DASH Project Board Meeting Notes
May 8, 2007
First Federal Savings and Loan
Present: Pat Teal, Kay Harper, Leslie Buntin, Lynn Gressley, Sue Ammeter, Juanita Ohara, Mike Rody, Susan Kinne
Lynn summarized the current state of the Project Grant. Funding ended as of April 30 which means that Lesa’s and Karen’s tenure as paid staff has ended. The Board has reporting requirements including meeting minutes, communication logs and an education presentation through the end of June. After that time, all activities of DASH will be the responsibility of the non-profit corporation.
Committee Reports
Education Committee- No report this month.
Public Access:
Pat reported that the Red Cross has requested that DASH evaluate County emergency shelters for accessibility. In addition, Alan Sarton (County ADA Coordinator) will be invited to the next Public Access meeting to discuss access issues at the Court House and Memorial Field. The City of Port Townsend has let a contract to install sidewalk on Discovery Road between Sheridan and Sherman and also between Sheridan and Hastings. This latter stretch is currently unknown to DASH and Lynn said he would contact Mary Heather Ames of the City staff to get more information.
DASH currently has several representatives on the Emergency Preparation for the Disabled Committee sponsored by the Developmental Disabilities Unit of the Public Health Department. The avowed goal of this committee is to put useful information on emergency preparation in the hands of people with disabilities. The Board discussed the limitations of the committee as it is currently organized and focused on ideas on how to disseminate information more widely and how to increase awareness among first responders about those in the community who are vulnerable during an emergency. Susan Kinne agreed to search for information on emergency preparation for people with disabilities in other locales. Further Public Access Committee discussion will follow at the next meeting to formulate an action plan.
Disability For A Day Event Follow-up
The Board remarked on the impression the Event made on the high school students who participated and on the exceptional publicity it received. Sue Ammeter reported that the electronic versions of the Leader and PDN articles were distributed statewide on at least one mailing list. Next year’s event will commence planning in October.
Outside Activities
Non-Motorized Transportation Committee
Pat reported that she has been appointed to the Committee and that the group is revising its long-range work plan regarding streets, sidewalks and trails. She said that she is a lone voice for accessibility.
Centrum Volunteer Training
Sue Ammeter said that she and Daniel Barnes participated in the Centrum volunteer training and that a more extensive training on how to accommodate people with disabilities will be held later this summer.
She also reported that the Governor has signed the newly revised State definition of disability.
City Access
Lynn reported that he had provided information to the City on how to improve the accessibility of its web site.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:35 p.m.