Dearborn Commission on Disability Concerns

Ford Performing Arts Center, Studio A
Strategic Planning - Public Meeting
April 16, 2004 1- 3PM

Commissioner and Staff Present:
Cathy McAdam
Dale Swanson
Kim Hetrick
Gary Filiak
Cheryl Kreger
Jane Thomas
Claudia Damian
Mona Ramouni
Sonya Tisher
Nancy Bowers
Mary Hodak, excused
Susan Fitzmaurice, ADA Coordinator

Call to order: 1:08 PM
Roll Call.
Minutes: Approved with changes. 
Commissioner McAdam, Hetrick, and Damian made corrections to the minutes. McAdam added a sentence to the motion relative to committee members being nonresidents, Hetrick changed the word disability to difference, and Damian added a few words to two sentences. 
MOTION. Kim approved changes, Nancy seconded, unanimous approval.

ADA Coordinator Report ( Read on your own attached)

DAD
*Commission Swanson discussed bringing in the Famous People Players for 2 performances and a workshop. Susan will bring her video of the FPP to the next meeting for us to watch. See attached handout.
*Discussion of award number reduced. It was agreed to eliminate the individual achievement award.
MOTION: I motion that we eliminate the individual achievement of the year award. Commission Swanson, Seconded Commissioner Damian, unanimous approval.

Strategic Planning
Consider changing committee names to: Communication and Awards, Public Awareness and Education, and Access
Worked on global mission statement for 3 existing committees.

NOTES FROM PROCESS
Access
We will assist the City of Dearborn in the identification, prioritization, and removal of physical and communication barriers to city programs and services.

Public Awareness and Education
We will be an advocate and resource for education, public awareness and training regarding disability concerns in the City of Dearborn.

Public Relations and Awards
(Possible suggestion to rename as Communication and awards)
We will promote the awareness of and increase community involvement in disability issues and promote the work of the DCDC.

Break

By-Laws
*Nonresident committee members are allowed as the city ordinance does not address this. Committee chairs must be commissioners and thus must be residents. Cheryl Kreger will chair the Education Committee, and Sonya Tishler will chair the Visitability Committee.

*We have been advised that officer elections must be held yearly. If we wanted to change that - it would require an ordinance change. Ordinance changes must have the approval of legal, but bylaw changes do not. There was a discussion as to when the next election should be held and if we needed a vice-chair election more quickly.
MOTION: I motion we change the bylaws to elect commission officers on an annual basis. Commission Swanson, seconded Commission Kreger, unanimous approval.  
MOTION: I motion that July be the month we will hold elections. We will hold off the election of the vice-chair until July, 2004. Commission Swanson, seconded by Commission Hetrick, unanimous approval.

Limitability Awards
The Liveability Awards were discussed. There is still two weeks before the questions provided must be answered. The commission has provided their ideas and our ADA coordinator and Mary Laundroche of Public Information will continue to work on it.

TTY. There is some confusion as to why they work sometimes and other times they do not. There will be additional discussion of this issue after the meeting between Commissioners Damian, McAdam, and our ADA Coordinator.

Adjournment: 3:35 PM
Next Meeting: May 20th 2-6 PM Dome Room

ADA Coordinator Report - April
We are still awaiting approval by purchasing to finance the Library projects. The City Hall project is complete. The sign near the noncompliant ramp has been moved to its rightful spot. Door hardware and automatic doors have been looked into, but nothing further can be done until the glut at purchasing ends. (There will need to be a bidding process for the automatic door purchase and installation. There needs to be a total city walk thru to determine number of door hardware needed and logically will be purchased with the new doors.)  

Senior recreation is still awaiting approval for the two accessible vans to be purchased that will be used for both local and longer distance recreation/trip (per conversation with Peg Watson) I discussed having focus groups with seniors with Peg / one group vs each blg - she will get back to me after discussing it with staff.

I made calls to 10 department TTYs on 4/1/2004 and reached a person each time.

There has been follow-thru on complaints regarding Michigan Avenue, a few local business establishments, and a city housing unit. We have received a few calls for information from people out of Dearborn who do not have ADA Coordinators to consult. The city of Canton requested information regarding their need for ADA compliance.
 
Discussion between Mary Laundroche/ Public Information and I have begun regarding Alternative Format. The city printing contract is up for a 5 year renewal and Alternative format will be included in the bid requests.

Discussion has continued between Commission Gary Filiak and I regarding the parks. We have gotten word that Park has a large amount of money to replace drinking fountains - and it can likely also be used to create an accessible path to get to the fountains. The fountains will be ADA compliant. Gary showed me the final plans for playgrounds with the grant received - and I gave his opinion regarding the accessibility.

There will be a focus group for people with disabilities - here in Club Room 2 on May 5th 1-3 PM sponsored by the Blue Water/ Wayne CIL.


The Dearborn Commission on Disability Concerns Strategic Planning Definitions

Strategy: 
Organized effort around an idea to accomplish a purpose
(i.e., ACCESS, education and employment, public relations and awards)
Each strategy should be followed by a statement that captures the "spirit of the work" (i.e., we will assure that disabled individuals will be able to safely participate in city events and programs).

Result:
A beneficial or tangible effect of work or effort
This may be a form of each charter.
The charter statements may be too broad and may need to be    broken down further.

Action Steps:
A series of recommendations that, if taken, will accomplish the desired result.
The major task or result is broken down into mini-parts.