Dearborn Commission on Disability Concerns

Ford Performing Arts Center,
6:00-9:00 PM - January 19, 2006
Minutes

Commissioners all in attendance!
Committee Members: Ndieh Aun
City Staff: Ted Shasleos
Guests: Gerald Raidl
Naji El Samman

1. Call to Order: 6:10PM
2. Roll Call
3. Additions/changes to agenda: none
Approval of November Minutes: Motion by Bill Tennant, seconded by Cyndi Parrelly, unanimous approval.

4. Recreation access update: The commission had received a complaint re access to the changing rooms at the PAC. Ted Shasleos from Recreation stated that all three changing rooms should be open at the same times and it was an error that one was not during the morning in question. It was also noted that all three changing rooms are accessible – men, women & family. A letter will be written by the commission chair to follow-up. Thanks to Commissioner Swanson for follow-up.

5. Committee Reports:

Education Committee Meeting, December 4, 2006

In Attendance: Cheryl Kreger, Nancy Bower, Bill Tennant, Mary Hodak, Ndieh Aun, Nancy Lehnert

I. The Edsel Ford High School access situation:
Progress was reviewed and more suggestions for the future were elicited. Background: A citizen who was taking an adult education class had complained that there was not access for her wheel chair allowing her to get into Edsel Ford High School. As a result, an investigation followed and a potential solution was determined.

Solution: A number was posted in the new Adult and Community Education flyer. Answering that number is a person who volunteered to personally advise the caller as to the closest route and parking space in reference to the class being taken. The personalization is a plus.

Further suggestions: The committee approved the response and suggests that the number be placed on the registration form as well in the future. The committee also suggested that if someone calls for general information or to phone register, they be asked if they need information re: accommodations. Cheryl Kreger will follow up on these suggestions and report back to the committee.

There was further discussion of this at the commission meeting where Commissioner Kreger commented that the new community ed brochures had disability related information. There was more discussion about the small parking lot at the front of the Edsel Ford for staff after Commissioner Filiak mentioned it had no accessible parking. ADA Coordinator Fitzmaurice reiterated that all parking lots must have disability designated parking. Commissioner Kreger said this was staff only parking, but that she would look into this further. ADA Coordinator also discussed the requirement that non-accessible entrances are by law to be signed where the closest accessible entrance is.

II. Strategic Plan Action Item revision:
The committee reviewed the strategic plan and actions items and will continue at the next meeting.

a. The Town Hall Meeting was discussed at great length. The committee reviewed the history and purpose of the meeting was reviewed. There was committee support for dropping it from the DDAD agenda because of the lack of attendance by Dearborn residents. The committee suggests two alternatives which can be discussed by the Commission. The first suggestion is to use a Town Hall Meeting as a forum for “hot items” that we want participation or feedback. The meeting would be timely and have a focus. The second suggestion was to hold it separately from DDAD as the traditional open forum and see if there is participation and interest among the Dearborn citizens. The situation would be again reviewed and assessed. The committee posed the question as to whether this forum was needed since the Commission has become better known and is contacted directly for issues as they occur.

b. The committee renewed commitment and was reminded of committee goals.

The next meeting of the committee will be on February 1, 2006 (Wednesday) at 7:30 PM

There was a consensus not to have the Town Meeting at the same time as DAD. No one had any specific suggestions how to change Town Hall to be more productive, but it wil be a first priority for further discussion and remains an option if a specific issue should arise.

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Communications and Awards Committee

Meeting
December 8, 2005
6:30 PM

Members Present: Dale, Mona, Cyndi, and Sandy
Members Absent: Sobie

I.Pathways to Possibilities 2006
Discussion ensued regarding Pathways to Possibilities 2005. Some suggestions for future events:
Advertise to residents of Dearborn - perhaps include a flyer in their water bill or hire a group to distribute flyers to homes.
Look at developing more sponsorships for give-a-ways, food, etc.
Look at scheduling the Town Hall Meeting at another time during the year.
Include mention of the PTP 2006 on the City calendar.
Consider changing the time of the PTP 06 - perhaps extend it later in the day into the early evening.
Make arrangements for more seniors and school age children to attend.
Include more crafts - expand the craft area.
Advertise to state agencies through Sandy’s efforts.
Have more food and prizes for all.
Discuss key note speaker possibilities.

Further discussion will take place at either the January or March 06 full commission meeting.

Commissioner Kreger discussed the positive feelings she had about the events effect on the community. Commissioner Hodak thought that our keynote speaker was not that well known and we needed someone more familiar. ADA Coordinator said that previous vendors are already in contact wanting to return. Commissioner Tennant said we needed someone who would compel people to stay after the vendor fair was over if we kept the same schedule. Commissioner Kreger suggested Erik Weihenmayer the mountain climber who is blind, but he is already scheduled in this area in May. ADA Coordinator suggested paralympian Randy Snow. It was decided that suggestions for a keynote speaker should go to Dale Swanson for report back in March as it may become time imperative to contact them.

MOTION: We have a vendor fair and a keynote speaker for 2006 Disability Awareness Day. Made by Commissioner Swanson, seconded by Commissioner Ramouni, unanimous.

II. Awards
Dale asked for volunteers to review award categories, wording, etc.
Sandy and Mona volunteered. They will bring their ideas and thoughts to the next full commission meeting.

• Some suggestions at this point:
Need to get all communities, specifically the Arab community, more involved.
Need to communicate better with residents to solicit nominations.
Perhaps Commissions should select recipients of the awards.

III. Strategic Plan
A discussion took place regarding the 2006-07 Strategic Plan. Dale asked the committee to review the 2005-06 plan and to bring suggestions forward. Some suggestions were made. Dale will incorporate those suggestions into the 2006-07 draft for further review.

Dale indicated that the website is under construction and will eventually be maintained by our service provider. Dale and Cathy are spearheading this project.
(Communication) Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Cynthia Parrelly, Commissioner/Recorder

Visitability Committee

January 8th Commissioner Filiak and ADA Coordinator attended a meeting on Visitability at the state capitol. There will be a Affordable Housing Conference in June.

RESOLUTION: Send a copy of bill to all commissioners. Comments should be sent to the Executive committee who will draft comments for a letter of endorsement.

Commission Filiak, McAdam, and ADA Coordinator had a meeting where the strategic plan was discussed and no needed changes were identified. It was decided that we needed to renew efforts to get the city involved in its own visitability incentives.

Access Committee

Knox Boxes were discussed extensively. The fire department wants to distribute the 15 they have left, but have no funds to purchase any more. They want the Commission to establish a criteria as to who should receive ones purchased by the Commission. It was decided that Knox boxes purchased with transition funds would have to be designated for people with disabilities. There is a problem in knowing whether Knox Boxes already distributed are still in use. A deposit was discussed that would encourage people to return them when no longer in use. *The chair asked the ADA coordinator to develop a criteria to distribute Knox boxes and then we will use $1,000 in transition funds to purchase as many as possible.

There is going to be a Dearborn CERT board ( DH already has one) and 150 people will be trained to be CERT responders. Commissioner Tishler brought extra brochures left over from the presentation. Commissioner Tishler volunteered to represent the Commission, and Gary volunteer to be trained when the time came.

6. Update strategic plan:
No major changes in content, only in action steps. Please forward copies of any further changes to Commissioner Kreger so they can remain compiled together.

7. Overview Mental Health issues: Commissioner Tennant.
There was a discussion regarding a Flynn Foundation One Year Report Card on Mental Health in Michigan. The report demonstrates very little progress towards achieving 7 identified goals. Also, people who had no problems before are now having major problems do to Meidcare Part D. Michigan has not discussed supplementing Medicare Part D until issues are resolved as other states have done. It was suggested that a letter be written (by Commissioner Tennant) to the governor, copied to Bev Hammerstein and Shirley Johnson expressing our disappointment with the program.

8. Focus group report Arabic American’s and disability concerns:
Commissioner Ramouni. Language and culture remain the largest problems in reaching the Arabic community and the group is exploring ideas how to surmount these concerns. The Dearborn Heights Commission has expressed an interest in joining with the group. The next scheduled date for the group will be distributed to parents at the schools by Commissioner Kreger. There is a senior Arabic's women's group – ask Peg Watson how they got started. Ask local hospital and ACCESS to participate.

9. Public Comment
Ndieh Aun thinks it is a great idea to have an Arabic focus group and will participate if not on a Friday afternoon. She thinks the groups will expand by word of mouth. Next meeting: Feb 2, 5 PM.

10. BREAK

11. Executive Update: Susan Fitzmaurice
ADA Report - January 2006

Michigan Avenue Project
The project continues as planned.  There was a brief meeting where a solution to uneven sidewalk slope was discussed. It was agreed that the sidewalk itself would be ADA compliant. Inbetween the sidewalk and the extreme slope section adjacent the street will be a 2 and one half foot wide grass area. This area will have ballards placed periodically in the grass to indicate that this is not an area to be crossed when in it covered with snow.

Jacobsen's Project
There was a meeting where sidewalk slope and imprinted cement pavers were discussed. The sidewalk slope was mediated in the same way as the noncompliant Michigan Avenue sections. The width of  the sidewalk will be increased to 5 feet to comply with proposed regulation changes by the Access Board. There will be cement pavers used in the areas in front of doors and in other pedestrian areas. The pavers were discussed and it was decided they were ADA compliant as they are slip-resistant, stable, and firm.

Block Grants
5 block grants were submitted on December 19th. January 25th there will be a hearing where people can discuss what they think about each of the grant proposals.  I doubt there will be much difficulty getting the small Park grant or the pedestrian signals grants approved. I do think support for the library grant, the Senior park, and the training room may be warranted.

Alternative Format
Cathy and I have been pursuing the equipment needed to do Braille transcription. We have finalized our decisions and I have sent onto to purchasing what we want to buy and am awaiting their approval to go forward with the purchase. (Ordinarily you send out for 3 bids and we are seeking a waiver to that  and that takes a bit more time than usual approval.) At the moment they are busy with year end budgeting.

Training Room
Kurt has gone forth with getting the room ready for us.  It is now carpeted, has a new ceiling, cupboards and a few tables. He asked me to retrieve the sound equipment we use to be kept there. He expects that we will be able to meet there in March. This is where we will be able to meet for TTY trainings, inservice, social meetings, committee meetings, etc. if we are out the door by 5PM or I am a part of them if they last later. (Because of keys and gate password.)

Chamber of Commerce
We have renewed our membership. We still have not decided what we want to include in the information packet. Commissioner Swanson and his committee will address this at their next meeting.

Website
I am planning on pulling down the website for about a week in a few days. It is in CSS and has slowly disintegrated in format. I now know a lot more about website design than I did when it was originally done and can now do it in an non-CSS forma more easily. This will be delayed as Commissioner Swanson has said that MIS is going to take over the website soon.

Promotional Materials
We are almost out of t-shirts, lanyards, magnets, and BROCHURES.  We won't need any promotional materials for some time, but  we may want to think about what we will want.  Brochures are going to need to be reordered now that we have a new City Council anyway. So how many this time????

It was decided that one thousand would be purchased once Commissioner Swanson updated the current brochure and funds were verified .

12. Chair report: McAdam
1.Discussion of meeting dates: March 16 3-5, May 18 6-9, July 20 3-5 (possibly at ACCESS), September 21 6-9 PM, November 18 3-5 PM. It was decided to keep the schedule as is.

2.A discussion of possible activities in April for commissioners only. It was decided to learn about some legislation with a local impact. Commissioner Tennant will look into bringing someone in but may be a better fit for DDAD. No decision was made re an April training.

3.SPOT LIGHT! At each commission meeting a commissioner will be asked to make a presentation so we can get to know them better. This can be something personal that has nothing to do with disability or be something disability related. Cyndi Parrelly wil do next months.

4. Bids are out for new accessible machines. The advisory groups reviews will probably be in March. (MPAS will keep us informed if any are open to the public.) All current machines are scanners and one must addtionally be accessible at each polling site.n

13. Vice Chair Report: Kreger
Nothing to add

14. Commissioner reports

Commission Filiak – Gary thanked everyone for their support after his Dad's death.

Commissioner Hodak – Mentioned education meeting would take place February 1st. Discussed her wonderful trip to Australia.
Commissioner McAdam – noted that the disability Expo was scheduled August 18-20 and we would have to decide if and how we wanted to participate. It was a good opportunity to meet people, even though it is in a location not accessible via paratransit.

15 Adjournment: 8:45PM