HomeMy WebLinkAboutM1999_02_11Mayor's Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities February 11, 1999
A meeting of the Brookings Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities was held on
Thursday, February 11, 1999 at 10:00 a.m. in Brookings City Hall. Members present: Emily
Bennett, Kurt Cogswell, Nancy Hartenhoff, Marla Muxen, Lynda Muller, David Bertelson, and
Kay Cutler. Shelley Pederson, Kristi Bloom, and Aimee Baltezore were absent.
1. Chairperson Hartenhoff called the meeting to order.
2. A enda. (Bertelson/Bennett) M/S/P to adopt the agenda.
3. Minutes. (Cutler/Bertelson) M/S/P to approve the January 14, 1999 minutes.
4. Announcements.
• City Board Training is scheduled for February 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Local Affiliate Training is scheduled for February 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in
Sioux Falls. Hartenhoff, Muxen and Baltezore plan to attend.
Bennett is seeking suggestions on forming a support group for people with
disabilities.
5. Next Meetine. - Thursday, March 11 at 10:00 a.m.
6. Swiftel Communications. Dan Tupa, Swiftel Communications, said they have spiral
bound telephone books available. Swiftel wants to make them available to individuals
who need them. Swiftel has them available at the office or could make delivery
arrangements.
Swiftel also offers an exemption from paying directory assistance charges to people with
disabilities. These exemptions are listed on page 11 of the phone directory. Forms are
available at the phone company. Page 4 outlines the hearing and speech section. Low-
income individuals are also eligible for rate reductions. 200 spiral books are available
and more can be provided. Members suggested he contact Social Services and
Rehabilitation Services, and post a notice at the Clinic and Senior Citizens Center.
Cable TV Channel 6 is another good outlet for this type of information. The
committee offered to voice a PSA for radio if Tupa could write the script.
Governor's Awards. Dunn announced there was one statewide winner from
Brookings. The name can't be released until the winner is notified.
Barrier Awareness Day. Muxen has made the necessary arrangements with the schools
to hold the event on March 16, 17 and 19. Volunteers are needed in the following
areas:
Medary
March 16"'
Hillcrest
March 17"
Central
March 19`x'
1
Kurt
Kay
Kay
2
Lynda
Lynda
3
Nancy??
4
5
6
Mayor's Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities February 11, 1999
The goal will be to staff the following six stations with two people at each: learning,
speech, fine motor, visual, hearing, mental illness.
Principals will provide the tables and chairs.
Muxen said coloring books were used last year. She asked where they are available? The
committee was uncertain where Judy Jencks got them. Dunn will do some checking.
Bertelson volunteered to drop off and pick up the display board at the school sites.
Having the "I Can Move" video playing during the activities was suggested. Cutler has a
small TV she could loan.
Cutler said her students could get extra credit for assisting in the event.
There is also a PSI requirement teachers must fulfill that requires 10 hours of
community service for the ongoing certification.
Members asked the display board and materials be available to see at the next meeting.
9. Accessible Transportation. The next Arts Festival Committee meeting is April 7 at 7:30
p.m. at Artworks. The entire March meeting will be dedicated to the selection of artists.
David Hoyt attended the January Festival Committee meeting. He had the impression
that there are a lot of new faces on the committee and continued education about the
ADA is needed. Clarification on the rights of people disabilities and responsibilities of
the festival committee under the ADA civil rights law is needed. This committee
should continue to offer assistance.
Dan Kemp, Festival Committee, told Cogswell that space could be made available for
wheelchair rentals if the committee takes care of it. Cogswell said the cost for 8 chairs
for 2 days is $100. There was discussion about which entity should pay the rental cost.
This committee seeks to promote accessibility and independence for people with
disabilities and to encourage the community to accept its responsibilities under the
ADA. How can we encourage them to plan for the needs of people with disabilities?
The Committee approached the Arts Festival Comtntitee two years ago after the
Renaissance Festival lost an ADA lawsuit and had to make their booths, path of travel,
parking and bathrooms accessible. The committee's goal has been to help the Festival
be proactive and identify problems before they reach complaint level. The Festival
Committee needs to take steps to become more responsible for the accessibility of the
event. It should be stipulated in their contracts that all booths must be accessible and a
portion of the service counters be no more than 36" in height.
Hoyt suggested more education be provided on the minimum standards for accessibility.
A letter from the chair was suggested.
The committee asked for a current list of the members.
Mayor's Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities February 11, 1999
It was suggested that members of this committee serve on a Festival committee
subcommittee on disability issues.
Sponsorship of the wheelchair rental will have to be decided by March.
10. Homeshow 1999. (Muxen/Bertelson) Motion to rent a booth at the 1999 Homeshow
and create a display. All present voted yes; motion carried.
Last year's exhibit didn't catch people's attention. We need to give away free things to
lure them in. Accessible restaurants may contribute to the drawing. Registering to win
something was suggested. Find all the inaccessible things in a picture or constructed set.
11. Workshop Subcommittee Report. Hartenhoff and Cogswell met earlier to brainstorm
on workshop ideas. They suggested the committee focus on bringing resources to
targeted audiences (senior apartment complex residents, senior center participants, and
students at building trades classes). Hoyt suggested if we know a large building project
is going to happen the presentation could be made to the board in charge of the project.
Possible training dates by the Regional Affiliate was discussed: Shelly Pfaff is available
May 24.27, June 1.3, and June 28.30. The best dates for everyone was during May 24.27
in the evening (5 to 9 pm). Dunn will make arrangements.
Dunn has been in contact with representatives of the Regional Home Builders Association
about a workshop for contractors this spring. She suggested asking Shelley Pfaff to present
at the workshop.
12. Discussion and possible recommendation on committee size. (Hoyt/Cudcr) Motion to
reduce the size of the Mayor's Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities from 13 to
11. All present voted yes; motion carried.
13. Review of New Material. No report.
14. City ADA Coordinator's Report.
• Funding is available for telephone adaptive devices for people with disabilities through
the Prairie Freedom Center.
• The US Transportation Secretary has released new Over -the -road requirements. Large,
fixed route carriers must make sure that all new buses are accessible with lifts and tie
downs all fleets completely accessible by 2012. Most smaller fixed -route companies
must acquire accessible new buses but there is no stated deadline for accessibility.
Charter and tour services must provide accessible buses with 48 hours notice.
Requirements for large carriers are effective October 2000 and small carriers on
October 2001.
Meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.m.
Submitted by Shari Dunn