Hearing impaired attorney named head of FCC Disability Rights Office

From The Hill:

The Federal Communications Commission announced Nov. 16 that Gregory Hlibok has been promoted to head of the Disability Rights Office.

Hlibock is currently an attorney in the office's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau. He is hearing impaired and will be the first head of the office with a disability.

“Greg will be heading up the Disability Rights Office at a crucial time, as the FCC ramps up to implement the most significant disability law in two decades,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. “Greg possesses extensive knowledge in the field of telecommunications access for people with disabilities as well as the leadership qualities necessary to lead the office."

Hlibok has neen a national leader on issues concerning the deaf and hearing impaired since his role in the 1988 Deaf President Now protests at Gallaudet University, where he was student body president. The movement led to the hiring of the first deaf president at Gallaudet, the only university in the world that primarily serves deaf and hard of hearing students.

In his new position Hlibok will work to implement the provisions of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, which expands access to the latest communications, video and Web technologies for the visually and hearing impaired. He will also be responsible for a variety of telecom issues related to people with disabilities.

Hlibok attended Lexington School for the Deaf, Gallaudet University and Hofstra Law School. He lives with his wife and four children in Ellicott City, Md.