SAN FRANCISCO
MAYOR’S DISABILITY COUNCIL
NOTICE OF MEETING AND CALENDAR

Friday, July 21, 2017
1 P.M. – 4 P.M.
Room 400, City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

REGULAR MEETING

MDC COUNCIL MEMBERS
Denise Senhaux, Co-Chair
Jim Blacksten
Tatiana Kostanian
Sally Coghlan McDonald
Orkid Sassouni
Helen Smolinski
Kate Williams

MAYOR’S OFFICE ON DISABILITY

NICOLE BOHN, DIRECTOR

ORDER OF BUSINESS

1.    WELCOME, INTRODUCTION, and ROLL CALL.

2.    ACTION ITEM:  Reading and Approval of the Agenda.

3.    PUBLIC COMMENT: Items not on today’s agenda, but within the jurisdiction of the MDC.  Each speaker is limited to three minutes.  Please approach the microphone or give your comment card to the MOD staff.

4.    INFORMATION ITEM: Co-Chair Report.

5.    INFORMATION ITEM: Report from the Mayor’s Office on Disability.

6.    INFORMATION ITEM: Legal Issues about Service and Support Animals. This presentation will discuss the legal framework around the issue of service and support animals, including the rights and obligations of animal owners. Presentation by Pamela Cohen, Staff Attorney, Disability Rights CA.

7.    INFORMATION ITEM: Current Issues with Service and Support Animals. A discussion of current issues and legal protections for people with service and support animals in housing, employment, and business establishments. Common concerns about verification of the need for an assistance animal, and access to businesses for people with Emotional Support Animals will be discussed. Presentation by Matthew Oglander,Investigator/Mediator Human Rights Commission.

[Public Comment Is Welcome]

[BREAK: The Council will take a 15 minute break].

8.    INFORMATION ITEM: Guide Dogs for the Blind. Since 1942, Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) has been creating partnerships between people, dogs, and communities by preparing highly qualified guide dogs to assist individuals who are blind or have low vision. Presentation by Theresa Stern, Vice President Outreach, Admissions and Alumni Services.

[Public Comment Is Welcome]

9.    INFORMATION ITEM: Canine Companions for Independence: The Making of a Successful Assistance Dog Team. Canine Companions is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs at no charge to the recipient. The Canine Companions’ candidate application and training process for the various types of dogs and personal experiences in public will be discussed. Presentation by Dorothy Fletcher, Speakers Bureau/Volunteer Coordinator and Service Dog Graduate,Canine Companions for Independence, South Bay Chapter

[Public Comment Is Welcome]

10. INFORMATION ITEM: Benefits and Challenges of Navigating the World with a Hearing Dog. Hearing dogs are trained to alert people to household and other environmental sounds. They are trained to make physical contact and lead their person to the source of the sound. Presentation by Susan Gonzalez, Legal Advocate Deaf Counseling, Advocacy and  Referral Agency (DCARA).         

[Public Comment Is Welcome]

11.  INFORMATION ITEM: Specialized Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD. No animal does more for us than the dog- our partner, our friend, our helpmate. These amazing creatures are specially trained to improve the quality of life of Veterans with PTSD. Presentation by Dr. Bonnie Bergin, Bergin University of Canine Studies.

[Public Comment Is Welcome]

12. INFORMATION ITEM: The Impact of the Human Animal Bond. PAWS exists to support the human animal bond, and keep people and their pets together through life’s challenges. The health benefits of companion animals are well documented, and PAWS has helped thousands of people and their companion animals find healing, hope and unconditional love. Presentation by Richard Goldman, Care Navigator Shanti Project, PAWS Program (Pets Are Wonderful Support).

[Public Comment Is Welcome]

13.  PUBLIC COMMENT:  Items not on today’s agenda, but within the jurisdiction of the MDC.  Each speaker is limited to three minutes. Please approach the microphone or give your comment card to the MOD staff.

14.  INFORMATION ITEM:  Correspondence.

15.  DISCUSSION ITEM:  Council Member comments and announcements.

16.  ADJOURNED.

Accessible Meeting Information

City Hall is accessible to persons using wheelchairs and other assistive mobility devices.  Wheelchair access is provided at the Grove, Van Ness and McAllister streets via ramps.  Wheelchair access at the Polk Street/ Carlton B. Goodlett entrance is provided through a wheelchair lift. Assistive listening devices are available and the meeting itself will be real-time captioned and sign language interpreted. Agendas are available in large print and Braille.  Other materials are available in alternative formats upon request.

Please make your requests for alternative format or additional accommodations to Council Clerk Joanna Fraguli at 1 + (415) 554-6789 (V), or e-mail mod@sfgov.org. Requesting accommodations at least 72 hours prior to the meeting will help to ensure availability.

The nearest accessible BART station is Civic Center Plaza at the intersection of Market, Grove, and Hyde Streets.  The accessible MUNI Metro lines are the J, K, L, M, and N (Civic Center Station or Van Ness Avenue Station).  MUNI bus lines serving the area are the 47 Van Ness, the 49 Van Ness, 9 San Bruno, 5-Fulton, 6, 7, and 21-Hayes. Accessible curbside parking is available on 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place and Grove Street.

In order to assist the City in accommodating persons with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, please refrain from wearing scented products to MDC Meetings or when visiting the MOD Office. This includes perfume, scented lotions, detergents, or hairsprays, etc. Thank you for helping us to provide meetings that are fully accessible to all people with disabilities.

Per the Language Access Ordinance (Chapter 91 of the San Francisco Administrative Code), Chinese, Spanish and or Filipino (Tagalog) interpreters will be available upon request. Assistance in additional languages may be honored whenever possible. To request assistance with these services please contact the Council Clerk Joanna Fraguli at (415) 554-6789 or mod@sfgov.org at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.  Late requests will be fulfilled if possible.

Chinese 語言服務

根據語言服務條例（三藩市行政法典第91章），中文、西班牙語和/或菲律賓語（泰加洛語）傳譯人員在收到要求後將會提供傳譯服務。其他語言協助在可能的情況下也將可提供。上述的要求，請於會議前最少48小時致電 (415) 554-6789或電郵至 mod@sfgov.org向會議秘書 Joanna Fraguli提出。逾期提出的請求，若可能的話，亦會被考慮接納。

Spanish ACCESO A IDIOMAS     

De acuerdo con la Ordenanza de Acceso a Idiomas (Capítulo 91 del Código Administrativo de San Francisco), habrá intérpretes de Chino, Español y/o Filipino (Tagalo) disponibles de ser requeridos. La asistencia en otros idiomas será tomada en consideración siempre y cuando sea posible. Para solicitar asistencia con estos servicios por favor comuníquese con el Secretario del Concilio Joanna Fraguli al (415) 554-6789, o mod@sfgov.org por lo menos 48 horas antes de la reunión. Las solicitudes tardías serán tomadas en consideración de ser posible.

Filipino PAG-ACCESS SA WIKA   

Ayon sa Language Access Ordinance (Chapter 91 ng San Francisco Administrative Code), maaaring mag-request ng mga tagapagsalin sa wikang Tsino, Espanyol, at/o Filipino (Tagalog). Maaaring humingi ng tulong sa ibang wika. Sa mga ganitong uri na kahilingan, mangyaring tumawag sa Council Clerk Joanna Fraguli sa (415) 554-6789, o mod@sfgov.org  sa hindi bababa sa 48 oras bago ng pagpupulong. Kung maaari, ang mga late na hiling ay pagbibigyan.

Mayor’s Disability Council Accessible Documents Policy

Please note that no materials may be distributed for consideration or review by Council Members at a meeting, unless these materials have been provided to MOD Staff in electronic format at least two days (and preferably four days) prior to the meeting.  For further information, please call or contact the Mayor’s Office on Disability at 1 + (415) 554-6789, Voice or email MOD@sfgov.org

Meeting Broadcast & Webcast

For persons with disabilities or others who cannot attend in person, meetings are broadcast (open captioned) on SFGTV Channel 26.  Call 1 + (415) 554-4188 for listings. MDC Meetings are also video streamed live and are archived at:  http://sanfrancisco.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=17

Videotapes of the three most recent MDC meetings are made available ten days after the meeting date in the Main Public Library. 

Telephone Bridge Line at 1 + (415) 554-9632

Members of the public who wish to listen to and/or participate in this meeting but are unable to physically attend, may call into the Council’s ‘Telephone Bridge Line’ at 1 + (415) 554-9632.  Up to thirty persons may listen on this conference line, and may be recognized to speak during public comment periods.  Call 1 + (415) 554-9632 after 1:00 p.m. and a staff person will handle requests to speak at the appropriate times on the agenda.