Title
Advisory Board on Disability Affairs Workshop of February 19, 2021.
Body
Quorum was not reached - INFORMATIVE WORKSHOP Commenced 10:00am:
NEW BUSINESS:
Summer Family Literacy Festival - Mr. Samuel Joseph, School Community Relations Committee (SCRC)
Mr. Joseph addressed the Board regarding upcoming Summer Family Literacy Festival. Mr. Joseph advised he is the Vice Chair for the SCRC. Mr. Joseph stated a date had been selected for the Literacy Festival, which is May 29, 2021.
Mr. Joseph stated that the festival is a full day event commencing in the morning, it is indoors as well as outdoors and is an official City event via the Parks & Recreation Department. Mr. Joseph stated purpose of the event is for folks
to become more involved in literacy. Mr. Joseph stated this is being considered a pilot program which will be held on one day with various community participants, such as Miami-Dade County libraries, book mobile and others. Mr. Joseph
stated that he is confident that this will become an annual program. Mr. Joseph stated the goal is to address what is known as the education/reading summer slide where due to the pandemic it is now known as the pandemic slide.
Mr. Joseph stated they also want to highlight the schools as well as City of Coral Gables libraries which are both in need of support.
Mr. Joseph asked the Board to provide their ideas and suggestions to assure this pilot program is the most accessible program it can be. Mr. Joseph stated this will be planned by the School Community Relations Committee, the City’s
Library Committee as well as the Advisory Board on Disability Affairs Board and Public-School Board/Library. Mr. Joseph advised activities will be provided in person as well as virtually. Mr. Joseph advised it will be a much smaller
event then anticipated due to COVID-19 and will be expanded post COVID-19. Mr. Joseph advised Ms. Palacio-Pike has participated in some of the SCRC meetings regarding this event. Mr. Joseph stated he is looking forward to the
participation and assistance from this Board.
Ms. Liebl stated the literacy event sounds amazing and is looking forward to it. Ms. Liebl stated one of the items she would suggest is for there to be a quiet area made available for those attending in person. Mr. Joseph stated even though
they are still in the process of developing the program there will be various quiet areas. Mr. Joseph stated once again they want to make sure the whole event is both accessible and inclusive to as many as possible.
Ms. Dietz states that they may also want to consider someone signing the stories.
Ms. Palacio-Pike stated Ms. Dietz idea reference signing stories is a great idea and she can get in contact with a music teacher they know. Ms. Palacio-Pike advised they can also assist with social stories as well prior to event which can
be shared with the community. Ms. Palacio-Pike also suggested that they can have the hearing and vision screening at the event. Mr. Joseph stated that is a great idea and if he can be given direction of whom needs to be reached, he will
gladly do so. Ms. Palacio-Pike asked if Mr. Joseph has reached out to the CARD Program. Mr. Joseph advised he had not done so, due to waiting for a date to be assigned and now that has been done, he will reach out to them.
Ms. Liebl asked if it would be good to reach out to the PCIT - Parent-Child Interaction Therapy to address difficulties families are facing at this time. Mr. Joseph stated it would be a great idea to do so and Ms. Liebl advised she can provide
him contact information.
Ms. Samantha Duran -
Ms. Elejabarrieta introduced Ms. Duran to Board and advised she had addressed Commission at last meeting. Ms. Duran introduced herself to the Board and expressed her goal of assisting in making things more accessible the City.
Ms. Duran advised Board regarding her participation within various organizations.
OLD BUSINESS:
Promoting Advisory Board on Disability Affairs - Ms. Martha Pantin Communications & Public Affairs Division Director
Ms. Pantin explained tools utilized in the promoting all meetings, boards, and events via various means such as Twitter, City of Coral Gables Facebook, City Cable TV, etc. Ms. Pantin advised after further review; it has been
determined to utilize much shorter formats. Ms. Pantin stated once a week on Wednesdays there is a Weekly Planner email sent out which provides information of upcoming meetings, events, etc. accompanied with a calendar.
Ms. Pantin advised upon her arrival in October there were approximately 16K followers on City’s Facebook which now has grown to 19k over. Ms. Pantin expressed they are always looking into ways to best provide information to the community.
Ms. Liebl stated she as a much larger task in mind, hoping that the Board could be marketed with the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Liebl wanted to share with Board story featured on 60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper regarding
Autism and the issues they face when seeking employment. Ms. Pantin advised she can get together with Chamber to see how best to proceed connecting with them. Ms. Pantin advised however, that the businesses need to be involved as
well in order for it to work. Ms. Liebl asked how it would be best to position the Board within the Chamber. Mr. Comellas advised via his presence this can be addressed. Ms. Liebl asked if it would be possible to create videos in order to
inform the community of the various services or events. Ms. Palacio-Pike asked if on the City calendar which is sent out to community would it be possible to place information regarding topic that will be discussed at upcoming meetings.
Ms. Pantin advised after research; it has been determined that videos have not been effective in retaining to people at the site. Ms. Pantin stated City is willing to try new methods of communication. Ms. Pantin advised messaging needs to be
kept very short.
Voluntary Registry Update: Ms. Raquel Elejabarrieta
Ms. Elejabarrieta advised Board of GUIDE status. Ms. Elejabarrieta advised Ms. Dietz has requested a meeting which will be taking place sometime next week regarding perhaps incorporate more with UM Card project. Ms. Elejabarrieta
advised idea is to formally launch in April with perhaps a soft launch in March.
Autism Police Vehicle: Ms. Raquel Elejabarrieta
Ms. Elejabarrieta advised goal is to launch police vehicle with Autism logo as well in April. Ms. Palacio-Pike advised Police department reached out to Crystal and she met via zoom with Ms. Haley Moss and another Autistic adult on
Board of UM Card which provided a lot of input as to what vehicle should look like and its messaging. Ms. Palacio-Pike advised Police will be providing a drawing, coming to Crystal and the children will participate in choosing one of the drawings.
Clear Mask Campaign: Ms. Raquel Elejabarrieta
Ms. Elejabarrieta presented to the Board draft of postcard to be distributed to the business along with the clear mask. Ms. Elejabarrieta advised same will be sent to Board prior to proceeding to receive their comments and edits.
Ms. Elejabarrieta advised Fire Department will review mask to ensure that they are acceptable. Ms. Pantin stated she will be reaching out to Ms. Elejabarrieta regarding marketing this project. Ms. Pantin stated that every month they are
highlighting a project, for April it will be Disability.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Clear Mask
Mr. Alexander Luis Haq introduced himself and advised he is running for city commission. Ms. Haq stated while visiting community members he got to experience firsthand with a family where the husband had to sign to his wife.
Mr. Haq stated that having experiences this, it was made clear to him the importance of having something planned for those members of our community that have disabilities. Mr. Haq stated therefore he has partnered with
Ms. Duran to include a platform point into his campaign to address accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
NEXT MEETING: March meeting date to be determined.
ADJOURNMENT: Informative Workshop completed 11:12am