Laramie Advisory Commission on Disabilities

Laramie Advisory Commission on Disabilities Zoom 5:00-6:00 pm September 2nd, 2021 Meeting Minutes Members Present: Katie Harmon, Emmalee Moore, Jerrica Becken, Marla Puett-Sandberg, Michelle Blakely, Michaela Rank Absent Members: JoCarol Ropp, Melissa Cody, Sam Burkett Council Liaison: Sharon Cumbie - absent Staff Liaison: Jasmine Parten Guests: Allison Cunningham, Esther Hartsky (interpreter) Michaela called meeting to order at 5:02 pm. I. ROLE CALL a. Board members introduced themselves to Allison and Esther. b. Allison applied for LACD and wanted to know how the board operators and what they are currently doing for the disabled community. II. APPROVAL OF MAY MINUTES A. Tabled at beginning of meeting due to no quorum. B. Marla made a motion to approve the May minutes once more members arrived. C. Michelle seconded. D. Carried with voice vote. III. NEW BUSINESS a. Michaela explained to the new members what March is Disability Awareness month and every year the board does something to bring awareness the community. b. Allison explained that the last week of September is Deaf Awareness Week. There are about twenty deaf individuals in the community and she herself has faced a lot of discrimination, especially when it comes to applying for jobs. A lot of companies are still not aware of ADA laws. c. Katie motions to have Council present a proclamation to help bring awareness to the community about Deaf Awareness Week. i. Emmalee seconds. ii. Carried with voice vote. d. The proclamation will be presented by Council at the regular meeting on September 21st. Allison and a board member will accept the proclamation  at that meeting, and Allison is welcome to invite as many friends as she would like. e. The board would like to do a proclamation for October to bring awareness to the community about Employee Disability Awareness Month. Jerrica makes a motion to approve the proclamation. i. Katie seconds. ii. Carried with voice vote. f. Michaela inquired about ideas for Disability Awareness Month. Katie reached out to Coe Library and they would love to do a display in March. They asked if the board had any book recommendations. Allison does and will email Jasmine those titles. g. Michaela asked if the board would like to brainstorm ideas and bring them back to the next meeting. In the past it was suggested they do something in the newspaper and on the radio. If the Rec Center is able to host their family fun night than the board could do the obstacle course. Allison suggested having a place that people with disabilities could meet and share their stories. It was suggested to reach out to the Tap House and see if it is possible to do that at Tales at the Tap. Jasmine will reach out to Jodi. h. Jasmine announced that this will be her last meeting with LACD and that there will be a new staff liaison at the next regular meeting. All meetings for now will still be on Zoom. IV. Next meeting will be a special meeting on November 4th, 2021. V. ADJOURNMENT at 5:30 pm.