THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

TO:	EMSC-VESID Committee
FROM:	Rebecca H. Cort
SUBJECT:	Appointments to the New York State Independent Living Council, Inc.
DATE:	November 14, 2005
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goal 4
AUTHORIZATION(S):

SUMMARY

Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda)

Vacancies have occurred on the New York State Independent Living Council, Inc. (SILC). Should the Board appoint new members to the SILC?

Reason(s) for Consideration

The 1992 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act require the Board of Regents to appoint members to the New York State Independent Living Council, Inc. (NYSILC).

Proposed Handling

This question will come before the EMSC-VESID Committee on December 8, 2005, on its consent agenda, where it will be voted on and final action taken.

Procedural History

Each year as vacancies occur, the Board of Regents approves recommendations to fill such vacancies.

Recommendation

VOTED: that the following individuals as seen in Attachment 1 be appointed to fill vacancies on the New York State Independent Living Council, Inc.: Bruce Darling, Lauren LeFebvre, Rain Rippel, Michael Smith and Douglas Usiak be appointed for a three-year term ending December 31, 2008. Dennis Boyd, Michael Godino, Mark Hernandez, Michael Kink, Randy Black Schantz and Alexander Wood to be reappointed to serve a three-year term ending December 31, 2008. Attachment 2 reflects a listing of the entire New York State Independent Living Council.

Timetable for Implementation

Upon approval by the Regents of the recommended candidates, appointments will be made in January 2006 for a three-year term.

Attachment 1

New York State Independent Living Council, Inc.

(New Appointments)

2008 Expiration Date - Representing Other Representatives for Centers for Independent Living

Bruce Darling

280 Lake Shore Drive

Hilton, NY 14468

Syracuse University, Master of Science, Public Relations Management
University of Rochester, Bachelor of Arts, English
Organizer of American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT)
Steering Committee Member, Coalition To Implement Olmstead in New York
Founder/Board Member, Center for Disability Rights, Inc. 1990-1998
Founder/Organizer, Transportation Advocacy Group

2008 Expiration Date - Representing Advocates of and for Individuals with Disabilities

Lauren LeFebvre

PO Box 280

Raybrook, NY 12977

North Country Community College
SUNY Potsdam Merwin Rural Services 15 hour Grant Writing Course
Board of Directors Secretary, Mental Health Association of Franklin County
Columnist on disability issues for Adirondack Daily Enterprise
Former Chairman Adirondack Habitat Family Selection Committee
Former Vice-President Franklin County Town Clerk’s Association
Vermontville Community Church of the Nazarene Sunday School Superintendent and Board Secretary

2008 Expiration Date - Representing Organizations that Provide Services for Individuals with Disabilities

Rain Rippel

33 Saratoga Road

Apt. Z-10

Scotia, NY 12302

Schenectady Community College, 1984
Capital Leaders Project: Leadership Training 2003
Partner in Policy-Making Training 2000
Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, Schenectady, NY
President of Self-Advocacy Association of New York State
Presenter/Americorp Member

2008 Expiration Date - Representing Organizations that Provide Services for Individuals with Disabilities

Michael Smith

191 South Street

Ballston Spa, NY 12020

University at Albany, Master of Science, Social Welfare
University at Albany, Doctoral Candidate, Education Administration and Policy Studies Certificate of Advanced Studies
State University College at Oswego, NY, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Public Justice
Director of Pupil Services, Shenendehowa Central School District
Project Associate, Professional Development Programs
New York State Youth Council, Albany, NY 1986-1987

2008 Expiration Date - Representing Other Representatives for Centers for Independent Living

Douglas Usiak

3108 Main Street

Buffalo, NY 14214-1384

SUNY College at Buffalo, Bachelor of Arts, Industrial Arts
U.S. Army Security Agency, Honorable Discharge
Rehabilitation Cultural Diversity Initiative National Symposium, Washington, D.C.
Training provided by Department of Justice pertaining to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, PL 93-112
Executive Director, Western New York Independent Living Project, Inc.
Training on Americans with Disabilities Act Regulations pertaining to employment, public accommodations, public entities, and transportation. Training sponsored by the National Council on Independent Living with Department of Justice approved curriculum presented by Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc.

Attachment 2

New York State Independent Living Council, Inc.

(Term Expirations)

A director of a center for independent living chosen by the directors of centers for independent living within the State

2007 Christina Curry, Executive Director, Harlem Independent Living Center, 289 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10027

Other representatives for centers for independent living

2006 Melvin Tanzman, Executive Director, Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc., 984 North Broadway, Yonkers, NY 10701

2007 Christine Zachmeyer, Executive Director, Catskill Center for Independence, P.O. Box 1247, Oneonta, NY 13820

2008 Bruce Darling, Executive Director, Center for Disability Rights, 280 Lakeshore Drive, Hilton, NY 14468

2008 Michael Godino, Systems Advocate Coordinator, Self-Initiated Living Options, Inc. (SILO), 745 Waverly Avenue, Holtsville, NY 11742

2008 Douglas Usiak, Executive Director, Independent Living Center of Western New York, 3108 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214-1384

Parents and guardians of individuals with disabilities

2007 Paige Macdonald, Executive Director, Families Together in New York State, 68 Miller Road, Slingerlands, NY 12159

Advocates of and for individuals with disabilities

2006 Judith Avner, Executive Director, Brain Injury Association of New York State, 10 Colvin Avenue, Albany, NY 12206-1506

2006 Eugene R. Hughes, Resource Center for Independent Living (RCIL), 400 Lorraine Avenue, Utica, NY 13502

2006 Michael C. Zich, Cayuga Community College, 4037 Main Street, P.O. Box 92, Rose, NY 14542

2007 Sharon Shapiro-Lacks, Social Worker, 1740 Ocean Avenue, Apt. 8-P, Brooklyn, NY 11230

2007 Sherry Taub, Independent Peer Advocate, 111 Paumanack Village Drive, Greenlawn, NY 11740

2008 Mark Hernandez, HIV/AIDS Advocate, 127 Phillip Street, #4, Albany, NY 12202

2008 Lauren LeFebvre, Tri-Lakes Center for Independent Living, P.O. Box 280, Raybrook, NY 12977

Representatives from organizations that provide services for individuals with disabilities

2007 Edith M. Prentiss, President, Manhattan Borough Wide Interagency Council on Aging, 739 West 186^th Street (4E), New York, NY 10033-8527

2008 Dennis Boyd, Senior Staff Attorney, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, 151 West 30^th Street, 11^th Floor, New York, NY 10001

2008 Michael Kink, Esq., Legislative Counsel to Housing Works, 247 Lark Street, 1^st Floor, Albany, NY 12210

2008 Rain Rippel, President, Self-Advocacy Association of New York State, 33 Saratoga Road, Apt. Z-10, Scotia, NY 12302

2008 Michael Smith, Director of Student Services, Shenendehowa Central School District and President of New York State Association for Pupil Services Administrators, 191 South Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020

Other appropriate individuals

2006 Pratik Patel, CUNY Assistive Technology Services, 195-05B 67^th Avenue, Apartment B, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365

2007 Robert Gaffney, President, Partners Disability Coalition, 3 Rye Ridge Plaza, Suite 110, Rye Brook, NY 10573

2008 Randy Black Schantz, Mental Health Counselor, 8 Honeysuckle Lane, Catskill, NY 12414

2008 Alexander Wood, Director, Manhattan Disability Network of New York City, 25 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004

Representative of Section 121 Project

2007 Debbie (Sanford) Cooper, Program Manager, Seneca Nation of Indians Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation, 12885 Route 438, Irving, NY 14081