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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-10-19 Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes MAYOR’S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES c/o Hawai‘i County Office of Aging, 1055 Kino‘ole Street, Suite 101, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 MINUTES Wednesday October 19, 2011 – 10:00 a.m. West Hawai‘i Civic Center Liquor Conference Room Bldg, B, Second Floor 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy. Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 PRESENT: Paige De Lima, Chair; Wesley Tanigawa, Vice Chair; Jean Navarro, Laura Tobosa, Jesslie Hook, Pauline Aughe, Janice Mancini, Jessica Arruda. EXCUSED: Dr. Ron Wagner-Wright, James D. Souza, Edeltraud Hanoa, Dareth Pung-Botheilo. OTHERS PRESENT AND GUESTS: Alisa Mitchener, P&R; Renee Schoen, Corporation Counsel; Alan Parker, HCOA; Sandra Arriola, HCOA, Elwood Kita, HCOA, Grethchen Lawson, ARC-Kona, Speaker, and Donald Haumea, John Betlauch, Sam Nagasawa, Alice Widman. CALL TO ORDER: P. De Lima called the meeting to order at 10:15 a.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE JUNE 29, 2011 AND AUGUST 17, 2011 MEETING: Paige decided to pass on this so members have time to read the June 29 revisions. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC – AGENDA ITEMS: A. Mitchener wanted to know when the public could speak since there was J. Betlauch nothing on the agenda for non-agenda items. (At-risk and Disability Counselor) stated that he was told he could just go to the meeting because there was a time for people to speak from the public, and that you don’t have to be put on the agenda. R. Schoen According to usually members of the public cannot comment on items that are not on the agenda per the Sunshine Law, but because a special trip was made out here, maybe under Announcements or Unfinished Business. P. De Lima said that since his item was not on the agenda, he would be taken under Unfinished Business. No statements from the public. Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer NEW BUSINESS A. Presentation by Gretchen Lawson, CEO, ARC of Kona G. LAWSON spoke about being nominated to the Institute for Rehabilitation issues; the draft of Understanding the Impact of Health Care Reform on Employment and Independence of Individuals with Disabilities; Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) which alters how consumers access health insurance coverage. By changes in the insurance market rules, it reforms Medicare and Medicaid and then poses taxes on various health care stakeholders. She feels that people with disabilities who want to work will find a great opportunity in this shift from institutionalization W. Kita to community care. asked if her focus was on employability or employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Gretchen said it was and Woody wanted her to touch up on a couple of things that this law may promote or improve. According to Gretchen, health homes would be created, and with that, jobs like CNAs, navigators, counselors, people to operate the equipments, and clerical, among other things. A. Parker stated what they’re doing is looking at cutting the costs for long term care facilities. He is excited about the Affordable Care Act which is promoting more community based services. He agrees that one of the positive things to look at is that it should promote more employment opportunities for different segments and helpfully just to provide more services for people with disabilities and aging people who are trying to live independently. B. Report of Ad Hoc Committees J. Navarro 1. Employment Ad Hoc Committee: stated that they met with Gabriella Cabanas from HR at the ROSI in Honokaa, and discussed County job applications that have now gone paperless. The committee had questions about how the disabled would get access if they didn’t have a computer, and how one would advocate for the person who is disabled. Gabriella’s response was that there is a section on the form that says accommodations, and if someone needed an accommodation they would put it on the application, and that’s the flag that says we might have someone with a disability. Jean told her that there still needs to be discussion because that’s not providing the access that the committee is looking for. When the team gets back together they will be meeting with Gabriella again to try to find a way that we can be able to call someone and say we have a candidate that A. Mitchener I’d like to bring to you. asked Jean if she knew whether the on-line applications were accessible to the blind and deaf and if they were captioned at all? J. Navarro stated that it was not accessible yet but they are working on that. It’s closed caption and also they have the audio. 2 P. De Lima 2. Education Ad Hoc Committee: is going to have a meeting on November 17 at 10:00 a.m. at the Hilo Lagoon Conference Room, first floor, to discuss Mayor Kenoi’s effort to improve accessibility to county websites. Ad Hoc Education Committee intends to provide a report and the Mayor will hopefully be able to attend and update the committee on his efforts at our December meeting. L. Tobosa 3. Transportation Ad Hoc Committee: stated that Dr. Ron, the P. De Lima chair, was not here. is hoping that he’ll be able to attend the November 17 meeting. A. Mitchener 4. Recreation Ad Hoc Committee: stated that they had their first meeting on Sept. 14 – Wes, Janice, Pauline, Morgan and Report to be submitted herself. . P. Aughe stated that she brought her camera if anyone was interested in being part of the video. A question was asked about resources from DCAB regarding accessible camp grounds. What they did have is now A. Mitchener obsolete according to , but said she sees some on the Alisa county website. talked about an incident that happened in Pohoiki-Ahalanui Hot Ponds – a young couple from New Jersey was thrilled to be there since they were able to go all the way to the ocean steps because of the pathway that Donald advocated for, that connected the cul-de-sac dead end to the ocean steps. 5. ADA Ad Hoc Committee: Wes did not have anything to report. C. Report of the County of Hawai‘i, ADA Recreational Specialist, Alisa A. Mitchener Mitchener. stated that there is an open house at Yano Hall. Next one is October 25, usually the last Tuesday of the month. In Hilo it’s at the Puueo Community Center on October 28, between 9:30-11:30. Kawika Schook is from the ATRC in Oahu and will be presenting a brief power point on what Assistive Technology Research Center does, and will have devices for people to test out. He’ll be bringing assistive technology for computers, for all kinds of different needs, visual, mobility, recreation, hearing, seeing. ATRC also has financial solutions to acquiring AT. They have a special phone system set and they can talk more about that. They don’t give you money to buy stuff, but they find ways that they can help you to acquire the things that are needed. Assistive Technology is not usually cheap. A. Parker thanked Woody who worked very hard with the display cases in A. Mitchener ADRC. stated that the devices would be left at Office of Aging and be connected to services so you would come in and staff member would be trained on how to use it and there will be hands-on demos, or someone who is working for Coordinated Services would borrow this and take it in home if they needed to do case management. 3 W. Kita wanted to give credit to Alan because it was his brainchild. The Alisa’sP. De Lima design of the displays is . She designed it for us. A. inquired if Kawika does it for people with disabilities at the DOE. Mitchener felt that they served people no matter from where. A. Mitchener had successful Beach Days at Richardson throughout September. Season is done. Has one more snorkel day at Kahaluu on Friday which will start at 10:30-2:30. They will have the Mobi mats and HEPA camp beach chairs there. This is a collaboration with the University of Nations that provide swim buddies for everyone who enters the water including equipments like fins and snorkels and floatation stuff. The Aquatics Division is joining the Recreation Division and Alisa is being transferred to Richardson’s Ocean Park. NAS Pool is used by schools, Special Ed classes as well as Charter Schools. The purpose of the AT equipment at Aging is to inform patrons and caregivers of assisted technology options that may enhance their daily living. It acts as a catalyst for acquiring services from the agencies at ADRC – Coordinated Services, Independent Living, ARC of Hilo, all the folks that are at ADRC will have access to this equipment to share with those they serve. Part of the pool is to include kupuna and folks living without computers. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: P. De LimaJ. Betlach asked John Betlach what he wanted to talk about. wanted to say that he was so inspired with the committee’s input and that seeing everyone here at the meeting is one of the most inspiring things that has happened to him this year. He wanted to thank each and everyone for being here and helping change the lives of so many people and being involved in so many people’s lives. He mentioned about the things that CDC has that the committee might be interested in and could utilize. J. Betlach wanted to ask for the committee to look into the way the County Building and Planning departments approach people with disabilities to comply with requirements. It appears like there’s not a plan in place, and that it can W. Tanigawa quickly go off into fines and loss of your house. would like more clarification and will speak with John after the meeting . APPROVAL OF MINUTES P. De Lima L. Tobosa asked if there was any Unfinished Business. reminded her that the minutes still need to be approved. She inquired that if there were some corrections, misspelled words and stuff, if the minutes can just be R. Schoen approved with correction. said that could be done. June 29, 2011 minutesP. De Lima – - Do we have a motion? MOTION: L. Tobosa moved to accept the minutes. J. Hook seconded. 4 ALL IN FAVOR: All - aye. OPPOSED: None. August 17, 2011 minutesP. De Lima – – Do we have a motion to pass? Discussion? L. Tobosa makes a motion to pass but has some corrections. Page 2, number 2, where it has L. Tobosa, about the Federal grant for transportation, that should be under number 3, Transportation Ad Hoc Committee. On page 5, P. De Lima towards the bottom, Tobosa is misspelled. – Do we have a motion to approve? MOTION:L. Tobosa – Moved that the August 17 minutes be approved with corrections. W. Tanigawa seconded. ALL IN FAVOR: All – Aye. OPPOSED: None. ANNOUNCEMENTS P. De Lima wanted to discuss the December meeting. Yacht Club was not R. available for December 14. The other available dates were 12, 15 or 17. Schoen suggested that the December meeting not be called a meeting but a gathering. It can simply say that the committee is doing their annual J. Navarro presentation, and have the yearly reports on each ad hoc team. thought small videos were going to be done rather than a total written report from A. Mitchener each of the ad hoc comm. stated it would be really informal like - A Day and a Life of a Member. Could be a family portrait, what they’re doing in the P. De Lima community and try to put the photos in with the presentation. announced that there needs to be a meeting regarding those reports, formatting, P. Aughe etc., and also for what‘s going to be done for December. stated that the video is not taking the place of the report. It was decided that Paige’s Ad Hoc committee would meet on Nov. 17 and 10:00 and then the rest could come after to discuss the December function. NEXT MEETING: To be announced. ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at 11:05 a.m. J. NavarroL. Tobosa moved to adjourn the meeting. seconded it. Respectfully submitted, Sandra Arriola 5