2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
Carol Patterson
Damian Pickering
Sergio Alunan
Jim Brune
Vincent Behan
Ed Evans
Michael Kwok
August Longo
Allison Lum
Frank Marone
Leroy Moore
Walter Park
Council Secretary
Mayor’s Disability Council
Minutes
15 February 2002
1:16 p.m.
1 ROLL CALL
Mayor’s Disability Council Members Present: Sergio Alunan, Allison Lum, Vincent Behan, Ed Evans, Frank Marone, Leroy Moore, Carol Patterson and Damian Pickering.
Excused Absent:
Absent: Jim Brune and August Longo.
Mayor’s Office on Disability: Walter Park, Director; Susan Mizner, Assistant Director; Jada Jackson, Assistant to the Director.
Co-Chair, Carol Patterson called the meeting to order.
2 APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
The agenda was approved.
3 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
The minutes from the meetings of November, 2001 and December, 2001 were approved.
4 PUBLIC COMMENT.
· Roger Bazeley stated that he is working on school pedestrian traffic safety and accessibility for children and seniors and stated that the following issues need to be addressed:
Sidewalk accessibility during corner and sidewalk ramp construction projects especially on Geary Boulevard
The location of fire call boxes should be accessible to disabled people and new traffic light poles should be installed to replace old poles
The Department of Parking and Traffic (DPT) construction blue book manual should be rewritten to address issues and enforcement procedures for safe pedestrian passage and accessibility around construction projects
DPT CPO Traffic Officers around construction projects
Support of LADDER crosswalks at all key intersections and crosswalks in areas such as Geary and Van Ness Streets
· Davey Jones expressed his concern with the following issues:
Disabled people not being allowed to use their Muni Fast Passes on board within the City limits
The Department of Building Inspection failing in their obligation under Title 24, the disability accessibility into aisles of retail stores
Mr. Kwok pointed out to people giving public comment that it is more appropriate to say "people with disability" or ""disabled people" instead of saying "handicapped"; instead of saying "wheelchair bound", it is better to say "wheelchair user".
5 REPORT FROM THE CO-CHAIRS.
Co-chair Damian Pickering made the following comments:
· Mr. Pickering apologized for the cancellation of the January meeting of the Mayor’s Disability Council. Mr. Pickering stated that this decision was made by the MDC Executive Committee, and was based on the fact that there weren’t adequate items prepared for presentation at the January meeting, nor a quorum at the December meeting, and did not want to repeat that situation.
· There was a meeting of the Department of Elections Accessibility Advisory Committee. Discussions were on the accessibility of polling places and how they are selected and on the possibility of installing accessible electronic voting equipment in San Francisco. Mr. Pickering is hopeful that there might be some accessible voting machines to test for the November election. Ms. Tammy Haygood, Director of the Department of Elections is very interested in improving the accessibility of voting in San Francisco and hopes that this advisory committee will be instrumental in developing a plan for addressing accessibility of the elections process in the City.
· Mr. Pickering congratulated Councilor Leroy Moore for being honored as a KQED "Local Hero". He is one of seven African-American men and women making a difference in the Bay Area as an advocate for the African-American disability community.
Leroy Moore thanked KQED and Protection and Advocacy for the award but felt that he was just doing his job in letting others know that they have a voice in their community.
6 REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR
Walter Park, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office on Disability (MOD) gave a report on the following:
· The first accessible door telephone entry security system has now been installed at 345 Arguello Boulevard. This door entry system gives verbal instructions, allowing a blind person to operate the door entry system. This system was inaugurated by the Mayor on February 27, 2002.
· There was a meeting of the Department of Elections Accessibility Advisory Committee and discussions were on the cost effectiveness of moving to an electronic method of voting and how to make the voting process more accessible to people with disabilities.
· There was a meeting of the Children’s Hidden Disabilities Study and Forum which is a group that is compiling a study and will be conducting a forum in November 2002. The study and forum is regarding children who need special education or are currently enrolled in special education or children who have hidden disabilities. This project is a collaboration with the Mayor’s Office on Disability, the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families, the school district and others.
· The Mayor’s Office on Disability gave testimony before the Redevelopment Agency Commission supporting their proposal to place Talking Signs in the Yerba Buena Gardens. This would be the first installation in a public park nationally.
· MOD has been working with a large bio-technology firm, who is interested in increasing employment of persons with disabilities in their workforce.
· The Port held a meeting with Port tenants regarding the accessibility of Pier 45. The Port has accepted $1.5 million to help perform some tenant improvements or to create tenant spaces within the pier. The Port has given written reassurances that when the project is finished it will be fully accessible and will have two accessible fire routes.
· Members of the deaf and hard of hearing had a Town Hall meeting to present the Needs Assessment for this community. Interpreters were at this meeting for people who can hear, since most participants were from the deaf and hard of hearing community.
· The Mayor’s Office on Disability met with representatives from CalTrans and the Federal Highway Administration to develop trainings for cities and counties for pedestrian access. This would benefit local and public transportation functions around the state.
· Mr. Park attended the first meeting of a new group that was formed by the State Department of Housing and Community Development. This committee will begin revising the housing codes in the state of California. One important issues that has come up is the visitability of residential units.
7 COMMITTEE REPORTS.
REPORT FROM THE EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE
No report.
REPORT FROM THE PHYSICAL ACCESS COMMITTEE
No report.
REPORT FROM THE PROGRAMMATIC ACCESS COMMITTEE
Harry Mar, Chair, gave a report on the activities of the Programmatic Access Committee:
· The meeting in January focused on completing a final review of the evacuation chair resolution and finalizing the survey that was sent out as part of the Needs Assessment for bid preference in contracting with the City.
· February’s meeting focused on some of the survey returns from disabled-owned businesses. Some of the committee members will be doing follow-up interviews.
· Mr. Mar encouraged businesses that are owned by disabled people, who have an interest in bid preferences in `City contracts to contact the Mayor’s Office on Disability at 554-6789.
· The Programmatic Access Committee meets the first Friday of each month at the Rose Resnick Lighthouse located at 214 Van Ness, 2nd Floor conference room at 11:00 a.m.
Michael Kwok inquired about how many surveys were mailed out and how many responses have been received.
Mr. Mar stated that approximately 200 surveys had been mailed out and that surveys are still coming back in.
8 BY-LAW AMENDMENT TO CREATE STAGGERED TERMS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS PER THE CIVIL GRAND JURY RECOMMENDATIONS.
Walter Park stated that the creation of staggered terms for the Council are in response to the recommendations of the Civil Grand Jury. Mr. Park clarified that although this amendment creates terms, it doesn’t create term limits but sets a fixed term each time.
Frank Marone wanted clarification on how reappointment is planned once a member’s term is over and if what will happen if there is no appointment made.
Mr. Park stated that just as with any other commission, the Mayor or the Board (whichever is the appointing person) will be made aware that terms are ending and then will decide whether to make a reappointment or to appoint a new person. Mr. Park stated that people would continue to serve, once their term had expired, until a reappointment or new appointment has been made. A member can retire from the Commission at any time they do not want to serve.
Michael Kwok pointed out that there is a member of the Council, who has not attended a meeting in over a year. Mr. Kwok wanted to know how this member’s lack of attendance would factor in with deciding the terms for each member.
Ed Evans stated that having staggered terms for the council members is an opportunity for the Mayor to review each member’s accomplishments and decide whether to reappoint them or not.
The motion passed as amended 8-0.
9 RESOLUTION REGARDING EVACUATION CHAIR INSTALLATION IMPLEMENTATION.
Damian Pickering stated that safety, emergency evacuations, and how these issues pertain to people with disabilities have come to the forefront since the events on September 11th 2001.
Susan Mizner, Assistant Director of Programmatic Accessibility at the Mayor’s Office on Disability, read the proposed resolution regarding evacuation chair installation implementation.
Frank Marone proposed that the wording in the second clause of the resolution be changed to read, "Whereas, the need and efficacy of emergency evacuation chairs in multi-story buildings is well documented ."
Ed Evans stated that he was used as a "guinea pig" in demonstrating the use of the evacuation chair and was pleased with the outcome of this demonstration. Mr. Evans encouraged the manufacturers to upgrade the equipment to allow for people up to 250 pounds to be able to use the evacuation chair.
Michael Kwok inquired if there is any state legislation regulating the maximum pounds for the evacuation chair.
Ms. Mizner stated that evacuation chairs are fairly new on the market and have not yet been regulated. The preferred evacuation chair is the most sturdy and can hold up to 250 pounds.
Public Comment on Evacuation Chair
Roger Bazeley stated that he supported an evacuation chair implementation especially on fire trucks and wanted to know how much an evacuation chair would cost.
JoAnn Scordino, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator of the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Services, stated that she has viewed a demonstration of how the evacuation chair and she supports this policy. She states that a part of the plan is that in the event of a disaster or emergency, NERT volunteers would be able to use the chairs to assist people with disabilities.
The motion passed as amended 8-0.
10 DISCUSSION ON MULTI-CULTURAL DISABILITY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
Leroy Moore stated that multi-cultural disability community organizations are organizations that represent people of color with disabilities. Mr. Moore gave a summary of the following:
· In 1990, the U.S. Census points out that the population of people of color in California has outnumbered the Caucasian population.
· The National Council on Disability stated in a 1998 report that the disabled population in California has an overrepresentation of disabled people of color.
· Many disabled people of color have been left out of the disability rights movement, especially in the area of independent living.
David Aldape, President of Alianza gave a report on the following:
· Alianza is an organization that advocates for Latinos with disabilities.
· There are many issues of concern that the affect people with disabilities in the Mission area such as the lack of curb cuts.
· Mr. Aldape is Interim President of Disability Advocates for Minority Organization (DAMO). DAMO is starting a unity of Asians, African-Americans, and Latinos to get more people of color involved in their neighborhoods.
Raja Raheem, staff of the Sickle Cell Network - which provides outreach advocacy and support services, gave a the following report:
· Sickle Cell Anemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects the hemoglobin, red blood cells. The cells take on a sickle shape due to a lack of oxygen. The results are pain, swelling, and damage to various tissues and organs in the body.
· There is no age limit - Sickle Cell affects children to adults.
· Many healthcare professionals call Sickle Cell Disease the "neglected disease" that represents a major public health problem in California.
· Among African-Africans 1 in 14 have the sickle cell anemia trait. 1 out of 183 Hispanics have the trait.
· There is a family resource center in Oakland that provides resources to affected clients and their families and helps them to access services they may need.
· Many times children with Sickle Cell Anemia are neglected by their schools and are absent a lot from school. The family resource center provides services to these children to help empower them through education support and access to services that aren’t being provided by the schools.
· Ms. Raheem pointed out that this family resource center can be duplicated in San Francisco.
· For more information about Sickle Cell Anemia or to volunteer call 877-726-2372 or e-mail the Executive Director at [email protected]
Public Comment on Multi-Cultural Disability Organizations
John Webber, Counselor of Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach, stated that he supports the idea of multi-cultural disability organizations. Mr. Webber stated that he is currently working with individuals who are afraid of going to work for fear of losing their benefits. Mr. Webber stated that he is concerned about many issues facing youth with disabilities, especially surrounding their benefits. Families that have youth who are on disability insurance, SSI or SSDI can contact Mr. Webber at 543-6222 or e-mail at [email protected]. Mr. Webber stated that he was appointed as one of the nine people to the Californian State Steering Committee on the Medicaid Infrastructure and will be bringing the issue of children and Medicaid and health insurance to the state level.
Leroy Moore stated that he is looking forward to a family resource center in San Francisco like the one operated by the Sickle Cell Network in Oakland.
Frank Marone wanted to know what the situation was for children with hidden disabilities, such as sickle cell anemia, in schools and recreation areas. Mr. Marone also inquired about the resources and supports available for these children.
Raja Raheem stated that she is not aware of a lot of support available for children with hidden disabilities in school. Ms. Raheem stated that she and a few other people are discussing putting together a workshop that would bring members of the school district together to discuss sickle cell anemia and the awareness about these disease. Ms. Raheem stated that often times children feel they are being penalized for having this disease because they are often times placed in Special Education classes. Ms. Raheem stated that she would come before the Mayor’s Disability Council when she has a proposal regarding this workshop.
Vincent Behan stated that when individuals receiving benefits go back to work they no longer have a share of cost, but when they quit their jobs and have less money coming in they have to pay a share of cost.
Mr. Webber stated that there are several programs that assist a person with disabilities receiving benefits to be able to go back to work, such as AB 925 and the Expedited Reinstatement Program.
Mr. Moore stated that there are many multi-cultural disability organizations that have conferences to help people of color with disabilities such as Harambee Educational Council, which is a statewide organization for African-American individuals. The contact for Harambee is Sonia Jackson-Ricks and her phone number is (510) 547-7322.
Allison Lum stated that Family Rights Indignity, an organization that focuses on homeless issues and does outreach for families, can be contacted at 346-3740.
Mr. Kwok stated that there are two multi-cultural organizations in the Chinatown community: Association of Families for Chinese Disabled, contact Nancy Lim-Yee at 392-4453; and the Disabled Persons for Accessible Chinatown, contact Man-Mei Cheng at - Nancy Lim is the contact and can be reached at 398-3132.
11 CORRESPONDENCE.
None.
12 PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
13 MEMBER REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.
Vincent Behan would like to discuss the absence of council member August Longo for more than 12 consecutive meetings. Carol Patterson stated that this item is not within the jurisdiction of the Mayor’s Disability Council and can not be placed on the agenda.
Damian Pickering stated that the Mayor is aware of the general issue of Council attendance.
Ed Evans requested that the Department of Parking and Traffic is invited to a future meeting to discuss enforcement and their phone system.
Carol Patterson reminded Councilors of the importance in attending Executive Committee meetings to assist in planning future agendas.
Michael Kwok would like to discuss paratransit services and how applications to the taxi program are being processed.
Allison Lum stated that one of the issues of concern for the Bayview Hunter’s Point District is that the PG&E power plant might close. Many people living in this area suffer from asthma which is a result of living and working in areas near the power plant. The people mostly affected are people of color and women under 50 in this area have twice the rate of getting breast cancer. Ms. Lum would like for these issues to be on a future agenda.
14 COUNCILORS’ COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Vincent Behan stated that after recently attending an In-Home Support Services Conference in Fresno, he realizes that people with disabilities in San Francisco are lucky in regards to the benefits they are able to receive. Mr. Behan stated that there are some people with disabilities in other areas that don’t have access to transportation.
Leroy Moore pointed out that In-Home Support Services will be a future agenda item.
Ed Evans extended "get well" wishes to Bruce Oka, who is recuperating from surgery.
Allison Lum made the following announcements:
· "People’s Earth Day for Environmental Justice" and community health fair is scheduled for April 20th in India Basin Park from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
· The San Francisco Housing Authority has changed their priority policy to not include people with disabilities. Some community groups have been working on setting up a meeting to discuss this issue with the Director. Ms. Lum will keep the Council informed about this topic.
Carol Patterson congratulated Councilor Sergio Alunan, who was recently appointed to the Taxi Commission by Mayor Brown.
17 ADJOURNMENT.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:13 p.m. in honor of Joe Kaufman, advocate for housing and zoning issues for people with disabilities, who passed away recently.