Portland Disability Advisory Committee

City of Portland Portland Disability Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes January 9, 2019 Mandy Levine, Portland’s Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, convened the meeting of the Portland Disability Advisory Committee (PDAC). • In attendance: Jessica Russell, Haley Pass, Lisette Belanger, Kayla Moore, Bud Buzzell, Michelle Ames, Derek O’Brien, Certified Interpreting ASL interpreter, Mike Conkright, Alizah Brandwein • Board members not in attendance: Yura Yasui, Rabih Dow, John LeMieux, Steve Leighton, Ken Shapiro • November 7, 2018 meeting minutes were approved. • Recap of Perspectives, an art exhibition, on January 8, 2019 o The opening reception of Perspectives, an art exhibition co-hosted by the Publication Studio, the Art Department, and PDAC, was a great success the evening before. Jessica Russell, Lisette Belanger, Karen Perry, and Mandy Levine attended. Despite the wintry weather outside, we were pleased with the attendance and would like to explore hosting a collaboration again, potentially in the spring or summer during the First Friday art walk. • Share proclamation recognizing December 3, 2018 as the International Day of Persons With Disabilities o Attendees viewed the signed Proclamation and were pleased to learn that City Hall was lit in blue and white lights the evening of December 3, 2018, which Yura captured in a beautiful photograph published on the PDAC Facebook page on December 4, 2018. • Speaker series: update from subcommittee (Rabih, John, Yura) o Rabih, John and Yura were not in attendance but Mandy shared that this subcommittee had shared a preliminary idea of asking Tindale Oliver  speak to its ADA Assessment once it’s concluded. Mandy shared that the City Manager supports this idea. o The City Manager also supports us moving forward with hosting at City Hall the three speakers who have already agreed to speak (from Maine CITE; Disability Rights Maine; and the Alzheimer’s Association). • Spring/summer PDAC resources fair o PDAC members supported hosting some sort of resource fair the same day as the First Friday art work and agreed on either June 7th or August 2nd as the day, depending on availability of the decided-upon venue. o We discussed possible City of Portland locations of Ocean Gateway; the Expo, and the Merrill Rehearsal Hall. o Michelle volunteered to do face painting. o We will likely use the term “expo” rather than “fair.” o Theme: a smaller version of Boston’s Abilities Expo. Jessica is going to brainstorm and prepare a high-level overview of the theme for the event. We agreed that we would invite many organizations from around the greater Portland area to set up booths that share the services they provide, which would likely overlap significantly with the speaker series. o Art exhibits: we will ask Creative Trails if they would like to set up their art work as part of the expo, and may also reach out to Bomb Diggity Arts o Titles brainstormed: the People; All access fair; did you know expo, Abilities expo o Letter invitation: Michelle recommended, and members supported, drafting a letter jointly written from the City Manager and the PDAC Chair that would be distributed widely to area organizations inviting them to participate. The Resource Guide that PDAC has contributed to in conjunction with the Elder Affairs department will likely serve useful. This letter could raise awareness of the 30th anniversary of the ADA celebration we’d like to host in the summer of 2020 (see below). o Demonstrations and vendors: will also be researched. o We will prepare a catalog of resources for the organizations that participate. • 30th anniversary celebration of the passage of the ADA on July 26, 2020 o Mandy shared that the City Manager supports us hosting a celebration of the 30th anniversary passage of the ADA in the summer of 2020, potentially inviting a member of the Bush family to participate. o Time limited a robust discussion. • Additional business o Michelle shared that she utilized an accessible voting machine recently when voting at the Merrill Rehearsal Hall and found the experience frustrating. The volunteers did not appear familiar with the machine and  she indicated that it was set up in a very visible location that could make voters feel self-conscious. Mandy said she would look into this. • Upcoming 2019 meeting dates, all from 11 am to 12 pm in Room 24 in the basement of City Hall • February 6th • March 6th • April 3rd • May 1st • June 5th • July 10th • August 7th • September 4th • October 2nd • November 6th • December 4th • The meeting adjourned at 12:00 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Mandy Levine City of Portland Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Specialist

City of Portland Portland Disability Advisory Committee Agenda January 9, 2019 1. Sign In and approval of November 7, 2018 meeting minutes 2. Recap of Creative Trails’ art exhibition, Perspectives, on January Share proclamation recognizing December 3, 2018 as the International Day of Persons 3. With Disabilities 4. Speaker series: update from subcommittee (Rabih, John, Yura) 5. Spring PDAC fair: recommendation to book date and facility now 6. Update about 30th anniversary celebration of the passage of the ADA on July 26, 2020 Upcoming 2019 meeting dates, all from 11 am to 12 pm in Room 24 in the basement of 7. City Hall • February 6th • March 6th • April 3rd • May 1st • June 5th • July 10th • August 7th • September 4th • October 2nd • November 6th • December 4th 8. Adjournment