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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommission On Disability - Minutes - 12/09/1991Commission on Disability Regular Meeting December 9, 1991, 1:OOPM Minutes MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: Shirley Reichenbach Bob Willmot Judith Grim Denise Scheberle Bob Porter Roy Beachamp Ray Sanderson Debbie Kalin Mike Wilson Mike Gebo Ann Reichert The minutes of the November meeting were approved. OLD BUSINESS Roy Beachamp reported to the Board he had be in contact with Larimer County regarding the number of handicap license plates and hang tags were distributed .in all of Larimer County. NEW BUSINESS Chairperson Shirley Reichenbach read a resolution that will be presented by the Mayor at the next City Council meeting. Shirley distributed a memo from the Mayor regarding input at Council Meetings. The minutes from the Loveland Handicapped Advisory Commission from October and November were given to Board members. Shirley will be attending the Loveland meeting December 9th. Care -A -Van will be sponsoring the Christmas light tour this year. The Building Guidelines were discussed. Mike Gebo stated the new UBC 1991 code book will not be adopted, but new amendments may. Shirley asked for volunteers to review building code information. Those wanting to be on the committee with Arne Anderson and Mike Gebo, contact Mike Gebo at 221-6760. The Plan Review only looked at two plans, 1225 Baystone, Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority House and 1024 S Lemay, the hospital. • 0 Commission on Disability December 9, 1991 Page 2 Arne Anderson stated he is presently attending the Health & Safety Committee. He distributed a letter from this committee with regard to complaints with the Fort Collins Police Department. There will be two more open sessions held to look at this issue. December 19, 1991, Lesher Jr High 6:30pm, February 5, 1992, Fort Collins High School, 6:30pm. Let Arne know if you are interested in helping with the meetings by contacting him before Thursday, December 12, 1991 at 484-1984. The 1992 Work Plan was discussed. The following committees were established. Shirley and Arne will be committee members on each the established committees. Poudre R-1 Liaison - Judy Grim Human Relations Commission - Arne Anderson N.O.D. - Denise Scheberle Bob Porter Debbie Kalin Mayor's Award - will wait until June to start this project Parking Reminders - Bob Porter Denise Scheberle Debbie Kalin Snow Removal - Arne Anderson Bob Willmot Community Accessibility Building Plan Review Need volunteers Transportation Bob Porter Denise Scheberle Angela Bryne Ray Sanderson Park & Rec. Bob Willmot Roy Beauchamp Building Permits (UBC) Arne Anderson Chapter 31 Mike Gebo Debbie Kalin Facilities Bob Porter Roy Beauchamp Commission on Disability December 9, 1991 Page 3 Next meeting, Arne Anderson will bring the slides on snow removal and Ray Sanderson will bring a video from DRS on the new ADA requirements. The meeting was adjourned at 3:00pm. NEXT MEETING - JANUARY 14, 1992 • MEMORANDUM DATE: November 21, 1991 TO: Board & Commission Chairs`( FROM: Mayor Susan Kirkpatrick)14 RE: Input at Council Meetings On October 29, the Council discussed our various methods of Council outreach. One of the concerns that was identified at the work session was the fact that there is no distinction made between members of the general public and members of Council appointed Boards and Commissions when issues are discussed by Council. This is sometimes uncomfortable for Council because we value the time our volunteer Board and Commission members put into developing policy recommendations for Council and would sincerely like to have more opportunities to hear from you. We would like to change the method for input and provide you an opportunity to make a presentation to Council if you so choose. Following Staff Presentations, the Chairs of the relevant Boards or Commissions may address Council. There will not be a five-minute time limit for the presentation. The only relevant ground rule will be that only one individual from the Board or Commission (the Chair or their designee) will be given this opportunity, and that it is at your discretion. If you plan to make a presentation to Council on a particular item, please let your staff liaison know in advance so that Council will be aware of your intent to make a presentation and I will know to ask for the presentation. We plan to begin this procedure at our December 3 Council meeting. If you have any specific feedback on how this works, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and service to this community. SK/ab cc: Board and Commission Staff Liaisons City Council _00 LaPorte Avenue • P.O. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 • (303) 221-6505 rw CITY OF LOVELAND HANDICAPPED ADVISORY COMMISSION Cmc Center • 500 East Th,ro • Loveland. Colorado 80537 Nam (303) 667-6130 MINUTES OF OCTOBER 14, 1991 Present: Susan Cox, Amelia Bobby, Debora Colbert, Gege Ellzey, Sonje Jessen, Lyn May, Kristen Strickland, Richard Sayer, Pat Williams, Donald Maroney, Shirley Reichenbach. Absent: Vic Beebe, Sharon Leighton, Ben Williamson, John Slavik. Chairperson Debi Colbert called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm. Minutes: Vic Beebe was not at the last meeting. Minutes approved as corrected. Recording Treasurer's Report: CDBG balance $0. Clearing Account balance $1,501.83. CARE -A -VAN balance $1,422.75. COMMITTEE REPORTS Parks and Rec: Kevin Aggers gave Sonje a review of the projects worked on during the summer. The handicapped fishing dock should be complete in 1-2 months. The railings the City received were wrong and needed to be returned. The pavement under the ramp in Chilsoa Park is being replaced with the rubberized surface. More handicapped individuals are using Parks and Rec classes, especially tennis and baseball. The City is hiring a volunteer coordinator and advertising for swim buddies. They lack the resources for the 1 on 1 help needed. Their goal is to have an ongoing swim class available. The pool railings and lift is being used often. The curb cuts at Benson Park and 29th Street will be done whan the street is finished. The Benson Park Pavillion was discussed with Kevin. It was designed so only performers would need access to the center part. Sonje checked the sidewalk adjacent to Taft and now that the light poles are in she felt it was not a problem. ABR: Because we are no longer directly involved with ABR this agenda item will be deleted. Building Review: Sams Warehouse plans were updated and OK'd. The United Way Building cannot_ get a 5ft. turning radius but they are doing as much as they can. A Dr.'s office in Madison Square was approved. 504 Compliance - No report. Transportation: Beth had called and felt we needed to decide as a group what we wanted to do. The group felt it was necessary to keep monitoring transportation issues to see that handicapped concerns were being addressed. Parking: No report. Publicity: The VCR tape of Barrier Awarness Day is available. 0 0 HAC Minutes 10/14/91 Page 2 Support Areas: No report. Mentally Handicapped: No report. Chairpersons report: Tom Wagonor had contacted Debi about the handicapped parking violation Program. The cameras and film have been donated by the Kiwanis Club and the police officers are in training. Tom wanted 5 volunteers to assist the police department. There was much discussion and there are several questions we need answers to before anyone volunteers. Shirley Reichenbach from the Commission of Disabilities in Fort Collins invited us to their meetings on the second Monday of the month from 1-3 at 281 N. College, in the City Annex Building. Liaison reports: Pat asked for a follow up on Catttail Creek Golf Course. Debi had talked to the people in charge and the changes were being made. Don reported Conrad Ball Middle School is doing a Handicapped Awareness Day on Oct 25. The school contacted him about some of the equipment in the DRS loan closet. He volunteered to go to the school and help. A repesentative of the Organization for the Deaf will also be there. Don had a request for lower fees at the Chilson Pool for special needs cases. This was discussed before and HAC did not want to be involved in the decision making. it was suggested that Don check with Kevin Aggers about a scholorship program that another organization, such as DRS, could monitor. Old Business: Debi had a copy of the Executive Summary of the City of Loveland's Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy. New Business: Truscott Elementary is having a Barrier Awarness Day and they contacted Debi for information. Several schools are having similar programs and each is designing their own. Debi and Sue will put together a packet to help them plan the programs. Goals: The 1991 goals were reviewed. Additional goals for 1992 were discussed. There are 3 goals that need to be worked on in Nov. and Dec., goal B, 6-7-8. There was no further business and the meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm. Respectfully submitted: Gege Ellzey, Secretary Next meeting November 11, 1991 at 7:00 pm in the Conference Room in the Loveland Public Library. 0 rw CITY OF LOVELAND HANDICAPPED ADVISORY COMMISSION Civic Center • 500 East Third • Loveland. Colorado 80537 (303) 667.6130 MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 11, 1991 Present: Vic Beebe, Susan Cox, Amelia Bobby, Debora Colbert, Gege Ellzey, Sharon Leighton, Lyn May, Kristen Strickland, Ben Williamson, Pat Williams, Donald Maroney, John Slavik. Absent: Sonje Jessen, Richard Sayer. Chairperson Debi Colbert called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm. Minutes: Minutes approved as written. Recording Treasurer's Report: CDBG balance $0. Clearing Account balance $1,510.71. CARE -A -VAN balance $1,422.75. COMMITTEE REPORTS Parks and Rec: No report. Building Review: 09/26/91 - D.E. Burns Construction, 2800 Madison Sq. Dr., not approve(l. 09/26/91 - Clark Construction Co., 2204 Hoffman Dr., site plans only, not approveY. 10/10/91 - Clark Construction Co., 2204 Hoffman Dr., approved pending curb ramps, thresnolr and change in levels. 9/18/91 - Woodward Govenor, No. Wilson, pending meeting with 1arsori and Darley Inc. 10/10/91 - United Way, 315 E. 7th, approved. CertiEicate of 'occupancy Inspections 10/25/91 - Ward Construction, 6850 E. 45th St., OK 10/25/91 - G.L. Hoff, 289, 103 S.W. 12th St. refused, need H.C. sign & ramp, water closet too low. 504 Compliance - No report. Transportation: Problems with Care -A -Van had been reported to Debi. She contacted Marj Walsh. Parking: Debi contacted Chief Wagonor about the picture taking program. Time is all volunteer, milage will not be paid, but is tax deductable. Training will be on avoiding conflicts. Volunteers will be sought by word of mouth. Lyn and Amy volunteered and will contact Chief Wagonor for training and cameras. Publicity: No report. Nominating Committee: Susan, Amy and Debi are on the nominating committee. HAC Minutes 11/11/91 Page 2 Chairpersons report: Walt Clark Junior High was not accessable on election day. The hooths were on a stage and people were turned away. Larimer County Election Headquarters were contacted and will not use Walt Clark again. Debi will attend a seminar on the impact of ADA on small business in Ft. Collins on Nov 12, Agenda for the 90's is hosting a Life in Loveland Day in January. Orgaizations in Lovelanr are encouraged to participate. Sharon and Vic will be on the committee. Liaison reports: DDA is redoing the Rialto Theater and Felicia Harmon had contacted John about entrance door hardware. He suggested she talk to the building review committee. Don reported the Awareness Day at Conrad Ball went well. Don He will be teaching a basic Braille alaphabet class in January through DRS. There will be a fundraiser for DRS special needs fund at the Carousel Dinner Theater in Fort Collins on December 8th. The show is a matinee Don asked about for the disabled elderly. It was suggested he contact Mick Mercer. October was National Disabilities Awareness Month and Don has been very active in various activites. Old Business: Vic had been on vacation and saw many problems in other cities in other states. New Business: Automobile insurance was discussed. Companies are discriminating against th= handicapped. Debi will write a letter to the Insurance Commissioner. The new City Council members will be invited to the December meeting. There was no further business and the meeting was adjourned at 8:25an. Respectfully submitted: Gege Ellzey, Secretary Next meeting is December 9, 1991 at 7:00 pm in the Conference Room in the Loveland Public Library. DEC- 9-91 MON 12:06 FT COLLINS EMPLOYEE DVLP FAX NO. 3032216238 P. 02 0 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: DATE: December 17, 1991 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Julia Novak SLmJEC I lEesoiution 91- Recognizing the Significance of the Americans' with Disabilities Act - RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption of this resolution. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:• . The Neyor has requested that staff prepare a resolution addressing the Americans with Disabilities Act (the 'ADA% The ADA will have a direct impact on the City's functions as as employer and as a provider of services to the public. In addition, the City must evaluate whether it can reasonably modify those buildings, parks and other city properties containing architectural features which act as barriers to individuals with disabilities. This resolution further recognizes the unique resource inherent in Council's 'Commission on Disability by virtue of its interest and experience in the subjects addressed by the ADA. '39Fid 'S'7'1 SNIllOo 1?10d woad es!el Is$ s 33Q DEC- 9-91 MON 12:06 FT COLLINS EMPLOYEE DVLP FAX NO. 3032216238 P. 03 ** 000'39Hd -lti101 ** RESOLUTION 91- OF THE COUNCIL OF THE'CITY OF FORT COLLINS RECOGIIIZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE . AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT WHEREAS the United States Congress adopted the Americans with Disabilities Act (the •Act#.) in order to address the following findings. A. that, historically society has tended to isolate and segregate individuals with disabilities, and that, despite same improvements, such forms of discrimination against individuals with disabilities continue to be a serious and pervasive social problem#. B. that individuals with disabilities continually encounter various farms of discrimination, including outright intentional exclusion, the discriminatory effects of. architectural, transportation and comaanication barriers, overprotective rules and policies and exclusionary employment qualification standards and criteria-, C. that such discrimination is based on characteristics which are beyond the control of the disabled individual and which result from stereotypic assumptions not truly indicative of the Individual ability of such individuals to participate in and contribute to society; D. that individuals who have experienced 'discrimination on the basis of disability have often had no legal recourse to redress such discrimination; and E. that the nation's proper gaols regarding individuals with disabilities are to assure then equality of opportunity; full participation, independent living and economic self- sufficiency; and WHEREAS, the Act will apply to the, operations of the City of Fort Collins In the areas of employment; the provision of services, programs and activities to the public; end the design and accessibility of City buildings, parks and other properties) and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Fort Collins created a Commission on Disability in 1968; and WHEREAS, the functions of the Commission an Disability are described in Section E-I53, Cade of the City of Fort Collins; and WHEREAS, the Council wishes to recognize the resource represented by its Commission an Disability which will be available to assist in seeing that the purposes of the Act are achieved in Fort Ullins. E 00 ' 30t1d S'0•i SNI1103 12Jod WOMB 65:01 i6, 6 03Q Utu- J-dl fluty 1G:U1 H GULLLNS tM?LUYtt UVLP • FRX NO. 3032216238 • M, scx 000' 31tld 1tl101 *� 'v NOW, THEREFORE, OE IT RESOLVED $Y THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section I. That the Council recognizes the special significance of Congress' action in passing the Americans with Disabilities Act. Section 2: That the Council further recognizes the resource represented by its Commission on Disability and the Coanission's unique ability to promote the purposes of the Americans with Disabilities Act as it performs its authorized functions, including, but not 11mited to, developing educational programs for citizens, forming rewmmendations regarding handicapped access for city design requirements and city structures and serving as an ombudsman between the city, private businesses and the community of'handicapped citizens. Pasted and adopted at regular meettag of Council of the City of Fort Collins held this 17th day of December, A.D., 1291. mayor ATTEST: City Clerk h Z00139wd "S'D't SWI1103 INCA Woad esilt is. s o3Q 0 Please Hear What I'm NOT Saying Don't be fooled by me. Don't be fooled by the face I wear. For I wear a mask, a thousand masks, masks that I'm afraid to take off, and none of them is me. Pretending is an art that's second nature with me, but don't be fooled. For God's sake don't be fooled. I give you the impression that I'm secure, that all is sunny and unruffled with me, within as well as without, that confidence is my name and coolness my game, that the water's calm and I'm in command, and that I need no one. But don't believe me. My surface may seem smooth but my surface is my mask, every -varying and ever -concealing. Beneath lies no complacence. Beneath lies confusion and fear and aloneness. But I hide this. I don't want anybody to know it. I panic at the thought of my weakness and fear being exposed. That's why I frantically create a mask to hide behind, a nonchalant sophisticated facade, to help me pretend, to shield me from the glance that knows. But such a glance is precisely my salvation. My only hope and I know it. That is, if it's followed by acceptance, if it's followed by acceptance, if it's followed by love. It's the only thing that can liberate me from myself, from my own self -built prison walls, from the barriers I so painstakingly erect. It's the only thing that will assure me of what I can't assure myself, that I'm really worth something. But I don't tell you this. I don't dare. I'm afraid to. I'm afraid your glance will not be followed by acceptance, will not be followed by love. I'm afraid you'll think less of me, that you'll laugh, and your laugh would kill me. I'm afraid that deep -down I'm nothing, that I'm just no good, and that you will see this and reject me. So I play my game, my desperate pretending game, with a facade of assurance without and a trembling child within. So begins the glittering but empty parade of masks, and my life becomes a front. I idly chatter to you in the suave tones of surface talk. I tell you everything that's really nothing, and nothing of what's everything, • of what's crying within me. So when I'm going through my routine, do not be fooled by what I'm saying., Please listen carefully and try to hear what I'm not saying, what I'd like to be able to say, what for survival I need to say, but what I can't say. I don't like to hide. I don't like to play superficial phony games. I want to stop playing them. I want to be genuine and spontaneous and me, but you've got to help me. You've got to hold out your hand even when that's the last thing I seem to want Only you can wipe away from my eyes the blank stare of the breathing dead. Only you can call me into aliveness Each time you're kind and gentle and encouraging, each time you try to understand because you really care, my heart begins to grow wings, very small wings, very feeble wings but wingsl With your power to touch me into feeling you can breathe life into me. I want you to know that. I want you to know how important you are to me, how you can be a creator— a honest -to -God creator — of the person that is me if you choose to. You alone can break down the wall behind which I tremble, you alone can remove my mask, you alone can release me from my shadow -world of panic and uncertainty, from my lonely prison, if you choose to. Please choose to. Do not pass me by. It will not be easy for you. A long conviction of worthlessness builds strong walls. The nearer you approach to me the blinder I may strike back. It's irrational, but despite what the books say about man, often I am irrational. I fight against the very thing that I cry out for. But I am told that love is stronger than strong walls, and in this lies my hope. Please try to beat down those walls with firm hands but with gentle hands for a child is very sensitive. Who am I, you may wonder? I am someone you know very well. For I am every man you meet and I am every woman you meet. by Charles C. Finn, printed in Healing the Child Within, Charles L Whitfield M.D. REFL,TIONS FROM A WHEELCHAIR • As a part of the Olympic's Disabilities Awareness Week, I sat in and tried to function from a wheelchair yesterday. I want to capture my feelings about the experience while it's still fresh in my mind. Much of what I learned relates to barriers I faced in our new office which has had a lot of thought given to eliminating barriers. What I found is that we have to keep seeking feedback on accessibility from real people who are challenged in a variety of ways. I also got a little taste of the emotions and uncertainty that abled-bodied folks have when confronted by someone in a wheelchair. Although my "disability" only lasted a day, it really made an impression on me and provided valuable insights that I can reflect on. I'd recommend the experience for others who want to learn more about barriers, some of which are physical and others mental. My reflections as they occurred to me: 1. It's really a lot of work to push yourself around in a wheelchair, especially on our carpet. My upper body strength and aerobic conditioning were taxed. (The next day my shoulders and upper arms feel like I had a heck of a workout.) 2. My knees don't fit under my desk or my DO workstation. I need some R, accomodation for access. t' 3. Because my knees don't fit under my DO workstation, my arms aren't long U enough to comfortably reach my keyboard. I'd also need to change the prescription for my glasses, as my bifocals are now wrong for reading my DO 9LS screen. 4. Later in the day, I've changed to another wheelchair that allows me to get my knees under my DO workstation, but the armrests on it are too high and they don't let me reach the keyboard. More accomodations/adjustments will be needed. 5. It's a real challenge to get our interior doors open. Unless I get better at the technique or we put a "kick plate" on the doors, the woodwork is going to get really marred by my footrests banging as I go through. 6. Using the restroom is a real challenge. Access is good and all the right equipment is there, but I couldn't get the hang of the technique. It takes a lot of upper body strength and imagination! 7. Now, I know why lots of folks in self-propelled wheelchairs wear gloves. It's not because it looks "cool." I'm wearing blisters on both thumb joints where my hands rub against the tires when I push. 8. I'm noting some folks are unsure about opening or holding doors open for me. Based on my frustration with our doors, I'd say yes - help!! 9. I wanted to test my ability to get myself into my pickup when I went home. Now, I know better why we have disabled parking spots. I had parked across the parking lot, so here I go with my briefcase, lunch bag and umbrella. What a circus I wasl Never did figure out how I would get out of my chair and into my rig.... Needless to say, as one of my co -temporarily disabled associates said, I'm thankful that I'm not in a wheelchair today. But I have a much better appreciation for those who are and who knows, I may be again some day. I know I'd be angry and frustrated with the barriers I'd face and the insensitivity of some. I think I understand better why we need to seriously consider access to all our facilities. I also appreciate the advocates who are making improve- ments in access to public facilites, housing and employment for the physically challenged. My thanks to Julie Hiller for giving me the chance to learn and grow from the challenge she faces everyday. Ron Humphrey 11/6/91 SOME OUGHTS ON THE DISABLED • Since we just observed National Disability Month in October there are a few thoughts I would like to share with other Forest Service employees and with everyone who reads this. Just about everybody knows someone with a disability of one kind or another. The disability may be only temporary such as a broken leg or arm or it may be of a more permanent nature such as paralysis, a missing limb, deafness, or blindness. We have all been exposed to disabilities, but have we taken the time to really think about them? Have we looked at the work, home, and community environments in which people with disabilities have to work, live, and cope? It is not surprising that we all should know someone with a disability. On a national level over 10% of the population has some form of disability, that's over one in ten people now living in this country. This amounts to a fairly substantial segment of our population. Disabled people form a rather unique minority. You see, disability knows no racial, ethnic, age, or sexual barriers. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere; it can happen to YOU or to a member of your immediate family. You can never change your race, age, or ethnic background. I guess you can change your sex nowadays at great expense, but most folks settle for the one they have been dealt. The one minority you can join at any time is the ranks of the disabled. You can join it in the blink of an eye, the flip of a switch, a step in the bathtub, a glance from the road, a dive into the pool, or by simply being born ... you can join it in a million different ways in ten million different places. It's not an exclusive club and a lot of every day ordinary people just like you get lifetime memberships every day of the week ... 365 days a year. This membership is not free. Actually it costs a fortune; not only in dollars, but in frustration, anguish, time, and human dignity. I think we can all work together to reduce some of these costs by simply looking at things a little differently than we have been. Our way of looking at disabled persons goes way back. I mean way back to our murky primal past before we became the self-proclaimed kings of the evolutionary heap. It goes back at least as far as the sudden awakening with a feeling that we are falling; falling out of the tree down to the ground where the great cats and other things dwell and eat little defenseless creatures without claws and fangs like ourselves. Through these ancient eyes we tend to look at the disabled with a combination of disappointment, worry, and even suspicion just as we look at other things that are not "normal" or "average". The concepts of "pretty" and "perfect" also enter into these perceptions. A very strong, very old part of our human psyche tends to reject, ignore or shut out other humans which do not come up to the criteria of these "normal" standards. In some cultures these "abnormalities" are either killed or left to die. Fortunately, in America, we do not go to the extreme of eliminating people who are not "normal", but we do still tend to shut them out; sometimes in the very real and physical sense of the word, with closed doors which they cannot open, stairs they cannot climb. Now on the eve of this 20th century we are starting to see a glimmer of light which I hope will develop into the brightness of full day in the morning of the 21st century. We seem to be entering a more enlightened age as is evidenced by the recent passage of the act giving the disabled the right to employment. Imagine that, here it is only 1991 and the disabled already have the right to work! We, as a nation, are beginning to realize that we don't have to ignore or shut out people with disabilities. We are starting to realize that to do so is detrimental to us all as a civilization. We are starting to realize that people with disabilities have just as much to offer as anyone. We are starting to realize they wish to be a productive, viable, dynamic part of our society rather than a burden upon it. This is only logical when you stop to think about it. It reminds me of the old "Pogo" cartoon when the character exclaimed, "We seen the enemy, and it were usI" In conclusion I would like to nudge your consciousness and ask you to look around the workplace and the community and ask yourself if barriers exist for the disabled. If you see these barriers, both physical and social, do your best to tear them down and smooth them over. Who knows? You may be the next to benefit from their removal. Larry Hills Fremont National Forest Disabled Persons Special Emphasis Program Manager M Employing Workers With Disabilities October 31, 1991 Richard Lindeborg, Program Analyst Beverly Carroll, Program Analyst USDA Forest Service Public Affairs Office Market Research Section Management Implications -- More than 6 million workers with disabilities may enter the work force in the next year. -- Modifying the workplace to accommodate workers with disabilities is usually not very expensive. -- People with disabilities need employers who will focus on their abilities and remove barriers to their employment. The Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law in August of 1990, will bring about dramatic changes in the workplace in the coming year. By July 1992 businesses with 25 or more employees must comply with the new law, which makes discrimination against disabled workers illegal. A 13-MILLION-MEMBER POOL --There are between 22 and 75 million Americans with various degrees of disabilities, but not all of these people with disabilities are counted as disabled members of our country's labor pool. Some of these people are not counted because their disabilities do not affect their ability to work, some are not counted because they are institutionalized, and some are too old or too young to be counted in the labor pool. These exclusions still leave 13 million non -institutionalized Americans between the ages of 16 and 64 with disabilities that limit the kind or amount of work they can do --and only 5 million of these 13 million people are currently employed. MOST WANT TO WORK --Two-thirds of unemployed people with disabilities want to work, according to the Louis Harris Poll summarized here. Thus the Americans with Disabilities Act could bring as many as 6 million workers with disabilities into the work force. w Judith Waldrop. The Cost of Hiring the Disabled. American Demographics 13(3): 12, March 1991. The ICD Survey of Disabled Americans: Bringing Disabled Americans into the Mainstream. Telephone survey of 1,000 Americans with disabilities conducted in November 1985 for the ICD-International Center for the Disabled, New York, NY, by Louis Harris and Associates, Inc., New York, NY, in cooperation with the National Council on the Handicapped, Washington, DC. March 1986. Employing Workers With Disabilities Page 2 REASONS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT --There are many reasons why many Americans with disabilities remain unemployed. Often a potential worker who has a disability faces more than one barrier to gaining employment. Almost half of unemployed people with disabilities say they are not working because potential employers have failed recognize their ability. Other people with disabilities (40%) say they are not working because they are unable to find work or because they lack job skills (nearly 40%). Others lack transportation (30%) or the special equipment they need to use their job skills (23%)• REASONS FOR EMPLOYMENT --Many employers find that hiring workers with disabilities makes good economic sense. One leading company in employing people with disabilities is Pizza Hut, which has more than 3,000 workers with disabilities out of a national work force of 68,000. The company has found that the turnover rate for its employees with disabilities is one -fifth of the overall turnover rates for American workers. Thirty years of studies at DuPont have shown that workers with disabilities rank equal to or better than other employees on key job performance measures. COSTS OF MODIFYING THE WORKPLACE --The Department of Labor and the General Accounting Office estimate that half of all workers with disabilities can be employed with changes to the workplace costing less than $50. Another 20% of workers with disabilities can be employed with changes of between $50 and $500. Another 20% require changes between $500 and $1.000. WHAT IT MEANS TO BE DISABLED --Being an American with a disability often means facing disadvantages in education, income, social life, and daily activities. People with disabilities are not as likely to finish high school as people in the general population (40% vs 15%)• Twice as many people with disabilities have incomes of '$15,000 or less (50% vs 25%)• Most non -disabled Americans socialize at least once a week with family and friends (85%), but only three -fourths (75%) of people with disabilities and only two-thirds (67%) of individuals with severe disabilities socialize even once a week. Americans with disabilities get out to the movies, live theater and music events, sports events, and restaurants far less often than their non -disabled brothers and sisters. BARRIERS TO SOCIALIZING --Major barriers people with disabilities have in developing a full social life include fear of getting hurt, sick, or victimized (59%); absence of assistance (56%); and transportation problems (49%)• WORKING OR NOT WORKING --Working can be an important part of life for people with disabilities, and often results in major differences between people with disabilities who work and those who do not work. Four times as many of the employed workers with disabilities have a four year college education. Twice as many have incomes of $25,000 or more. More are at least somewhat satisfied with life (80% vs 62%). Working people with disabilities are far less likely to consider themselves disabled (26% vs 59%) or to feel that their disability has prevented them from reaching their full abilities as a person (47% vs 60%). M E M O R A N D U M DATE November 30, 1991 TO City Council Members FROM Commission on Disability SUBJECT: 1992 Work Plan The Commission on Disabilities (COD) is comprised of 11 members. Subcommittees are formed to implement some programs and tasks. our goals for 1992 and a report on work -in -progress are presented here. CONTINUING GOALS AND PROGRAMS 1. Teambuilding. COD will interface with other City boards and commissions, Larimer County and Poudre R-1 school district. COD will send a liaison to other board and commission meetings as needed to address issues of mutual concern, i.e. work with the Senior Advisory Board during the design phase of the proposed Senior Center. 2. National Organization on Disability (NOD). COD will keep abreast of NOD activities and possibly apply for a NOD award. 3. Mayor's Awards. COD asks that the Mayor continue to present awards in conjunction with National Disability Awareness Month in October. Community awards are presented to individuals, businesses or organizations who exhibit outstanding dedication in the areas of employment, increasing public awareness and improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities. The Dorothy Lasley Memorial Award is given to an outstanding person with a disability for extraordinary community service. 4. Parking Reminders. Volunteers will continue to place an informational flyer on vehicles found improperly parked in parking spaces designated for use by the disabled. COD will update the flyer and compile data on the effect of its use. 5. Snow Removal Awareness Program. COD will adapt the slide presentation prepared as part of the 1990 Snow Removal Action Plan for use as a Cable 27 public service announcement. The slide program contains information on proper snow removal from parking spaces, access routes, and barrier awareness in general. It is also available for presentation to service clubs, professional organizations and business groups. Updated written information will be prepared to give to snow removal contractors and other groups. 6. Community Accessibility. COD will continue to review building permit submittals through the Permits and Inspections Division and perform site plan review through the Planning Division. COD will also have input in the design and location of new access ramp construction through the Engineering Division. We will work with the Facilities Division to ensure the accessibility of City properties. When reviewing new construction COD will continue to encourage accessible businesses to display the international access symbol on premises and in advertisements. ADDITIONAL GOALS - AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) AND THE CITY COD is available to advise and offer our expertise to City Service Areas/Divisions regarding compliance with the ADA. COD has identified the following topics for possible involvement: 1. Employee Development. When needed COD will advise City departments in ways to make accessibility adaptations. We are available to consult in other matters of employee/employer relations regarding disabilities. 2. Transportation. COD will interface with the Transportation Division, Transportation Advisory Council, and Care -A -Van to identify and prioritize routes and bus stops for accessibility. 3. Parks and Recreation. When requested COD will work with Parks and Recreation to assess available programs and explore adaptations enabling participation by disabled citizens. COD is available to assist in the development of new programs. 4. Building Permits and Inspections. COD will participate in the review of Chapter 31, 1991 Uniform Building Code which addresses accessibility issues. COD will work with staff and Council to update accessibility codes. 5. Facilities. COD will have input in placement of informational signs for building access. We will help identify and prioritize City departments and facilities needing TDD's.