Dearborn Commission on Disability Concerns

Ford Performing Arts Center, Wetrooms 1 & 2
September 16, 2004, 6-9 PM

Commissioners & Staff Present:
Cathy McAdam, chair
Cheryl Kreger, vice-chair
Dale Swanson
Claudia Damian
Kim B. Hetrick
Nancy Bower
Mary Hodak
Mona Ramouni
Gary Filiak (arrived late)
Sonya Tishler, excused
Jane Nelson Thomas, excused
Susan Fitzmaurice, ADA Coordinator
Ray Roberson, Guest

1. Call to Order: 6:07PM
2. Roll Call.
3. Agenda. No additions or changes.
4. Minutes: to be changed to note presence of Jane Nelson Thomas, add L to Sonya's name.

5.  Michigan Avenue Update
Discussion of frustration regarding Michigan Avenue project. Many changes are underway. The slope problem will be corrected. Completion of work is nearing so bus stops should be restored soon.

6.   ADA Coordinator – see attached report
-Discussion of TTY software being upgraded and new training needed by personnel using it. This will allow Dearborn to communicate better with other communities.
-Discussion of Parking Structure. Commissioner Damian asked if the ceiling height was height enough for bubble-top vans and suggested that designated parking be put outside the structure if unable to be put inside the structure.
-Suggestion of contacting Deaf Can and DIA to advertise Film Festival.

7.   Public Comments
- Ray Roberson presented information about how he now has to transfer busses when he crosses Greenfield. He has been having a more difficult time utilizing bus services due to changes. Was pleased that the city now had 3 small buses for local transportation. Access Committee will look into transfer point problem.

8.  Chair Report – Cathy McAdam - see attached report
-Discussion of Abilities Expo. Video featuring Tom Cruise and Paul Newman endorsing Famous People Players will be shown if we can get it. Susan thinks she can bring a TV/VCR combo.
-Commissioners Damian and Kreger volunteered to help at Candidates Forum.
-Much thanks to Mary, Kim and Nancy for completing new resource list.
- Discussion on how we encourage new committee members and how we decide if we actually want them as committee members. It was suggested that people interested in being a committee member send a letter of interest, with 1 reference, to the committee chair. Those who seem appropriate would then have their info presented to the full commission.
- Commissioner Damian asked why alternative format was not requested more often and Commissioner McAdam volunteered that she thought it was because its availability was not advertised.

9.  Vice Chair Report – Cheryl Kreger
- Strategic plan moving along nicely. Need to establish timelines to review each year. Be formatted so plan looks the same. Plan clarifies roles of committees. Do annual strategic plans to help create annual report. Commissioner McAdam said she thought that the ADA Coordinator role versus the committee role has been better defined. Commissioner Damian said she felt the Access committee had been streamlined.

10.  Disability Awareness Day – Dale Swanson – see attached report
-Awards ceremony is now invitation only. Please get Commissioner Swanson names of people you want invited ASAP. There will be an open bar and appetizers for one hour followed by presentations. Mayor will open the Awards presentation. Need to invite last year's winners and nominators plus a guest.
-Commissioner Kreger noted that the deadline to RSVP workshop was Oct. 1 and the time had been changed to earlier. Diane the director of FPP will not be doing the workshop, but the man who is second in charge will be.
- Susan will get sign language interpreters for Town Hall meeting and workshop.
-Public Information had news releases every week.

11.  Town Hall Meeting – Cheryl Kreger – See attached notes
Will take place in Studio A. Commissioner Kreger will bring necessary materials. Same format as last year. Commissioner McAdam & Kreger to facilitate and report last year's accomplishment's.

12.  Voting
Discussion of the results from polling survey and the response from the City Clerk. Commissioner Kreger mentioned that everyone she encountered was very helpful. Commissioner Damian noted the absence of signage leading people to accessible entrances and no working lights in booths. Commissioner Filiak encountered locked doors at Miller, accessible both at W. Ford put in the hall as room too small, and at E Ford garbage cans holding open accessible doors. More tables were needed in order to put out items was the clerk's response to the lack of low vision items being on display. Commissioner Kreger said as many tables as needed could be provided. Commissioner McAdam noted we need to compile the results in a report and we need to track polling sites becoming more or less ADA compliant. Commissioner McAdam will call and remind Lola Isiminger that we are still interested in helping with poll worker training.

Break

Brief discussion of evening meetings. They are problematic to some, but so are daytime meetings. Sound in Wetroom better than in Studio A. IS it due to room or sound system? Next year plan to have meetings in Wetroom if new DPW training room not ready.

Visitability
-Susan discussed a bill that will be presented to the Michigan House and Senate in the fall and will keep the Commission apprised as more is known. The final language has not yet been determined.

13. Committee Reports 

Education Committee
- Dearborn Schools will be getting students to matinee performance with funds from a foundation. Taylor Schools should be told. Commissioner Kreger will contact. An ENEWS needs to go out ASAP.

Communication and Awards Committee – Dale Swanson – see attached report
- 4 nominated for educator, 4 for advocate – more to come.
- There was a discussion of whether we as commissioner should nominate and it was agreed that we could nominate as well as others, but be considered as the others are.

Access Committee- see attached report

14.   Commissioner Reports

Mary Hodak
– add AAUW, ACCESS, & GWC to Awards invitees.

Gary Filiak
– Octoberfest is a one-time event. There will be accessible parking with flooring leading from parking to tent area. Held mostly on hard grass/dirt – no perceived need for more flooring unless it rains and then it will be a dismal situation for all. It is located West of Bryant Library on Michigan Avenue near the parking lot.
-Greg Orner nominated Commissioner Filiak to the Recreation Commission to help develop a 5 year master plan. This includes making decisions about barrier free access, finding grant funding, and use of parks by a changing population. He is being nominated both for his role as a city employee and as a commissioner.

Mona Ramouni
-Discussed a family crisis and asked for feedback from the commission.

Cathy McAdam
- Expressed thanks to many for their support in getting so much work completed.
- Asked that minutes be received 2 weeks after the meeting.

Adjourned: 8:54PM Motion by Commissioner Swanson, seconded by Commissioner Bowers.

Attachments to Minutes

ADA Coordinator Report

ADA Report - September, 2004
• Homecoming was a success. The carnival at the last minute abided by all of our suggestions. The signs were all changed to read as we requested. No waivers were distributed. The only accessibility problem raised turned out to be a situation where the accessible entrance to the tent area was not well marked and so overlooked. Two people who were illegally parked in access aisles were ticketed.
• The library projects are approved and underway. The completion date is expected to be at the end of October, early November.
• The DPW building now houses water and purchasing has moved to City Hall. Most of the movement of offices is complete. The large training room has not yet been started. As of today I finally have a computer in my office again.
• I have received nearly daily calls these past 2 months from city personnel in regards to accessibility, alternative format, sign language interpretation, and parking. I was able to find a sign language interpreter for an event sponsored by the FCC at the PAC. I help MIS to determine the best TTY (uniphone) to use at the holding area of the jail - FINALLY. I helped determine the number of parking spaces needed relative to a complaint received by Building & Safety. I responded to a request for training in the TTY and promised a complete training in November or December. This is a big change from simply receing calkl from the community - which also continues.
• The new city parking structure was reviewed and is now going to include more parking than initially planned for. There will be at least one accessible parking space on each floor where there is an elevator.
• I attended a meeting organized by the Chamber of Commerce to meet with our Building & Safety Department to discuss the inspection procedure for commercial & retail businesses in Dearborn.
• I attended a meeting about a Regional Paratransit System for the Down River area. Peg Watson also attended. There will be more meetings this fall. I will continue to attend at the request of the Mayor.
• The Recreation program has the water chair mentioned in Access Report available to people who use the pool and essentially requires no maintenance except cleaning.
• There is a Meet the Candidates forum planned for October 21st from 2-5 PM. It is being cosponsored with the Blue Water CIL. This was decided on after online discussion and Kurt’s input. It is a nonpartisan event and everyone runing for office in Wayne County has been invited. Invitations have been sent via mail. CIL employees and Gary have volunteered to make followup calls to invite candidates to attend. Vounteers that day would be most welcome. More on this event from Cathy. ( see enclosed letter)
• The film festival is also on. Sponsorship and ticket sale have been slim, but it will still take place. Hopefully most people will buy tickets at the door.
• 22 hours from now I will be the proud owner of a new condo. Put November 14th on your calendar for a housewarming!

Chair Report

Chair Report
September 16 2004
1. We have interest from the Dearborn schools re disability mentoring day... everything from the FBI to respiratory therapy.
2. Abilities expo... Warren commission is covering Friday , Saturday we will be there all day with a clip to show on the Famous People players, and Mary and volunteers are covering Sunday. This is a good opportunity to network with communities who want to look at starting commissions. Troy and Dearborn heights were not able to help with the booth but joined us in advertising to promote the importance of establishing city commissions.
3. We are please to join Blue Water CIL in asking this year’s candidates about their disability platforms. We want to develop questions for the voting forum on disability issues that are specific and nonpartisan. a contact from league of woman’s voters will review them and offer suggestions as needed.
4. We sent a letter to those who signed are home coming sign in sheet along with a resource list, in hopes of gaining interest for our committees. We don’t have a clear process for asking new members on committees and I would like to develop this further with the executive committee. In the mean time be thinking of resource people and new
members who can help with our work.
5. alternative format... See memo emailed 9/11/04
Susan,
I will be glad to Braille a letter for Mr. Roberson.
I have been voluntarily Brailing information for the commission and for some city events, and now realize I may have helped to minimize the need for a fully
developed plan for transcribing services.
We have been making our brochure, and resource list available in Braille and Large print at home coming, and have also made large print and Braille copies
of the program.
I have offered to do the same for the October Fest.
For DDAD and other exhibits we also bring large print and Braille documents.
We should by now be advertising all documents available in alternative format upon request.
I know you have been working on this process, but I may have unwittingly effected the need to expedite a process.
It is sometimes difficult to get this policy in motion as the request are limited. On the other hand, requests are limited when it isn't the norm or an
expected process.
Kurt asked at the very beginning of the commission what was needed to make alternative formats available. I'm still not convinced our own software and
embosser is the best solution, but we are overdue in coming up with a active plan and contractual arrangement.
Please let me know if you need anything from the commission to move this forward.
Cathy
CC: Kurt Giberson, Mary laundroche
6. Letter re voter training emailed 9/13
To: Deputy Clerk
Lola Isiminger'
We very much appreciated the assistance from the City Clerk's office in completing the surveys for the Help America Vote Act. We did a spot check of some
poll sites during the August election as part of this process. Poll workers were courteous but not always aware of the location of small equipment,
the proper set up of an accessible booth, or the need to have items such as magnifiers out in the open.
We also noted a lack of signage that would be helpful for people who are deaf or hard of hearing or who have cognitive disabilities. We have discussed
previously the possibility of having a representative from the commission speak to disability concerns during your poll training for elections.
We would very much like to be a part of this year's training as part of the HAVA mandate and because there has been a major campaign to get out the vote
for people with disabilities.
We have commissioners who could articulately summarized concerns regarding the appropriate set up of polling places and disability etiquette.
I look forward to discussing this opportunity with you and will follow this note up with a phone contact.
Sincerely
Cathy
M. Catherine McAdam, Chair
Dearborn Commission On Disability Concerns

Town Hall Report

Communication & Award Report

Communications and Awards Committee Report
9/16/04
Jack Raeburn and Emmajean Woodyard joined Cathy, Jane and Dale.
Pathway to Possibilities
Schedule:
10:00AM Famous People Players Matinee
$5.00 per person (approximately 300 Dearborn students (busses provided by Dearborn schools, open to other community schools (RESA), open to the public).
12:00 Noon Town Hall Meeting (open to public)
1:30PM FPP Workshop (open to Dearborn teachers (app. 30), parents of students with disabilities (Cheryl to coordinate)
5:30PM Awards Ceremony (by invitation only – invitee list draft attached).
7:30PM Evening performance by FPP (open to public – ticket info follows)
Tickets for FPP
Matinee performance - $5.00 per person
Evening performance – Box Office Ticket Prices – $27/$24/$19
Discounts available:
Commissioners – 50% off (covered by funds raised)
Groups of 10 or more for people with disabilities – 50% off
Sponsors representatives (2 per) – free
Award winners – free
To Do:
Try to clarify with Jack or Don Bean if descriptive services will work so we know how to advertise.
Check to see if FPP flyers or posters are in and available for expo.
We mention need for signers for town hall/workshop/and awards.
Mayor's forum is scheduled for 9/20 (Cathy, Cheryl)
Jack suggest workshop run for 90 min for 35 to 50 people.  He is still waiting to hear if Dianne (?), the founder of FPP will be running the workshop.
Have video clip. Suggestion: run with the Mayor's forum, Cathy to follow up.
Flyer completion, copying/printing, distribution.

Visitability Report

VISITABILITY AND HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING 8/26/04
PRESENT: SUSAN, DALE AND SONYA

CHARTER STATEMENT; TO ADVOCATE FOR VISITABLE AND ACCESSIBLE HOUSING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FAIR HOUSING ACT IN THE CITY OF DEARBORN. THIS INCLUDES:

. To work and advocate with the City of Dearborn and the State of Michigan to require Federal and state laws for visitability. (The committee will be working on this to make contacts to gain information that we can work with to move forward. The State is working on a law that will hopefully pass after Labor Day-Laura Toy is one that is working on possible passage of this law. The committee will explore this further upon passage of the law.)

. To work with the City to make all new ground level housing developments- including condominiums and multi-family dwellings-require a percentage of accessible units. (Susan will explore the issue further to see what possible realistic incentives can be offered ˆ Dale will discuss the issue further with Dave Norwood)

. To explore potential for all available monies for visitable and accessible housing. (We need to find out where this information exists. Sonya will try to search for information regarding other cities and states to see what they have been able to gain or what they have lacked in securing this information)

The committee has decided to tentatively set October 21 as a possible date to set up a general informational meeting to identify and invite builders, contractors, suppliers and developers. Dale will be contacting Dave Norwood to find out if an evening meeting would be better than a daytime meeting. Once this information is firmed Susan will secure the area to hold the meeting. Dale will supply Sonya with the list of above mentioned groups for contact. The committee will then jointly agree upon the date and time and the content of the written invitations to be sent.

Access Report

Access Committee
The Access committee will assist the City of Dearborn in the identification, prioritization and removal of physical and communication barriers to City programs and services and to develop policies and practices which promote full participation by citizens with disabilities.
To help maintain full access for all people with disabilities to all city programs and services.
Homecoming
DDAD
Commission meetings
To assist the City of Dearborn to prepare for future emergency events in order to assure safety for persons with disabilities.
Write pertinent information to enclose in a pamphlet or post on a website that will assist people with disabilities in emergency situations.
Explore having Red Cross presentations in conjunction with the city to prepare for emergency situations that include handling of persons with disabilities.
3. To assure voting access at all poling places in Dearborn for persons with disabilities.
Offer training to poll workers that will assure appropriate access for persons with disabilities
Advocate for state of the art equipment to assure full access to people with disabilities.
Organize a vendor fair with the state
Spot check polls for accessibility.
Register voters at Commission events.
4. To monitor transportation issues that impact the lives of persons with disabilities in Dearborn.
Ensure accessible out-trips for seniors with disabilities
Monitor local parking access.
5. To advocate for improved accessibility in city parks.
Create access to drinking fountains
Promote installation of picnic tables that are accessible to persons with disabilities
Promote installation of playground structures that are accessible to persons with disabilities.
Advocate for emergency phones accessible to persons with disabilities.
Monitor update of restroom facilities for accessibility.
Recommend and monitor creation of pathways that are user friendly to persons with disabilities.
 
6. To assist the City to improve and maintain effective communication between residents and city departments.
Promote access to city programs and services.
Maintain effective 911/TTY services.
Promote closed/open captioning on CDTV.
Promote use of interpreters for the deaf, assistive listening devices for the hard of hearing, and real time captioning for city events and programs.
Promote alternative formats in reading materials, telecommunications, appropriate signage in city facilities, and accessible computer services on the city web sites.