June 26, 2007

Dear Friends:

On behalf of the National Council on Disability (NCD), I would like to invite you to participate in NCD’s Chicago quarterly meeting. The meeting will take place at the Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro at 733 West Madison on Tuesday, July 24, 2007, from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.; Wednesday, July 25 from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.; and Thursday, July 26 from 9:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. These events are free of charge and open to the public. There will be time in the agenda each day for public comment and your input is appreciated. You can also provide us with your written comments by E-mail, fax, or mail. The meeting facility is fully accessible.  

NCD is an independent federal agency and is composed of 15 members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. We provide advice to the President, Congress, and executive branch agencies to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that-

(A) guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability; and

(B) empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.

To carry out our purposes, we believe it is vital that NCD hears from disability communities around the country on what works and what does not for people with disabilities. We are delighted to have the opportunity to visit Chicago and learn first hand about the experiences of people with disabilities from Illinois and the surrounding states. Please save the date and do not miss this opportunity to meet NCD board members and staff and offer your comments during the public comment sessions.

For more information, please contact NCD’s Director of Communications Mark S. Quigley at mquigley@ncd.gov or by telephone at 202-272-2004 (V), 202-272-2074 (TTY). And please visit our Web site at http://www.ncd.gov.

Sincerely,

John R. Vaughn

Chairperson