CITY OF DEARBORN
The Dearborn Commission on Disability Concerns
Ford Performing Arts Center,
15801 Michigan Ave, Wetrooms
May 18, 2006 - 6:00-9:00 PM

All Commissioners Present
Committee members: Ndieh Aun, Marsha Luetjen
Guest: Marsha Koet, Senior Service (Phone: 313-943-2401)

1. Call to Order: 6:00PM
2. Roll Call
3. No Additions/changes to agenda
4. Approval of March Minutes
5. Senior Services update: Marsha Koet
Marsha introduced herself and discussed her new position with senior serrvices and her hopes for its future.

6. Executive Update: Susan Fitzmaurice
ADA Report April 2006
MICHIGAN AVENUE PROJECT
ADA corrections will take place this summer. 2 audible pedestrians signals have been ordered. 6 additional (ones on Warren) have been chosen and will be ordered July 1. (First day of new fiscal year.)

LIBRARY
Snow doors are on order, but have not yet been received. Same with Blue pad at Esper same company. HFCL door has been repaired with parts.

TTY
I sent notes to the designated department TTY person asking them for their preference between a refresher TTY class or a 1:1 refresher. So far I have gotten requests for 1 1:1 refreshers. 1:1 (treasury) has been done, the other for the libraries will take place when they have their staff training this summer.
- Chair McAdam asked the ADA coordinator to do a specific follow up with each department and than asked Commissioner McFarlin to retest TTYs once department training/ follow up has been complete.

COURTS
CTV has current video in hand and working on captioning.

KNOX BOXES
DPW Director Giberson believes transition funds should pay for Knox Boxes as long as they remain city property. Finance department makes the decision and they have been asked whether they would approve transition funds being used to pay for them.

SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS PAYMENT
Transitions funds will not pay for sign language interpreters. Payment will come out of the DPW budget.

WEBSITE
Several choices have been distributed as to a choice for a website style. The blue on white has been the first choice. If I am going to the site, before we finalize what it will look like, I will offer a few different choices for the shade of blue.

7. Chair report: McAdam
Chair report May 2006: Cathy McAdam
1. I've received several emails regarding the redesign of our web page but decided to bring this back again to the full commission. Susan can develop a simplified but very accessible site, and the set up with columns and white on blue seems to be the preferred template. Given our current budget restraints and some difficulty finding designers who understand accessibility I recommend we ask Susan to redesign our site with an easier format for updating.
- After discussion the following motion was decided upon.
MOTION: I move we ask Susan to develop a website that is current, fully accessible and easy to maintain with final approval to be made by the executive committee. Offered by Commissioner Parrelly and seconded by Commissioner Swanson. Unanimous approval.
2. BY-LAWS - By-Laws were approved with no changes.
Our ordinance was adopted in 2000 to establish the commission. It cannot be altered with out the city counsels approval. Our bylaws can be ratified by the commission and at this time are to be reviewed yearly.
This Executive Council shall review the By-laws of the Commission no less than once per year.
Revisions of the By-laws must be ratified by a two-thirds majority of the Commission.
Bylaws were sent out for review previous to out meeting. The following motion was offered:
MOTION: I motion we approve the by-laws. Offered by Commissioner Tennant and seconded by Commissioner Parrelly, Unanimous approval.
Elections are set to be held in July. Commissioner appointments should be completed by the end of June.
- There was a discussion about commissioner reappointments. The Mayor makes the final decision. Due to increasing family and work obligations Commissioner McFarlin would like to be considered for an alternate position. Commissioner Tishler would welcome the opportunity to become a full commissioner. Chair McAdam discussed her plan to begin the process of changing the leadership roles in the commission with the plan that she should leave the chair position 1-2 years.
4. After consultation with the executive committee we agreed to meet back at the PAC to discuss issues re transportation access to the DPW training room. This location is not accessible by public transportation, or by the ADA para transit, as it is a commercial area with no fixed bus roots. Although the PAC has some limitations it is accessible from the Michigan line, by the connector, and by para transit.
MOTION: I motion we continue to use this site for public meetings given the transportation difficulties with the DPW site. Offered by Commission Swanson, seconded by Commissioner Parrelly. Unanimous approval.
5. I will be doing a presentation at The National Association for Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns Conference in Detroit. http://www.namrc.org. They asked that we hold July 20-24th open while they make their final schedule. So I may not be available for our July meeting. I suggest the commission meet either way.

8. Public Comment
There was no public comment.

9. Access Committee Action Steps May 18, 2006
VOTING ACCESS ISSUES
The Access Committee has done extensive re-checking of all polling sites and has a report for the Commission to review and approve/alter to ready that report for submission to the City Clerk, School Board, Principals of the involved schools, Kurt Giberson, with copies to the PTO and PTA representatives. The rechecking as you can see on the handouts you have involve the parking and entrances to the polling sites and does not involve the inside voting area because these are areas that are not of concern to the poll workers inside. That is another whole issue that the Committee is working on and will be working on with the City Clerk involving the poll workers following the guidelines for accessibility to voters.
We will again survey these sites on election day.
We would like to ask the Education Committee if they may be able to get more info regarding the promotion of Absentee Ballots.
-After a brief discussion, clarifying a few points, the following motion was offered:
MOTION: I motion to accept the letter as written. Offered by Commissioner Swanson and seconded by Commissioner Parrelly. Unanimous approval
CERTIFICATES
The Access Committee has designed a certificate to present to the polling sites that were in compliance for the year 2005. Someone from the Committee will attend the next training class for the poll workers to present them with that certificate for display at their site. Our goal is to make them all aware of the accessibility issues and hopefully they will all strive to also have a certificate to display at each site next year and every year after. We are making every attempt to make them totally aware of the importance of following the law regarding accessibility issues and to thank them when they do.
-There was some discussion of possible changes. This was offered as a first attempt and another certificate with our suggestions incorporated will be offered at the next meeting.
KNOX BOXES
We are presenting to the Commission a copy of the letter we have drafted regarding the Purchase of Knox Boxes and are asking you at this time to advise us as to the status of the purchase and availability of these boxes. You each have a copy of that letter to review. We are open to any suggestions that the Commissioners may have.
- Kurt Giberson has responded to this in full, stating it is his belief that the city transition funds would pay for this, but it is not his decision and he will look into this further.

10. Communication committee
Communications and Awards Committee: Dale Swanson
Report for 05/18/06 Meeting
Met Wednesday, May 3rd, Mona, Sandy, Cyndi and Dale attending.
Produced an enews draft. Its attached for Commission review.
- This is ready to be distributed.
* Revised Awards Nomination Letter and Form. Its attached for Commission review.
* Discussed strategy for better promotion of awards program and Pathway to Possibilities in general. More to come on this.
* Discussed the contents for the promotional flyer. More to come on this.
We have sent out approximately 75 registration letters to date.
Time for workshops or keynote speech have not been finalized. The reception will be at 5. After discussion it was decided the awards and the reception would be at the same time/place. No specific workshops have been decided upon.
Later when Cheryl arrived we further discussed timing of events. Best time to have events that would be of interest to school-age children is 9:30-10:30 based on constraints placed of buses for field trips. She is willing to get information out to school when more information is available regarding what would be of specific interest to children and families. The need to have the education committee begin development of workshops for DDAD was restated.

11. Break
12. Education Committee
Public Education and Awareness Committee
April 5, 2006 7:30 p.m.
Mary Hodak, Cheryl Kreger, Ndieh Aun, Nancy Bower, Kelli El-Mokadem
1. The committee continued to discuss and approve action items for the strategic plan and for further approval. On item # 2 - bullet #3 . . .the term 'investigate' will replace 'consider' and the word 'other' will be inserted. On item #3 - bullet #1 . . .the word 'needs' will replace the term 'access and item #5 will be eliminated regarding a job fair with the Chamber of Commerce.
2. Mary brought up for discussion the idea of creating a format for rating businesses, particularly those listed in "The Best of Dearborn" for their accessibility and placing a symbol indicating that access level in the next edition of the magazine. It was decided that this idea will be brought to the entire Commission at the next meeting in May 2006.
- Mary has since found out this publication is no longer being published. Mary Laundroche did mention that there are other publications we might be able to influence to include accessibility information.
3. Kelli (Special Education Parent Advisory Committee chair) brought up her concerns regarding the need for a playground within the city structured for children with special needs, and she suggested Howe School as being a possible location. She was also referred to Commissioner Filiak.
- Commissioner Swanson suggested we use transition funds for an accessible outdoor pool. Commissioner Filiak had not yet arrived so his input on this was suggested as a first step. Nancy suggested a workshop at DAD that would address the availability of and unmet needs relative to recreation in Dearborn.
4. The next Committee meeting will be determined at the next Commission
meeting on May 18, 2006 at the PAC.
- There was an extensive discussion about the use of transition funds. Commissioner Swanson made it clear that services are just as important as physical accessibility. Commissioner McAdam reiterated that sign language interpreters will be paid there is no question of that. Commissioner Swanson wanted to pass a resolution to be sent to the finance department making the commissions position clear. The following resolution was offered:
RESOLUTION: To the Finance Department, we the Commission on Disability Concerns ask that "transition funds" be used to make programs and services available to people with disabilities according to the American's with Disability Act Title II. Chair McAdam will follow-up in presenting this resolution and setting up a meeting.
13. Visitability committee
- Final text of Universal design bill.
HB- 4138 As Passed by House March 29, 2006 324 Yeas 105 Nays 1
HB-4138, As Passed Senate, May 11, 2006 355 Yeas 37 Nays

14. Vice Chair Report: Kreger
Made her vice-chair report as part of her personal Commission report. But did mention that the need for the education committee to start to develop new projects and to work in some new directions. They were working hard, but were ready to explore some new ideas.

15. Update Arab American working group: Ramouni.
Commissioner Ramouni is thrilled the group is working together so well. So far much of the discussion has been how to best meet with the Arab community. Work has continued successfully to have us participate at the Arab American festival. Marsha was persistent and assertive and got us a table. There is a sign up sheet to work the table. Naji had the flyer translated we had initially decided upon. Met with city employee who approves city publications in Arabic. He suggested that the flyer needed more information. Also said Mary Laundroche needed to approve anything with city logo on it. We received approval of the new document to be distributed at the fair. ( See enclosed.)
- There was also a discussion of the Abilities Expo. It was decided we would continue to participate if we could combine with the CIL. It was not necessary that the commission be the table sponsor,just that we could place our materials on the table.

16. Commissioner reports (Mary Hodak's attached below)
Commissioner Tennant provided us with a call to action relevant to senate proposed laws that would create parity between mental health care and medical care.
Commissioner McFarlin expressed his apologies for the issues relevant to the sign language interpreters. Chair McAdam was insistent that no apology was needed as providing sign language interpreters were the responsibility of the city and they were not refusing to do it – it was simply an issue of how it was going to be paid for.
Commissioner Filiak had some information to relay about the plans to have homecoming again this year. A sign up sheet to work would be available at the next meeting said Commissioner Tishler. Commissioner Filiak let us know about Art on the Avenue taking place the first week of June benefiting VSA. The Dearborn Cool Cities is meeting for the first time May 24th at the new welcoming center at Bryant library.
Commissioner Kreger wanted to express her agreement with Chair McAdam that it was time to foster leadership in other commissioners. Toward that end she said was not planning to continue as vice-chair. Cheryl said she was opening up the position to someone new.
17. Adjournment 8:10PM

From: Mary Hodak
OLD News:
1. Project Healthy Living, April 5th, Oakwood Hospital, (Gary, Mary, Nancy) Evaluation: Pending from Colleen Cooper, 586-5495
2. Senior Health Expo, April 27th, Senior Center, (Cathy, Susan, Teddy, Ndieh) Evaluation: Very Successful, Over 500 attended, 75-80 Vendors
3. Best of Dearborn Booklet: No longer being published by Third Street Publications or the City. Mary Laundroche's Office originally supplied info and photos. Occasionally, 'Ads for You' in the Press & Guide could be influenced to include pertinent info regarding disability accessibility.
New News:
1. Senior Citizen's Conference, Mid June, Gino Pollidori & Gary Woronchak. Will need volunteers. 8 am - 12:30 pm, 2 hour increments. Lunch Included!
2. Need to update Resource list for 2006 -2007. Need Volunteers! (Nancy & Cathy volunteered.)
(Does anyone have any info about Bill Helwig who builds ramps, (313) 226-9216(H), 248) 561 4014 (cell)?

3. Statewide Essay contest winner, Kelly Featherstone, from O.L. Smith, (827-2800) Dearborn, wrote about her friend, Tomika Citchen, 21 years old, paralyzed from her waist down due to a car accident. Tomika attends HFCC, works on the school1s radio station, motivational speaker, active in her Church, Grace Temple. The contest was sponsored by UCP/M. (see article). (Could we use this, in any capacity, in October for DDAD???)
4. Education Committee still working on Strategic Planning document.
5. I will not be here in July. I am going to the Galapagos Islands with my 2 grandsons. (WOW)!

From: Former Commissioner Claudia Damian
Hi Susan, Cathy and Paul.;
Thought to drop you a line about the TTY testing.
It goes from 12-17-05 to 4-21-06. Total of 8 calls were made. One
call from my tty to the 911 number failed. All the rest were good tests.
12-17-05 TTY to TTY Good test
1-20-06 TTY to 911 Failed. Scroll said to check the area code first
before dialing this number.
1-20-06 TTY to TTY Good call and asked to try the 911 number again
from my TTY.
1-20-06 TTY to 911 Good test call.
2-8-06 TTY to TTY Good test.
2-23-06 TTY to TTY Excellent call; told about sign near the park.
3-15-06 TTY to TTY Good test.
4-21-06 TTY to TTY Good Test.
I am starting a new sheet. I have given the particulars on all the
calls to Paul.
Thanks for the notification service to the deaf, Susan. I have
several different types of notification services tied into my tty
Side Kick II at no charge.
Hope things are going well with everyone. I got Kim's e-mail and hope
things are going better for him now. Talk to you later.
Claudia