Friday, January 22, 2010, from 1-4 pm Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority 600 5th Street N.W. 1^st Floor Auditorium Washington, DC 20001

The D.C. Rehabilitation Services Administration will hold a public hearing on January 22, 2010 to solicit input on the revision of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, Title VII 2008 to 2010 State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL).   The purpose of  the hearing is to solicit suggestions on how the District of Columbia Center for Independent Living, Incorporated (DCCIL) can best expand and improve their provision of services to consumers with significant disabilities in accordance with the American Recovery and Reinvention Act of 2009 (ARRA). The correct utilization of this stimulus funding is essential to District of Columbia residents with disabilities.  We are especially interested in hearing comments on how the employer community can assist persons with disabilities in attaining meaningful employment, how to strengthen our services to underserved populations and how to improve our services in the area of independent living," said Judith E. Heumann, Director of the Department on Disability Services.

Persons wishing to Review DDS’ SPIL may access it online by visiting the agency’s website at www.dds.dc.gov by clicking on the Office of Quality Assurance and Federal Compliance.  An audio tape recording of the SPIL is available at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library.

Individuals who wish to testify and/or present recommendations should contact the RSA Office of Quality Assurance and Federal Compliance at (202) 442-8670 (Voice and TDD) before 4:45 p.m. on January 15, 2010.  Please provide name(s), address (es), telephone number(s), organizational affiliation(s) and accommodation need (s), if any.  Two (2) copies of the presentation should be submitted at the time of the hearing.  Recommendations are sought from consumers, service providers, advocacy organizations and other interested individuals on how to improve independent living services. All speakers will be limited to ten (10) minutes.

Individuals who wish to submit their comments as part of the official record should send copies of written statements no later than 4:45 p.m. on January 15^th, 2010:

Marlene Jones-Kinney, Acting Chief

Office of Quality Assurance and Federal Compliance

Department on Disability Services

Rehabilitation Services Administration

1125 15th Street, N.W.

9^th Floor

Washington, D.C.  20005

An American Sign Language interpreter and CART service will be provided during the public hearing.