About the Presenter

Clyde Terry JD
Executive Director
Granite State Independent Living

As Director, Mr. Terry is responsible for the entire organization’s advocacy, grant and service activities to assure independence living and self sufficiency for persons with disabilities in New Hampshire. Prior to this position, Mr. Terry was the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Developmental Disabilities Council. He directed the agency’s five year state plan. In this role he authored state and federal legislation on issues impacting the lives of persons with disabilities. Some of these include: HMO reform, Medicaid reform, employment assistance, civil rights enforcement and other issues. Mr. Terry also spearheaded a national coalition of disability organizations on election reform and election accessibility for persons with disabilities. He is the co-author of the 2001 publication Voters Denied Equal Access at the Polls; A Status Report of the Accessibility of Polling Places in the United States.

From 1994 to 2001, Mr. Terry was the Director of Policy and Planning for the New Hampshire Developmental Disabilities Council where he was the principal architect of the Council’s State Plans to Empower Choice and Opportunity for Persons with Developmental Disabilities in New Hampshire Communities.

In 1982 to 1994, Mr. Terry was an Administrative Hearings Officer responsible for protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities in the states service systems.

He received his law degree from the Franklin Pierce Law Center in 1985. Following graduation from law school he was a legal assistant and lobbyist for an alternative energy development company.

In the early 1980’s, Mr. Terry was responsible for the creation and implementation of the Low Income Energy Assistance Program in New Hampshire. He has been a long time advocate for the interest of low-income individuals, consumers, and seniors since 1974.

Contact Information:

Clyde Terry
Granite State Independent Living http://www.gsil.org
21 Chenell Drive
Concord, NH 03302
(603) 228-9680
TTY: (888) 396-3459
FAX: (603) 225-3304
EMAIL: clyde.terry@gsil.org