2005-03-04 Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes

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The Aquatics Division worked with Special Olympics regarding lifeguarding and safety rules for the Special Olympics swim team. The rules in the county handbook require the aquatic sports team to provide their own lifeguard in addition to the regular public lifeguard during the reserved lane training practice. The Special Olympics rules for aquatics also required a ratio of 1 to 25 athletes for their own safety rules. It was not possible for the county lifeguard to provide that ratio for them. They are working out a solution so the athletes could still train. The result was that the athletes in Kona will be participating during public swim times as individuals, not under a coach. This will satisfy the current requirements with the idea that they will be working together to help them either recertify their coach with lifeguard credentials or work towards next year in making sure they have a lifeguard in place. DickMortemore,PanaewaRecreationComplexManagerofPanaewaZoo,received several requests for wheelchair access since wheelchairs have been removed from the zoo. A. Mitchener created a draft access brochure for the zoo. The final draft will need to be approved by Corporation Counsel. The Elderly Activities Division is one of the strongest division serving the most people with disabilities on a daily basis. A new TTY was installed in their information office. The number is 961-8025. A formal training has not been conducted with all of the staff. Staff is still panicking when a TTY call comes in and they are not comfortable with the equipment. A. Mitchener suggested establishing a register and practicing monthly drills. A. Mitchener asked J. Souza what is the protocol for printing a TTY phone call. Do you ask the person that you are talking to or do you say this call is being printed? J. Souza said theres no official rule. You dont have to inform the person, but the printout cant be used in court. A. Mitchener reported that the Recreation Division lacks new programs for younger adults with disabilities. The Recreation Division is still focusing on children from kindergarten through elementary age. The middle school age is not covered very well. This issue is noted in the Transition Plan. She suggested that photos showing facility access for facility rental should be expanded on the countys website and create this information in alternate format. Received bids and a final decision was made to purchase assistive listening tour guide system. She reviewed the recreation section in the General Plan. She suggested changing some of the language for clarification. A. Mitchener will forward this section to L. Scadden for revisions. 5