The Council on People with Disabilities

The Council on People with Disabilities (COPD) is a nine-member advisory board made up of people representing a broad cross-section of disabilities and is designed to advise Monroe County and the City of Rochester on issues facing people with disabilities.

Appointments to the council are based on the contributions that volunteer members can make in implementing the mission, goals and objectives of the council. Consideration is given to include broad areas of representation from various disabilities, ethnic, racial, sex, age and socioeconomic groups. Consideration is also given to place of residence to ensure a broad geographic representation.

COPD Advisory Board

Sarah J. Gilmour, Chair
Matthew J. Starr, Vice Chair
Ann K. Parsonsm, Secretary
Lisa Helen Hoffman
Meredith Low
Peg Pepe-O'Brien
Jeanne C. Ricigliano
Kathleen Tanchick

Ex-Officio County

Rebecca Van Horn
Deborah Greenfield

Ex-Officio City

Christine Martinelli
Alinda Drury

Mission:

To be an advisory council to the Monroe County Executive and the Mayor of the City of Rochester. In this capacity, the council is to act as a catalyst to unite and coordinate efforts in the County of Monroe and the City of Rochester to achieve a better understanding and fulfillment of the needs of persons with disabilities regardless of their disability.

Purpose:

To provide advice on the removal of physical and other barriers to people with disabilities in County and City Government employment practices, and in delivery of City and County Government programs, services and activities. These advisory efforts by the council are meant to help effectuate subtitle A of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public entities.

The council recognizes the dedicated efforts of consumers, individuals, families, professionals and public officials that have resulted in the impressive array of services and programs already available to persons with disabilities residing in Monroe County. There are still problems to overcome, needs to be addressed and solutions to implement. The council will work with the County and City to make our community's quality of life outstanding for each and every person.

Current Happenings

Partnership with RGRTA

The council has partnered with the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) to provide insight and perspective during the discovery phase of plans to build a bus terminal on Mortimer Street in Downtown Rochester to ensure the terminal meets the needs of all customers. The council has met twice with RGRTA and will continue to to meet as the project progresses. The council previously lent similar perspective to the Frontier Field Project to help ensure full accessibility.

Democracy Rides 2010

County Executive Maggie Brooks and Mayor Robert J. Duffy announced that "Democracy Rides" will be offered for the second consecutive year in 2010. The program is a volunteer effort to provide free rides to the polls for people with disabilities. Those who wish to participate need to register by 4:30 PM on Monday, November 1, 2010 to schedule a ride. For more information, please click on the link for the press release below.

Democracy Rides 2010 Press Release

County Executive and Legislature President Present Proclamation

On July 12, 2011 County Executive Maggie Brooks and President of the Monroe CountyLegislature Jeff Adair presented a proclamation to the Council on People with Disabilities in celebration of the 21st anniversary of the signing of the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Useful Information

TTY/Relay Services:

New York State Relay: Dial 711
TTY Phone numbers: (800) 421-1220 OR (800) 662-1220
Then call: (585) 753-6000 option #1 to get your worker's phone number or option #8 for customer service. You may also dial (585) 753-6298, option #3 if you cannot get the information you are looking for via the first two numbers.

US Department of Justice Americans with Disabilities Home Page

Revised Title II and Title III ADA Regulations and Fact Sheets