March 2021 Meeting

Meeting Date
  • Access Info
  • Introductions
  • Detroit Disability Power (DDP) Campaign
    • Advocate for prioritization of people with disabilities getting vaccinated.
    • DDP’s Advocacy Toolkit has resources you can use to spread the word and get involved
    • Point of Contact: Rami Alvarez, [email protected]
  • Vaccine and disability
    • Some vaccine scheduling websites are inaccessible
    • Michigan 2-1-1 can help
      • Residents within the prioritization category who need assistance scheduling an appointment, call COVID-19 Hotline (888-535-6136) to speak to a 2-1-1 specialist
      • More info at MI 2-1-1- website
  • Focus on faculty and staff with disabilities at U-M
    • Ergonomics Consultations as pathway to access and accommodations
      • Invited Guest: Cindy Zielinski, Ergonomics
        • They work with faculty/staff to provide assistance in helping them create a more accessible worksite. No charge.
        • Medical Ergonomics staff are occupational therapists
        • Also assists individuals working remotely
        • Full range of interventions: chairs, monitors, lighting, headsets, dictation software, keyboards, sit/stand desk
        • To request services:
          • Contact doctor for referral (must have medical diagnosis; doctors may not be aware that referrals are required); complete qualtrics form; get authorization
        • Accommodations must be “reasonable” as defined in ADA
        • Any staff person can start this free process with the request form.
        • Questions:
          • How is the burden put on the faculty/staff lessened?
            • They try to take the burden off of them. They do the research, assessment, and make the recommendations.
    • LSA Access Navigator position proposal
      • Invited Guest: Alex Stern, Associate Dean for the Humanities, LSA
        • Her focus has been to raise up issues related to disabilities, accommodations, and accessibility
        • Pilot project: started Fall 2019, still on-going, 3-yr
          • Includes 2 new positions - would respond to faculty/staff accommodation needs
          • Includes a resource bank - to be determined, but will include funds, equipment/supplies
          • Includes a survey - (completed by 900; still working on coding/analysis) to assess needs of faculty/staff; will shape the positions and the pilot as a whole
          • Would like this project to be scalable, up or out (horizontally) more broadly across the University
          • U-M needs to address issues of culture around disability and inclusion, which is currently quite low; has observed a lack of awareness
      • Invited Guest: Jamie Saville, ADVANCE Program
        • Has organized an ad hoc committee composed of faculty and staff around disability concerns
        • Also addressing issues of bias/discrimination as related to disability
        • If interested in joining the ad hoc committee, contact her ([email protected])
      • Remi Yergeau
        • They’re trying to be strategic in bringing together different parties.
  • Updates from Advisory Board and Council Members
    • Student Administrative Assistant posting for CfDC
    • SnowBuddy Report on Ann Arbor winter sidewalk access (Kathleen Mozak, Ann Arbor Commission on Disability Issues)
      • Update on a sidewalk access report by SnowBuddy, an all-volunteer sidewalk snow removal organization that operates in the Water Hill neighborhood of Ann Arbor.
      • SnowBuddy conducted interviews across the community and submitted a report with recommendations for the city of Ann Arbor to improve winter maintenance of city sidewalks in all neighborhoods.
      • SnowBuddy will present their report to City Council. Please read it and share your concerns with your City Council rep.
      • Question: SnowBuddy charge fee for service?
        • There’s a subscription fee for residents to receive the service, though it does not matter; they do the entire neighborhood.
  • Adjourn