The disabled will have a chance to speak out to state representatives about their conditions over the week of July 26.

Almost 20 years ago the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was signed on this very same day. In honor of the act’s anniversary forums have been held yearly since 2001. This year the forums will be held in Warwick as well as Providence, Cumberland, Barrington, Middletown and Wakefield. The Warwick forum will take place on July 28 at the Warwick Public Library in the Community Room from 3 to 5 p.m. The Commission on Disabilities is sponsoring the forums to create ideas to better the system in which the disabled have to live with.

Sen. William Walaska (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) received the John E. Fogarty Memorial Award for his services on behalf of those with disabilities in Rhode Island. He is trying to continue that line of work by convincing the disabled citizens of Warwick to attend these forums.

Walaska said, “Many different agencies are supporting and sponsoring this event; not just the RISPCA but also small town agencies that also aid those in need.”

These meetings are open to people of any age with life altering complications ranging from learning disabilities to birth defects to speak to others with similar problems or to address how services may need to be improved for a certain disability. The hope is that the meeting may bring about new ideas to improve conditions for those who are disabled. According to Walaska, “The length of the meeting depends on how many people choose to speak. Not one person will be left out if they wish to converse with the representatives.”

Everything said at the forums will be projected on a screen so that the hearing impaired can understand what is being talked about. Also interpreters for the deaf will be present at most forums. Interpreters of foreign languages can also be requested for those who have trouble reading English.

Each meeting will be presided over by state policy makers to help the state government better understand what needs to be done to lend a hand to the handicapped. For further information on these meetings, visit the Commission on Disabilities Web site at www.disabilities.ri.gov or by e-mail at disabilities@gcd.ri.gov.