[Commission for People with Disabilities Interest Meeting on December 3, 2025.]
[00:00:06]
HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? WAIT, AM I IN THE RIGHT CITY? HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? Y'ALL KNOW I ALWAYS GOT TO ASK BECAUSE WE GOT TO DO A VIBE CHECK, BUT I'M MAYOR RACHEL PROCTOR, AND I AM SO EXCITED TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THE VERY FIRST STEP IN SOMETHING THAT I KNOW IS GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR OUR CITY, AND THAT IS OUR INTEREST MEETING FOR OUR NEWLY ESTABLISHED OR ESTABLISHING OUR COMMISSION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. SO I THINK YOU CAN GIVE YOURSELVES A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP, BECAUSE YOU ALL WERE THE INSPIRATION BEHIND, BEHIND WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS EVENING. AND BEFORE I GET INTO MY VERY BRIEF COMMENTS, BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT AN HOUR TOGETHER TONIGHT OR LESS. AND SO I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE HOUR, BUT I WANT TO DO A FEW INTRODUCTIONS. WE HAVE SOME OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT. WE HAVE OUR MAYOR PRO TEM, CRYSTAL CHISHOLM, WHO YOU WILL HEAR FROM LATER ON IN THE PROGRAM. SHE AND I ARE GOING TO FACILITATE SOME CONVERSATION WITH YOU ALL. WE ALSO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER DEBORAH NORTH THAT IS BACK THERE IN THE BACK. GIVE US A WAVE. THERE SHE IS. I WANT TO SAY SHE'S THE ONLY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME STAFF MEMBERS HERE.
WE HAVE OUR CITY MANAGER. MR. GODFREY IS HERE TONIGHT. OH, Y'ALL CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.
WE HAVE OUR CITY SECRETARY, OUR NEWEST. WELL, NOT THE NEWEST, BUT ONE OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE TEAM IS SOPHIE LEWIS. AUBREY IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT AS WELL. WE HAVE DOCTOR ESTHER WILLIAMS WHO IS HERE WITH US. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR WHO IS GOING TO BE OUR STAFF LIAISON TO THIS COMMITTEE, MISS LISA MENDOZA, SHE IS ALSO HERE. ANY MORE STAFF LET ME MAKE SURE MY EYES ARE FAILING ME TONIGHT. I'M LOOKING OUT OVER INTO THE AUDIENCE. ANY MORE TEAM MEMBERS HERE FROM THE STAFF? I KNOW WE DO HAVE SOME REPRESENTATION FROM DESOTO ISD. IF YOU COULD PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND, JUST TELL US YOUR NAME FROM DESOTO ISD. YES. HELLO, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS DOCTOR CORRIGAN. I'M ONE OF THE PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT MCALLEN MIDDLE SCHOOL. I'M HERE TO JUST MAKE SURE KIND OF HELP BRIDGE THE GAP WITH EDUCATION. AND I'M INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE MYSELF. SO THANK YOU ALL. ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. AND SO JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO SOMEBODY THAT'S SITTING CLOSE TO YOU. SO WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO INTRODUCE EVERY INDIVIDUAL PERSON IN THE ROOM, BUT JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF. IF IT'S SOMEBODY THAT YOU DON'T KNOW.
OKAY. AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST. NOW Y'ALL DONE GOT TO TALKING AND HAVING CONVERSATION. LET ME GET YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE. LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, I WANT TO INTRODUCE OUR AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER. AND THAT IS MISS LEONA. SHE IS HERE WITH DEAF ACTION CENTER. LET'S GIVE HER A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP. SHE IS HERE REPRESENTING. AND SO AGAIN, I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE. AND CAN WE GIVE OUR ONLINE AUDIENCE WATCHING A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP TOO. WE HAVE SOME THAT COULD NOT MAKE IT IN PERSON, AND SO THANKFUL TO OUR TEAM FOR MAKING THIS AVAILABLE. THAT STREAMING LIVE ON DESOTO, TEXAS TV. DID Y'ALL KNOW WE HAD A TV STATION Y'ALL DIDN'T KNOW? WELL, NOW Y'ALL KNOW Y'ALL LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY. SO WE'RE STREAMING ON DESOTO, TEXAS TV. IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT HERE. AND I BELIEVE YOU'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO WATCH THE REPLAY. SO LET SOMEBODY KNOW IF THEY WANT TO GO BACK LATER AND WATCH IT AGAIN JUST TO SEE HOW THEY CAN GET CONNECTED. THEY CAN ABSOLUTELY DO THAT AS WELL. AND SO THIS COMMISSION REPRESENTS OUR CITY, AND WE WANT TO BUILD SOMETHING WHERE EVERY RESIDENT, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY, CAN THRIVE. AND SO TONIGHT IS ABOUT CO-CREATING. YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR US ASK A LOT. WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME TALKING. BUT WE REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL. WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORIES. WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR EXPERIENCES. AND MOST OF ALL, WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU ALL SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE NEED BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT IT.
WE HAVE WE HAVE WHAT, TEN, 10 OR 12 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IN THE CITY. WE'RE NOT DOING THAT JUST TO ADD TO THAT ROSTER. WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE NEED AND THAT IT IS NECESSARY. AND SO WE ABSOLUTELY WANT YOUR INPUT. AND EVEN AFTER TONIGHT, WE WANT THE INPUT TO TO TO CONTINUE. YOU'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO APPLY IF YOU WANT TO APPLY FOR THE BOARD TONIGHT. IF YOU ARE DESOTO RESIDENT, LET ME MAKE THAT CLEAR. BECAUSE WE HAD I HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE REACH OUT TO ME FROM OTHER CITIES AND THEY WANT TO BE A PART. I SAID, WELL, I'M GLAD YOU WANT TO BE A PART, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR THE BOARD.
HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE POSITIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES. IF YOU ARE AN ORGANIZATION, A NONPROFIT, A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT, WE WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF THIS, ESPECIALLY IN THE FORMATIVE STAGE THAT WE'RE IN NOW, TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL THE VOICES AT THE TABLE, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CREATING POLICY AND CREATING A COMMITTEE THAT NOT JUST MEETS TO MEET, BUT MEETS AND CREATES THINGS THAT REALLY IMPACT PEOPLE'S LIVES IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY.
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AND SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER FOR SOME VISION AND THE FOUNDATIONAL OVERVIEW, AND I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO LISA. LET'S GIVE HER A GREAT BIG HAND CLAP AS SHE COMES. HI. WELCOME. I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU CAME. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT OUR AREAS OF FOCUS FOR THE COMMISSION. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOUR PILLARS. AND IF YOU CAN SEE THE THINGS ON THE BOARD, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE LATER. AND THAT'S WHY YOU GOT THE POST-ITS. SO I NEED YOU TO START THINKING ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND YOUR ENGAGEMENT INTO THESE. BUT OUR FOUR AREAS OF FOCUS ARE GOING TO BE ONE EMPLOYMENT INCLUSIVE HIRING, WORKPLACE ACCOMMODATIONS, AND VOCATIONAL PATHWAYS. THE SECOND PILLAR IS GOING TO BE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ACCESSIBLE LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES AND INCLUSIVE PROGRAM DESIGN. OUR THIRD PILLAR IS INDEPENDENT LIVING, ACCESSIBLE HOUSING, COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND SOCIAL INCLUSION. AND OUR FOURTH IS TRANSPORTATION. WE ARE LOOKING AT ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT, IMPROVED PARATRANSIT AND SAFE MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE. SO I NEED YOU TO START GETTING THOSE MINDS ROLLING AND MOVING AND THINK WHAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER TO THOSE FOUR PILLARS FOR OUR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. HOW THE COMMISSION WILL FUNCTION WILL BE YOUR ARE WE THERE WHO CAN SERVE BOARD MEMBERS? YOU MUST BE A CITIZEN OF DESOTO. WE WANT CARETAKERS OF A DISABLED INDIVIDUAL OR EVEN A DISABLED INDIVIDUAL THEMSELVES. PROFESSIONALS IN HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, ACCESSIBILITY, BUSINESS OR RELATED FIELD, AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND LEADERS PASSIONATE ABOUT INCLUSION. NOW, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT DISABILITIES, YOU KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF PASSION TO PUSH FORWARD. AND THIS IS EXACTLY THE PURPOSE THAT OUR MAYOR HAS, IS SHE WANTS TO BE SO PROACTIVE WITH THIS. SO IF YOU ARE THAT PERSON AND YOU'RE WILLING TO PUT FORTH THE BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO GET THIS OFF THE GROUND AND MOVING IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE ARE HOPING IT MOVES, THEN PLEASE APPLY. THE ROLE OF THE COMMISSION WILL BE. YOU WILL SERVE AS AN ADVISORY BOARD TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. YOU'LL RECOMMEND POLICIES AND STRATEGIES THAT IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY FOR DISABLED INDIVIDUALS. YOU WILL IDENTIFY CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS ACROSS THE FOUR PILLARS. YOU WILL SUPPORT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION AND AWARENESS, AND YOU WILL COLLABORATE WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS, NONPROFITS, AND REGIONAL PARTNERS. AND IF YOU KNOW OF ANYBODY OUT THERE, ANY SMALL BUSINESSES, ANY LARGE BUSINESSES WHO ARE WILLING TO HELP, THAT IS EVEN BETTER. HOW? IMPLEMENTATION PRIORITIES. I JUST SAID THAT THE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ONGOING COMMUNITY OUTREACH.IF YOU KNOW, AS A PERSON WHO MAYBE HAS A DISABILITY OR CARES FOR A DISABLED INDIVIDUAL, LET US KNOW, YOU KNOW, PUT IT ON THAT POST-IT NOTE AS WELL. LIKE I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOUR FEEDBACK TO HEART. THE STRUCTURE WILL BE SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS, AND THEY WILL BE APPOINTED BY CITY COUNCIL AFTER APPLYING. HOW YOU APPLY IS WE DON'T HAVE IT SET UP JUST YET, BUT MY EMAIL IS ON A CARD THAT'S AT THE DOOR. EMAIL ME YOUR INTEREST TO APPLY. AS SOON AS WE HAVE IT ALL SET UP, I WILL SEND YOU THE LINK. OKAY, MY EMAIL. I'LL SEND IT TO YOU RIGHT NOW. L MENDOZA AT DESOTO, TEXAS. SPELL OUT TEXAS.GOV. PLEASE SEND ME AN EMAIL AND TELL ME YOUR INTEREST IN SITTING ON THE BOARD. WE WILL HAVE NON-VOTING RESOURCE PANEL OF REGIONAL PARTNERS AND THE OFFICERS WILL INCLUDE A CHAIR, A VICE CHAIR, A SECRETARY AND TREASURER. WOULD THEY WILL HAVE THE COMMISSION WILL HAVE QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH SPECIAL MEETINGS AS NEEDED. AND AS WE ALL KNOW, ANYTIME SOMETHING GETS OFF THE GROUND, WE MAY HAVE TO MEET A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BUILD STRUCTURE TO THIS COMMISSION AND KNOW THAT THE STRUCTURE OF THIS COMMISSION WILL BE SUPPORTED BY A CITY STAFF LIAISON, WHICH WILL BE ME. SO I CAN GIVE YOU A LITTLE QUICK FEEDBACK ABOUT ME. I SERVED 11
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YEARS AS A RISK MANAGER FOR THE SAN ANTONIO STATE SUPPORTED LIVING CENTER, AND IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT PLACE, IT IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES, FROM MILD TO VERY SEVERE DISABILITIES LIVE. SO MY HEART IS REALLY INTO THIS. THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT FOR THAT INFORMATION. AND AGAIN WE WILL HAVE THIS. THIS IS STREAMING LIVE. SO IF YOU'RE COMING IN OR YOU JUST CAME IN, YOU CAN GO BACK AND WATCH THE LIVE STREAM TO GET SOME OF THE INFORMATION ON THE STRUCTURE AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. BUT WE WANT TO DO A COMMUNITY LISTENING AND ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY. BUT I WANT TO KIND OF JUST KIND OF DO A SURVEY THROUGHOUT THE ROOM. HOW MANY CAREGIVERS DO WE HAVE IN THE ROOM? WE HAVE SEVERAL CAREGIVERS IN THE ROOM. HOW MANY DO WE HAVE THAT ACTUALLY HAVE IDENTIFIED AS A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY THAT HAS A DISABILITY? FORMER CAREGIVER. GREAT. AND SO I'M GOING TO JUST KIND OF WARM US UP JUST A LITTLE BIT. IF YOU DON'T HAVE POST-IT NOTES, PLEASE GRAB A JUST A POST-IT NOTES. BECAUSE AGAIN WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. BUT THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE CAREGIVERS, WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES WITH CAREGIVERS OR I MEAN, WITH CAREGIVING AS IT PERTAINS TO ACCESSIBILITY AS IT PERTAINS TO INCLUSION, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. AND YOU CAN JUST STAND, TELL US YOUR NAME. AND IF YOU'RE WITH AN ORGANIZATION OR IF YOU'RE A DESOTO RESIDENT, STAND AND LET US KNOW WHAT THOSE CHALLENGES ARE FOR YOU OR HAVE BEEN FOR YOU. YES, EVERYONE, MY NAME IS MARY AND THIS IS MY LITTLE CHUNKY SON RIGHT HERE. GRIFFIN, WHO IS SIX AND HAS DOWN SYNDROME. I'M ALSO THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE BLACK NAIL SYNDROME ASSOCIATION WITH THE FIRST NATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING BLACK FAMILIES AND THE LOVE FOR DOWN SYNDROME. AND WE SUPPORT OVER 1500 PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WHO ARE CAREGIVERS AND PARENTS OF PERSONS WITH DOWN SYNDROME. I THINK THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE FOR FAMILIES THAT WE SERVE, MANY OF WHOM LIVE IN DESOTO AS WELL, IT'S JUST ACCESSIBILITY AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHATEVER RESOURCES ARE. AND SO GIVE ME YOUR GIVE ME YOUR LAST NAME AGAIN. LOT TO BURY. AND I REMEMBER YOU ONLINE. I REMEMBER YOUR POST. SO WHEN YOU SAY ACCESSIBILITY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN. SO FROM AS A AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WE CREATE POLICY. RIGHT. AND WHEN WE HEAR THE WORD ACCESSIBILITY THAT MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO EACH OF US. SO IN YOUR WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU INTERACT WITH AND THE PARENTS THAT YOU INTERACT WITH, WHAT DOES ACCESSIBILITY LOOK LIKE TO YOU ALL? IT LOOKS LIKE JUST KNOWING THAT THE THING EXISTS, RIGHT? LIKE IT EXISTS, HOW CAN WE ACCESS THAT RESOURCE? THE DIFFICULTY IN ACCESSING THE RESOURCES, BECAUSE WHETHER IT'S WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THE TIME THINGS HAPPEN, CHILDCARE. WHAT ELSE? WE'RE HERE. WE GOT TIME. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, MISS BERRY. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. ALL. JUST ACCESS TO THERAPIES, I FEEL LIKE OUR COMMUNITY IS KIND OF A DESERT IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO THEIR RESOURCES. I'VE HEARD THAT BEFORE. AND IF I COULD JUST SPEAK WITH ONE TRANSPARENT AND THIS IS A SAFE SPACE, THAT'S OKAY TOO. I'M NOT SCARED, BUT WE LIVE IN DESOTO, BUT MY CHILD GOES TO SCHOOL AT A PRIVATE SCHOOL IN HIGHLAND PARK. WE DRIVE 45 MINUTES AWAY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT CONFIDENT ABOUT THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US HERE. I WOULD LOVE FOR MY TIME TO GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE WE PAY A LOT OF MONEY IN TAXES, BUT HE'S MY ONLY CHILD AND I WANT TO ENSURE THAT HE'S GOT THE BEST START FOR HIM. SO THAT MEANS WE GOT TO DRIVE. WE DO THAT AS WELL. AND EVEN HIS THERAPIES, HE'S STILL WE'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT IN THIS. WE HAVE TO LEAVE TO GET THIS SPEECH THERAPY. PHYSICAL THERAPY. SO GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING IS THAT THERE'S AN AND WE DON'T WANT TO JUST LIMIT IT TO DESOTO. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING IS THE CHALLENGE OF FINDING THERAPY IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR IN GENERAL. HAS ANYBODY ELSE HAD THAT EXPERIENCE, MR. THOMAS? YES, YOU CAN STAND. TELL US YOUR NAME. YEAH, MY DAUGHTER WAS WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT. SHE NOW AS ARE PROBABLY FROM THE WAIST DOWN. AND SO A LOT OF THE[00:15:04]
THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO, PLACES TO GO WAS NOT IN THE SUBJECT. FOR INSTANCE, WE MAY GO TO A GRANDPARENT, WE HAVE A HAVE A PET, RIGHT. SO SHE WANTS TO GO UP THERE AND GET THERAPY OR EXERCISE OR WORKOUT. SO SHE HAS TO GO TO THAT PARTICULAR FACILITY BECAUSE THEY HAVE THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES AVAILABLE. SO BUT EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO JUST DIFFERENT TO HER POINT, IT'S A THERAPY. IT'S OUTSIDE OF THE CITY. YES. THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO BRING IT IN HERE. THAT WOULD BE GREAT FOR ALL YOU KNOW. AND NOW MY WHEELS ARE TURNING, MR. THOMAS, BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT UP EPIC. YOU KNOW, AS YOU ALL MAY KNOW, WE HAVE OUR AQUATIC AND RECREATION CENTER THAT IS COMING. AND THAT BUILDING HAS SO MUCH UTILITY, AND WE'RE IN A MAYOR PRO TEM. YOU PICKING UP WHAT I'M PUTTING DOWN? SO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE OPTIONS IN TERMS OF THERAPY AS IT PERTAINS TO THAT. SO MAKE SURE WE'RE WRITING THIS DOWN.WELL, WE'LL GO BACK AND WATCH IT AS WELL. BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING ALL OF THIS IN MIND WHEN IT COMES TO PROGRAMING AND OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE, BECAUSE THAT FACILITY IS MEANT TO BE A AN INTERGENERATIONAL FACILITY, AND IT'S MEANT TO MEET ALL THE NEEDS AS FAR AS HEALTH AND WELLNESS ARE CONCERNED FOR THE CITY OF DESOTO. SO PLEASE TO TALK TONIGHT, Y'ALL. WE NEED YOU TO BE CHATTY CATHY TONIGHT. PLEASE STAND. TELL US YOUR NAME.
I AM DISTINGUISHED HENDERSON. I'M THE FOUNDER OF COVENANT LIFE MY WAY. ALSO I AM THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF RED ROCK DISTRICT KITCHEN. SO FROM MY EXPERIENCE AND ALSO I'M A SERVICE PROVIDER AT A LOCAL BUSINESS HERE IN DESOTO. BUT WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN SCHOOL, BECAUSE I USED TO WORK WITH DESOTO AS WELL, WATER RESOURCES AND DIFFERENT SERVICES FOR OUR CHILDREN. ONCE THEY GRADUATE, THEY KIND OF LEFT HANGING ONCE THEY LEAVE SCHOOL. SO I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK MORE SHELTERED. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SO ONE OF OUR PILLARS IS EMPLOYMENT. AND AS I DIDN'T MENTION THIS, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AS SOON AS I TOOK OFFICE, THIS WAS ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES. AND WE'VE JUST BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. BUT IN 2022 AND SHE'S NOT HERE YET, SHE'S ON HER WAY. HER FLIGHT WAS DELAYED. MISS TIFFANY MARTIN BUT IN 2022, WE HELD A VIRTUAL A VIRTUAL ONLINE OPPORTUNITY FAIR. AND THE BASIS OF THAT WAS WITH NATIONAL NATIONAL DISABILITY, NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH. AND WE DID THAT TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH DIFFERENT PARTNERS LIKE BEST BUDDIES AND JUST SOME OF THE OTHERS THAT ARE AROUND, BECAUSE WE WERE FINDING THAT WHEN WE WERE ASKING ABOUT WHAT THE REAL NEEDS WERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT WAS EXACTLY THAT CAREGIVERS THAT HAD ADULT CHILDREN AND THEY WERE LOOKING FOR JUST GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT. AND SO WE'VE TALKED EVEN WITHIN OUR CITY, WITHIN OUR HR, WHAT WHAT ARE WE DOING AS A CITY? BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO ASK OTHER PEOPLE TO INVEST INTO OUR RESIDENTS, WE FIRST NEED TO BE THE ONES TO MAKE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN OUR CITY. AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE COMMITTED TO DOING AS WELL IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT. BUT WE HOPE AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW THIS, THIS COMMITTEE, TO EVEN EDUCATE EMPLOYERS ON THE BENEFITS OF HIRING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF BENEFITS THAT EMPLOYERS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF, THAT COME WHEN YOU HIRE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE DISABILITIES. SO AS A PART OF ONE OF THOSE PILLARS, UNDEREMPLOYMENT, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS NOT ONLY PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITIES, BUT ALSO HELPING BUILD THE PIPELINE FOR OPPORTUNITIES BY FIRST EDUCATING THE EMPLOYEES ON THAT. WHAT THAT MEANS? YES, MA'AM. I'M SO GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT. MY NAME IS TINA HOLLAND AND I WAS A FORMER I'M A FORMER CAREGIVER OF A YOUNG LADY THAT WAS IN FOSTER CARE, AND SHE GOT KICKED OUT OF FOSTER CARE WHEN SHE AGED OUT OF FOSTER CARE. AND SHE WAS IN MY HOME WITH MY NONPROFIT IS GEARED TOWARDS THE YOUTH THAT ARE AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE, THAT DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO, AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY LIFE SKILLS. AND I'M GLAD YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT THE EMPLOYMENT THING, BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES. JUST HER GETTING EMPLOYMENT OR HER LOOKING FOR AN EMPLOYER THAT'S THAT'S CATERING TO HER DISABILITY. SHE SHE HAD SEVERAL THINGS GOING ON, WHICH IN TURN MADE ME START A BUSINESS TO FOR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE IT. AND SO NOW I HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION, THE VR, THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, BECAUSE THEY THEY HELP THOSE THEY HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, YOU KNOW, TO FIND EMPLOYMENT. AND WHAT I DO WITH MY COMPANY, WITH THE CONTRACT THAT I HAVE WITH THEM, I HELP THEM RESUME WRITING INTERVIEW SKILLS, LIFE SKILLS, JUST, YOU KNOW, HOW TO CUSTOMER SERVICE, JUST DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY LACK WHEN THEY WHEN SHE WAS IN FOSTER CARE THAT SHE DIDN'T GET AS WELL AS OTHER INDIVIDUALS. SO I'M GLAD YOU GUYS MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE THAT IS A NEED. WE NEED THOSE RESOURCES HERE. JOBS LIKE YOU SAID, EMPLOYERS CAN THEY HAVE THEY HAVE BENEFITS THAT THEY CAN GET IF THEY HIRE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. ABSOLUTELY. WE'RE GOING TO INTRIGUED ME ABOUT YOUR POST. AND I SAW THAT POST AND I SAW THAT PILLAR ON THEIR EMPLOYMENT.
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THAT'S WHAT MADE ME ACTUALLY COME TO THANK YOU. WE HAVE TWO MORE. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BREAK OFF INTO SMALL GROUPS, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE MORE TIME FOR YOU ALL TO TALK AS A SMALL GROUP. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU ALL TO PUT ALL OF THESE IDEAS ON OUR BOARDS. DO WE HAVE A SIGN IN SHEET WHERE WE'RE CAPTURING NAMES AND EMAILS? CAN WE GET ONE REAL QUICK, EVEN IF IT'S NOTHING FANCY? I WANT TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF A LOT OF USEFUL INDIVIDUALS IN THE ROOM. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ABLE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON TONIGHT.IF YOU DID NOT REGISTER WELL, EVEN IF YOU REGISTERED THROUGH EVENTBRITE AS WELL, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT INFORMATION TO GET WITH YOU, MISS SHELLY. AND THEN THIS YOUNG LADY OVER HERE IN THE YELLOW SWEATSHIRT, I SEE YOUR HAND. SO WE'LL ADD YOU TO. AND THAT'LL BE OUR LAST ONE AS A GROUP. I AM, I'M SHIRLEY, AND I'M ALSO A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR 64 FOR VOCATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES. AND THE, THE THE GOAL FOR THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE COMPETITIVE, INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES THAT HAVE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL OR, YOU KNOW, 18 AND OVER. HOWEVER, THEY DO PROVIDE WHILE THEY'RE IN HIGH SCHOOL OR TRANSITIONAL PROGRAM TO PREPARE THEM ONCE THEY GRADUATE FROM FROM HIGH SCHOOL. AND SO WE DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS WITH EMPLOYERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WE DO TRAINING WITH THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL. AND SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SERVICES.
THANK YOU, MISS COOKSEY. WE HAD I DON'T KNOW YOUR NAME. I'M SORRY. YELLOW.
THE YELLOW SWEATSHIRT. I'M SORRY. GET STANDING. GIVE US YOUR NAME.
AND SO IF YOU ARE SICK OR HAVE OTHER CONDITIONS THAT NEED SPECIALIZED CARE AND DISCLOSURES THAT YOU MAY HAVE TO HAVE A COMPLAINT THAT EVEN WITHOUT SIX MONTHS OR YOU LOOK UP TO HABITAT ON OR SCREWS AND YOU CAN'T GET THAT BECAUSE I THINK SOME OF THOSE EMPLOYMENT.
WELL UNDERSTAND THAT, ESPECIALLY FOR. THAT DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT, BECAUSE. AND MY MOTHER AND THE ELDERLY, YOU KNOW, SHE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE THERE. SO IT'S HARD TO KNOW HOW LONG FOR AND ALSO PLAYED CATCHER THE VIRUS AND SO IF ANYBODY ELSE IS STARCH AND I TRY TO REMEMBER ALL THE TIME AND WHAT I WAS TOLD IS THAT I TRIED TO USE IT FOR MY CHILD, FOR ME, I WAS I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT SHE WAS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. BUT THEY'RE SAYING, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S REALLY NOT. THE LADY TOLD ME THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE AN ISSUE. THEY HAVE AN ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS. BUT THEY WERE TRYING TO DO SO MUCH TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL. SO NOW KIDS HAVE GONE TO SCHOOL AND IT'S NOT FAIR ON ONE PERSON TOLD ME THAT THEY DON'T HAVE DRIVERS, THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOR WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO. AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY IS TRYING TO DRILL DOWN TO WHAT THE ISSUE IN EXPANDING ALL THESE KIDS WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL AND GET THEM TO SCHOOL. THEY THINK ABOUT HIS PASSION FOR AFTER SCHOOL OPTIONS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT'S NOT WORKING THE WAY THEY USED TO WORK. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND ACTUALLY SITTING A FEW FEET AWAY FROM YOU IS OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM STAR TRANSIT. SO SHE JUST GOT ALL THE INFORMATION SHE NEEDED TO KNOW TO BE ABLE TO HELP MITIGATE THE SITUATION.
ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES THINGS CAN BE HARD FOR US TO HEAR, IT'S HELPFUL THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHERE THE BOTTLENECKS ARE IN THE SYSTEM, BECAUSE WHEN WE WHEN WE IMPLEMENTED STAR TRANSIT IN 2018, THE GOAL WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THAT NEEDED IT WERE ABLE TO GET THE RIDES THAT NEEDED. SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT, DEFINITELY, AND YOU MAY WANT TO SPEAK AFTER AFTER THE FACT, BUT SHE'S HERE. AND SO DEFINITELY THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN NOTED. AND SO THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SHARING. AND WE APOLOGIZE IF THERE'S, YOU KNOW, WITH ANY ANYTHING THAT MAY BE HAPPENING BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THE INTENT. THE INTENT IS TO
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ABSOLUTELY MAKE SURE THOSE THAT NEED A RIDE GET A RIDE WITHOUT FAIL. AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOU.WE HAVE ONE MORE THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AS A GROUP. THEN I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MAYOR PRO TEM. AND SHE'S GOING TO TAKE US FURTHER, MISS CLARDY. THANK YOU. SORRY I HAVE A BACKGROUND DISABILITY CHEMISTRY. THAT'S ONE OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. BUT I REALLY WANTED TO GIVE A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEKEND, BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE. BUT I'VE SEEN SEVERAL EMAILS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET. THERE'S A BILITY. THERE IS NO SINGER HERSELF. SO THIS. WEEKEND, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE 50. BUT. WHERE IS IT? WHERE, WHERE? THE MENTION THAT IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED, I DON'T KNOW WHO FOUND, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE GOING ON THIS EVENING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DO SEE MISS MARTIN IS HERE, BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE HER A MOMENT TO GET SETTLED IN BEFORE WE HEAR FROM HER. SO WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR GROUP EXERCISE, AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MAYOR PRO TEM TO LEAD US IN THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. NOW THIS IS THE FUN PART. SO WE'RE GOING TO BREAK UP INTO SMALL GROUPS. SO YOUR NEIGHBORS MOST CLOSEST TO YOU, IF YOU CAN SCOOT A LITTLE CLOSER TO THEM AND WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH AN EXERCISE I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
SO WE HAVE OUR SMALL GROUPS. 3 TO 4. FOR.
ALRIGHTY. WE GOT OUR GROUPS TOGETHER. SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A FEW MINUTES TO TALK AMONGST YOURSELVES AND TO WRITE DOWN YOUR ANSWERS. REMEMBER, THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT JOTTING DOWN YOUR ANSWERS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO USE THEM TO PUT ON THE WALL LATER SO THAT WE CAN GATHER THIS INFORMATION FOR FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF PLANNING THE WORK FOR THIS COMMISSION. OKAY. SO YOUR FIRST QUESTION IS GOING TO BE WHAT ACCESSIBILITY BARRIERS HAVE YOU PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED OR WITNESSED IN DE SOTO? DOOM? DOOM DOOM DOOM DOOM DOOM DOOM. AND AND WHEN YOU ALL HAVE YOUR ANSWERS, CAN YOU TAKE YOUR POSTCARD AND TAKE IT TO THE WALL ON THE FIRST SHEET? OKAY, OKAY. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. AND THEN AFTER, YOU KNOW. OKAY, I'LL BE RIGHT. OVER THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR FOR THE SURVEY.
YEAH. OKAY. SO. I LIKE. NAME AND EMAIL AND THEN PINTEREST AND THEN. OKAY. YEAH. AND THEY CAN MAKE YOUR. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING. HIS NAME EMAIL. I GUESS THAT'S THE WORD YOU. ALL RIGHT.
ONE MORE MINUTE. AND LIKE 30S AND THEN. OKAY. OKAY. 30S.
[00:30:03]
ALRIGHTY. SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE TAKE YOUR ANSWERS. THERE ARE SOME BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMEN IN THE OWL TO COLLECT YOUR RESPONSE. OUR CITY SECRETARY WILL COLLECT THOSE FROM YOU.YEAH, YEAH. GREAT. ALRIGHTY. Y'ALL READY FOR THE NEXT QUESTION? THE NEXT QUESTION? ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT QUESTION IS WHICH OF THE FOUR FOCUS AREAS DO YOU BELIEVE NEEDS THE CITY'S IMMEDIATE ATTENTION? WHAT OF THE FOUR FOCUS AREAS DO YOU BELIEVE NEED NEEDS THE CITY'S IMMEDIATE ATTENTION? IF YOU NEED HELP WITH THE FOCUS AREAS, WE'RE PUTTING THAT UP ON THE BIG SCREEN. YOU SAY THE TOP TWO AREAS. WHICH OF THE FOUR FOCUS AREAS DO YOU BELIEVE NEEDS THE CITY'S IMMEDIATE ATTENTION? AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE BIG SCREEN, YOU'LL FIND THE THE FOCUS AREAS, AND YOU CHOOSE THE ONE THAT YOU FEEL THE CITY NEEDS TO THE MOST IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO. YES, YES. SO THOSE THOSE FOCUS AREAS ARE EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, INDEPENDENT LIVING AND TRANSPORTATION. WHICH OF THOSE FOUR DO YOU FEEL NEEDS THE CITY'S IMMEDIATE ATTENTION? FIRST? YEAH.
HAVE? YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE REMAINING. AND. SO YOU. 30S.
YOU MAY GO. ALRIGHTY. NEXT QUESTION. WE ALL HAVE OUR ANSWERS ON THE BOARD. ALL RIGHT.
NEXT QUESTION. YOU GUYS ARE DOING AMAZING JOB. WHAT DOES A TRULY ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE DESOTO LOOK LIKE TO YOU? WHAT DOES A TRULY ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE DESOTO LOOK LIKE TO YOU?
[00:35:30]
JUST ONE MINUTE.30S. WHAT DOES A TRULY ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE DESOTO LOOK LIKE TO YOU? ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE OUR CARDS TURNED IN? OH, WE HAVE ONE OVER HERE. LET ME GRAB IT FOR YOU. IF THEY'RE NOT SO EASY. YEAH. ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL READY FOR THE LAST QUESTION? WHAT MUST THIS COMMISSION CONSIDER TO SERVE RESIDENTS? WELL, WHAT MUST THIS COMMISSION CONSIDER TO SERVE RESIDENTS WELL? NOT ALL. WELL. YOU WANT THEM TO DO SO. YOU LIKE THAT? THEY WANT YOU TO SHARE YOUR VOICE. SO. ONE THING THAT THEY FEEL IMPORTANT TO SHARE. AND. ASSESS THE NEED. FOR 30S. WELL, I'M SAYING. I THINK I WAS JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE. BUT THEY WERE THERE, SO IT'S FINE. BUT WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. IT'S LIKE.
BECAUSE I THINK SHE WAS OPEN, SHE MAY NOT BE I KNOW THAT. ALL RIGHT. EVERYBODY HAVE THEIR CARDS TURNED. EVERYBODY HAVE THEIR CARDS TURNED IN. OKAY. SO BEFORE WE SPLIT UP FROM OUR GROUPS, LET'S DISCUSS TOGETHER. I WANT YOU TO THINK OF ONE IMPORTANT THING THAT YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT, WHETHER IT WAS THE FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD OR FOURTH QUESTION, JUST ONE THING
[00:40:06]
THAT YOU THOUGHT WAS THE MOST IMPACTFUL FOR YOUR GROUP IN THE DISCUSSION. AND I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO STAND AND LET US HEAR. DON'T BE SHY BECAUSE I'M PRIOR SERVICE. WE VOLUNTOLD PEOPLE ALL THE TIME. SORRY CRYSTAL, WE'LL HAVE THEM TO COME TO THE MIC AND PUT THE MIC THIS WAY.HAVE THAT ONE REPRESENTATIVE TO COME AND SPEAK SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'RE CAPTURING THAT.
AWESOME. COME UP, COME UP HERE. YEAH, YOU GOT IT. NOW YOU THINK WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE IT ON CAPTURE IT ONLINE? AM I TALKING RIGHT HERE? YES, MA'AM. YOU CAN EVEN STAND TO THE SIDE.
OH, TO THE SIDE. JUST AS LONG AS YOU CAN COME HERE. OH, OKAY. SO GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RACHEL SMITH. AND THE QUESTION THAT WE HAD ALL OF THE QUESTIONS WERE WERE GOOD. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS LIKE THIS ONE HERE. WHAT MUST THE COMMISSION CONSIDER TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS WELL? AND I COULD SAY THIS BETTER THAN I CAN PUT IT ON A STICKY NOTE. WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS A HANDICAP TO BE ABLE TO LIVE AND RESIDE INTO DESOTO.
ONE EXAMPLE I HAVE IS LIKE THE WALMART OR ANY GROCERY STORE I DON'T. I FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THE MOTORIZED BUGGIES IN THE CARTS, AND THEN IF THEY DO HAVE ONE, I SEE A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S INDIVIDUALS ON THOSE CARTS. THEY CAN'T GET OFF THE CART TO GET TO SOMETHING ON THE SHELVES. SO JUST JUST HAVING THE OPTION OF, OKAY, LET'S TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER. YOU GUYS HAVE THESE BUGGIES. IF THAT PERSON GOES TO CUSTOMER SERVICE, CAN THEY REQUEST SOMEONE TO COME AND ASSIST THEM WITH THE SHOPPER? IT DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY ANY EXTRA STAFF. THEY HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT'S ALREADY STOCKING IT OR YOU KNOW, WHATEVER. JUST SAY, HEY, THIS PERSON NEEDS HELP. ASSIST THEM WITH THAT. AND THAT'S JUST FOR ANY, ANY BUSINESS THAT'S WITHIN DESOTO, EVEN IF IT'S ENTERTAINMENT, GOING TO THE MOVIES, MAKING SURE THAT THAT PERSON CAN GET IN A SEAT OR ADEQUATE, I JUST HONESTLY FEEL IT'S NOT ADEQUATE ENOUGH OF THE PARKING. SO EVEN WITH THAT, WITH THE SHOPPING ENTERTAINMENT, JUST CONSIDERING LIKE THE DIFFERENT DISABILITIES, IF THIS PERSON WAS WAS HANDICAPPED FROM THE WAIST DOWN OR, YOU KNOW, HAD ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY, WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO ACCESS YOUR BUSINESS AND BE ABLE TO PATRONIZE YOUR BUSINESS WITH THEIR DISABILITY? AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT. WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? DON'T BE SHY. MR. THOMAS. YOU SAID THAT YOU WANTED TO GO NEXT. IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ON YOUR FACE. NO. HELLO, I'M STEVEN JAMES. OUR GROUP MAINLY SPOKE ABOUT INFORMATION. JUST BEING IN HERE TODAY TELLS US THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT AND DO WHAT WE NEED THEM TO DO, BUT WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW. FROM MY EXPERIENCES, JUST THE FACT OF THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. MY SON HAS DISABILITIES, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AFFECTED ME THE MOST AS HE WAS COMING UP WAS THE I NEEDED TO PUT HIM IN SMALLER ENVIRONMENTS IN A DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. BUT TO GET THE SERVICES IN MY CITY, I WAS TOLD I HAD TO PUT HIM IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN MY CITY FOR THEM TO EVEN SERVICE HIM, AND THAT WAS DISAPPOINTING. BUT AGAIN, JUST KNOWING THAT SOME OF THOSE SERVICES ARE HERE IN DESOTO AND JUST NOT HAVING THE INFORMATION, THE CENTRAL PLACE, I CAN GO AND FIND THAT INFORMATION HERE IN THE CITY OF DESOTO. SO INFORMATION IS THE BIGGEST. SO EDUCATION IN THE FORM OF INFORMATION IS THE BIGGEST. LACKING THAT THAT THIS COMMISSION COULD DO FOR THE CITY. THANK YOU STEVEN. AWESOME. WHO'S NEXT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAPTURED IT FOR THE ONLINE AUDIENCE SO WE CAN GET IT ON. I JUST I JUST WANTED TO ADD WITH THE CITY, MAYBE THEY CAN CONSIDER. STAYING IN PLACE LIVING SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE DISABLED. I FEEL WITH SOME OF MY RELATIVES THAT MAYBE THEY ARE LIVING WITH FAMILY AND LIKE MY SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE AN HEIR TO SOMETHING, BUT THEY MAY NOT BE OF A MENTAL STATE OR HAVE ENOUGH GOOD MENTAL HEALTH CONSISTENTLY TO HAVE ASSETS. AND SO THEY DON'T GET THE DISCOUNT FOR DISABILITY IN THEIR PROPERTY TAXES AND WHATNOT. AND SO IF THERE COULD
[00:45:03]
BE SOMETHING I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE, BUT IF IT EVER DID OR CONSIDERED OR PUT THAT ON THE TABLE SOME TYPE OF WAY, I THINK THAT THIS THE COUNTY OR SOMETHING MAINTAINING OR ASSISTING WITH SOME TYPE OF THING LIKE THAT WOULD ALLOW THOSE PEOPLE TO STAY IN PLACE WITH LESS STRESS AND WHATNOT. REGARDING THAT, ALSO WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE CARETAKERS OR LIVING WITH SOMEBODY WHO'S DISABLED, IF CODE WOULD BE MORE EMPATHETIC BECAUSE I HAVE HAD CODE ISSUES AND SO YOU HAVE ISSUES, BUT SOMEBODY'S BEEN SICK OR WHATEVER, THAT CODE GOES OUT, IT'S FROM THAT DATE. THEY TELL YOU TEN DAYS FROM THEN YOU DON'T GET IT WITHIN THAT TIME. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF SOMEBODY WHO IS IN THE HOSPITAL WITH HEART ISSUES OR WHATEVER. AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S DISABLED, NOT COMPLETELY MOBILE, BUT A LITTLE BIT MOBILE, TRYING TO CUT GRASS OR SOMETHING. I THINK THAT CODE ALSO COULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE EMPATHETIC FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN HOUSING TO KNOW, OKAY, THIS IS SOMEBODY WHO HAS A DISABILITY AND MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO OR WE CAN GIVE THEM AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME. OR IF THEY PAY INTO SOMETHING WHERE THE CITY CUTS THEIR GRASS OR SOMETHING. BUT I THINK CODE AND ALSO BEING ABLE TO STAY IN PLACE WITH THEIR PROPERTY TAXES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THAT. ARE THERE ANY OTHERS, MISS MOORE? MY NAME IS SONYA MOORE AND THIS ONE IS PERSONAL TO ME. TRANSPORTATION. IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION, SCHEDULING, RELIABILITY AND COMPLIANCE WITH TRANSPORTATION PARTNERS. AND THAT BEING SAID, I DID TRANSPORTATION. IT'S BEEN A WHILE, THE PROGRAM WAS GOOD AND ALL, BUT GOING IN FOR CANCER TREATMENT, A LOT OF TIMES WITH EACH TIME I COME OUT, I'M SLEEPING, I'M DROWSY. AND THAT WAS KIND OF SCARY. GETTING ON TRANSPORTATION, ARRIVING HOME AND NOT REALLY KNOWING HOW I GOT THERE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO SEE IF WE CAN HAVE LIKE A CAREGIVER OR SOMEBODY. AT THE TIME, MY CHILDREN WERE MY CAREGIVERS TO RIDE ALONG WITH ME FOR THE APPOINTMENT, AND I HAVE TO WAIT SO LONG, FIVE HOURS AFTER TREATMENT, WAITING ON THEM TO COME BACK AND PICK ME UP. SO THAT WAS ONE FOR ME. AND ANOTHER ONE I WANTED TO SAY IS, I THINK IF WE REGULARLY ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE THESE LIVE THINGS, WE CAN KIND OF GET A LOT OF THINGS RESOLVED AND OUTSIDE CARE OF THE CITY. I THINK THE ARC CAN HELP WITH A LOT OF THAT. AS FAR AS FOR MY THERAPY. YEAH, OKAY. THANK YOU.THANK YOU, MISS MURPHY. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. ANYONE? MY BIG THING IS JUST ENSURING. I THINK WHAT THE COMMISSION MUST CONSIDER IS THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING ANY OF THESE CONVERSATIONS WITHOUT ENSURING THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY ARE AFFECTED MOST BY THESE CONVERSATIONS. THERE'S A SAYING WE LIKE TO SAY LIKE NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US.
YEAH. AND SO JUST KEEPING THAT IN MIND THAT WHETHER WE'RE LIKE AS A CAREGIVER, I HAVE LOTS TO SAY, BUT THE PERSON WHO'S ACTUALLY LIVING THE EXPERIENCE, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE KIND OF THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, THAT'S WHO'S GOING TO THEY KNOW WHAT THEY NEED. SO LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ALWAYS AN OPEN DOOR TO HEAR. BUT AS THEY NEED OKAY. THAT'S AWESOME. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GIVE MISS DEMETRIA. LET ME TAG ON TO THAT BECAUSE WHAT YOU SAID IS SO IMPORTANT, AND IT IS RIGHT IN LINE WITH EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT THIS COMMISSION TO BE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW THAT IT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE EVERY BOARD MEMBER, HOWEVER, WE WANT VOTING MEMBERS ON THE BOARD THAT HAVE THOSE LIVED EXPERIENCES, AS YOU PUT IT. AND SO THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. AND SO AGAIN, WE WANT TO EXPAND THIS CONVERSATION, AND WE WANT YOU ALL TO TELL SOME, AS THEY SAY AT CHURCH, EACH ONE REACH ONE. SO WE WANT YOU ALL TO TELL SOMEBODY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN OUR CITY AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW. WE KNOW THIS IS THE VERY FIRST MEETING OF MANY, BUT THAT IS EXACTLY THE GOAL, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE AT THE TABLE THAT ARE BECAUSE WHATEVER DECISIONS THE COMMISSION DECIDES ARE THE ONES THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITH, RIGHT? SO WE WANT THEM AT THE TABLE TO HELP US BECAUSE WE'RE NOT JUST DOING THIS TO JUST DO IT. WE WANT IT TO BE ABLE TO POSITIVELY IMPACT PEOPLE. SO THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. THAT'S AMAZING. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MISS DONALDSON, COME ON.
I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS. SO ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS WELL, AND I MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT, I APOLOGIZE. MY APOLOGIES. I HAD ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT, BUT ARE WE DEFINING WHAT DISABILITIES ARE? YES. YOU CAN WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY. OKAY. JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE DEFINE WHAT DISABILITY YOU KNOW, WHAT IS IN THE SCOPE OF DISABILITIES. ARE WE TALKING ABOUT MEDICAL FRAGILITIES OR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THEM? AND SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DEFINE THAT SO WE CAN BE ABLE TO ACCESS THIS POPULATION THAT IS IN OUR CITY,
[00:50:06]
AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT WE REALLY, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, IDENTIFY OUR RESOURCES SO WE CAN BE ABLE TO PULL THEM IN WORKING EVEN WITH OTHER CITIES THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, DALLAS, HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT THEY CAN COME INTO OUR COUNTY THAT WE'RE MISSING, THAT WE DON'T REALIZE WHETHER IF IT'S CRISISES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO BEING ABLE TO ACCESS, SEEING HOW WE CAN LIKE MERGE THESE PEOPLE IN, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES IN THE BEGINNING TO HELP US ALONG THE WAY, KIND OF AS A MENTOR TYPE OF OPTION. SO THAT THAT'S AWESOME. THANK YOU, MISS DONALDSON. WE OFTEN SAY THAT ON THE DAIS TO WHAT WHAT ARE OTHER CITIES DOING? RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. HOW ARE YOU, MISS WYATT? ARE YOU GOING TO COME DOWN OKAY? GIVE ME A LITTLE. SOMETIMES. OKAY. THIS WILL BE OUR LAST RESPONSE. AND THEN WE'LL SUMMARIZE. YES, MA'AM. DON'T RUN, DON'T RUN. WALK. OKAY, WELL, I THINK THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT BROUGHT UP. AND YOU BROUGHT UP ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT OTHER RESOURCES. I THINK IT WOULD REALLY BE COOL THAT THIS COMMISSION HAVE A PACKET TO HAND OUT TO FAMILIES ABOUT THE OTHER RESOURCES THAT YOU HAVE AVAILABLE. FOR ME, IT HELPED OUT A LOT BECAUSE I WENT TO SENIOR RESOURCE FROM THE CENTER ON AGING IN DALLAS. WHEN I COULDN'T WALK AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THEY CAME IN, PUT A RAMP IN FOR ME AND THINGS LIKE THAT.BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT. IF YOU GOT TAXES AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO DO, WHO CAN I GO TO TO GET THOSE TYPE OF THINGS DONE? THE LAST THING WAS, AND THESE ARE KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE THINGS BESIDES SIDEWALKS IS LIGHTING AND OUR STREETS REALLY NEED LIGHTING AND BETTER LIGHTING, ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE SOME FOLKS THAT ARE COMING IN FOR HANDICAP AND THEY'RE COMING AT NIGHT. THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO FEEL SAFE. AND I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY, REALLY COOL. AND WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE? OH SHOOT. BUT ANYWAY, IT'LL COME. IT'LL COME ANYWAY.
BUT I THOUGHT THOSE WERE JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE RESOURCES. MY SISTER SAID YOU OUGHT TO PUT A PACKET TOGETHER, BECAUSE WHEN I COULDN'T WALK AND I HAD BREATHING LIKE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, LIKE I HAVE TO HAVE 24 HOUR OXYGEN. AND AT HOME WHEN I HAVE MY CONCENTRATE, IF IT GOES OFF BECAUSE OF A STORM OR SOMETHING FOR SEVERAL DAYS, I DON'T HAVE OXYGEN USE. WHERE DO I GO TO GET HELP, THOSE KIND OF THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THAT'S WHY I THINK REALLY THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S REALLY GREAT. THANKS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR INPUT. MAYOR. DID YOU WANT TO. OKAY. WELL WHILE THEY'RE GETTING THAT SITUATED WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM MISS TIFFANY MARTIN. SHE IS GOING TO COME. SHE HAS BEEN WITH ME. SHE HAS BEEN BY MY SIDE THROUGH THIS FROM DAY ONE. SHE'S GOING TO COME AND GIVE YOU JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HER STORY AND WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT TO HER AND WHAT SHE HOPES THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER THROUGH THIS COMMISSION AND WHY SHE'S COMING. I WANT TO SPEAK TO WHAT MISS ALTHEA SAID IN TERMS OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN 2022. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WE AS A COUNCIL ASKED FOR WAS A ADA AUDIT OF OUR ENTIRE CITY, MEANING WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT EVERY CURB THAT DIDN'T HAVE A RAMP, IF THERE ARE ANY IN OUR CITY, EVERY CITY FACILITY, MAKING SURE IT'S UP TO CODE, COMPLIANCE, LIGHTING, ALL THESE TYPES OF THINGS, RAMPS ON BUILDINGS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND WE WANTED A NUMBER ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT IT MEANS TO GET EVERYTHING UP TO SPEED IN TERMS OF ADA COMPLIANCE THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE CITY. I WANT TO SAY, MAYOR PRO TEM, IF I IF I'VE SLEPT SINCE THEN AND WHAT AND WHAT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL BE A PART OF THIS COMMISSION'S JOB IS TO PULL THAT STUDY OFF THE SHELF.
OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW THAT NUMBER BACK THEN IS PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN NOW THAN IT WAS BACK THEN. BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT TO GET US ALL THE WAY UP TO WHERE WE WOULD BE FULLY COMPLIANT WOULD BE ABOUT $2.5 MILLION, WHICH I DON'T. THAT'S RELATIVE IN TERMS OF WHETHER THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OR NOT A LOT, BUT IT IDENTIFIED SEVERAL KEY AREAS, AND I WISH I WOULD HAVE IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN THINKING, I WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY PROBABLY ASKED STAFF TO PULL THAT JUST SO WE COULD LOOK AT IT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IN THE DOCUMENT. HOWEVER IT IS ON OUR CITY. IT'S A IT'S A PUBLIC DOCUMENT SO WE CAN FIND IT IN THE AGENDAS AND MEETING PACKETS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. BUT WE DO HAVE THAT INFORMATION. IT WOULD JUST BE UP TO THIS COMMISSION TO TAKE IT AND MAYBE ADD IT AS A PART OF THEIR WORK PLAN TO UNDERSTAND IT.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A NUMBER ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THAT MEANS THERE'S BUDGETARY THINGS, BUT WE WE ARE DOING THAT. AND ANY TIME WE'RE PUTTING IN NEW INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'RE REFERENCING THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS UP TO CODE AND INFRASTRUCTURE WISE WITH ADA COMPLIANCE. SO WE ARE DOING THAT. I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW IT SOMETIMES BECAUSE WE DON'T SAY IT A LOT, BUT WE ARE REALLY WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COVERING A LOT OF GROUND WITH WHAT THIS MEANS. BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A COMMISSION FOR
[00:55:01]
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, THAT MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO EVERY PERSON IN THE ROOM IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY NEED FROM THIS COMMISSION, THAT EQUATES TO SUCCESS IN THEIR MIND. SO AGAIN, WE NEED ALL OF THE ALL OF THE SUGGESTIONS, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO HELP US MAKE THIS BRING THIS FULL CIRCLE AT THIS TIME. WE'LL HEAR FROM MISS TIFFANY MARTIN.CAN WE GIVE HER A GREAT BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE? OKAY. HI, EVERYBODY. I AM SO EXCITED FOR TONIGHT. THIS WAS NOT A FLY BY NIGHT SITUATION OR PROJECT OR INITIATIVE. MAYOR PROCTOR AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING FOR YEARS, AND IT'S BEEN A VERY INTENTIONAL AND DELIBERATE INITIATIVE THAT WHEN SHE CAME TO ME, SHE SAID THAT SHE WANTED TO DO MORE THAN JUST TALK. SHE WANTED TO BE ABOUT THAT ACTION. AND I'M ALL ABOUT THAT ACTION. AND SO IT'S BEEN CONSISTENT MEETINGS WITH TASK FORCE AND WE, YOU KNOW, CONSULTING WITH SISTER CITIES. THIS IS THE FIRST, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, OF ITS KIND IN THE GREAT SOUTHWEST. SO WE REALLY ARE, YOU KNOW, BECOMING TRAILBLAZERS COLLECTIVELY AS A CITY. EVERYBODY IN HERE IS A PIONEER, ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE SOUTH, IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR SOUTH OF I 30. AND WHY THAT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE I GREW UP HERE, BUT I HAVE TYPE ONE JUVENILE DIABETES, AND I'VE HAD IT SINCE THE AGE OF FIVE. AND EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A CHRONIC ILLNESS, I DID NOT CONSIDER IT A DISABILITY UNTIL I ENDED UP ON PERITONEAL DIALYSIS FOR NINE HOURS EVERY SINGLE NIGHT AND LOST MY SIGHT, AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO WALK. IT REALLY TOOK MY LIFE FROM COMPLETE AUTONOMY TO 100% DEPENDENCY ON MY MOTHER AND FATHER AT THE TIME, IN WHICH THEY ALSO HAD TO BRING IN MY GRANDMOTHER, WHO WAS SUFFERING FROM DEMENTIA. AND SO OUR HOME IN DESOTO, MY CHILDHOOD HOME, TURNED INTO A HOSPITAL WARD, AND I HAD TO SECURE A 9 TO 5. AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE HEALTH CARE, WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT CAN BE. AND SO I AM STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE AND LIVE AS WELL AS, OKAY, HOW AM I SUPPORT THIS? AND SO I'M WORKING. AND AT THE TIME IT JUST WASN'T CONDUCIVE FOR ME. I COULD I WENT FROM USING A COMPUTER TO NOT BEING ABLE TO USE A PHONE WHEN I WENT COMPLETELY BLIND. AND SO TO SPARE Y'ALL THE STORY, BECAUSE IT'S IT'S LONG. BUT TO FAST FORWARD, I ENDED UP GETTING MARRIED AFTER I GOT MY KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, KIDNEY AND PANCREAS TRANSPLANT, AND TWO MONTHS AFTER I GOT MARRIED TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. SOME OF YOU ALL MIGHT KNOW HIM. HIS NAME IS OFFICER RICHARD MARTIN. SO IF YOU CAME IN CONTACT, THAT'S MY HUBBY. BUT AFTER TWO MONTHS AFTER WE GOT MARRIED, WE THOUGHT WE WERE PREGNANT. NOPE. KIDNEY REJECTION. WENT RIGHT BACK INTO DIALYSIS. AND WHAT WAS SO GREAT ABOUT THIS CITY AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS WE MOVED HERE AT TOWN HALL AND DID NOT REALIZE IT, BUT THE DIALYSIS CENTER IS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET. SO MY HUSBAND AT THE TIME, NOT AT THE TIME, MY HUSBAND COULD NOT WORK BECAUSE HE WAS TAKING CARE OF ME. HE WAS MY FULL TIME CAREGIVER. AND SO I WAS WORKING A 9 TO 5 TO SECURE HEALTH CARE FOR THE BOTH OF US, AS WELL AS THE 5 TO 9 TO PAY THE BILLS AND DOING ADVOCACY, BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT ANYBODY TO EXPERIENCE WHAT WE DID, JUST TRYING TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION, ALL OF THE PILLARS, INDEPENDENT LIVING AND SO FORTH. AND SO WE GOT THROUGH THAT TIME AND I MADE IT A MISSION TO BE AN ADVOCATE AND TO SUPPORT THE CITY THAT HAS SUPPORTED ME. I AM A BUSINESS OWNER. MY BUSINESS IS HEADQUARTERED HERE IN DESOTO. I WORK IN TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IS GOING TO BE THE GAP FILLER FOR US AND HOW WE USE IT AND HOW WE IMPLEMENT IT. AND SO I JUST WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY STORY. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE COMMITTED, YOU KNOW, HE WORKS AT PD, BUT HE AS A CAREGIVER UNDERSTANDS THOSE NUANCES OF OF EMPATHY AND BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AND SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE AND BE THE LIAISON BETWEEN THE CITIZENS AS WELL AS THE CITY. AND FROM MY END, YOU KNOW, BEING A RESIDENT HERE, LIVING HERE, WE, YOU KNOW, OUR DOLLARS ARE SPENT HERE, WE COME AND WE ARE, YOU KNOW, INVESTED IN WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS CITY AND SEEING IT GROW. BUT I REALLY WANT US COLLECTIVELY TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS MOVEMENT AND SHOWING WHAT OUR SISTER CITY SHOULD SEE AS FAR AS HELPING OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO I AM JUST EXCITED AND PROUD OF EVERYBODY HERE. I WOULD SAY, PLEASE GO CHECK OUT THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990.
[01:00:05]
SOMEBODY MENTIONED THE DEFINITION OF DISABILITIES. I WOULD USE THAT AS THE FLOOR, NOT THE CEILING. BUT PLEASE READ UP ON IT. IT HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT YOU COULD USE FOR YOURSELF AS WELL AS FAMILY, BUT EDUCATE YOURSELF ON IT AND THE LAW AND THE RIGHTS THAT YOU HAVE. AND SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR PROCTOR, FOR HAVING ME AND COUNCIL BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE. IF Y'ALL NEED ME, LET ME KNOW. BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED AND THANK YOU.THANK YOU, MISS MARTIN, BECAUSE YOU HAVE INSPIRED ME EVEN MORE WITH YOUR COMMENTS. AND I'M ALWAYS, AS LONG AS I'VE KNOWN MISS MARTIN HER STORY. EVERY TIME I HEAR IT, IT JUST CONTINUES TO INSPIRE ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT WHEN YOU HAVE THE TYPE OF RESILIENCE THAT SHE HAS, IT LEAVES US WITH NO EXCUSE BUT TO BE SERVICED, BE OF SERVICE TO EACH OTHER. AND SO WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING. AND AGAIN, WE ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS. WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS EVENT. I'M GOING TO CALL MAYOR PRO TEM BACK UP. AND WE'RE GOING TO SHE'S GOING TO HELP SUMMARIZE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL SHARED. AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO GET OUT OF HERE. WE DO HAVE A SIGN IN SHEET. RIGHT. IS IT GOING AROUND. YEAH. WE HAVE A SIGN IN SHEET PLEASE PUT. AND THEN WE DO HAVE THE SURVEY. PLEASE ALSO SCAN THE SURVEY. IT MAY TAKE YOU A LITTLE WHILE SO YOU MAY WANT TO SCAN IT. OPEN IT UP IN YOUR BROWSER ON YOUR PHONE AND TAKE SOME TIME TO FILL THAT OUT WHEN YOU GET HOME. BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS ON THERE THAT WE ALREADY ANSWERED TONIGHT. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE RECAPTURING ALL OF THAT. AND YOU MAY THINK OF SOMETHING THAT YOU DIDN'T SHARE HERE TONIGHT AND YOU WANT TO ADD IT ON THAT FORM. SO PLEASE EVERYBODY, THIS IS OKAY TO NOW TAKE YOUR PHONES OUT AND AND SCAN THAT QR CODE AGAIN AND FILL THAT SURVEY OUT AND SUBMIT IT. BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FOLLOW UP WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AFTER TONIGHT'S EVENT. AND I'M GOING TO CALL UP MAYOR PRO TEM, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THAT'LL BE THE LAST THING THAT WE'LL DO THIS EVENING, AND THEN YOU ALL WILL BE DISMISSED. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING SUCH GREAT PARTICIPANTS. FOR THE FIRST QUESTION, YOU WERE ASKED, WHAT ACCESSIBILITY BARRIERS HAVE YOU PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED OR WITNESSED IN DESOTO? THERE WERE A LOT AROUND EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYMENT IN DESOTO, AS WELL AS WALKABILITY, MOBILITY, AND. SERVICES AROUND PHYSICAL THERAPY AND THAT SORT OF THING. SO THOSE WERE SOME OF THE BARRIERS THAT YOU MENTIONED OVERALL IN THAT GROUP. OKAY. FOR THE SECOND QUESTION, LET ME JUST BRING IT TO ME. TIME TO KEEP WALKING BACK AND FORTH. I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO, BUT WHICH OF THE FOUR AREAS DO YOU BELIEVE THE CITY NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION? AND A LOT OF THOSE RESPONSES WERE AROUND EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION, TRAINING WITH DISABILITIES. I SEE A TRANSPORTATION ON THERE, FOCUS ON TRANSPORTATION AND INDEPENDENT LIVING. A LOT OF EMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, TRANSPORTATION AGAIN. SO I THINK THAT THAT WAS REALLY CLEAR AND CONSISTENT AROUND ALL THE GROUPS. ALL RIGHT. SO I'M GOING TO PULL FROM THE THIRD QUESTION. WHAT DOES A TRULY ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE DESOTO LOOK LIKE TO YOU TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND HEAR WHAT NEEDS ARE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY WITH APPROPRIATE RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY, HAVING THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES AND SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT AND EDUCATION, THE ABILITY TO DO EVERYTHING I NEED INSIDE DESOTO. I THINK THAT'S HUGE, RIGHT? MOVE MORE HANDICAP PARKING AND TOOLS FOR RETAIL SHOPPING, CHARGING CHARGE VEHICLES. THAT'S HUGE TO.
THERE'S A LOT ON THIS ONE. SO I'M GOING TO TAKE IT WITH ME. THE LAST QUESTION WAS WHAT MUST THIS COMMISSION CONSIDER TO SERVE RESIDENTS WELL, LISTEN AND DO SOMETHING. UNDERSTANDING THE WIDE RANGE AND VARIATIONS OF DISABILITY. UNDERSTANDING THAT ONE SOLUTION DOESN'T FIT ALL DISABILITIES. BE MINDFUL OF THE BROAD ARRAY OF DISABILITIES PHYSICAL, MENTAL, ETC.
DEPENDABLE HOUSING AND ACCESS TO QUALITY MEDICAL CARE. A BROADER PERSPECTIVE OF DISABILITY AND DISABILITY EDUCATION. IT LOOKS LIKE RESOURCES BEING PROVIDED IN A CENTER SPECIFICALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY WANT TO BE SEEN
[01:05:02]
FULLY AND AS A DIVERSE GROUP. CLEAR COMMUNICATION OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE. NEEDS OF ALL GROUPS, AGE GROUPS. THESE ARE SOME REALLY GREAT ONES. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING.AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS BACK AND THIS WILL BE THE COMMISSION'S FIRST YEAR OF WORK PLAN, ALONG WITH THE ADA AUDIT THAT WE HAVE FOR THE CITY TO HELP START THE PATH WORK FOR, YOU KNOW, MOVING THIS COMMISSION IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. YES. THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, I BELIEVE THAT. YES, YES, THANK YOU FOR THAT. FOR THOSE WATCHING THAT COULD NOT HEAR HER, SHE'S ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE THAT IS HERE FOR WITH DOING THE SIGN LANGUAGE. I KNOW THERE'S A PROPER TERM FOR IT, BUT MY MIND ESCAPES ME RIGHT NOW. AND SO SHE'S JUST APPRECIATIVE OF THIS, THIS, THIS SERVICE AND BELIEVES THAT SHE'S BEEN IN CITIES WHERE THIS IS USED AT COUNCIL MEETINGS AND VARIOUS OPEN FORUMS THAT THE CITY HOSTED. SO DULY NOTED. OKAY, SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO LISA, WHO'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO SERVE, APPLY AND PARTNER WITH THE CITY. YES. I GAVE EVERYONE MY BUSINESS CARD. OKAY. THAT EMAIL, EVEN A TEXT, A PHONE CALL. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. AND AS SOON AS THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE OUT, I WILL SEND YOU THE LINK. OKAY, WE WILL DO AN ONLINE APPLICATION, A SPARK HIRE, AND THEN THE APPLICATIONS WILL GO TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE FOR SELECTION IT. ANY QUESTIONS? PLEASE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED AT ALL AND YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR THIS, WE NEED YOU. IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY WHO HAS A PASSION OR AN INTEREST FOR THIS, WE NEED THEM. AND AGAIN, IF YOU DON'T HAVE MY BUSINESS CARD, THERE'S A STACK OVER THERE AT THE TABLE. TAKE ONE, EMAIL ME, LET ME KNOW. ANY QUESTIONS, STATEMENTS, COMMENTS I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. THE COMMISSION MEETINGS WILL THEY BE ABLE TO TO COME TO THE SPOT? SO. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THE CURRENT THE CURRENT AVAILABILITY RIGHT NOW DOES NOT HAVE WE DON'T HAVE IT IN THE EVENING. BUT STEPHANIE, SO HERE'S HOW WE GENERALLY LET OUR BOARDS MANAGE THEMSELVES TO A DEGREE. WE HAVE BOARDS THAT HAVE DETERMINED ALTERNATE TIMES TO MEET BECAUSE IT WORKS FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD. SO WE HAVE A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVISORY COMMISSION. THEY MEET AT 830 IN THE MORNING. RIGHT, BECAUSE IT WORKS FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSIONERS THERE. SO THIS BOARD WILL HAVE THE ABILITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SET THAT TIME THAT WORKS WELL FOR THEM. SO THAT MAY BE AN AFTERNOON TIME DEPENDING ON WHO'S ALL A PART OF THAT BOARD. SO IT JUST WILL. I'LL HERE'S THE ANSWER. IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE BOARD WOULD ACTUALLY SAY. WE WANT TO GIVE THIS BOARD SOME LEVEL OF AUTONOMY TO GOVERN ITSELF WITHIN, OBVIOUSLY WITHIN A REALM OF PARAMETERS THAT THE CITY HAS SET. BUT THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DETERMINE ON THEIR OWN TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE BOARD, THE COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE SERVING. OKAY. ANY MORE QUESTIONS? WE WENT A LITTLE BIT OVER TIME. PLEASE TAKE SOME FOOD. WE KNOW IT'S DINNER TIME AND WE BOUGHT. WHAT'S THAT? THERE ARE TO GO BOXES OUT THERE. WE BOUGHT ALL THIS FOOD. Y'ALL PLEASE DON'T MAKE US TAKE IT BACK TO THE HOUSE. ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, IT IS 740. WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED. YOU ALL CAN HAVE A GREAT EVENING. AND IF I DON'T SEE YOU BEFORE THAT, PLEASE HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAYS. MERRY CHRISTMAS. WHATE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.