Vision Services Task Force to hold first meeting

on Thursday, September 16

STATE HOUSE – The House and Senate Vision Services Task Force, which is charged with providing recommendations for the long-term viability of the vision services program currently housed at the Sherlock Center on Disabilities, will meet on Thursday, September 16, at 3:00 pm in Room 101 of the State House.

The Task Force was appointed by Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) and Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, Providence, North Providence) to develop a long-term strategy and plan for the state’s services for blind and visually impaired students. The Rhode Island Vision Education Services Program (RIVESP) is housed at the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities at Rhode Island College. RIVESP specialists work with blind and visually impaired students in more than 26 school districts across the state.

The meeting will feature a presentation by Edwin Pacheco, Interim Executive Director, External Affairs and Communications at Rhode Island College, and Amy Grattan, Executive Director of the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities.

The members of the House and Senate Vision Services Task Force are Representatives Julie Casimiro (D-Dist. 31, North Kingstown, Exeter), Raymond Hull (D-Dist. 6, Providence), Thomas Noret (D-Dist. 25, West Warwick) and William O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence); and Senators Sandra Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket), Frank A. Ciccone, III (D-Dist. 7, Providence, North Providence), Valarie J. Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence) and Frank Lombardo, III (D-Dist. 25, Johnston).

The meeting will be televised on Capitol Television, which can be seen on Cox Channels 15, and 61, in high definition on Cox Channel 1061, on Full Channel on Channel 15 and on Channel 34 by Verizon subscribers. It will also be live streamed at http://rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/default.aspx