Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee Quarterly Update - January 2007
(Milton Aponte, J.D., NCD Council Member Liaison;
Gerrie Hawkins, Ph.D., Designated Federal Official; and Betsy Valnes, Independent Contractor)

Revised Advisory Charter Language:
Based on communication generated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act administrators and the designated ethics office, NCD was required to update information across each of the three advisory committees. The change for CDAC is the addition of the statement clarifying the interpretation of the term "representative" used to describe the status of committee members, distinguishing them from various categories of federal employees. CDAC's new language reads as follows:  "While representative members may have expertise in a specific area, discipline, or subject matter, they are not selected solely on the basis of this expertise, but rather are selected to represent the point of view of a group or particular interest." NCD renewed the charter on January 12, 2007 effective for calendar two years from this date unless otherwise renewed.

CDAC Procedural Activity: Among the committee’s accomplishments were the:

• Selection of Mr. John Armendariz as vice chair of CDAC and formation of the first CDAC workgroup on cultural and linguistic competency and diversity basics
• Reassessment of FY2007plans of action after review of DFO’s generic advisory committee model
• Preparation and initial review phase of draft recommendations to NCD and report follow-up
• Dialogue about a letter to NCD through the CDAC Liaison regarding CDAC recommendations and
• Consultation with individual members about changing FACA designation for “representatives”

CDAC Product Update: Two products planned for committee review and comment include proposed document briefs on: (a) myths or misunderstandings about cultural and linguistic competency, and (b) reader friendly definitions related to the concepts. A third product is a letter to selected members of Congress on unmet needs of underserved and unserved populations based on a previously released NCD report. Details on the latter document provided to the acting director for processing are also described in the section that follows. NCD Report Follow-up:  Work occurred on a project credited to CDAC via member reciprocal outreach. The project has provided NCD an opportunity for ongoing internal teamwork as well as collaboration with the Consortia for Administrators of Native American Rehabilitation (CANAR) whose leaders and conference planners reached out to NCD. A background memo was developed for the acting NCD executive director to provide context with respect to the long-term working relationship. Internally, the DFO appreciates Mark Seifarth and legislative contractor Molly Burgdorf who teamed her to complete tasks and products designed to educate members of Congress and the public about unmet needs. Acting Directors were also provided a draft NCD letter with selected report recommendations for Congressional action underscoring that not one of the agency recommendations has seen action during the three years since the August 2003 release of People with Disabilities on Tribal Lands:  Education, Health Care, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Independent Living (accessed at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2003/tribal_lands.htm). Dissemination of NCD's follow-up documents and remaining report copies can begin in early February 2007 after identification of potential recipients in the 110th Congressional Native American Caucus and the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Ms. Burgdorf indicated that the Congressional Native American Caucus includes approximately 110 members; for consideration, CANAR president, Treva Roanhorse suggested focusing on members from the states with active Vocational Rehabilitation Service Projects for American Indian and Alaska Natives with disabilities – 121 projects). States include Alaska, South Dakota, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Montana, Washington, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, California, Idaho, North Dakota, Wyoming, Oregon, Nevada, Minnesota and Michigan. During the third week of February, CANAR hosts a Capitol Hill reception and plans to invite staffers and members of Congress for informal opportunity to dialogue about many of the unmet needs highlighted in NCD's report.

Public Meeting: CDAC's next FY 2007 public meeting is scheduled for February 16, 2007. Please inform Mr. Stacy Brown if you wish to be added to the participant list before the call date. We welcome Council members.