Dearborn
Commission on
Disability Concerns
Disability Concerns
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Dearborn
Commission on Disability Concerns |
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Minutes November 18, 2006
Ford Performing Arts Center,
15801 Michigan Ave, Wetrooms
Commissioners & staff present:
Cathy McAdam
Gary Filiak
Mary Hodak
Sonya Tishler
Nancy Bower
Linda Swangler (first meeting)
Mona Ramouni
John McFarlin
Dale Swanson, excused
Bill Tennant, excused
Susan Fitzmaurice
Marsha Luetjen, committee member/ public
1. Call to Order: 3:05 PM
2. Roll Call
3. Additions/changes to agenda: no changes
4. Approval of September Minutes: Motion by Commissioner Tishler,
seconded by Commissioner Ramouni, passed unanimously.
5. Chair Report: Cathy McAdam committee assignments, plan for April
inservice, 2007 calendar.
DAD different each year. More and more it
is appreciated by the community. Much gratitude to everyone – especially
to Commissioner Swanson.
Voting situation much improved since August, but still some
could not use machines. The chair reviewed the sequence of events leading up
to the exchange of correspondence with the Dearborn schools. We initially discussed
voting access problems in May, held off sending a letter until after
the August spot checks, and finally the letter did not go out until September.
McAdam regretted that the letter was signed by ADA Coordinator for the commission. Did
not make it clear enough that we recognized the schools are city property on
voting day, if polling sites are not accessible – the voting site must
be changed. Letter was responded to by the superintendent – that
letter was read by ADA coordinator as the original was not available, and copies
were not readable. Access committee was asked to continue to pursue ADA
access issues and request a meeting with all parties to follow up with survey.
Letters in the future that are specificly from the commission
should be signed by the commission chair. Additional concerns will be
followed up at the executive committee will come up with guidelines
to follow.
3rd Thursday in April we do not have a scheduled meeting.
It was decided we would have an inservice training from 1-5 PM, Chair McAdam
to plan with executive committee.
Dearborn school students participated in disability mentoring
day – including interest in locksmithing, nursing, and broadcasting.
Receiving referrals through out the year.
CDTV has asked the commission for input on how to
budget programming with captions. The commission decided it would recommend
a court stenographer be hired, continue current level of captioning, add close
captioning symbol to program guide, and advertise captioning availability more.
The commission will pursue grants and sponsorships for captioning. The
executive committee will craft a recommendation to send to Mary Laundroche.
6. Vice Chair Report: Cheryl Kreger not present
7. Access committee: Sonya Tishler Action items: Polling site
update,
certificates, plan for emergency preparedness
See attached, additionally:
Commissioner Tishler expressed frustration that poll training still doesn't result in all poll workers doing what they are supposed to do.
Some certificates for perfect ADA compliance will be given. The data needs to be analyzed first. There was a discussion of the continuing need for pollworkers to understand why people need magnifying glasses and rulers.
Commissioner Hodak suggested more classes on how to use the machine for poll workers. Commissioner McFarlin noted that there was no place to sit while waiting and this was especially difficult for some of the elderly. Commissioner Filiak noted there was still parking in access aisles and cars without placards parking in accessible spaces. He also noted that there was inadequate directional signage.
Commissioner Tishler will prepare a report to send to schools and to DPW. All in all things were much better. Certificate of ADA compliance seemed to have a good effect. 15 minute accessible parking seems to be required in some polling locations. A protocol needs to be developed how commissioners introduce themselves at pollworker training.
8. Executive Update: Susan Fitzmaurice update Current construction/traffic
signals, embosser, tty reinstatement , Sidewalk issue, voting follow up etc.
See attached. Note: Mona, Linda, and John need
business cards. Gary Filiak has a email account to be used for commission
business only: garyfiliak@hotmail.com
Report for November 17, 2006 Meeting
This is an overview of Pathway to Possibilities 2006. Our committee will go into more detail at the January meeting, including analyzing the surveys we sent out to all vendors.
Revenues: All are best estimates. |
Expenses: |
We had 53 vendors sign up. Two or three did not show up.
We estimate that 400 people participated. We need to better in this area, particularly in the afternoon. Will discuss in more detail at January’s meeting.
--- Numbers were agreed were not everything. Both speakers well attended and
very much appreciated.
Marsha: Initiated discussion of possibly receiving
CEUs for attendance.
Commissioner Ramouni: Kids had a blast.
We should consider shorter hours.
Committee was asked to report back recommendations for future changes.
Commissioner Hodak reported good attendance to workshops. Follow-up to question answered received: City telephone alerts to emergencies recognize when it is a TTY signal and automatically leaves a TTY alert.
Marsha moving, still wants to remain involved in the commission.
12. Break
Visitability Committee will now be part of Access Committee.
It doesn't look as this will come to the floor of the house this year, for a vote, so it will die in committee.
Ndieh Aun plans to continue to work on task force. Is very busy until graduation in December. Plan to meet in January. Wants to get more of the community involved in focus group. ADA coordinator will give Commissioner Ramouni names from Arab Festival.
Commissioner Hodak: We need to acknowledge volunteers. ADA coordinator noted that when next years volunteers seek out snacks we need to make an effort to include some healthy snacks.
Commissioner Bower: thank you for the plant and the kind letters, email of support.
Commissioner Swagler: Thanked everyone for the kind welcome.
Commissioner Filiak: Next CERT training both Commissioner Hodak and Filiak plan to go. Lt Smith very responsive to commission concerns. He attended Cool Cities conference and meeting at new welcome center at Bryant Library. December 5th is tree lighting ceremony. He attended film festival and watched an excellent movie on Helen Keller.
Commissioner McAdam: Tasks for committees to work on: Education/ Speakers bureau and city trainings; Access/ list of people in city who self-identify as requiring help in emergencies; and Communications/ recommendations for DAD.
ADA Report
Construction: Stopped for winter, including Ford Rd, Warren, and Michigan Avenue.
Dialysis Clinic: Still in a sense unresolved, city awaiting action by Dialysis Clinic, if none, then nothing further to do.
Parking: Multiple parking issues in city. Condo development, change in use are all effecting parking lots. How many places required now? Where to place now? How to resolve conflicts of interest equitably? Parking structures face ongoing elevator repair problems. New accessible parking has been placed along the inner ring of the circle drive to the Performing Arts Center.
PAC wheelchairs: there are 4 available chairs. They all now have designated "homes" where they will be returned to when they are no longer used. All staff have been informed.
TTYs - 11 of 17 departments retrained to use TTYs. DAD preparations took priority and the final 6 wil be scheduled after Thanksgiving.
Annual Report - complete. Will be printed and distributed in coming 2 weeks. Suggest that we send this to sponsoring vendors and potential future sponsors.
Disability Awareness Day - All but one vendor has paid. Most bills received. Makes more sense to discuss in January when all financials complete, but we are in very good shape with certainly a profit.
Vendor evaluation issues with just 11 returns - 1. Vendors see this as an opportunity to network with the community AND other vendors to see what they are doing. 2. This is perceived as a regional event and not a Dearborn event 3. Low turn-out was not as great a concern as the type of turn-out/ lack of seniors, student health service providers 4. Nearly every vendor says they have a way to advertise event - we need to be more pro-active about asking for their help in promoting DAD.
Accessible language - asked about language to be placed on city bids documents relevant to disability.
Braille Embosser, etc. - have the go ahead to purchase. Have a call in to proceed with vendor.
Cable TV Captioning – We have been asked for our input. Budget cuts are constant in the city. The person hired to do the captioning did not work out. The city is debating whether to hire a new one (at considerable cost) or to use those funds to do more auto captioning. Live events require a transcriber to take notes and transcribe them for future reshowings. Programing created inhouse has scripts already – so no transcriber needed. Funds will be cut – it is a matter of where. No complaints received when last 3 city council meetings were not captioned. Am looking into what legally the city must provide and it is not clear as it is what is reasonable. I am trying to ascertain if 12 hours transcription time is ordinary for a qualified transcriptionist and have got mixed answers.
Abilities Expo - Commission was thanked for its participation. Informed Detroit is mostly likely not to be a site next year. Will likely trade back and forth betwen Atlanta and Detroit as they are having fewer yearly expos.
Nancy Bower - received a thank you from Nancy Bower for the kindness of the commission during her recent hospitalization.
Conferences - ADA Coordinator attended the National Spinal Cord injury Association Summitt in Bethesda, Maryland. Learned a lot about spinal cord injury and a workshop format called 'open space'. Attended the United Cerebral Palsy - Detroit Conference on Assistive Technology and networked with quite a few new vendor/ sponsor possibilties. Attended the State Disability Caucus meeting where learned about funding (or lack of) for disability specific state agencies.
Other - ADA Coordinator has been appointed to board of United Cerebral Palsy - Detroit. Been too first board meeting. Many differences, but also many similarities. They are reconsidering their mission and I discussed our strategic plan process and format and they may adopt it. They have 2 major fundraisers. 6 full board meetings. 5 committees which appear to do the bulk of the actual work relevant to fundraising and development, but little of the hands on nitty gritty day to day details - staff do that. I am going to be in the government relations committee which complements 100% what I already do.
All Centers for Independent Living in the state are changing their names to Disability Networks. For some the transition will be quick and others slow.
ADA Coordinator is newly involved with the Inclusive Theatre Initiative. The Matrix Theate in Mexicotown has a 3 year grant to create an inclusive theatre program - everything from production to performance will include both persons with and without disabilities. Initiated primarily by people with good intentions, but little experience with people with disabilities. There wil be many opportuinities for people to participate in theatre arts workshops this coming year.
Reel Life Film Festival - well attended this year, even without any press what-so-ever.
Website Update - look over your website page - does it need updating? What have you accomplished in the last year that could be highlighted?
ACCESS COMMITTEE REPORT
Site results November 7, 2006- I am submitting this report as the Access Committee Members submitted the results to me. I think it is far more telling this way. We have made some progress but as you will see, there is so much more to do.
Report of Precincts by Marsha Luetjen
No one had any large print documents, but we found the same thing last year. I don't think any are in the packages for the precincts. I am just giving you the highlights.
EDSEL FORD HIGH #28: Checked at 11:30 am. There were no chairs for anyone waiting or at the electronic machine. They got them set up immediately. There was no sign directing you to the correct entry door. One of the campaigners had to keep showing the voters where to go. Therefore most people did not park in the closest spaces.
BRYANT LIBRARY # 31 & 32:Checked at 11 am. Both precincts were especially busy. At my suggestion they were telling the voters that anyone could use the electronic machines to help with the long lines. I was asked if I needed any help as soon as I was noticed. Parking availability and good access was problematic as usual.
HENRY FORD ELEMENTARY # 17: Checked at 10:30 am. The rulers, magnifying tool, etc. were out, but they put them at the electronic booth.The captain had a second set and put them on the check in table right away. They were directing all voters on the usage of the electronic machine. There were two extremely handicapped voters and the captain was helping them. Again they were very busy, but seemed to be trying to accommodate everyone's needs. They had already had 5 non-disabled voters use the electronic machine.The captain had the janitor bring them mats because the floors had become very slippery due to all the rain. The alley to get to the site was not very smooth. It was quite a hike to the site from the parking lot. This was not their fault as they were trying to reach the city clerk's office, but they were only given 6 sleeves so people were rolling up their ballots for privacy. I offerred to go to city hall to get some, but the captain said he was going to call or check at the office to see if he could get more.
CITY HALL ANNEX # 19: Checked at 10 am. There were no chairs except for the electronic machine, but the captain got one right away. Everything else was in order.
St. JOSEPH"S # 22 & 23: CHECKED AT 9:45 AM. Precinct # 22 had a handicap sign pointing to the area for the electronic machine. # 23 was exceptional in helping people with physical limitations. Neither precinct wanted to ask voters to use the electronic machines even though the lines were very long. The door was easier to open this year, but there is still quite a hump to get over. I had to pick up the front of my walker to get over the threshold.
One problem at all the sites was a lack of table space. There was barely enough room for the ballots, paperwork, etc., leaving almost no space for the braille book, ruler, etc. At one of the precints they had 2 chairs at the electronic booth so the voter could put their notes or whatever they needed. I believe it was H.F. Elementary. I was definitely more pleased this year than last.
Polling Access reports from John McFarlin: (Nine locations scouted.)
I stopped and parked in or near HANDICAPPED parking spots at every precinct. Then I tried the door that was (usually) right next to the handicapped spot. In every instance I was able to make it to the voting area with no issues. In the past, some of these doors had been locked, so there have been improvements.
Woodworth is still very, very bad insofar as handicapped parking. There are NO signs out front, and the woman in charge assured me that she had already spoke to the City about this issue. In fact, I noticed a van with a handicapped parking sticker parked in a "no parking" zone. So Woodworth is at the bottom of my list when it comes to accessable parking. My solution once again is for the Police to post temporary handicapped parking signs on election days.
At each site, I had a note that asked "is the special machine for the disabled/blind up and running?" I handed it to the poll leader, and they were happy to show me the machine itself, and I saw that it had all the required materials. Each site also had magnifying glasses available.
Mr. David Davis, the Chairman at Precinct 48 told me that their machine was "down, and had been down all day." He also stated that the City had told him that the special machines were down city-wide." However he assured me that they had a policy in place to accommodate anybody who needed special assistance.
I remain uncertain as to whether this was an isolated incident or if there were others reported. I have to note that I did not actually test (hands on) any of the machines, and in fact probably would have been discouraged from doing so. (!) I did see at least one visually impaired voter using the machine at William Ford Elementary.
I have a personal issue with over zealous campaign workers parking in almost every available space trying to get voters attention. I realize we cannot get rid of these nuisances, but again I feel compelled to ask that Dearborn Police post "temporary parking only" signs on voting streets during election days.
TAKEN FROM REPORT OF MARY HODAK:
Dearborn High School: Signage lacking to direct people to accessible paths.
(basically every thing else appeared to be pretty much in order.
Hubbard Manor East: Everything appeared in order except the booth did not offer any privacy so upon Mary’s suggested, the precinct captain immediately complied with suggestion to turn booth around for privacy. One observation, a voter “Barbara” had trouble with her arthritic fingers to press hard enough on the screen to register her vote. “Don” –captain, assisted in pressing the screen for her. No one suggested using head phones to correct this problem as an option !!
Henry Ford Retirement Community: Everything appeared to be in order except Mary was told that out of the three times the accessible voting booth was used, a phone call had to be made to the office to correct a problem. Mary also did observe a person using the magnifying glass with success.
SONYA TISHLER’S REPORT
McDonald School: When I arrived the new accessible voting machine was not set up, was still in the case. I questioned that and was told they were waiting for the janitor to get a table for it. I looked around the gym and saw the box with the table behind the standup voting booths so I assisted one of the workers in setting up the table/machine. They somehow did not remember that the table came in a box. Had to ask for the magnifying glass and ruler to be set out.
St.Alphonsus: They were in great shape this time. Everything was out and set up properly. Door knob to the hall still needs to be changed but everything else is in great shape. Pavement newly done, disabled parking signs look new and lines still need to be painted.
Oakman School: No problems here at all.
Becker School: No problems here at all.
Kennedy Plaza: No problems here at all.
Divine Child: good this time. Only problem was I asked where their magnifying glass and ruler were and they said at the new accessible machine where their supervisor told them they should be so I asked them to move them to other table as they were not needed at the accessible machine.
Haigh School: They were in absolute compliance with everything. Only thing is they could have used more booths. At site 41, people said they had been waiting over an hour (this was in the morning). Call was put in to city hall for possibility of getting more booths. Said they had offered the new machine but people were afraid to use. They need to make sure chairs are set up for future major elections-elderly people were leaving because of the long wait.
DuVall School: They were good at this site on everything. Young man (captain) said the precinct he was at last time got one of our certificates and then they moved him so he made sure this one was in compliance too. Said they will probably move him again – he would like to be at one of the sites with a certificate displayed !!
MY THOUGHT IS IF THE CITY CLERK WOULD MOVE HIM TO EACH AND EVERY SITE, ALL OF THEM WOULD EVENTUALLY BE IN TOTAL COMPLIANCE.
REPORT SUBMITTED BY GARY FILIAK:
Lowrey School: All interior areas in compliance except for signage directing people to accessible paths. People had to ask for directions.
Exterior conditions: path from accessible parking to the entrance to the building had a car parked in front of the door.
Maple School: Again, all interior areas in compliance except for lack of signage directing people to accessible paths.
Exterior conditions: Have one marked disability access parking spot. The path from the entrance of the building to the entrance of the actual polling location had the only door with a ramp locked. Hall marked caution, taped closed.
Salina School: Interior areas all in compliance. Exterior, parking signs and pavement markings not visible to the casual user.
Sisson Manor: The accessible voting booth was set up but not working. I reported that info while I was there. Exterior, two disability access parking signs are missing.
Administration Building: Everything in total compliance.
Whitmore Bolles: Interior in total compliance, even observed poll workers offering assistance to disabled voter and did a nice job.
Exterior: One disability access parking sign missing and the closest entrance to the building was locked.
Nowlin School: Interior, lacking good signage directing people to accessible paths. Accessible voting booth did not work. No chair set up. The machine not working, will help C. Maglie personally, and David Davis reported machine at 7:00 to Lola.
Exterior: This site has staff only parking sign at entrance. The path from the accessible parking to the entrance to the building not marked.
Long School: Interior-accessible voting booth set up but not working.-turned info in to Clerk’s office before 7:00 am. Dale Swanson advised that the workers were very helpful at this site.
Exterior: Two marked disability access parking signs missing.
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