forwarded to the ADA Coalition and Governor’s Commission on Disability - Director for acceptance.
The Governor's Accessibility Awards winners will be recognized
on July 26th 2013 by Governor Hassan.
GCD Affiliated Programs
GCD Committees
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Introduction
The Commission has organized and sponsored a variety of internal committees which are listed and described as follows:
- Architectural Barriers Committee (from RSA 275:C14). Purposes:
- I. Establish, publish, and enforce a code for barrier-free design …
- II. Adopt such rules under RSA 541-A as may be necessary to enforce the provisions of this subdivision and the code for barrier-free design.
- III. Hold public hearings prior to the adoption of any rules by the committee in accordance with RSA 541-A.
- All meetings will be held from 1:00 PM-3:30 PM on the third Tuesday of the month, unless otherwise notified.
- All meetings will be held at the Board of Pharmacy Conference Room, 57 Regional Drive, Concord, NH unless otherwise notified.
- Legislative Committee - follows and studies activities of the legislature as they pertain to people with disabilities in New Hampshire. The committee may advise or inform elected officials in matters pertaining to people with disabilities.
- Meetings are as scheduled: please call the office at 603-271-2773 for further details.
- ADA coalition - focuses on ways to make the state of New Hampshire as accessible as possible to all people with disabilities; and advocates for same.
- All meetings will be held from 9:30 AM-11:30 am on the third Thursday of meeting months; January, March, May, July, September and November
- Parking Committee - focuses on issues related to availability of accessible parking and the enforcement of accessible parking rules and laws.
- All meetings will be held from 1:30 PM-3:30 PM on the third Wednesday of meeting months (January, March, May, July, September and November).
- All meetings will be held from 1:30 PM-3:30 PM on the third Wednesday of meeting months (January, March, May, July, September and November).
- Nominations Committee - recruits and screens prospective candidates for membership on the Governor's Commission on Disability. This is an internal committee for Commission members only.
- Telecommunications Committee. Provides oversight and acts in an advisory capacity to the Technology Equipment Distribution Grant (currently with NDHHS) and Newsline for the Blind (funds flow through GCD from PUC). Contact the office for further details.
- Architectural Barriers Committee (from RSA 275:C14). Purposes:
Other Committee Involvement
- Committee on Deafness and Hearing Loss (CDHL)
- Medical Care Advisory Committee (MCAC)
- State Coordinating Council on Community Transportation (SCC)
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