Colorado SILC

"A Leading Authority on Independent Living in Colorado"

For Immediate Release: December 29, 2008                 

 

Mark Cloer named as new Coordinator for

State Council on Independent Living

 

State Contact:

Patricia Yeager, SILC Coordinator                         970-396-5808

Judy Neal, DVR IL Coordinator                          303-866-4645

 

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The Colorado Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) is pleased to announce that it has completed a two year restructuring process and chosen a new SILC Coordinator, Mark Cloer. Mr. Cloer will start in the leadership position January 1. He previously provided consulting services for several clients including UCB, a company based in Europe, among others. For 6 years he served as a State Legislator representing Colorado Springs area. His public policy experience will compliment the SILC’s goals of creating awareness of disability issues in Colorado and providing information to consumers, policy makers and the press on potential solutions to those issues. Cloer ’s personal experience with disability through a close family member has raised his own awareness of barriers in everyday life for persons with disabilities. Cloer said, “ It is a true pleasure to be able to work with individuals who desire to change their world by making it a better place for us all. The Colorado SILC is providing much needed leadership in areas that may otherwise be overlooked or forgotten.”

The SILC is a body that is appointed by the Governor to orchestrate the vision of Independent Living services for all Coloradoans with disabilities. Currently there are 10 Centers for Independent Living (CILs) around the state. This Council works with the CIL directors and the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to develop and write a three year plan of goals for increasing access and independence for people with disabilities. This plan gets submitted to the Rehabilitation Services Administration (federal government) and it states how funds will be distributed and services will be provided through CILs in Colorado.

As a part of its restructuring, new members better reflecting the geographic regions of the state have been recruited, a new mission and logo has been created as well as the SILC website at www.coloradosilc.org. The SILC’s first issue brief is about to be released. It focuses on Emergency Preparedness gaps for persons with disabilities in Colorado. Facilitation for restructuring the SILC was provided by Patricia Yeager, disability organizational consultant with support from the Division of Rehabilitation’s Judy Neal, IL Coordinator. The next meeting of the SILC will be March 18, 2009 in Pueblo. For more information check the SILC website.

 

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info@coloradosilc.org