The January 14, 2008 meeting of the Orange County Disability Advisory Board was called to order promptly at 11am at 2010 E. Michigan Street. The pledge of allegiance was led by the new 2008 Chairperson Theresa Madison. A quorum was not present. Action items were moved to the February 11 meeting of the board. Due to the lack of a quorum, a business meeting was not conducted. Community updates were provided by County staff, community partners and exchanges by board members concerning local activities. Board members present included Chairperson, Theresa Madison; CoChair, Louis Fazio, Jr.; CAB Liaison Jose Fernandez, and Mark Kirkham. Board member, Michelle Rivers was absent. County Staff Present Samme Ripley, ADA Coordinator Community Advisors Present Jeff Coleman, Agency for Persons with Disabilities Melinda Sowers, Canine Companions for Independence Dan Ryan/Doug Davis, Center for Independent Living Helen Thomas, Division of Blind Services Russell Brashear, MV Transit (aka ACCESS LYNX) Cheryl Stone, Metroplan Orlando Freda Mays, Workforce Public Attendance Eileen Curras Sheri Brun Chuck Graham Bob Larsen Richard Wilkerson Summary of Community Activity Discussion ADA Update. Samme Ripley, ADA Coordinator announced the following: Early voting begins January 14 at designated locations. Samme provided attendees a listing of all early voting sites. The sample Presidential Preference Primary ballots have been sent by mail to all registered voters. She announced that the mailed sample ballot will have each person’s name, address, map and driving directions to your polling place. Also, voting cards are no longer provided to individuals. Several polling places have changed so reminded individuals to review their sample ballot and pre-mark it for use as a guide before they go to the polls. Announced that there are Three Ways to Vote: - Vote by Mail: Call 407-836-2070 to request an absentee ballot. Deadline to make your request is January 23rd.
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Vote Early: Starting today, January 14 through January 27, 2008 you may vote at the early voting sites. - Vote at Your Polling Place: Polls will be open 7am-7pm on January 29. Announced that there will be changes in voting for 2008 and Bill Cowles will elaborate further at the February 11, 2008 meeting as he has accepted an invitation to provide an update. - The touch screen machines will be used on a limited basis for disability voting or elderly. In the fall, early voting will be on paper ballots. - The ballot also has a new look. Rather than using an arrow to make a voting choice, an oval must be filled in. - In the fall, during the Primary and General Elections, you will see new optical scan equipment at early voting and polling place locations. All ballots will have OVALS. Each voting location will have one touch screen machine for voters with disabilities. Announced that law enforcement training is being provided by the Autism Society of Central Florida, Autism Speaks and the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at UCF. Samme has sent an invite to Law enforcement agencies and first responders. Individuals with autism will be integrated into the training session this year. Similar training was presented in early 2007. Mark Kirkham stated he would like every officer to attend and would like to see disability cards carried by officers. Samme shared what she had learned from attending last year and about the local Crises Intervention program and the cards. A recent training was provided to Corrections Officers on mental illness stating that disability awareness training is an ongoing challenge. Discussion followed. Samme will also re-send information so individuals can share with their agencies and promote law enforcement awareness on disability. The assistive technology conference (ATIA) is returning to Central Florida and will be held at the Caribe Royale January 30 through the 1st of February. Samme encouraged all attendees to attend the exhibits to view the new technologies that will be presented. TD Day will be held on March 6, 2008 in Tallahassee. Samme Ripley reminded board members and attendees that this is a day set aside for those that utilize transportation for the disadvantaged. Legislators and TD Commission members will be on hand to respond to questions. A brief discussion ensued on availability of transportation to Tallahassee. Invited attendees to become involved in the ad hoc Committees in 2008. Samme commented that legislative bills for the 2008 session are being introduced and a great deal of discussion is taking place. The February ADA Update has been emailed. Reminded individuals to review the Property Tax Reform Initiative, please study the initiative.
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Ad hoc Committee Reports Louis Fazio and Samme Ripley updated the board and attendees on the activities of the ad hoc Legislative Committee and Voter’s Partnership. Voter’s Partnership. Louis and Samme reported that over 100 volunteers and 60-70 new voter registrations have been submitted to the Supervisor of Elections Offices from committee activities. Lucy Melendez of the SOEs offices has been a tremendous help. The latest voter’s registration was held on December 31 at the new Winter Garden Village Mall netting 24 new registrations. Legislative Committee. Louis reported that Samme had invited JR Harding of Tallahassee to attend the December 17 meeting of the committee. JR commented on TD transportation progress and attendant care encouraging the committee to become involved in legislation of special interest. Louis reported that the committee is following a personal attendant bill sponsored by Senator Wise providing personal care benefits to a working individual with tax advantages for the employer. Louis suggested that a position paper be written by the board. Samme indicated that not all board members are members of the ad hoc committee and that a position paper is part of the next meetings discussion. Samme added that members of the committee discussed travel to Tallahassee in favor of the bill for persons with disabilities. Board Member Reports Jose Fernandez reported that the Legislative Roundtable was held on November 19. It was sponsored by local agencies and coordinated by the ADA Coordinator and it was a success from his assessment. Jose felt that Representative Darren Soto provided good answers to questions from the community as did all legislators. Questions to legislators covered many topics from healthcare, transportation, intersection safety, personal care, civil rights, disability awareness, gun control, pedestrian safety, etc. Louis Fazio reported that he was kept busy with the ad hoc legislative committee and voter’s partnership activities but encouraged persons to vote in the presidential primary. Their vote will give a voice on behalf of the disability community. Theresa Madison reported she had attended a CAB workshop for VITA. EITC tax preparers will be available come February at certain community centers.
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Advisor Reports Jeff Coleman, Contract Manager from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities reported that the agency has hired a number of staff associates per the legislative guidelines established by the 2007 Legislature and they are being put into effect by the agency. Four tiers for community waivers are now in effect and the agency has had some reductions in the types of service hours to be provided. The agency is trying to stabilize its deficiencies with effective cost planning. The agency now has 122 group residences that house individuals with developmental disabilities and there are still some concerns of managing at a level that will be provide the best benefit for the individual. Melinda Sowers from Canine Companions for Independence is a national nonprofit organization that enhances the lives of children and adults with disabilities by providing highly-trained assistance dogs and ongoing support. Melinda wanted to thank Dan Ryan of CIL that had provided a presentation on accessibility to members. Melinda announced that eleven assistance animals graduated into families in November and that another graduation will be held on February 16 with 9 animals graduating and going to persons with disabilities. Graduation is held at the Radiant Life Church on Ocoee Clarcona and invited all to attend. Dan Ryan from Center for Independent Living announced that the agency is getting started on its Rampage Project for 2008. In 2007, the agency raised funding to build nine ramps. The center is looking for more contributions to meet the needs for the community. Dan announced that the next Business Advisory Meeting will be held at the LaQuinta Hotel (Lee & I-4) on February 19, 9:30am to 11:30am. He also announced that CIL will be working with the state Disabilities Task Force to bring an emergency preparedness conference to Central Florida and has asked Samme Ripley to become involved. Dan introduced Doug Davis who has recently joined Center for Independent Living who will be attending future meetings. Helen Thomas from the Division of Blind Services announced that the American Federation of the Blind is looking for scholarship individuals in their transition program. Individuals selected will be schooled and trained in a program facilitated in Arkansas. Samme Ripley asked if the Division was working with Orange County’s Transition Program as they would be a great contact. Russell Brashear from MV Transit announced that Harrison Neilly has been promoted and will be leaving going to a new position in Leesburg. He also shared statistics on paratransit. Ridership has increased every month with statistics running from .3 – 13%’ with the average ridership increase being 5.2% Ridership overall has nearly doubled over 2006 There is a 92% on time performance by MV Transit for serving consumers
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Cheryl Stone, consultant for Metroplan and an LCB board member reported, Next quarterly meeting of the board is scheduled for February 14 where the board will be reviewed recommendations by the local coordinating board on the local Community Transportation Coordinator (MV Transit aka ACCESS LYNX). AHCA which provides funding for TD is changing their position on non emergency transportation that is currently being provided by HMOs. An announcement may soon be released advising that the coordinated system will be providing all coordinated transportation services and pull away from HMO transportation contracts with providers due to the increase of complaints including complaints on fund allocations which have caused some CTCs to drop Medicaid transportation entirely. In regard to the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities, several committees have been formed and committees are looking at many issues (employment, civil rights, accessibility, healthcare, transportation and handicapped parking). The commission is responsible for writing a report to be provided to the Governor by July 1, 2008. Other suggestions and ideas discussed by the Governor’s disability commission include a transit ID that can be used for travel purposes and it might also be useful for emergency ID purposes and discussions for local taxi companies to provide accessible taxis for disabled citizens. Louis Fazio, board co-Chair shared that he had travelled by Greyhound bus during the holiday season and his local bus pass was not honored by an intercity transportation company in Tampa. A conversation followed on transit travel eligibility information. Samme encouraged individuals with disabilities to become eligible for ADA transportation so that they can have access to paratransit anywhere in the country when travelling. Freda Mays who is responsible for the Navigator employment program for Workforce stated that A job fair would be held on January 30 at the South Orange Blossom Trail location. Grant funding had been received to upgrade assistive technology (computer, software) that is needed by persons with disabilities. Workforce would like Division of Blind Services to advise what new technologies might be available. Announced that EITC income tax preparers will be available for the 2008 income tax season by Goodwill. She also thanked Dan Ryan for disability sensitivity training. Public Comments Chuck Graham, advocate for the blind, presented Louis Fazio with a tee shirt on behalf of the blind community for his activity during White Cane Safety Day. Chuck also announced that he would be promoting the American Blind Bowling
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Association “bowlathon” at the Sam Carter Bowl (Highway 50 & Dillard St) on Saturday, February 2 from 6pm to 8pm and welcomed all to come out for this fundraising event. Chuck commented on a state transportation ID for consumers. Sheri Brun, National Federation of the Blind invited guests to attend the next NFB meeting scheduled for Saturday, January 26. The NFB also plans to travel to Tallahassee during the legislative session to promote street safety and any other bills on behalf of the blind and disabled community. Sheri and Chuck also thanked Samme for the information that she provides to the disability community that is educational and useful. Samme Ripley also added that there are several disability bills that are beginning to appear on the myflorida website on disability and encouraged everyone to take a look. Three in particular are of special interest to this group: intersection stop bill, personal care attendant, disability insurance coverage(s) and a handicapped parking bill. She also indicated she would forward the bill numbers to those interested. Samme Ripley reminded everyone that the next meeting of the Disability Advisory Board would be held at the Supervisor of Election’s Offices, 119 W Kaley Street, 11am – 1pm. An update on voting changes and the Presidential Preference Primary would be provided. She encouraged all board members to attend so that a quorum will be present and a business meeting can be conducted. Adjournment: 12:30pm
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