About the IAC
The Interagency Coordinating Council (IAC) will be comprised of 15 members who will represent state agencies and community members and will advocate on behalf of persons who are Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing.
The objectives that the IAC will be considering include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Meeting with advocacy networks and stakeholders within the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing community to determine their issues and priorities;
- Establishing the Interagency Coordinating Council as the primary vehicle to recommend systematic changes throughout New York State for the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing communities, giving these individuals the voice in state government that they deserve;
- Pursuing the creation of a Sign Language Interpreter Council for the purposes of screening and approving interpreters for licensure, and to adjudicate any issues that may come before the council;
- Seeking to establish a statewide Co-Navigator program designed to provide environmental information, human guide and communication facilitation for the benefit of all New York DeafBlind residents;
- Evaluating how 4201 schools (which serve New York’s blind, deaf and severely physically disabled) are funded, and making recommendations on the best allocation of funds for children with additional disabilities, including those having complex medical needs, within the 4201 school system.
- Exploring how to make hearing aids and cochlear implants — and therapies and trainings associated with these support products – more widely available for individuals in need statewide.
IAC Members
The IAC has 15 members in total.
Seven State agencies and their designees are as follows:
- Shirley Madewell, Disability and Health Program Manager, Department of Health
- Melissa Quesada, Chief Diversity Officer, Department of Labor
- John Cochran, Chief of Staff, New York State Office of Aging
- Christopher Suriano, Associate Commissioner of the Office of Special Education, State Education Department
- Julie Hovey, Associate Commissioner of New York State Commission of the Blind, Office of Children and Family Services
- Melinda Dolezal, TRAID Director, Justice Center
- Rory Christian, Chair and CEO, Public Service Commission
Eight community members who will be appointed by the Governor and Legislature are still in progress and will be announced at a later date.
IAC Staff
Christopher Woodfill, Executive Director, New York State Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Office
Chris (he, his, him) was appointed on January 2, 2024 by Governor Kathy Hochul to the role of Executive Director of the New York State Interagency Coordinating Council on Services to Persons who are Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing (IAC). The office has since been renamed the New York State Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Office (The Office). The IAC is under the Office. Prior to working at the Office, Chris was the Associate Executive Director at Helen Keller National Center. Prior to that role, Chris was the Helen Keller National Center regional representative for New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and United States Virgin Islands. Prior to his 12 year career at HKNC, he worked at Wisconsin School for the Deaf for 13 years as a high school teacher.
Chris has been active in both Deaf and DeafBlind communities at local, state, national and international levels for about three decades. Currently, he is an executive board member of the World Federation of the DeafBlind and a board member of DeafBlind Citizens in Action. In the past, he served as officers or board members of organizations such as Southern Lakes Association of the Deaf, Wisconsin School for the Deaf Alumni Association, Wisconsin School for the Deaf Foundation, Wisconsin Association of the Deaf, Wisconsin DeafBlind Technical Assistance Program, American Association of the DeafBlind and World Federation of the DeafBlind. He has been involved at committee levels with several organizations such as National Association of the Deaf and DeafBlind International among others.
One of his proudest achievements was his leading role as the vice president of the Wisconsin Association of the Deaf in passing the Wisconsin Sign Language Interpreter Licensure bill in 2010. This bill established the Sign Language Interpreter Council (of which he served on for two years prior to his move to New York). It also established a mechanism for licensing all sign language interpreters working for compensation in the state of Wisconsin.
Chris is a believer in servant leadership. He leads to serve the New York State Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing communities.
Chris identifies as a DeafBlind person now. Growing up, he identified as a Deaf person. After a diagnosis of Usher Syndrome at age 18, he underwent a 15-20 year journey transitioning his identity from a Deaf person to a DeafBlind person.
Rachel Cahill, In-House American Sign Language Interpreter
Rachel (she/her) serves as the Staff Interpreter to the Executive Director of the NYS Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Office, Christopher Woodfill, and as the administrative assistant. Rachel is an advocate for communication access.
Rachel is Nationally Certified and has been a freelance interpreter since 2001, most recently working with Deaf professionals and in other environments such as Higher Education, Medical and Government. Rachel has been trained as a Legal Interpreter working in the NYS Courts and working with the DeafBlind community. Rachel has been an Interpreter in New York, Massachusetts and Vermont.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in public communications from the University at Albany. A Capital District native, she lives in Sand Lake with her husband, Scott and her two children, Jack and Josie.
Members of the National Association for State Agencies of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Shortly after the formation of the New York State Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Office, the office joined the national organization to advocate on behalf of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing individuals to represent the issues Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing individuals face.
IAC Meetings
To be announced.
Reasonable Accommodation Request
To request a reasonable accommodation for attending or viewing an IAC meeting, please email mailto:[email protected].