2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
Gavin Newsom
Mayor
Susan Mizner
Director
Jul Lynn Parsons
F. Ross Woodall
Co-Chairs
Raphaella Bennin
Benito Casados
Harriet Chiu Chan
Joseph Fong
Elizabeth Grigsby
Tatiana Kostanian
Sarah Estes Merrell
Denise Senhaux
Vincent Webster
Mayor’s Disability Council
Minutes
17 October 2008
1 ROLL CALL
Mayor’s Disability Council Members Present: Ralphaella Bennin, Benito Casados, Harriet Chiu Chan, Denise Senhaux, Joseph Fong, Tatiana Kostanian, Jul Lynn Parsons and F. Ross Woodall.
Excused Absence: Sarah Estes Merrell and Vincent Webster
Absent: Elizabeth Grigsby
Mayor’s Office on Disability: Susan Mizner, Director; John Paul Scott, Deputy Director for Physical Access; Joanna Fraguli, Deputy Director for Programmatic Access; Ken Stein, Program Administrator; and Howard O. Wong, Council Clerk.
F. Ross Woodall, Co-Chair, called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m.
2 APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The Council approved the agenda of the October 17, 2008 MDC Meeting.
3 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
The Council approved the Minutes from the September 19th Meeting.
4 PUBLIC COMMENT
Cheryl Damico announced that there is a celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Paratransit Coordinating Council on Friday, November 14th at SF City Hall.
Walter Park, Chair of the Access Appeals Commission urged the community to attend their meeting on October 24th where they will be reviewing the policies and procedures on destination-based elevators.
William Farrell recommended that people seek out individual counseling, therapy groups and/or support organizations when one feels depressed and/or suicidal.
5 REPORT FROM THE CHAIR
Co-Chair Woodall introduced new MDC member Harriet Chiu Chan. Ms. Chan said that it is an honor to be chosen to serve on the MDC and thanked the Mayor and MOD for giving her this opportunity. Ms. Chan spoke about her background and experience with disability issues including having an adult child with autism as well as volunteering and working with a number of disability organizations including the Association for Chinese Families of the Disabled.
6 REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR’S OFFICE ON DISABILITY
Ms. Mizner reported on the following:
* Legislation – The ADA Restoration Act has now been signed by President Bush after having been passed by the House and Senate. This act protects all people with disabilities, including those whose disabilities are mitigated by medication.
* Disability Placard Abuse – Municipal Transit Authority (MTA) has increased the number of parking control officers targeting the fraudulent use of the placards. Officers have been educated on people with “hidden/invisible” disabilities. In addition, Supervisors Alioto-Pier and McGoldrick have introduced legislation to increase the fine for placard abuse to $1,000.
* ADA Grievances – MOD has received complaints on a number of disability issues including service animals, Segway use, and lack of equal access on Muni. Ms. Mizner noted that service animals are allowed anywhere and that they are expected to behave appropriately and stay under the owner’s control; Segways are banned for use on sidewalks and public transportation, except when used by people with disabilities; and a father filed a complaint with Muni on behalf of his daughter with a wheelchair who was passed up by several buses. The investigation found no fault with Muni because the drivers had correctly followed the policy of calling into headquarters to report a pass-up, which leads to the need for policies and procedures that prioritize people with disabilities.
* Future agenda items - Ms. Mizner suggested accessible bookmobiles and maintaining public rights-of-way as possible MDC agenda items. The library has bookmobiles with accessible wheelchair lifts, but they are slow and cumbersome. The library is seeking MOD’s assistance to look at other options. The public right-of-way continues to be an issue because people park on the sidewalk, construction blocks the path of travel, etc.
7 HONORING JESSIE LORENZ FOR WINNING THE GOLD MEDAL IN PARALYMPIC 2008 IN BEIJING, CHINA.
Ken Stein presented Ms. Lorenz with a Mayoral Proclamation declaring October 17th 2008 as Jessie Lorenz Day in San Francisco for her participation as a member of the United States National Women’s Goalball Paralympic Team in winning the Gold Medal this September 2008 (see attached). Ms. Lorenz stated that she is honored and thanked the Mayor, MOD and the community for their support.
8 MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT UPDATE: LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD FOR PEOPLE WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES.
Alecia Hopper, Mental Health Association (MHA), reported that Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) provides funding for mental health services. The Act mandates that clients have a primary decision-making role, including providing input on one’s treatment program. She stated that the mandate also provides funding for education and training in the workforce. Ms. Hopper said MHA and Community Behavioral Health Services (CBHS) are working collaboratively “to create a mental health system that promotes the reality that mental health recovery is possible….people can and do recover”.
Dr. Alice Gleghorn, Deputy Director of Community Behavioral Health Services, provided an overview of the services they provide. Their funding comes from MHSA, with an expected income of 1.9 million dollars annually. Their primary focuses are on workforce development, education and training. She noted that they have been able to hire consumers with personal experience in mental health for some of their positions, ranging from specialists to management positions. Some additional services include the Peer Recovery Program, the Outpatient Clinic, the Behavioral Access Center, Housing Development Program and substance abuse treatment services. She stated that many of the sites are fully accessible.
Michael Wise, a consumer and Mental Health advocate, spoke of how the MHSA has benefitted him including finding employment as an MHSA Implementation Specialist. Mr. Wise stated that the Act has provided services and opportunities, but “the demand for access to mental health services is far exceeding capacity……and amid a system-wide reduction in services, and a continuing pattern of community service closures in the area of supportive housing, community resource centers, and primary care facilities”. He felt there is a lot to be done including education and outreach.
9 MDC CO-CHAIR ELECTION.
Jul Lynn Parsons was nominated and was unanimously re-elected as Co-Chair for another term.
10 DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS’ NOVEMBER ELECTIONS UPDATE – PRESENTATION BY CHARLES MACNULTY, DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS
Mr. MacNulty reported on services to voters with specific needs, including providing voting materials in large print, audio tapes, as well as in different languages including Chinese and Spanish. He provided an update on polling place accessibility with curbside voting, negotiating for additional spaces and making sure sites with chair lifts and elevators are working properly. Mr. MacNulty provided information about the Edge Accessible Touchscreen Voting Machine, which has a keypad and audio output for people with mobility or visual impairments. For more information on voting accessibility, visit www.sfelections.org or call 415/554-4375.
11 SHAKE-UP SAN FRANCISCO DRILL AT 12:00 NOON, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21ST – PRESENTATION BY JOANNA FRAGULI, MAYOR’S OFFICE ON DISABILITY.
Ms. Fraguli stated that the Mayor initiated this citywide drill for the public and City Departments. It will begin with the regular noon time siren, and will include text messages being sent to those who registered with www.alertsf.org telling them that this is a test. She urged the community to utilize this time in assessing one’s own disaster supplies at home; creating a list of contacts for a support network and one’s list of medications; practicing “drop, cover and hold” whether you are at work, school, home, etc. Ms. Fraguli advised the community to visit www.72hours.org for information on pre-disaster preparedness and www.alertsf.org for post-disaster information.
12 REPORT FROM THE PHYSICAL ACCESS COMMITTEE
John Paul Scott, Deputy Director of Physical Access for MOD, reported that there was no meeting this month due to lack of attendance. He stated that there will be a meeting in November and one of the topics will be on proposed curb ramps.
13 REPORT FROM THE DISABILITY DISASTER PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE
Co-Chair Woodall reported that this committee has been preparing for the upcoming Mayor’s Shake-Up SF Drill scheduled for Tuesday, October 21s.
14 PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment.
15 CORRESPONDENCE
No correspondence.
16 COUNCIL MEMBERS COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
MDC Member Fong announced that the World Institute on Disability is having their 25th Anniversary Celebration with a fundraiser scheduled on Friday, November 7th. For more info, visit www.wid.org.
MDC Member Casados urged the community to attend the transit meeting next Tuesday, October 21st to voice their concerns about the closure of #26 bus’ route. He stated that many riders, seniors and people with disabilities, prefer this particular bus line due to less crowding than the other bus routes.
Ms. Mizner announced that Micki Callahan, the new HR Director of Department of Human Resources has re-started the process to look at how the City can hire people with disabilities in city government positions. She also urged the community to attend the Civil Service Commission Meeting next Monday, October 20th to voice their concerns about this issue.
Co-Chair Woodall announced that the Lighthouse for the Blind has an exhibit called Insights at City Hall in the basement level that will be there till mid-December. He reminded the public to vote in the national election on Tuesday, November 4th.
17 ADJOURNMENT
Co-Chair Woodall adjourned the meeting at 4:00 pm in the memory of David Landis, a disability rights advocate who passed away recently.
For additional information, please contact:
Mayor’s Office on Disability
401 Van Ness, Room 300
San Francisco, CA 94102
415.554.6789 voice; 415.554.6799 TTY; 415.554.6159 fax;
Email: [email protected]
JESSIE LORENZ DAY MAYORAL PROCLAMATION
Proclamation
City & County of San Francisco
WHEREAS, Jessie Lorenz brought home a Gold Medal from the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing China as a member of the United States national women’s Goalball team, as well as a Silver Medal at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens Greece; and
WHEREAS, Jessica Lorenz carried the Olympic Torch representing San Francisco and athletes with disabilities in the Spring of 2008; and
WHEREAS, Jessica Lorenz is working toward the creation and development of the California Association of Blind Athletes (CABA), an organization that will be dedicated to increasing opportunities for persons who are blind to participate in competitive sport in California; and is contributing a large portion of her Gold Medal winnings toward CABA start-up costs; and
WHEREAS, , Jessica Lorenz, at a young age has already contributed substantially to the disability community, with work at the Independent Living Resource Center and the Lighthouse for the Blind, including assisting in voter registration drives, in bringing Accessible Pedestrian Signals to San Francisco and with improving new technology for the blind community; and
WHEREAS, Jessica Lorenz has distinguished herself as a local community leader whose outstanding personal achievements have brought honor not only to herself, the broader disability community and the City and County of San Francisco, but to the nation as a whole,
THEREFORE, we honor Jessie Lorenz as a Paralympian who has worked continually and tirelessly to improve her game and spread the Paralympic message of inclusion to people with and without disabilities; and
WE HEREBY DECLARE October 17th 2008 as Jessie Lorenz Day in San Francisco.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City and County of San Francisco to be affixed.
(SIGNED)
Gavin Newsom
Mayor