DCCPD April Meeting Minutes

Public Body: 
Commission on Persons with Disabilities
Dates: 
Apr 20, 2017 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Location name: 
11th Floor Conference Center-Room 1112
Street Address: 
441 4th Street, NW Washington, DC 20001
Description: 

DC Commission on Person with Disabilities (DCCPD)

April Meeting Minutes­­­­

April 20, 2017, 10am-11:30am

441 4th St. NW

Washington, DC 20001

 

MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE

Commission Chair Kamilah Martin Proctor

Commissioner Julia Wolhandler

Commissioner Jarvis Grindstaff

Commissioner Shakira Hemphill

Commissioner Terrance Hunter

Commissioner Tiffany Smallwood

Commissioner Vencer Cotton

Commisioner Cheri Mallory

Christina Mitchell, Chief Program Administrator

Beatrice Schmidt, Public Affairs Specialist/ Commission Liaison, ODR

MEMBERS PARTICIPATING BY PHONE

Commissioner/Dr. Denise Decker

Commissioner Gerard Counihan

 

TWO PUBLIC ATTENDEES PARTICIPATNG IN THE MEETING

  1. Call to Order

    1. The meeting was called to order by Commission Chair Kamilah Martin Proctor at 10:10am.

    2. Commissioners expressed that they did not receive the attachments involving the meeting minutes due to the way the attachment was sent. Beatrice Schmidt, Commission Liaison stated that the meeting minutes would be copied and pasted into a body of an email and re-sent to the Commissioners.

    3. One of the public attendees asked that the meeting minutes be sent to her as well. Commissioner Martin Proctor stated that we will table the voting of the meeting minutes to give Commissioners an opportunity to review the meeting minutes and vote on approval during the next scheduled meeting.

       

  2. Change in Meeting Schedule

    1. The Commission liaison expressed that Commission meetings have been moved to every other month based on feedback received during individual calls that led to a consensus by the Commission to hold meetings every other month. The Commission Liaison expressed that this will allow Commissioners to participate more effectively in the meetings. There will be plenty of opportunity in between meetings to participate on calls as well as working on event planning.

    2. A public attendee of the meeting asked if they were going to be other forms of communication during times when meetings are not scheduled for the Commission. Commissioner Martin Proctor expressed that a call can always be scheduled under special circumstances if needed.

       

  3. Events Discussion

    1. Commissioner Martin Proctor expressed that none of the Commission members have turned in the forms regarding what activities they are going to take the lead on. The Commission liaison expressed that the events are supposed to be Commission led.

    2. Dr. Decker stated that her balance workshop/fault mitigation will be held in June.

       

  4. Tentative Event Schedule

    Fair Housing

    1. On April 24 there will be a fair housing event in collaboration with the Commission on Human Rights. Commissioner Martin Proctor expressed that these events are what we have scheduled for right now and if Commissioners want to add the events they should let the Commission liaison know of any additional events they would like to have added to the events calendar.

       

      Mental Health/Suicide

    2. There is an event May 3- “Suicide: It’s Time to Talk About It.” The Commission liaison stated that this event will be led by director Alexis Taylor. The event has been posted on the agency website and listserv. The Commission will receive further information regarding this event as it becomes available.

       

      DC Pride

    3. Commissioner Hunter has expressed interest in doing an event for DC pride which will take place in June. One of the public attendees stated that she will be doing a conference in Boston during the month of August focused on intersectionality.

    4. For the month of July and August there are no events scheduled but there’s a possibility we could have something scheduled for the future.

       

      National Deaf Awareness-H-Street Festival

    5. National Deaf Awareness Month is in September. Commissioner Hunter stated that he would like to participate in the H Street Festival and Commissioner Grindstaff agreed to collaborate on this event. Commissioner Hunter stated that he would like to be a walker at the festival and pass out flyers.

       

      DC Pride/H-Street Festival Participation Plans

    6. Commissioner Martin Proctor indicated it will be important to inform the Commission liaison of the exact plans for participation in the H St., Festival and DC pride parade Commissioner Hunter stated that he will follow up on dates regarding both these events.

       

      Deaf Awareness Event at Gallaudet

    7. Commissioner Julia Walhandler stated that she is interested in hosting an event in September for Deaf Awareness Month. She stated that she was awaiting follow-up from Director Taylor regarding Brownbag event in April leading up to the event. Commissioner Wolhandler stated that she can just proceed with planning for the September event. She stated that there were a few volunteers from Gallaudet University that helped out previously and would like to have other Commissioners help out with the event. There were speakers and performers at the last event. It was held downstairs on the first floor and the lighting was a bit of an issue for some people during the last event. The date will be determined based on the location for this event.

      Commissioner Grindstaff stated that there was a planning committee last time and this should be planned again. Commissioner Grindstaff agreed to help out with this event. Commissioner Dr. Decker stated that the event was very successful last time because it was held on Saturday and this made it easier for people to attend.

       

      Disabilities Employment Expo

    8. In October the Disabilities Employment Expo will be held. The Commission liaison stated that ODR would like as many Commissioners to help out with the planning of this event. Christina Mitchell, Chief Program Administrator provided information regarding what has been put in place for the next event. She stated, “This event has been hosted by ODR for the last nine years. Last year the event was hosted at the Department of Employment Services located on Minnesota Ave. This year there will be adjustments made to the event. This year will have transitioning youth sessions and we will split the sessions to accommodate more people. DOES has been very cooperative in hosting this event in the past.

       

      Christina Mitchell, Chief Program Administrator also stated, “October is disability awareness month and ODEP has a disability awareness theme and the Commission can piggyback off this theme at the District level. We need as many people to participate. There will be a table for Commissioners and it will be a good time to indicate projects you are working on for the Commission.

      Dr. Decker asked if they were a list of workshops for the Expo and Christina Mitchell shared that there is not a list of workshops yet. The Commission liaison will help organize a planning committee for the event. Christina indicated that it will be important to have representation from the Commission on this committee.

       

      One of the public attendees stated that last year they were no provisions at the Expo will  for individuals who are blind and have visual impairments and she would like to see improvements in this area.

    9. Commissioner Gerard Counihan stated that he would like to help out with planning for the Expo. The Commission liaison stated that when the time arises anyone wants to help out will be welcomed to do so.

       

      Mental Health Day

    10. October 10 is World Mental Health Day and there will be an event taking place in Old Council Chambers. The flyer has not gone out as of yet and as soon as it has been approved it will go out to members of the Commission.

       

      Veteran’s Awareness Event

    11. In November there is a possible Veteran’s Awareness Event that will be hosted by Commissioner Derek Smith in the office Veterans Affairs.

       

      Emergency Preparedness Event

    12. In December we have an emergency preparedness event that will be coordinated by Dr. Decker and Commissioner Julia Wolhandler. Dr. Decker stated that the intent for December event is to update the information on the website and to ensure that there is the most updated emergency preparedness and outreach information is available to people with disabilities. This will be coordinated in conjunction with HSEMA and will be done by Dr. Decker and Julia Wolhandler. Dr. Decker indicated that this may not be an event rather it may involve a review and updating of the information.

       

  5. Open Discussion

  6. A Public attendee asked, “when are you going to start putting together planning for these events?” Commission liaison stated that she will circulate the correct information after speaking with Alexis and get back to the Commission on when the planning committees will begin.

  7. A Public attendee stated that she is doing research on accessibility in the business community and if anyone has 5 to 10 minutes to speak with her after the meeting about making the business community more accessible it would be greatly appreciated. Commissioner Cheri Mallory commented that she has a 95-year-old family member living with her and has experienced challenges related to accessibility.

     

  8. Commission Roles

    1. Christina Mitchell, ODR Chief Administrator informed the Commissioners that events for the Commission should be always remain positive and promote the District to be inclusive and thinking differently. She stated she encourages someone to work on a one pager that could be used to hand out at events. She stated, “The Commission will need to vote on this one pager. Any materials distributed with the Commission’s name on it or the Office of Disability Rights must be voted on by the Commission. As representatives of the District, it’s important to be at the right place at the right time.”

    2. Christina Mitchell, ODR Chief Administrator informed the Commission that some emails only go to appointed commissioners versus information that is distributed to the public. It will be important to differentiate these types of information and determine which emails are going to appointed Commissioners versus the public.

 

Continued Communication and Strategic Plan

  1. Christina Mitchell, ODR Chief Administrator stated, “It’s going be a good time to put together a 5-year strategic plan about what you are going to do each year. If hot topics come up, we can always raise those issues. We want to make sure issues stemming from the strategic plan are presented to MOTA. Dr. Decker stated that there is already a strategic plan for 2015-2019 in place and a one pager so we shouldn’t have to reinvent the wheel. Members expressed that they do not have a copy of the strategic plan and Dr. Decker stated that she has will provide a copy and it can be updated if needed.

  2. Commissioner Grindstaff stated that DC residents often bring their concerns to him he and like to know who to bring the information to in the future. Christina Mitchell, ODR Chief Administrator stated that community issues should be brought to the Commission.

  3. Commissioner Hemphill asked if there’s a way to capture information in between meetings. Christina Mitchell, ODR Chief Administrator stated that sending an email to the Chair and Commission liaison at the moment an issue arises could be done. It is important that the Commission has a unified voice.Some issues may be able to be addressed right away and others may take another meeting form.

  4. The Commission liaison stated that it is preferable to bring concerns to the liaison and the Chair. Christina Mitchell, ODR Chief Administrator indicated that the Commission liaison is the program administrator for the Commission and collects data on the Commission’s work and may possibly bring it to ODR’s level and the Chair focusses on organizes the meetings.

  5. Christina Mitchell, ODR Chief Administrator stated that there should be a feedback period once the existing strategic plan is reviewed to decide which parts may need to change or remain as well as figuring out what will be the Commission’s long-term goals versus short-term goals.

     

    A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Commissioner Shakira Hemphill and seconded by Commissioner Tiffany Smallwood at 11:11am.