From the Consumer Advisory Council

Since 1992, the IOD's Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) has been meeting to support the vision, mission, and values of the IOD by providing information and guidance on issues affecting New Hampshire residents with disabilities and their families. Our 18 members represent a variety of consumers: parents, self-advocates, and spokespersons from the Parent Information Center, the Disability Rights Center, and the Developmental Disability Council, among others. As part of quarterly meetings, we provide essential feedback on proposals and initiatives, consult on the IOD's plans and direction for the future, and bring other pertinent issues to the attention of the director.

The past year has afforded us many privileges. The Council formalized its purpose by electing officers, writing by-laws, and setting term limits. Several of the IOD's major projects gave insightful presentations to the CAC, including the NH Microboards project, the Resource Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Beyond Access. We also reviewed the summary of the IOD's five-year plan, pledging to hold the IOD accountable for achieving the goals it set forth. On behalf of the IOD, Council member Stacy Brookes attended the Association of University Centers on Disabilities conference in Washington, D.C., where she was able to attend workshops as well as meet with CAC members from around the country to discuss how they interact with their universities and consumers, attract new council members, and develop issues of interest to their consumers.