Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee (CDAC) Report to the National Council on Disability (NCD)
Quarterly Meeting Report – Crown Plaza Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia April 16-17, 2007

(Milton Aponte, J.D., NCD Member Liaison; Gerrie Hawkins, Ph.D., Designated Federal Official, Betsy Valnes, Contractor)

During January, February and March 2007, CDAC¹ reassessed and revised its FY2007-2009 plans of action, reviewed, discussed involvement ideas with NCD’s Chairperson, provided written input, and agreed upon material sent forth to NCD’s Executive Committee. The materials described CDAC’s (1) overall action plan and (2) work priority topical considerations. In addition, CDAC presents in this report a foundation² from which NCD can launch/maintain uniform guidance on diversity, cultural and linguistic matters across agency work priorities and activities. CDAC’s four specific recommendations to NCD are as follows:

1. CDAC recommends that NCD should review advisory committee materials including definitions of cultural and linguistic competency, related documents posted on the website, and suggested references or resources for agency guidance about diversity and cultural/linguistic competency to assure consistency across all work. As an outcome of this quarterly meeting, CDAC recommends the posting of a link to relevant information from this recommendation on NCD’s frequently asked questions section of the agency website.
 
2. CDAC recommends that NCD should include a statement in all requests for proposals that will provide potential proposal writers a standard requirement to include issues and information calling attention to the needs of and describing strategies for effective outreach to people from diverse racial/ethnic groups that may differ from the mainstream population.

3. CDAC recommends that NCD’s strategic plan development and implementation should include direct input by people with disabilities from diverse cultures. Hearings, forums, interviews, Webinar, panels, community town hall discussions, radio program call-in, focus groups, and other opportunities should use qualified people as facilitators, moderators, and interviewers with backgrounds similar to targeted groups and/or subgroups
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4. CDAC recommends that NCD should review its internal operations and address ways to incorporate self-assessments of culturally and linguistically appropriate activities, as well as methods to integrate measures into internal audits, performance improvement programs, and related activities

Consistent with the aims of the New Freedom Initiative, adoption and implementation of such recommendations as guidelines can boost NCD’s support of full inclusion for all people with disabilities, including people from diverse cultures.

¹Additional details about CDAC are on the NCD Website: http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/advisory/cultural/cdac_factsheet.htm  “Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee For The National Council On Disability Fact Sheet.”

²Upon request, interested NCD members can receive evidence-based material in CDAC’s background document, Embracing Diversity. The federal model referenced here is the U.S. Department of Health Human Services’ widely known National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health Care, (2000). http://207.108.42.18/physicianoffice/physicianoffice_docs/CLAS%20Standards%20Sheet.pdf