FLORIDA COORDINATING COUNCIL
FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING
QUARTERLY MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING
FEBRUARY 22 & 23, 2007
THE RAMADA INN AND CONFERENCE CENTER
2900 N. MONROE STREET
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32303
MEMBERS PRESENT: Joan Haber, Carol Christopherson, Carolyn Franklin, Eloise Williams, John Jackson, Joseph Naulty, Julie Church, Tanya English, Rick Kottler, Stan Gustetic, Sarah Harris, Chris Wagner, Lisa Schaefermeyer, Randy Ellsworth, Evan Goldman and Laurie Gaylord; Karen Anderson, DOH Liaison to Council and Mary Grace Tavel, Administrative Assistant.
SUPPORT PERSONNEL: Dee Boenau, CART provider; Amanda Brata, SSP; Sergio, CODASound; Marvin Mollinedo, Sharon King, Brenda Stansbury and Tony Bray, Interpreters.
The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m. by Chair, Joan Haber who welcomed everyone and took roll. She also mentioned the map of Florida displayed so that members could be thinking about scheduling the next year’s meetings. After a few other housekeeping announcements, the group broke for committee meetings.
2:00 Meeting reconvened and Evan Goldman gave the legislative report.
Joan reported on the meeting she and Karen had with the new Secretary of Department of Health, Dr. Viamonte Ros.
Next on the agenda was a presentation on the DeafSun Project by Lissette Molina, Dawnmarie Caggiano and Debbie Lauricella. Mary Grace to send copies of their powerpoint to Council.
The next presentation was by Paul Martel of the Inclusion Council. He asked for the Council to formally join the Council.
3:30 Meeting recessed for break.
4:00 Meeting reconvened for Public Comment. (Public Comments attached.)
At the end of the pubic comment period, Chris Wagner asked that everyone complete a two-page questionnaire on Strategic Planning before the meeting the next day, and turn them in to Mary Grace.
6:07 p.m. Meeting recessed.
FCCDHH QUARTERLY MEETING
FEBRUARY 22, 2007
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
- Lissette Molina (of DeafSun Project). Supported the bill for licensure of sign language interpreters. Second, asked for help in defining “family” for purposes of domestic abuse situations.
- Dawnmarie Caggiano. She spoke about a recent situation with a client whose native language was not English, and not being able to get assistance for the client filling out forms for Healthy Kids program.
- Paula Roberts from the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities. She met with Evan and Lisa earlier in the day and offered the assistance of their center to the Council.
- Debbie Howells from the office of the state court administrators. She gave a history of her office and explained the mission of the Supreme Court Committee on Fairness and Diversity.
- Judy Martin from Jacksonville, President of HLA of Jacksonville. She spoke about t-coils and the importance of them to her ability to hear.
- Ali Blaylock spoke on behalf of and in support for the licensure bill for interpreters. She stressed the importance of interpreters in the education realm.
- Barbara Smith talked about how hard it was for people who are deaf and hard of hearing in the employment venue of the state of Florida.
- Carlos Monserrate, Division of Blind Services. He commented that people who are blind can get computers for free from VR, but not people who are deaf. Also suggested that hearing aids should be free or subsidized as well.
- Sharon Casserta, Legal Aid Attorney from Jacksonville commended the Council for the work it was doing, and offered collaboration from her center in Jacksonville. She spoke of the dire need for qualified interpreters in the court system. From her remarks, the genesis of a Legal Task Force was born.
- Ali Blaylock spoke again, on the subject of accessibility in schools with regard to publishers of curricula—particularly the lack of captioning.
- Joan Haber read an e-mail from Debbie Bennett who had a problem with getting interpreters to a doctor’s office for an appointment in a timely fashion.
- Chris Wagner read excerpts from a letter written from Darryl Figueredo to Representative Baxley, in strong opposition to the licensure bill.
- Emily Taylor-Snell of the Florida Outreach Project which serves children and young adults who have deaf-blindness. She talked about and explained their program and philosophies.
QUARTERLY MEETING
FEBRUARY 23, 2007
THE RAMADA INN AND CONFERENCE CENTER
2900 N. MONROE STREET
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32303
Meeting convened at 8:35 a.m. by Chair, Joan Haber.
Members present: Randy Ellsworth, Evan Goldman, Chris Wagner, Sarah Harris, Stan Gustetic, Rick Kottler, Joan Haber, Tanya English, Julie Church, Joe Naulty, John Jackson, Eloise Williams, Carolyn Franklin, Laurie Gaylord, Carol Christopherson, Lisa Schaefermeyer and Mary Grace Tavel, Assistant to Council.
Service providers: Interpreters, Marvin Mollinedo, Sharon King, Tony Bray, and Brenda Stansbury; CART provider Dee Boenau; CODASound, Alex Cora and Sergio; and SSP, Amanda Brata.
Introductions were made around the table.
Joan asked for approval of the minutes. Laurie discussed treatment of late-arriving members in the minutes. Joan suggested she acknowledge late arrivals and note the time so that Mary Grace can accurately reflect that in the minutes. John motioned to accept the minutes as written, seconded by Chris. Motion carried unanimously.
Joan went over the action items from the last meeting. Item numbers are from that list:
Item 8. Tanya discussed the U.S. Senate bill which was reintroduced this year regarding funding for training of realtime reporters, and noted that Mario Rivera had asked for a letter from the Council after the first of the year offering the Council’s support. Tanya will draft the letter to send to the two Senators from Florida, Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez and Corrine Brown. Evan suggested the letter go to the two Senators and the Florida Congressional Delegation.
Item 10. This item was about drafting a procedure paper with simple steps for filing a complaint regarding interpreters or captioning. No one offered to take this on.
Item 11. John reported on the DCF contract and the Deaf and Hearing Connection of Tampa Bay.
Item 24. SERTOMA report from Chris. He and Lisa contacted the man who came to the meeting last quarter, and they got the runaround. Carol went to her local SERTOMA club and got the same information.—that an individual must join. They sponsor local organizations on an annual basis. Fees are $100 per quarter.
Next, Joan introduced Rick who introduced the Policies and Procedures document. As an aside, Rick announced he and Chris were retiring as presidents of their respective organization. He pointed out addition on page nine relative to committee membership and leadership. There was little discussion, other than on the procedure to amend the document in the future. As written, the amendment policy is 30 days’ notice and a 2/3 vote. Randy moved to accept the document, Lisa seconded, motion carried unanimously.
Rick reminded people that they all wear different hats, and to be mindful of which hats they are wearing when they make visits on behalf of either their own organizations or the Council, not to let the lines get blurred.
Stan introduced the budget. The Council is doing well with expenditures. As a whole, the Council needs to look at website maintenance, redeployment, etc. Tanya addressed the Liquifusion bid. With $2,900 it can be fully operational. The monthly outlay would be $600. Tanya made a motion that the Council spend the initial $2,900 with Liquifusion and maintain with $600. The motion was seconded by Randy, and after further discussion, carried unanimously.
Stan then raised the subject of changes in Karen’s and Mary Grace’s positions relative to UF contracts—MG was 70% and Karen was 30%. MG can move to 90% and Karen can drop back to 10%. Stan explained how contracts such as UF with DOH work, and the indirect costs associated with contracts. There was a 6% indirect cost. That is changing to a 10% fee. Right now we cost out $50,000 for salaries, that will go up to $54,000. This includes a 3% raise for Mary Grace. The position description and class code are determined by the Department of Health and the University of Florida. Chris questioned Karen’s role at 10%. Karen is Mary Grace’s supervisor. She is the lead person at DOH.
Stan made a motion to move $4,000 from general operating funds to salaries to effect the 10/90% split. Lisa seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Stan raised the issue of PSAs (Action MG check with PSA firm re cost to reactivate PSA in prime time). Julie said Ron Sachs Communications might be able to answer some questions.
Evan made a motion to support FAD convention for $7,500—$2,500 for booth and $5,000 for scholarships. Rick seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Joan called attention to the new Policies and Procedures document, which requires a request in writing 30 days before council meeting.
Tanya brought up the idea of having the PSA playing continuously at the display table when we have an exhibit. Everyone thought that we should attempt to do that whenever possible.
Joan asked for volunteers for the FAD conference, July 6—7. Joan is presenting so she will be one of the volunteers. Julie said she’d like to but might be in court. Lisa volunteered for some of the time.
Evan made a motion, seconded by Rick, to encumber $1,000 for the Alexander Graham Bell convention at the Deerfield Beach Hilton April 20—21. Motion passed unanimously.
Tanya made a motion that we have an agenda item at the next quarterly meeting on this topic. Stan moved that Joan establish a committee for “event planning,” and coordinate everything through Mary Grace prior to the meeting. The motion was seconded by Rick. Motion passed unanimously.
Chris suggested Mary Grace send brochures to the Florida Society of Deaf Children for their meeting in St. Augustine.
Recess for break.
Reconvene at 10:34.
Presentation: Legislative advocacy—Ted Granger, President of the United Way of Florida. He talked about the context of the session as well as the issues. Leadership is trying to make sure they are open and inclusive. Oftentimes, sessions are defined by social issues of the time, i.e., Martin Lee Anderson, Jessica Lunsford. This year its taxes and homeowners’ insurance. Children, Families and Elders Committee will be hearing the FCCDHH issues. The Chair is a real firebrand. They have a staff director and no staff left in that office. The crux of his message was “cultivate relationships.”
Evan gave the legislative committee report. His advice was that everyone should just be themselves. There is a need to identify the legislators who can and should be behind Council issues. He urged Council members to make connections, not only during the session, but in the other ten months when they are at home in their districts. The first thing we want to institute is the “buddy system.” We will be sending out e-mail. Joan reminded him to include herself and Mary Grace. Chris thought the whole Council should be in Tallahassee for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Day at the Capitol. We have bipartisan representation in the senate by Nan Rich and in the house by Ellen Bogdanov. House members can sponsor unlimited requests. In order to have any chance of passage, we need to have your local delegations on board. The next issue is the licensure bill. Evan made a motion to draft a letter to in support of early intervention funding. Tanya seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
The next item was the Florida Children’s Cabinet. Evan made a motion that we contact Ted Granger and let him know that the Council supports the Children’s Council. Randy seconded the motion. Chris added that he would like to see having a deaf or hard of hearing member be added to the letter. Motion passed unanimously.
Joan introduced Rick Moses, from the Public Service Commission, who gave a brief update from the PSC.
Rick gave the Medical Accessibility Task Force update. March 29 is the seminar for hospital employees. They are looking for booth sponsors.
Lunch recess 11:56.
Meeting reconvened at 1:00.
Strategic planning committee report from Chris. The committee is to meet again in April 6th. Chris and Julie are coming to Tallahassee for another meeting. He suggested getting a facilitator to come in for the May 10 quarterly meeting and spend some time that morning brainstorming. He also thought about having someone help us with the plan, perhaps Margaret Duggar from Tallahassee, and then she could help us with the report. There was much discussion about the workshop on May 10. Chris made a motion to have a workshop on May 10 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm with a maximum expenditure of $10,000. Rick seconded the motion. The vote was seven in favor and three voted no. The motion carried.
Julie introduced the representatives from Ron Sachs Communications. Michelle Ubben and John Warrick. They distributed a hard copy of a Powerpoint and discussed their recent work with Healthy Start.
Julie made a motion to spend $23,000 on Ron Sachs. John seconded the motion. Discussion ensued. Stan brought up the fact that we needed to go through the whole RFP process. ACTION-- have MG ask Karen if she can push it through DOH fast. Eloise thinks that with strong justification it can get through in three weeks.
Julie withdrew her original motion, and amended it to say take $2,500 from the original fund and expend it immediately. John then withdrew his amendment to the original motion which, which reinstated the original motion. Vote was unanimous!
Joan went through the public comments.
Lisa made a motion that the Council establish a legal accessibility task force, with Lisa to have a concrete plan of action in writing by May. The motion was seconded by Chris. Motion passed unanimously.
Chris recommended that the Council write a letter recommending that Dawn Saunders be placed on the Council as the DOE representative.
Joan asked Stan and Randy about the t-coil situation. Randy explained that it was a two pronged issue. One was the t-coils and one was eliminating the doctor negation of a hearing aid sale. Joan asked if she should write another letter, because obviously they misrepresented the situation to her in their response to the first letter.
Action—Joan to send a followup letter.
Stan suggested we have Oticon, Phonak or some other outfit to come to a council meeting for a demonstration. IHS.gov is the international website for all information.
ACTION Joan wants to talk to John Walker who Joe was just talking about. Joe or Randy is to get his contact information to her.
Joan wants to present at the FLAA convention in August. Stan said they are still soliciting speakers. Action—Joan to get a list of compatible cell phones to Joe.
Chris made a motion that Joan write a letter of support for DeafSUN Project and commend the ladies for their work. Tanya seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Joan raised the memorandum of understanding from the Inclusion Council. Rick made a motion that we accept the invitation and Tanya seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Joan brought up the Family Café. Carol volunteered to go. Tanya thought we should nominate Laurie and Evan since they weren’t here. Issue was dropped. Carol offered to take brochures since she was going anyway.
Eloise asked for materials for Ambassadors for Aging Day at the Capitol on March 27. (MG Action get her some materials, brochures, etc.)
Scheduling of the next meetings: Action MG ask Chris about the hotel he stayed at in the Villages.
Meetings were set as:
August 23 & 24, 2007 in Jacksonville
November 8 & 9, 2007 in The Villages
February 14 & 15, 2008 in Sarasota/Bradenton
May 8 & 9, 2008 in Sanford
Joe discussed deaf-blind funding.
Carol will be in Tallahassee for epilepsy day at the Capitol, March 6.
The FCRA (Florida Court Reporters Association) Convention is September 29 through Oct. 1st in Fort Lauderdale.
On March 17 there is a DeafNation Expo in Kissimmee, with 4,000 deaf and hard of hearing people coming in. Senator Wise and Representative Heller will come out too.
MG can contact Julie about Ron Sachs doing some promo for better speech and hearing month. Stan offered to get the materials for that from ASHA (Action).
Joe asked Eloise about information on low cost loans (home loans) for the elderly disabled. Eloise said she’d get info to Joe by having someone contact him.
Stan raised the idea of the PSA. Tanya said it never had aired in South Florida. Council needs to approve an earmark of $$ to do that. Tanya offered to contact the TV stations in her area to find out costs (Action).
Motion by Stan to investigate earmarking $5,000 for PSA to advertise our meetings. Randy seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Carol thanked the MATF for the book.
Joan thanked everyone for their commitment and for working so hard for the last two days.
4:03 Chris made a motion to adjourn, which Randy seconded. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned.
ACTION ITEMS FROM FEBRUARY 2007 MEETING IN TALLAHASSEE
- Mary Grace to obtain a copy of the DeafSun Project presentation and send to all Council members. Done
- Tanya English to write position paper from Council in support of increased funding for the Stenotype Institute of Jacksonville and distribute to Florida’s senators in the US Senate and the Florida Congressional delegation.
- Tanya English to follow up with Liquifusion concerning improving the website and monthly maintenance as per vote of Council. (Also check with Liquifusion on having a captioned video clip on the front page of the website)
- Mary Grace and Karen to provide copies of their job descriptions as they pertain to their responsibilities to the Council. Will have in meeting packets for May.
- Chris Wagner to follow up on the necessary paperwork with Mary Grace for the $7,500 scholarship/registration for the FAD conference in July. Done.
- Chris and Mary Grace to confirm which Council members will man the Council booth for the FAD conference. Ask for volunteers at May meeting.
- Laurie Gaylord is authorized to spend up to $1,000 to provide an information table at the AG Bell conference in April. Laurie to work with Mary Grace on the necessary paperwork and logistics of this.
- Joan to establish an Event Planning Committee and assign a chairperson of said committee – said committee to coordinate with Mary Grace prior to quarterly meetings as to what events are being requested and obtain dollar amounts for participation and other pertinent facts. Done!
- Evan Goldman to send out emails to Council members about the newly formed buddy system of political advocacy efforts. Not so much, it’s kind of winding down.
- Joan Haber to draft a letter to be sent to the Governor, Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, and Chairs of the Appropriations Committees supporting Early Intervention programs. Done.
- Joan Haber to draft a letter to be sent to Ted Granger, Representative Ausley, and Senator Rich to state the Council’s support of The Florida Children’s Cabinet and to add that the Council wishes to see a representative of the deaf and hard of hearing community working with the Children’s Cabinet project. Done.
- Chris Wagner and members of Strategic Planning Committee to work on setting up a facilitated workshop at the West Palm Beach meeting in May to brainstorm the future plan of the Council’s work. Chris to coordinate logistics of this workshop – time, length, etc. with Mary Grace and Joan. Almost done; committee to meet Wednesday May 9 prior to Workshop meeting.
- Julie Church to work with Ron Sachs Communications (with Mary Grace’s assistance) to expedite the expenditure of the $23,000 appropriated for public relations/promotion of the Council. PO was denied.
- Mary Grace to take care of ordering more promotional materials and additional printings of the 2007 Report before the end of the fiscal year. Done.
- Lisa Schaefermeyer to start the process of setting up a Legal Accessibility Task Force and to report to Joan Haber as she begins this task to select the members of this task force. Not sure of status of this.
- Laurie Gaylord to contact the President of the Florida School Board Association to communicate the need for captioned media used in the school system and report back to the Council on the result of her contact. Not sure of status.
- Joan Haber to write a letter to the Interim Secretary of the Department of Education expressing the need for an appointment from the DOE to replace the vacancy which exists on the FCCDHH Council and to ask for said appointment to be a program specialist for the deaf and hard of hearing population. Done and close to happening!
- Joan Haber to write a letter to the Board of Licensure which regulates audiologists reiterating the dire need for inclusion of the t-coil in their education of consumers purchasing hearing aids. Done.
- Tanya English to obtain information about t-coils from Joan and Randy to include on the website to educate people about what t-coils are and why they are important. Randy suggested going to www.ihs.gov for numerous articles about t-coils. Joan also suggested the www.hearingloss.org website, which contains sections pertaining to t-coils. Information obtained, not posted yet.
- Randy Ellsworth to give Joan the contact information about an audiologist (John Walker?) from Palm Beach County as a potential guest speaker for future meetings. MG to remind Randy.
- Joan Haber to find the website which lists all current T3 and T4 t-coil compatible cell phones and send to the Council at the request of Joe Naulty. MG needs to forward this.
- Joan Haber to write a letter of support for the DeafSun project expressing a need for this project focusing on domestic violence and elderly abuse experienced by deaf and hard of hearing people in Florida. Done.
- Joan Haber to execute the Memorandum of Understanding with the Inclusion Council of the Florida Volunteers project (Florida AmeriCorps) and send to Paul Martell, the Program Administrator for Florida Volunteers. Done.
- Carol Christopherson volunteered to pass out FCCDHH materials at the Family Café conference in June. MG to talk to Carol about in Tallahassee on Monday, April 30, at Ambassadors for the Aging Day at the Capitol.
- Future meetings to be held as follows: Aug 23-24, 2007 in Jacksonville, Nov 8-9, 2007 in The Villages, Feb 14-15, 2008 in Sarasota/Bradenton, and May 8-9, 2008 in Sanford. Mary Grace to work on reservations for those locations and report on progress at the May 2007 meeting in West Palm Beach. WPB done, the others not yet.
- Participation in the March 21, 2007 Deaf and Hard of Hearing rally in Tallahassee by as many members of the Council as possible. Chris Wagner is coordinating this effort and Joan Haber will attend to represent the Council. Done.
- Julie Church to contact Ron Sachs Communication concerning the fact that May is better speech and hearing month and press releases would be in order. See item 13.
- Mary Grace, with the assistance of Stan and Julie, to make arrangements to air our PSA (Public Service Announcement) in the amount up to $5,000 prior to the end of this fiscal year. No way to get this done prior to fiscal year end. Will table until FY 07-08.