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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-05-07 Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Friday, May 7, 2004, 10:30 a.m. Aupuni Conference Room PRESENT: Ted Yamanaka, Vice-Chair; Jack Matsui, Lawrence Scadden, James Souza, Laura Tobosa EXCUSED: Michael Gleason, Chair; Betsy Whitney, Secretary; Denise Cowdrey GUESTS: Howard Marks, DD Council; Alisa Mitchener, Recreation Specialist- Department of Parks and Recreation; Sonia Scadden, Malina Thorpe, Interpreter CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 10:40 a.m. An introduction of committee members, staff, and guests was made. APPROVAL OF MINUTES L. Scadden made a motion to accept the minutes of April 2, 2004. J. Matsui seconded the motion. The motion was passed. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ISSUES None. TREASURERÓS REPORT The treasurerÓs report was reviewed. T. Yamanaka reported that the fiscal year ends on June 30, 2004. He suggested that MCPD members bring up any upcoming expenses or items for discussion at the next meeting. L. Tobosa made a motion to accept the treasurerÓs report as submitted. J. Souza seconded the motion. The motion was passed. CORRESPONDENCE A. Letter to Mayor Harry Kim from MCPD regarding complaints about motorcycles parking illegally along Alii Drive fronting Durty Jakes restaurant and parking on the sidewalk by QuinnÓs restaurant B. Letter to Ron Amundson from Harry Kubojiri, Deputy Police Chief, regarding one of their officers giving a warning to a wheelchair user for not following the same rules of the road as a vehicle L. Scadden reported that he found the letter to be somewhat confusing. It basically says that the laws need to be changed or the officer could infer that there was an error in judgment. HawaiÒi County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer C. Letter to MCPD from Mayor Harry Kim in response to motorcycles parking illegally along Alii Drive in front of Durty Jakes and QuinnÓs restaurant L. Scadden reported that he was happy with the letter. He felt that MCPD should have gone to the Mayor with this issue months ago since progress was not made adequately. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS A. EDUCATION/PUBLIC AWARENESS SUBCOMMITTEE Î M. GLEASON No report. B. RECREATION SUBCOMMITTEE No report. C. TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE Î B. WHITNEY No report. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. VOLUNTEER PARKING VIOLATION ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE Î SGT. APELE No report. B. UPDATE FROM DCAB Î C. FLEMING/N. OLESEN No report. C. ADA COORDINATORÓS REPORT Î T. SPINOLA-CAMPBELL No report. D. PARKS AND RECREATION REPORT Î A. MITCHENER A. Mitchener reported on the following: Offered ADA awareness staff training for the Aquatics Division at the end of April. Surveyed the staff for topics they are interested in for future training. Prepared an adaptive aquatics lesson for the new swimming teachers for the summer time. Looked at new exercise products for adaptive programs. Prepared training for the new summer fun staff that is coming in next month. Prepared a special registration process for skills trainers to attend with children with disabilities so they can be included in the kids programs. Circulated program guides for summer fun and fourth quarter programs to agencies, individuals, and families. Initiated a dialogue with professionals on other islands to start collecting input for an inclusion handbook. Learn about the inclusion aide program on Oahu through their Therapeutic Recreation Department. 2 Started modification plans for individuals, children, and their families so they can attend the summer fun program. A. Mitchener asked L. Scadden if it is possible to define beaches as wilderness areas because we have federal access standards for wilderness ar beaches in particular. L. Scadden said that he never came acros being defined as wilderness areas. A. Mitchener stated that there is a book called Universal Access to Outdoor Recreation, a design guide. It offers a land management tool called the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) of the USDA Forest Service that defines outdoor areas and expectations for accessibility. A. Mitchener brought up a concern on water temperature as discrimination in a swimming pool. All the physical and accessible features (ramps, lockers, and chair lifts, etc.) seem like a Catch 22 if a person cannot tolerate cool water. Yet, there is no legal standard for water temperature in the ADAAG. A. Mitchener mentioned the kidÓs pool next to the regular swimming pools might be offered as an accommodation for people who wanted to do certain exercises. The shallow water is warmer and there is a sloped ramp-like entrance that may be easy to access with the use of a mat. But questions may be asked about age appropriateness because itÓs a separate kidÓs pool. H. Marks asked if there is a therapeutic pool in any of the communities on the Big Island. A. Mitchener said she could not find one. The YWCA in heated pool, but it is not heated to a therapeutic standard. There will be a need here for a therapeutic pool in the future. L. Scadden volunteered to serve on the Recreation Subcommittee since he felt that there are interesting and important issues. E. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Î L. SCADDEN No report. F. TRANSITION PLAN UPDATE, PROGRAM ACCESSIBILITY TOOLKIT Î A. MITCHENER A. Mitchener requested to defer this item. NEW BUSINESS None. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON NON-AGENDA ISSUES J. Matsui raised a concern about some of the county restrooms having no grab bars. L. Tobosa responded that the Department of Parks and Recreation has a transition plan 3 which lists the park coming up for renovation. A. Mitchener added that each park has a priority number on it. She will provide a basic list of the schedule to J. Matsui. H. Marks announced an educational opportunity to discuss a grant called CPASS (Community Personal Assistance Services and Support) on May 27, Building 301, Room 114. Refreshments will be served from 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The meeting will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Dr. David Fray, Chief of the Developmental Disabilities Division from the State Department of Health, will be present to discuss the grant. A VSA Art Expo will be held on May 29-30, 2004 at the Hawaii Community College Cafeteria. There will be a variety of free workshops on Saturday, May 29, 2004, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will also be a variety of free workshops and an art gallery on Sunday, May 30, 2004, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will be a support group meeting for caregivers of people with disabilities on Monday, May 17, 2004, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at The ARC of Hilo. An application for Partners in Policymaking is available for interested people. The program educates participants about current issues and best practices in disabilities and teaches them about the policymaking and legislative processes. ANNOUNCEMENTS The next meeting will be held on Friday, June 4, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. in Kona. Location to be announced. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, _______________________________ JEAN VIERNES, STAFF SECRETARY 4