RESOLUTION #2006-05

Mayor's Disability Council Resolution

Urging that the City Charter Be Amended to Change the Names of the Department of Aging & Adult Services and

the Commission on Aging to

the Department of Aging & Disability Services

and the Commission on Aging and Disability Services

WHEREAS in July 2000 the Office on Aging merged with the Public Administrator/Public Guardian's Office and the County Veteran's Office, and in subsequent years incorporated Adult Protective Services and In-Home Supportive Services, to create the Department of Aging and Adult Services; and

WHEREAS the intent of the Mayor and the Controller's Office was for the Department of Aging and Adult Services to expand its services to equally serve adults with disabilities and seniors; and

WHEREAS the Commission on Aging name was to be changed to the Commission on Aging and Adult Services through a Charter Amendment; and

WHEREAS the recent Community Needs Assessment issued by the Department of Aging and Adult Services itself found that the Department has "no official mandate to serve younger persons with disabilities" and no City Charter provision for the Commission on Aging to change its name to the Commission on Aging and Adult Services; and

WHEREAS, on October 20, 2006, a first-ever joint meeting of the Commission on Aging and the Mayor's Disability Council convened for the purpose of holding a Public Hearing to assist the Department of Aging and Adult Services to prioritize funding for services to adults with disabilities; and

WHEREAS at this meeting consumers and advocates also raised concerns that the Department of Aging and Adult Services lacks an official mandate to serve adults with disabilities; lacks dedicated funding for services for adults with disabilities, and uses General Fund money to primarily fund programs serving seniors; and

WHEREAS relatively few people, either in the public or even in City Departments are aware that the term Adult Services in Aging and Adult Services refers to services for adults with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, as a consequence, disability-related service enquiries are routinely forwarded inappropriately to the Mayor's Office on Disability;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that The City undertake to amend or rewrite its Charter to clearly specify that the Department of Aging and Adult Services has a mandate to equally serve adults with disabilities along with seniors; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the San Francisco Mayor's Disability Council urges that appropriate measures be undertaken to officially change the name of the Department of Aging and Adult Services to the Department of Aging and Disability Services ; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor's Disability Council urges that appropriate measures similarly be undertaken to officially change the name of the Commission on Aging to the Commission on Aging & Disability Services ; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor's Disability Council urges this Commission to recruit Commissioners with disabilities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Mayor's Disability Council and the Mayor's Office on Disability extend ourselves to cooperate and collaborate with this Commission and Department to accomplish these measures.

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November 17, 2006 Mayors Disability Council - ADOPTED

Ayes: 6 - Jul Lynn Parsons, Jack Fagan,

Norma Block, Denise Senhaux,

Richard Ow and Tatiana Kostanian.

Nay: 0

Absent: Elizabeth Grigsby and Amy Wishnie