Dearborn Commission on Disability Concerns
July 20, 2006 - 3-6 PM Meeting

Commissioners Present:
Cathy McAdam, Chair
Cheryl Kreger , excused
Dale Swanson
Gary Filiak
Mary Hodak, excused
Mona Ramouni
Nancy Bower
Sonya Tishler
John McFarlin
Bill Tennant, excused
Susan Fitzmaurice, ADA Coordinator

Guests: Marsha Luetjen, Ndieh Aun, and Charlemae Smith.

1. Call to Order at 3:08 pm
2. Roll Call
3. No changes to agenda, except to delay election until everyone arrives
4. Approval of April Minutes.
5. Election delayed.
6. Executive Update: Susan Fitzmaurice
SECRETARIAL HELP.
Decided to hire a friend, Charlemae Smith, who is a skilled secretary to do the minutes at meetings. Will pay her independent of the city.

MICHIGAN AVENUE PROJECT
ADA Corrections are in process. No known problems .

FORD ROAD PROJECT
Reconstruction of Ford Rd. in process, ADA issues resolved as best as could be given conflicting laws (Federal Highways) and interests.

There was some discussion to try to understand how and why different laws conflict. The federal highway laws supercede the ADA. There was not enough space to meet highway safety law and ADA compliance for sidewalks.

TRAFFIC SIGNALS
On order. Should be installed before the end of next month.

LIBRARY
New door hardware on order. It takes months to get it.

TTY
Meetings with 7 departments to do TTY refresher training set up for 2nd week in August - to be done 1:1.
Chair McAdam asked Commissioner McFarlin if he would be willing to test in September, and he said he would.

COURTS
They do not have completed new video as yet, but Sharon the court administrator is checking on it.

KNOX BOXES
Going to put through a request for these and see what happens as have been unable to get a definitive answer.
Chair McAdam asked the ADA coordinator to ask Kurt Giberson to support her request in seeking this approval.

SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS
DPW has budgeted an amount more than amount needed for anticipated needs this fiscal year.
Recreation is now aware of their sign language interpreter responsibilities and are trying to create a policy and procedure. We are in discussion so that they do know what their responsibilities are.

BRAILLE EMBOSSER
Been playing "phone tag" on this week on this. But gather from the messages received that things are ready to move forward.

WEBSITE
New website up and running.

ABILITIES EXPO
We will be there August 18 - 20. It will be the CILs table, but they will put out our information, in return for a little help with manning it.

HOMECOMING
Need commission brochures ( Nancy from DPW is on it) and pens ( in process).

Related to Commission -
Susan is organizing a regional voting meeting for the local disability related organizations to plan how to get out the disability vote in November. September 19th, 9-1, here at Studio A. This is a project funded by HAVA. Cathy is going to be the MC.

Susan is representing the CIL as a plaintiff in the suit against Metro Airport with Michigan Paralyzed Veterans. Being interviewed a lot and role as city ADA Coordinator does come up a lot comparing the airport as being like a city. Rather than money damages, and to prevent a suit, we are asking for 1. An Airport ADA Coordinator; 2. An Airport Disability Commission; and 3. A complete ADA evaluation of the airport. Expect to see a lot of information about this just as soon as the NW union issues are resolved.

Commissioner Tishler asked if this is going on in other airports? ADA coordinator answered not as far as she knew as other airports were much more proactive related to disability. Commissioner Mc Adam asked have you contacted the Mayor and the response was no. She suggested that he should be made aware of this in the event there was a conflict of interest. Marsha Luetjen asked, Do you know who are the companies who do this? The Airport gave the contract to one company. All other companies have to park in lot.

July 31st is the newly extended deadline for all HAVA money requests to be submitted . Every city clerk is now scrambling to get their polling sites evaluated. Dearborn is thankfully all set in that regard. Most cities are not. Susan is the only person doing polling evaluations in Wayne County through Wayne CIL.

Susan will be at the National Disability Pride Parade this weekend. Her table will have commission brochures on it. Am also the organizer of the film festival after the parade.

Reel Life Disability Film Festival on for October 28th, 1-11PM, Studio A.
Today is Teddy's 23rd. birthday!

7. Communication Committee (see attached report at end): Dale Swanson
Was registration form sent out with Enews? Yes. Change process so all will know when Enews has gone out in the future. ADA coordinator will send a copy of email to commissioners & committee members, and they will forward to their additional contacts.
• ADA Coordinator and Commissioner Swanson will develop additional info for Enews.
• Award preparations are on track. The award nominations will be coming to ADA Coordinator.
• Do list: $1500 so far and the next mgt will list potential vendors and start making phone calls. Still have until September to get commitments. We have 8 registrations and 4 more on the way. ADA Coordinator will pass out flyers at Abilities Expo and network with vendors.
• Spoke to Kevin Mitchell who will run ADHOF and will be there all day. They will do a variety of actual interactive sports activities.
• Vendor fair extended to 9:30 – 3:30 pm
11:00 Ford suggested a speaker at 12:00 and they will sponsor.
1:00 Workshop - decided to change to 1:30
4:00 Awards Ceremony
Same price as last year, updated flyers by the end of August.
Commission McAdam discussed Nadine Vogel as a potential speaker. She has two children with disabilities. Her presentations are about how to market to people with disabilities and she speaks to how to support kids around school and medical issues. Ford will be interested in the Marketing aspect of the speaker. This will be a good opportunity to get Ford employees back in, and participating in DAD.
Other things discussed briefly included school transportation, more interactive activities geared to kids, craft tables, technology table, voting machines. ADA Coordinator will talk to Lola Isiminger about having voting machine. Commissioner McAdam will find someone to demonstrate voting machine.

8. Access Committee: Commissioner Tishler
Marsha Luetjen has done great job with certificate. These will be handed out at the poll worker training classes. Giving out the certificates will hopefully help inspire other poll workers to be in better compliance with procedure. 9 out of 42 will receive the certificates. The poll workers at the sites receiving certificates were more helpful and very cooperative.

What's going on with HAVA Money? ADA Coordinator responded that there was going to be a purchase of ramps and other items as we had discussed with Lola Isiminger. So far none of the other work has been started.

There was a discussion about sending letter of complaint about noncompliance and it was decided to wait until after the August elections. The existing letter can be revised after we see what has changed during the primary election.

Will also make up a letter to give out to the poll workers to help make sure they understand the importance of what they can do to make the polling site more ADA compliant and disability friendly.

9. Education Committee: Cheryl Kreger (written report)
continues to update the resources list
is looking for speakers for DDAD
is going to be involved in efforts to include the Dearborn Schools' students in DDAD and preliminary discussions have already taken place.
will send out notification to parents for the Educator of the Year Award once schools starts

11. Visitability Committee: Gary Filiak
Nothing to report right now. Commissioner McAdam said she was thinking this will be a committee active on an as needed basis. Maybe it should be a subcommittee of the access committee.

12. Chair Report: Cathy McAdam
Carl Monroe sent an email to the commission which was forwarded to all the commissioners. He pointed out areas that are problematic with specific ramps and bike trails. Mr. Giberson (DPW Director) did a great job with his response. These are not city projects and so changes will be difficult to make happen. Commissioner Filiak and our ADA Coordinator will follow-up.

Ability Expo will be staffed by the commission on Saturday by Commissioner McAdam. Others are welcome to join her. Friday, Saturday & Sunday 18-20 10-5 PM.

The city of Dearborn is getting an award as the state's most accessible community on August 10th. 5 people will be able to attend. The Mayor has been asked to accept the award, and if he cannot Kurt Giberson, and if he cannot our ADA coordinator.

Cindy Parrelly has had to resign the commission as she could not dedicate to it the time it needed given increased work responsabilities. After we review applications and make recommendations, the Mayor will make a new appointment.
The annual report is due 60 days after the fiscal year at the end of August. Please send to Commissioner Mc Adam key highlights your committee has worked on. These can be bullet points that you feel should be in the annual report – please include individual accomplishments as commissioners as well.

Committees are strong and growing and really exciting.

Commissioner McAdam is still doing the Multicultural presentation on Saturday at the Multicultural rehab conference. She is very excited to present about disability culture on a national level. A paper will be coming out of it and will be published.
To do list for Commissioner McAdam: to work on getting an accessible voting machine press release out before November.

13. Vice Chair Report
None

14. Mental Health Parity
Commissioner McAdam noted that the bill is not coming up as soon as expected. Commissioner Tenant will be asked to draft a letter for the commission and mayor's approval. The bill is about making sure that health care is available for people with mental health concerns at the same level it is for people with other disabilities.

15. Arab Community Task Force: Mona Ramouni
Thanks everyone who volunteered at the Arabic table. Shocked and surprised and pleased. Faith in humanity has been restored. Will be doing the Arabic festival next year. The festival was good, Stated that Mary helped out with her woman friends and Mohamid from the Yemen club at HSCC with slots they couldn't fill and stayed there. Her sister also helped too. Next year maybe more commissioners could put in time with exposure about who we are and about disability.

Commissioner McAdam asked about sign up sheet and was told that very few people signed up. Most were street addresses and very few email addresses. Commissioner Ramouni and the group will develop a letter to send to them to remind them of DAD. ADA Coordinator will send them out.
Commissioner McAdam apologized for not setting up a meeting at ACCESS and will see about having the November meeting there.

16. Commissioner Reports

Nancy Bower. Nancy discussed stem cell research and its importance to the disability community. She expressed her anger about the lack of support from the current administration.

Gary Filiak. Has vendor passes for Homecoming for those who really need them. Passes are good for parking on top of the hill and accessible parking. There is accessible parking near the river and church. We are located in the civic tent near one of two entrances. Flooring will be put down with people with wheelchairs.
ADA Coordinator will do large print and McAdam will do braille. Shuttles will be available and will bring you from parking to wherever you want to go.
Lost one of banners at the Arabic Festival. One remaining. ADA Coordinator will get another made that is not so disability focused for our senior events.
Gary went to Cool Cities committee on June the 9th. Took a tour. Results that we didn't qualify for 100000 grant, but we are a Cool City. There are other advantages for being voted cool city.
New jogging track for Hemlock park, better for accessibility and another parking lot and path. Funds for other ramps have not come thru yet.
VSA Committee: Music and Movement information/program with adults with disabilities program on Tuesday to August 22 at Dearborn Performing Arts. Tickets $2.00.
Camp Dearborn, people with canes and wheelchairs having problems with bathroom and bench areas. Need to do a full assessment and see what can be done.

John McFarlin. Yoga class went well, but there was no interpreter. Is interested in Tai Kwon Do. Commissioner McAdam suggested to request interpreter 2 weeks before class begins so Susan and or others can follow up.

Unfinished business:
Calender
There was some discussion about evening meetings and schedule and it was finalized with a motion by Dale Swanson and seconded by Sonya Tishler:
January, May, and September third Thursday, 6-9 PM
March, July, and November third Thursday, 3-6 PM

Elections
There was a discussion about whether to do the election today or to delay when Commissioner Kreger and Tennant were present. It was decided that there would be a delay as long as they were completed no later than September's meeting.
Motion: I motion we put off the elections until September 21. Offered by Commissioner Swanson, seconded by Commissioner Tishler. Passed by not by unanimous vote – 1 opposed.

Commissioner Reappointments
Nancy Bower and Cathy McAdam will serve 3 more years.
Sonya Tishler now a full commissioner. At his request, John McFarlin now an alternate. Mona Ramouni continues as an alternate.
Need to get out the word that we have a vacancy. Commissioner McAdam will write a vacancy announcement. Commissioner Swanson will get it into the media.

17. Motion to adjourn: 5:50 PM Commissioner Swanson, seconded Commissioner Bower, unanimous approval.



Communications and Awards committee Report for 07/20/06
Finalized time-line for pathway to Possibilities:
Vendor Fair 9;30 AM to 3:30 PM
Cheryl Angelelli speaking at 11:00 AM
If Ford has speaker, it will be at noon
Workshop at 1:00 PM - Education Committee:
- how to market information for people
  with disabilities
- advocacy for youth
Awards at 4:00 PM
Reception 4:30 to 6:00 PM
Talked about getting Dearborn students to DAD.
Talked about involving Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame in DAD.
Discussed promotion of DAD and distribution of Award Letter/Nomination form through various venues including:
Distribution through MRS
Direct contact with Neighborhood Associations
The Back Fence
WDTE
HFCC
UofM-D
Health care providers
Awards - possibly add "Student of the Year"   
*afterthought - may not be a good idea because it is not fair to other students as there was not an established category and no one else was able to participate.
Discussed updating DAD flyer and distribution.
Wording about the Commission for the Chamber of Commerce was stated as pending
Need wording for poster to let community know of the access to voting for those with disabilities