National Council on Disability
Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee (CDAC)
Public Record of December 7, 2004 Procedural Teleconference
(Leading to March 29, 2005 Meeting)

The Designated Federal Official (DFO) presided at the December 7, 2004 procedural teleconference. Through a combination of teleconferences called as procedural and planning meetings, CDAC members focused on preliminary and final planning for the spring 2005 Civil Rights Forum in Washington, DC.

Electronic and hard copies of letters of invitation were disseminated by NCD’s project contractor (AAPD). This forum with invited participants is the one-day event that follows some of the considerations generated during NCD’s preliminary dialogue at the November 2004 quarterly meeting, such as giving attention to matters of education, employment and civil rights. It is anticipated that approximately sixty (n=60) civil and disability rights leaders will convene for this “next step” looking at what are common agenda items for public policy, including possible suggestions for consideration by the 109th Congress.

Agenda planning: Generally, the forum day will include a short morning plenary session of an estimated 30 minutes. This will include NCD’s welcome, as well as opening remarks and charge for the day provided by CDAC’s Council Liaison, Milton Aponte, J.D. joined by AAPD’s CEO, Andy Imparato, and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights’ Executive Director, Wade Henderson. Guided by CDAC members who facilitated the workgroups (Glenn Fujiura, Ph.D., Darrell K. Simmons, J.D., and L. Elaine S. Mbionwu, CCHP), forum participants will spend the majority of the day in one of three pre-assigned workgroups. They will seek to build and/or identify for development some commonalities across topics specific to educational excellence and equity, creating and rewarding diversity-friendly workplaces, and restoring civil rights legislation. During a working lunch, a member of Congress is invited to address the gathering prior to the participants’ return to respective workgroups for more “rolling-up of sleeves” and a final reporting back (large group) session in the afternoon.

March Meeting: In collaboration with NCD and AAPD staff, CDAC members facilitated the March 29th Civil Rights Forum: "Same Struggle, Different Difference" that was conducted at the AARP national headquarters in Washington. NCD is grateful to AARP for use of their facilities and for meals provided to over 90 participants. Along with NCD policy staff, the Council, and CDAC member participants in breakout groups (Creating & Rewarding Diversity-Friendly Workplaces; Educational Excellence and Equity; and Restoring Civil Rights Legislation) included Milton Aponte, Marco Rodriguez, Young Woo Kang, Robert Davila, Darrell Simmons, Elaine Mbionwu, Glenn Fujiura, Lilly Rangel-Diaz, Jerry Lang, and LaDonna K. Shuckahosee. More specific information about the proceedings of the forum can be accessed on this website at: http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2005/forum_summary.htm

Next Steps: The next step for NCD under the cooperative agreement with AAPD is to provide the participants a summary document that presents succinctly what needs to happen under the auspices of the various disability and broader civil rights organizations that were represented at the forum. NCD’s role as broker in bringing together the national leaders was fulfilled.

Update on Materials: CDAC continues to support and suggest appropriate avenues for dissemination of the ground-breaking report and toolkit regarding disabilities in tribal communities and will report here on future conferences in Indian Country. More CDAC work is discussed at: http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/advisory/cultural/2005/cultural_01-13-05.htm