pages: CommissiononPersonswithDisabilities/2018-05-09.pdf, 15
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CommissiononPersonswithDisabilities | 2018-05-09 | 15 | COMMISSION ON DISABILITY MEETING MUTES OF Wednesday May 9, 2018 6:30 p.m. Anto Aghapekian: Alex, Thanks for your presentation, that was very informative. And there is an organization in Alameda called CERT, C-E-R-T [Community Emergency Response Team]. Have you been in touch with them? Have you talked with them? Alex Ghenis: Not directly with Alameda. I'll be open, is that Patrick and I have had conversations. We're very much in touch with CERT and actually that whole organization in Berkeley, because we're an active partner in Berkeley. We are moving forward, hopefully soon, on doing more outreach in community engagement with Alameda, but we also want to get the buy in of as many people as possible. But we have not yet with CERT. No. Anto Aghapekian: Because to my understanding, what CERT has been doing is locating cultural centers, be it a senior center, be it a church hall, as where in case of an emergency people with accessibility issues would be gathered. And this going out for almost two, three years, and I haven't participated. I've been in the periphery. But I was hoping that you would have some connection with them, or they have some connection with you, to get information from people that have needs. I've known where they are. And in case of an emergency, CERT can send people, and go and take them to rescue them, and nothing has happened. You have no idea. Alex Ghenis: So certainly, that would be one of the organizations that would be a part of our outreach research on inclusion in policy and planning. We've worked with CERT before. One of our staff members is CERT trained and has been an active member of that whole process. She mentioned that in Berkeley, she went to the CERT training and raised her hand about, "Wait, what about disability?" And there wasn't enough response. So, we recognize that, at least in Berkeley, and we've heard stories from elsewhere, that inclusion of disability is an issue. Because this is Community Emergency Response Training or Community Emergency Response Team. But that would absolutely be on our list of outreach and communication. Anto Aghapekian: Great. Thank you. Alex Ghenis: Thank you. Beth Kenny: Thank you again for your presentation. I felt similar to Vice Chair Barrett, "What does climate change have to do with disability?", before coming across your stuff. And this material, this presentation, was very illuminating. The only time I've actually come across it is this commission worked on a Universal Design Ordinance for residential development here in the city, and oftentimes one of the major pushbacks was, "How can we make a zero step entrance when sea levels are rising?" So I can see a lot of areas where we can really help each other. Because now it seems very obvious. At the time, I was like, felt like, "Well, I have to advocate for disabled people and I can't worry about the sea level rise. That's not what I'm doing." But to bring it together is a much better approach. Anto Aghapekian: And I would like to work with you. And it seems like a lot of the Commission has expressed the same. What Commissioner Roloff was suggesting, sometimes we do a subcommittee for specific issues where we'll have three to four commissioners asked specifically working on an issue, and that's how we did the Universal Design Ordinance. And I could see 05/30/18 Page 15 of 32 | CommissiononPersonswithDisabilities/2018-05-09.pdf |