Dearborn Commission on Disability Concerns

CITY OF DEARBORN
The Dearborn Commission on Disability Concerns
Ford Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave, Wetrooms
MInutes
September 20, 2007, 6:00- 9:00 PM

1. Call to Order: 6:08
2. Roll Call:
McAdam, Swanson, Bower, Tishler, Filiak, Ramouni, Hodak and
McFarlin & Swagler excused
3. Additions/changes to agenda: no changes
4. Approval of July Minutes: Dale approved, Nancy seconded.

5. Commission Elections: Status McAdam
Discussion of elections. No one volunteered to be vice-chair at present, so the election will be postponed until November.
6. Home-coming, feed back: Tishler Filiak
Commissioner Filiak – shuttle, rides, tty present, plenty of parking – all went well. Susan discussed her problems with the major entertainment venue and accessible seating. Commissioner McAdam will contact Eric Petersen after Access committee gives their input.

7. Public Comment Tawana Fisher Bean – found out about commission via cdtv. Lived here for 12 years and didn't know commission existed. Marty Sheedy lived in Dearborn all his life. Has known about commission for some time and until now has not have the time available to commit and consider being part of the commission.

8. DDAD planning to do list: Swanson
Discussion of vendors – who are vendors definitely, who could be. Marty discussed the Shriners participating. 10 more vendors definitely needed.

Discussion of advertising, program workshops. Who will pick up water (Cindy), juice, pastries. Also need fruit or other non sugar items. Sonya will get signs completed (Education committee will let Sonya know what signs to make.) Food same as usual. Will have a vendor check-in.
Will have a volunteer check-in. Commissioner Hodak will get high school volunteers from key clubs.

Sign language interpreters – 3 required. Commission agreed will pay for them if city does not.

9. Workshop updates: Bower Change: 10 AM workshop by Ira Sokol for kids instead of 11. Sokol & Commissioner McAdam need to get together to discuss workshop description. Thunderbird basketball team will play. Wrestling & rugby demonstration. Commissioner Bower could get Dick Purtan to read a press release.

10. Break (guests left)
11. Other DDAD logistics: McAdam Need to check with Sokol what he needs for keynote, workshop. Commissioner Swagler will be asked to do announcements at DAD. Commissioner Hodak & Bower will monitor workshops. Susan will look for previous years evaluation questions and get to Commissioner McAdam by Tuesday. Awards - Commissioner McAdam will word an award for Commissioners. Special recognition to Mayor Guido posthumously. Commissioner Bower to write a note recognizing Mayor Guido, Susan will write one for Tony Fillippis - get to Dale by midweek- next week.

12. Chair report (see report) -Smart scheduler and Neil Greenbaum will consider the change in route and get back to us once they have discussed possibilities.

13 Executive Update: Susan Fitzmaurice (see report)- Ask Commissioner McFarlin to start testing TTYs.
- Water bill inserts will have DAD info and there was a discussion if and how the outdated info could be removed.

14. Other Committee items - Commissioner Swanson has said that a person needs to be prepared to take over DAD preparations. If someone is interested – should talk to Commissioner McAdam

15. Commissioner reports
-Commissioner Tishler continuing to try to get voting machine at DAD.
-Commissioner Hodak has press releases related to DAD.
-Commissioner Filiak asked about plans re: voting. Access will meet to discuss. Ford Woods & Lapeer play structure ramps complete. New structure at Levagood.
- Commissioner Bower suggests we participate with question to presidential candidates.
- Commmissioner McAdam thanked the commissioners for their work.

16. Adjournment: 8:02PM
ADA REPORT September, 2007

1.Have had a number of calls from people interested in being commissioners. Most saw it on cable TV. About half lived outside Dearborn – many Dearborn Heights. A few were sent commissioner applications – 2 returned.
2.Some calls regarding being vendors. Not as many as we had this time last year.
IN HAND –
Michigan Protection & Advocacy -25
Henry Ford CC – 25
Disability Network – 25
Advantage Mobility -= 150
Wright & Filippis - $500
Rotary – 1,000
UCP – Detroit – 25
Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind – 25
Mobility Works - 150
Creative Controls – 150 (not paid)

FEE WAIVED:
Wayne County Library for the Blind
Karmanos Cancer Institute
Dearborn Hts Commission on Disability Concerns
Michigan Community Service Commission
Teddy’s Ts
MS Association of America
MADDAK (Sponsor)
RIM (Sponsor)

EMAIL, FACE:FACE or PHONE :
New Vision Enterprizes
DRIS
Michigan Commission on Disability Concerns
STEP
VSA Arts of Michigan
SMART
MI Paralyzed Veterans

3.Water bill insert paid for by ADA funds, not commission funds. Printed long ago. Water Dept. decided to question if OK to send after having the insert in and for 3 weeks or more. It has been approved by Kurt and is going out.
4.6 new TTYs are needed. I tried to get our spare community block grant funds to pay for them. (braille equipment cheaper than the grant monies we requested) I was told they would pay for 3 specific ones, but the other 3 would have to come out of ADA funds. I am not questioning it – just proceeding. 2 are replacements, 3 new locations, 1 a spare to keep on hand.
5.TTY and Braille trainings nearly complete. Need to have a make-up for those who could not attend. All departments now aware of requirement to provide interpreters and/ or alternative format. Departments are going to prioritize which forms might be needed most and quickly and I will transcribe those as I can. Others will be done as requested buy citizens and returned to the department in 2 weeks or less. The department itself will handle large print and electronic alt format. Tapes will be outsourced.
________________________________________________________________

CHAIR REPORT 9/20/07

1. Regarding bus access at the PAC. The following email was sent to Ron Ristau at SMART

The Dearborn commission is interested in looking at the possibility of the
SMART bus running by the Ford Community & Performing Arts center (15801
Michigan Ave), and the train station. There are frequent meetings for people
with disabilities, and many seniors use this facility. I am going to
attempt to give you a mock route for consideration as outlined by our ADA
coordinator.

This is a good time to consider this, as the animal shelter is going to be
built and the drive might be able to be made with a bus stop bump out. Of
course we wouldn't make a formal request without involving our own city
planners who appreciate business needs in this area. so, this is a
preliminary request to see what the possibilities are.

Going East the bus can turn right in by the front of the library/ health dept. drive past the rear/ side of police station/courthouse to the front of the train station past the soon to be animal shelter and past the West entrance to the PAC and on back to Greenfield, make a left and then make a right at Michigan.

Going West, instead of continuing along Michigan make a left turn from the left turn lane (not as far left as the underpass) onto Greenfield, a right into the PAC drive, drive around to the West entrance to the PAC, past the soon to be animal shelter, to the front of the train station, then past the back/side police station/ courthouse, past the front of the library/ health department then make a left turn back onto Michigan.

We appreciate the complexities of this request, both for SMART and the city of Dearborn, but felt it was worth examining because of the high traffic potential for people with disabilities and seniors.

Our next commission meeting is September 20 from 6:00 till 9:00. Please let
me know if this request is within the scope of an evaluation process.

2. Alternative format training was done with city staff on 9/11 and 9/18. We have started letting Dearborn residence know of the option to receive information in Braille, large print, electronic format or tape through the water bills. An announcement will also be drafted for the Wayne County Library for the Blind and National Federation for the Blind. Would suggest having handout at DDAD similar to what was used in the water bill minus Pathways announcement.

3. 2008 calendar

(Last meeting of 2007 is November 15 at 3:00)
Calendar 2008
Thursday 1/17/2008 6:00 till 9:00 PM PAC Wet rooms
Thursday 3/20/2008 3:00 till 6:00 PM PAC Wet rooms
Thursday 5/15/2008 6:00 till 9:00 PM PAC Wet rooms
Thursday 7/17/2008 3:00 till 6:00 PM PAC Wet rooms
Thursday 9/18/2008 6:00 till 9:00 PM PAC Wet rooms
Thursday 10/16/2008 Disability Awareness Day Dome room
Thursday 11/20/2008 3:00 till 6:00 PM PAC Wet rooms

4. Suellen Hozman Facial vision exhibit, Arts beyond Sight

Arthur Cartwright Library, WCCD downtown campus library
1001 West Fort Street ~ Detroit, MI 48226
313.496.2570 or 313.496.2521
September 13 through October 11, 2007
Gallery Hours: Monday – Friday 12:00 - 5:00 p.m.
www.wcccd.edu

EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.
present: Mary, Cathy, and Nancy (held at Nancy's home)

Reviewing and brainstorming regarding necessary actions for upcoming DAD.
1. Workshops
a. Occupational Therapist and assistive devices Mary has obtained
b. Speaker, Ira for the children's event
c. George Blaha
d. Two videos to be continuously shown (VCR & DVD needed)

Timing of the workshops not yet decided, due to uncertainty of George Blaha's appearance. Suggested 10:00 or 11:00 a.m. for Occupational Therapist, then Children's workshop. If necessary, repeat the Occupational Therapist in p.m. if George can only attend in the a.m.

Mary discussed method for giving away assistive devices with tickets, etc.
Suggested -Commission having a booth near the front entry to help greet
attendees

Signage to be decided at next Commission meeting
Evaluation Forms to be completed by Nancy & Cathy based on previous model.
Mary suggested (based on Senior complaints) that we have some additional
breakfast food without sugar.

Next Meeting to be determined. Committee would like to greet and welcome
two new Commissioners at it's next committee meeting!

COMMUNICATION REPORT 09/20/07

Vendors!
* We need them! Any ideas?
* Current List:
o Sponsors – Donations
+ Rotary - $1000
+ Wright & Filippis - $500
+ Ford - $500
o Sponsors – In Kind
+ Ableware by Maddak
+ Shield’s Catering
+ DMC/Rehabilitation Insttitute
o Vendors
+ Susan to provide update.
Publicity!
* Michigan Adaptive Sports
o Sending out flyers to approximately 1000 people via email list and snail mail.
+ This is complete.
* Dearborn Seniors
o Pathway to Possibilities Information to approximately 2000 Dearborn Seniors via newsletter.
+ Newsletter went our 09/06/07.
* Dearborn Specials
o I have contacted Denise Toepfer about the next mailing.
+ Flyers going out in September.
* Media
o Randy Coble’s Plan
1. “Save the Date” news release – goes out ASAP, so that people put attending this event on their calendars.
1. This is complete (August 10).
2. “Keynote speaker profile” news release – I will need a high-resolution JPEG image of Mr. Socol, plus bio information on him, to produce this.
1. The release on Ira Socol, with photo, went out Aug. 23.
3. “Details of the workshops” news release – I’ll need about those from Nancy/Cathy.
4. “Assistive technology” angle news release – again, I’ll need details.
5. “Michigan Adaptive Sports” angle news release.
1. The release on Michigan Adaptive Sports, with photo, went out Sept. 6th.
6. Release focusing on adaptive technologies angle, going out this Thursday, Sept. 20.
7. “Vendors at vendor fair” angle news release – I’ll need the list.
1. Release focusing on workshops and vendor fair angle, going out on October 4th.
8. Media advisory – encouraging the media to cover the event. I will need the name and contact information for a spokesperson whom they can interview, if we get any response.
1. A final reminder release going out on October 11th.
2. Media advisory going out on October 17.

9. Also, FYI to Cathy McAdam, per her request I have been sending all the releases to Cecilia Oleck at the Free Press, in addition to our regular media list.
10. Question – will Community Service Awards be presented during P2P? If so...
1. Nomination news release – I’ll need deadline date for submission of nominations + if there are any changes from last year regarding criteria or nomination process.
2. Post-game awards news release with photo – I’ll need to know where and when the awards presentation will be.
1. Unknown what, if anything at this time.
11. Communications Channels we’ll Use – note that Randy will take of all of these, except as specified below
1. News releases to media.
2. Announcement on CDTV community bulletin board.
3. Possible special promo stories on CDTV programs: Dearborn Journal and In Five and Our Town with the Mayor.
4. All-employee email and voicemail message.
5. Special promo page on city website.
1. This is complete.
6. Message in telephone hold announcements.
7. Message in announcements on TV monitor by Treasury in City Hall.
8. Media advisory in advance of the event, encouraging media to cover
9. Possible item in fall edition of Back Fence resident newsletter.
10. Possible announcement on Center marquee sign.
1. You will need to check with Erica Lyght on that.
11. Possible announcement on employee paychecks.
1. You will need to check with Jim O’Connor on that.
* Dearborn Water Bill
o This is in progress
* Neighborhood Associations
o This is in progress.
* Water for event coming via Busch’s.
* To Dos:
o Program – In progress.
o Arrangement for pastries/juices.
o Final timeline
o Info to Dale re: workshops.

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