The New York State Senate recently celebrated the 20th annual legislative Disability Awareness Day (LDAD) in Albany on June 7. LDAD is designed to gain a better understanding of the talents of people with disabilities.

This year, we were joined by members of the Outreach Program, a soccer team for kids with disabilities based in Vestal, New York. The team has received national attention on ESPN, the Today Show and in Sports Illustrated for Kids.

One out of every five Americans has some type of disability. In an effort to provide better access for the disabled this year, I obtained $735,000 in funding for electronic doorways to be fitted throughout Nassau Community College.

We've worked to make great strides in recent years to improve access and services for people with disabilities, but our work isn't done. The Senate passed a package of legislation to improve access and services for people with disabilities in our community:

* S.2196 would require providers of services to the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled to fingerprint prospective employees for criminal history checks.

* S.5152 would require the Board of Regents to make available to all elementary schools suitable education materials to teach other students to understand the abilities of children with disabilities.

* S.4913 would direct the State Commission of Quality of Care for the Disabled (CQC) to review programs by the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH). All other state agencies providing services for persons with disabilities are reviewed by CQC except for CBVH.

* S.2196 would direct that transportation for children with disabilities to special education services use a professional services contract, rather than using the lowest responsible bidder.

We've worked hard to pass legislation in the Senate to help persons with disabilities to lead productive lives in our community. These four bills will continue to build on that tradition.

Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. New York State Senator