Citizens' Advisory Commission on Disabilities

CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 CITIZENS' ADVISORY TELECONFERENCE, 1:00 PM COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MINUTES Deaka McClain, Chair Chris Karadjov, Member Stephen Adams, Member Gretchen Swanson, Member Nubia Flores Cedeno, Member Kim Vuong, Member Victor A. Garate, Member TELECONFERENCE PUBLIC COMMENTS MAY BE SUBMITTED BY TELEPHONE AT 562-570-6257 OR EMAIL TO HEATHER.VANWIJK@LONGBEACH.GOV CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair McClain at 1:07 pm. ROLL CALL Commissioners Victor Garate, Stephen Adams, Chris Karadjov, Deaka McClain, Present: Gretchen Swanson, Nubia Flores Cedeno and Kim Vuong PRESENTATION Dori Morper, Home Care Consultant with Instead Senior Care, presented and discussed questions consumers should ask a potential in-home caregiver/assistant related to protocols and safety measures during COVID-19. Additionally, Ms. Morper provided commissioners with several informational handouts, including fact sheets, and the Powerpoint presentation used during the meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Page 1 of 8 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 CITIZENS' ADVISORY TELECONFERENCE, 1:00 PM COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MINUTES 1. 20-021CA Recommendation to approve minutes from the June 11, 2020 meeting of the Citizen's Advisory Commission on Disabilities. A motion was made by Commissioner Cedeno, seconded by Commissioner Adams, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 - Victor Garate, Stephen Adams, Chris Karadjov, Deaka McClain, Gretchen Swanson, Nubia Flores Cedeno and Kim Vuong STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 2. 20-022CA Recommendation to receive and file monthly report by the Accessibility, Transportation & Services standing committee or adopt any recommendations this committee would like to make. Commissioner Garate reported the committee met Tuesday, July 7th and discussed the following: -Accessible voting in preparation for November's election and the potential for asking the city clerk's office to come back to CACoD for a discussion; Mrs. Van Wijk recommended a formal letter of recommendation beforehand -council item related to disabled parking -October events, what they may look like virtually A motion was made by Commissioner Karadjov, seconded by Commissioner Garate, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Stephen Adams, Victor Garate, Nubia Flores Cedeno, Chris Karadjov, Gretchen Swanson and Kim Vuong Page 2 of 8 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 CITIZENS' ADVISORY TELECONFERENCE, 1:00 PM COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MINUTES 3. 20-023CA Recommendation to receive and file monthly report by the Youth, Employment & Programs standing committee or adopt any recommendations this committee would like to make. Commissioner Cedeno reported that the committee discussed the following: -City resource guide letter of recommendation (see text below) -Recommended postponing Mentoring Day and holding a virtual town hall to honor DEAM in October TEXT OF LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION: July 9, 2020 Dear Mayor Garcia and Council Member Richardson, and All City Council Members CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES Honorable Mayor Robert Garcia and Council Member Richardson and all City Council Members 411 W Ocean Blvd Long Beach, CA 90802 Re: Effective and Accessible Resource Dissemination for Persons with Disabilities The Citizens Advisory Commission on Disabilities urges the Mayor, Council Member Richardson, and the City Council to broaden the Framework of Reconciliation to include the voices of persons with disabilities. Due to Council Member Richardson’s advocacy we have an unprecedented opportunity for inclusion. The inducement of vulnerability, lack of mitigation and conditions that maintain chronicity are replete in Long Beach. Recently, individual commissioners participated in a city facilitated discussion of vulnerability during the COVID19 restrictions. Those who participated appreciated that discussion, however, vulnerability goes deeper than the immediacy of the current pandemic. Vulnerability, chronic vulnerability is based on many factors and has been shown to lead to implicit bias and structural disablement. In light of the four-step model in the Framework of Reconciliation of acknowledge, listening, convening and catalyze - along with the recent COVID experience - the City of Long Beach has thousands of persons with disabilities that are not connected and remain un-resourced. According to US Census, Long Beach has over 30,000 residents under age 65 with a disability, Page 3 of 8 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 CITIZENS' ADVISORY TELECONFERENCE, 1:00 PM COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MINUTES while the 11% of our city’s population over 65 is largely thought has having a significant higher number of persons with disability. What is key to understand is that people of color have a significantly greater experience of disability. The CDC estimates that 1 in 4 black Americans have a disability, second only to Native Americans that have an occurrence of 3 in 10. The Commission believes a key component to actualize the four steps of Reconciliation is to have a city-maintained resource site for persons with disabilities. Further it is our belief that to effect change we need to initiate a city-wide awareness campaign of the needs and resources of persons with disabilities. Otherwise, they will not be invited to ‘the table’. They will not seek services. And others may continue to disenfranchise them. We urge the Mayor, Council Member Richardson, and the entire City Council to initiate a plan to support the following: · A city maintained resource directory accessible by language and communication method. · Distribution of a print version of the City’s Resource Guide for Persons with Disabilities available city-wide. Preferably mailed to each household. This is a dynamic, forward thinking approach. So that as resources become available, such as low or no-cost internet access, innovative adaptive technologies or greater funding for in-home support and secure housing - there is a well maintained place of information. This is no longer a passive listing but for the city, rather a way to analyze gaps and overlaps for disability supports for its residents. As individuals and as a Commission we appreciate the enormity of this period of social upheaval. We believe that we as a city and a community of people, all kinds of people take this opportunity to address the underlying inequities that face persons with disabilities. We believe you will share these goals We are here to help and serve. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Citizen's Advisory Committee on Disabilities CC: Each Council Member Page 4 of 8 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 CITIZENS' ADVISORY TELECONFERENCE, 1:00 PM COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MINUTES A motion was made by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Commissioner Swanson, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Stephen Adams, Victor Garate, Nubia Flores Cedeno, Chris Karadjov, Gretchen Swanson and Kim Vuong NEW BUSINESS 4. 20-024CA Recommendation to select ad-hoc committees for the DEAM event and for the Mentoring Day event. Commissioner Cedeno made a motion to postpone Mentoring Day 2020 until we are allowed to gather in person at City Hall and hold a virtual town hall for DEAM, selecting Commissioners Vuong, McClain, and Cedeno for the DEAM ad-hoc (Commissioner Adams to be an alternate), seconded by Commissioner Vuong. A motion was made by Commissioner Cedeno, seconded by Commissioner Adams, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Stephen Adams, Victor Garate, Nubia Flores Cedeno, Chris Karadjov, Gretchen Swanson and Kim Vuong 5. 20-025CA Recommendation to elect new officers to the executive committee including chair, vice chair and secretary. The new executive committee includes: Chair, Commissioner Cedeno Vice-chair, Commissioner Adams Secretary, Commissioner Vuong A motion was made by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Commissioner Cedeno, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 6 - Stephen Adams, Victor Garate, Nubia Flores Cedeno, Chris Karadjov, Gretchen Swanson and Kim Vuong Page 5 of 8 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 CITIZENS' ADVISORY TELECONFERENCE, 1:00 PM COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MINUTES FRAMEWORK FOR RECONCILIATION DISCUSSION Chair McClain started the discussion by sharing she recently had the opportunity to speak during a reconciliation town hall and highlighted the need to bring awareness to police interaction with people with invisible disabilities, specifically African-Americans. Commissioner Swanson highlighted the correlation between mental health disorders and disabilities and the escalation of violence; when people are not acting in a certain way, they may be the victim of unnecessary escalation of violence - this speaks to the heart of many in our community. How and where are we advocating for these folks, including persons of color? Commissioner Swanson hopes that CACoD commissioners can offer more clarity at these town halls. Commissioner Vuong suggested these reconciliation conversations include people of all colors. Commissioner Cedeno explained that our current reconciliation efforts centered on Black lives. COVID-19 DISCUSSIONS cont. Chair McClain stated that there continues to be confusion around masks and social distancing requirements. Commissioner Swanson suggested the YEP committee look at the use and safety of masks in our caregiver workforce as an employment issue, taking a close look at the "shadow" workforce. Commissioner McClain shared information about IHHS workers. Commissioner Cedeno questioned whether the discussion of caregivers in homes falls into CACoD's scope. Commissioner Garate mentioned a concern that some places of business are very good about signage and understand the masks requirement as it relates to the ADA; suggested universal signage, how do we do that? Chair McClain requested the ATS committee research further. Page 6 of 8 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 CITIZENS' ADVISORY TELECONFERENCE, 1:00 PM COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MINUTES COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT DISCUSSIONS Commissioner Cedeno stated she hopes that the letter of recommendation addressed to the mayor and city council encourages more outreach to the disability community, especially with all of the social distancing requirements currently in place. Commissioner Vuong suggested the commission reach out to Councilwoman Zendejas for support. AGENCY REPORTS Commissioner Cedeno reported the Dr. Jill Baker, incoming superintendent of LBUSD, has made available the first draft of what schools/public education may look like in the fall in light of COVID-19. Commissioner Garate reported that he will be attending the Access CAC meeting next week. He also reminded the community that Access currently has same-day trip service and curb-side pick up available. Commissioner Swanson reported that she has been attending the Aging Service Providers Collaborative Network (hosted through CLB Health Department) weekly during COVID-19 response; this group is now meeting bi-weekly. They have moved from food as a primary discussion to internet connectivity and housing needs. STAFF REPORT Heather Van Wijk reported the following: -the first reading of the ordinance related to free disabled parking in the City's beach lots and other parking facilities was approved by city council this week -reminded the commission of other upcoming reconciliation town halls. All information about the City's reconciliation efforts can be found at www.longbeach.gov/health/healthy-living/office-of-equity/reconciliation. -Mayor Garcia will be giving CACoD a proclamation for 30th Anniversary of the ADA Page 7 of 8 CITY OF LONG BEACH THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020 CITIZENS' ADVISORY TELECONFERENCE, 1:00 PM COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MINUTES ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CLOSING REMARKS Chair McClain spoke fondly about her last 8 years on CACoD, has enjoyed her time as chair and looks forward to continuing her work with both the commission and the City. She reminded us that our voice always matter and to always be willing to speak up and out. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT Chair McClain adjourned the meeting at 3:05 pm. Page 8 of 8