What is the Advisory Board for Persons who are Blind or Visually Impaired?

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The Advisory Board for Persons Who are Blind or Visually Impaired advises Aging and Disability Services in serving Connecticut's blind population.

This advisory board falls under Connecticut Regulations - Sec. 17a-810. (Formerly Sec. 10-293). Advisory Board for Persons Who are Blind or Visually Impaired; to act as an advisor to the Department of Aging and Disability Services.

 

Current Members

Eileen Akers, Chair
Astread Ferron-Poole, Ex-Officio for the Commissioner, Department of Social Services
Andrea Giudice
Katherine Guzman
Elizabeth Rival
Mary Silverberg
Stephen Thal
Vacancy
Vacancy
Vacancy - Governor's Appointment

 

Qualifications and Terms for Advisory Board Membership

Appointments: 
  • Governor: Six members, including:  
    • One parent of a child receiving Department of Aging and Disability Services 
    • At least two persons who are blind 
  • President Pro Tempore of the Senate: One member 
  • Speaker of the House of Representatives: One member 
  • Majority Leader of the Senate: One member 
  • Minority Leader of the Senate: One member 
  • Majority Leader of the House of Representatives: One member 
  • Minority Leader of the House of Representatives: One member

All members must be residents of the state. 

Ex-Officio Member: 
  • Commissioner of Social Services 
Term Lengths 
  • 4 year term 

 

Advisory Board Operations 

Chairperson: 
  • Designated by the Governor from among the Governor's appointees 
Meetings: 
  • Annual meeting in September 
  • Additional meetings as called by the chairperson or at the request of two or more members 
Attendance: 
  • Members missing three consecutive meetings or 50% of meetings in a calendar year are deemed to have resigned. 
Quorum: 
  • A majority of the members in office 
Vacancies: 
  • Filled by the appointing authority for the unexpired term 
  • Appointing authority may remove members for reasonable cause 

 

Meeting Minutes and Agendas

Browse all meeting minutes and agendas for the Advisory Board for Persons who are Blind or Visually Impaired.

Advisory Groups