Governor’s Commission on Disabilities (GCD) Virtual Annual Public Forum
Governor’s Commission on Disabilities (GCD)
Virtual Annual Public Forum
July 21, 2025
5:00-7:00 pm.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83841416396?pwd=gerAo8KJenPTSNV3MZQdvGppUeM74t.1 [us06web.zoom.us]
The Governor’s Commission on Disabilities (GCD) holds public forums each year around the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to hear the concerns of people with disabilities and their families. We want to hear your concerns about current services, and suggestions for improvement.
Zoom meeting information will be posted on the GCD’s website: www.gcd.ri.gov
Here are some examples of successful outcomes from past public forums:
- Establishing a Medicaid Managed Care option for adults with disabilities, which will assist families in navigating through the chronic health care systems.
- Providing a cost-of-living adjustment for (Medicaid) personal care attendants.
- Establishing a crisis intervention service for adults with severe impairments who have been abused or assaulted by a care giver.
- Establishing a Medicaid Buy-In Program for persons with disabilities who are eligible for Medicaid allowing them to return to work while retaining Medicaid coverage and extending that coverage so that there are no longer income limits to be eligible for the program.
- Requiring the installation of curb cuts and/or ramps at both ends of any pedestrian crosswalk.
- Allowing accessory family dwelling units in a single-family residence as a reasonable accommodation for family-members with disabilities in any residential area, eliminating the need for a zoning variance hearing, thereby encouraging more families to maintain relatives with severe impairments at home.
- Providing a community living option to all persons who have a disability and are sixty- five (65) years of age or younger to allow those individuals the choice to live in a less restrictive community-based environment or their own home.
- Banning pre-existing condition exclusions to health insurance coverage under an individual policy and group health plans.
If you prefer to submit written testimony instead of attending send to:
Governor’s Commission on Disabilities
2 Cherry Dale Court, Cranston, RI 02920