HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 10/12/2000COMMISSION ON DISABILITY
MEETING MINUTES
OCTOBER 12, 2000
Members present: Kathryn Johnson, Susan Williams, Laura Burnett, Don Fish, Alan Apt, Mark Beck, Steve
Seefeld, Bob Palmer, Rob and Romola Fritz.
Guest presenters: Gary Gordier and Barb Spaulding.
Visitors: Kathleen Sixon, parent of a disabled child; and John Kefalas, from the Cross Disabilities Coalition.
The meeting was called to order by the vice chair, Laura Burnett. The minutes of the September 28 meeting
were approved as written.
Gary Gordier, director of City Information Technology, came to the COD meeting to gain feedback on the
current practice of providing signing for the hearing -impaired at the City Council meetings. This six-month
trial program will continue until the end of the year. The cost of providing signers is $140/hour to pay for
the two signers needed per meeting, and the City Council has requested feedback concerning the extent of
use of the service, including information on how the service has been received. Is it being used? By how
many citizens? Is it helpful? Should the City Council continue it, expand it, or switch to other technologies?
A lengthy discussion on the topic of providing this and other services for the disabled included these points:
When the City Council undertook to provide the signing program, services for the visually impaired
were also supposed to be provided, which could include large print and braille materials. This need
has not yet been addressed. The city's web page does have the council agendas on it, which can be
accessed by screen readers. However, these are not of assistance at the meetings themselves.
Gary asked the COD members to contact members of other groups of the disabled to gain feedback
from them concerning the signing program. Members agreed to do so, and they also asked how much
has been done to advertise the program to the disabled population of the city. Does this population
even know that it is available? Added suggestions for getting feedback included doing a survey
during the actual signing at the City Council meetings, asking about use, effectiveness of the service,
and preferences as to type of assistance provided. When the trial signing period is over at the end of
the year, feedback may also come from people who have used it and miss it when it is no longer
available (if it is not continued). Publicity of the program and a request for feedback could also be
included in the informational insert in the utility bills. There could also be public service
announcements when the City Council meetings themselves are publicized.
Closed captioning was also discussed as a possible service. The cost would include an initial
investment of $15,000 - $20,000 for equipment and then an hourly cost of $90/hour for the steno
captioner (like a court reporter). It was stated that this service would be useful for many more people
than the disabled, especially the hard of hearing (which includes many elderly citizens). Also, many
people often have difficulty hearing what is said at council meetings; so even the general population
could benefit from this service.
The city is developing a new web site. It's graphics will have verbal text behind them, to serve the
visually impaired. The site will have an enhanced section for the COD, and Alan suggested that it
should include information about employment opportunities for the disabled. Information on the
Mayor's Awards could also be included. Gary indicated that there are guidelines as to what can go
on the web site, and COD members asked Gary to provide those to us.
Barb Spalding, from the Human Rights Office, came to introduce herself and to get acquainted with the
COD. Her office investigates complaints concerning violations of the Human Rights Ordinance, in the areas
of public accommodations, employment, and housing. She told about the upcoming Multi -cultural Retreat,
an annual event to be held at the Aspen Lodge in Estes Park. The retreat will provide an opportunity for
participants to discuss cross-cultural communication, and she wants to include the disabled in this discussion.
COD members gave extensive feedback on the lack of accessibility of the facilities at the Aspen Lodge and
their concern that the City of Fort Collins would sponsor events at a locale that clearly does not meet the
needs of the disabled. Barb said that the lodge has a new facility, and she is planning to visit it soon to find
out if it is more accessible to the disabled. Kathryn and Rob both volunteered to go along with her, to give
her the perspective of the needs of various disabled populations.
Final details for the Mayor's Awards program on October 20 were discussed. Bob reported that he had
completed the arrangements with the Holiday Inn. Don has arranged for four developmentally disabled
persons to help set up and tear down the displays. Information and nomination forms as well as invitations to
the program have been sent to the 85 largest businesses in Fort Collins, and over 70 service organizations.
Dave is making some follow-up phone calls to the Human Resources departments of the businesses, checking
to see whether they have received these invitations and finding out if any one is planning to come. Bob asked
for volunteers to help Dave with these calls.
The awards committee met last week, and the recipients have been selected. The DAV no longer will be
providing the Dorothy Lasley award; so the COD will do it this year. Bob is contacting all the nominees and
the nominators to be sure that they will be in attendance. Laura and Don will emcee the awards ceremony,
with Mayor Martinez making the presentations.
Alan reported that the Coloradoan plans to run both an editorial and a news story next week. The Forum
and the Northern Colorado Business Report both have already run articles on the event. Alan will call
Poudre High School to see if students from its media department would be willing and able to video tape the
program (with a free brunch as an incentive). Otherwise, we can pay Information Technology to do it.
Kathryn reported that she went to the Holiday Inn to look over the setting. The chef provided her with an
ample sample plate of the foods to be served, which she described as "wonderful".
OTHER BUSINESS: John Kefalas asked the COD to write the City Council a letter of support, on COD
letterhead, for the issue relating to increasing services of Dial -A -Ride, which will be considered at the
October 17 Council meeting. Bob and Steve recalled that we had already written such a letter, and indicated
that they would locate a copy of it. Alan also recommended that we write letters to the Council and the
Coloradoan concerning support for ballot proposal 1 A, which will provide funding for the Gateway program
for the developmentally disabled.
Romola reported that she will be sending out the meeting minutes and agendas in regular E-mail text since so
many members were unable to open up the zipped attachments sent last time.
The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Romola Fritz, Secretary