Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee Summary Minutes – July 19, 2007

Purpose of this meeting included an update on procedural matters and discussion on (1) leadership training and (2) perspectives on the ADA on the “eve” of the Act’s 17th Anniversary. Future Outreach and Awareness-raising also will be included in the dialogue.
Procedural Summary:

Information was shared about the connection of new processes for review and approval of agency documents to committee processes. For example, in June 2007, the Acting Co-Directors and NCD Chairperson signed an internal decision memo that was needed for approval of the two-year CDAC workplan.
The DFO reported that in addition to the NCD Council Liaison’s scheduled verbal report, the CDAC suggestions of issues and topics for NCD consideration during its strategic planning at the July 24-26, 2007 quarterly meeting were included in an electronic version of the meeting notebook for NCD members. Broad categories and inclusion suggestions are available at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/advisory/cultural/cdac_quarterlyupdate_07-07.htm.
CDAC advice to NCD also included Co-Acting Director input. For example:
Topic:  Disability Awareness, Anti-discrimination and Civil Rights 
Subtopic: Anti-discrimination work with media on portrayal of people with disabilities
Rationale: To ensure the use of positive, respectful language developed in the disability movement; examine ways to involve disability rights activists (people with disabilities) in disability rights issues when covered in the media (e.g., Include major issues like bioethics, healthcare spending, and the national dialogue on deinstitutionalization and its outcomes). Action(s): Conduct outreach efforts in linguistically and culturally appropriate ways, include youth and people from diverse racial and ethnic groups in dissemination planning ADA follow-up activities.
Transition of new NCD members continued as the Senate was slated to consider confirmation of more Presidential appointees.

Policy Summary:
There were two CDAC discussion presenters/leaders for this meeting.
CDAC Chair, Mr. Darrell K. Simmons, JD shared information about the leadership development program conducted by Howard University and Dan Hopkins Associates for a number so years under contract with the U.S. Department of Educations, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Administrative Services. The goal of this project is to increase the leadership competencies of individuals with disabilities from underserved and underrepresented communities, thereby maximizing the full inclusion and integration of individuals with disabilities from underserved and underrepresented groups into society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency. Funded since 1999, the project for under served and under representatives (people from diverse racial groups) is authorized under Section 21 of the 1998 Amendments to the 1973 Rehabilitation Act http://www.tgcigrantproposals.com/cgi-bin/fullResult.asp?purchNum=EDU-99-117.
CDAC member Mr. Robert “Bobby” Coward presented several facts in support of the continuing need to address unmet concerns/issues and lead the advisory committee’s dialogue about perspectives on the status of people with disabilities from diverse cultures with regard to Americans with Disabilities Act impact and implementation. While the advisory committee was unable to discuss the content of the embargoed NCD 2007 ADA reports (embargoed until July 26, 2007 date of release in Chicago), the meeting was prior to the 17th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  While he recognized the importance of the improvements in daily living that might be attributed to the implementation of the ADA, Mr. Coward gave examples of work that still needs to be done and underscored the vital role played by everyday people at the grassroots level across many issues such as accessible/affordable housing, healthcare, transportation and opportunities for education and training leading to meaningful employment. The discussion points around information dissemination needed among people from diverse cultures was rich and scheduled for continuation.

Announcements/Comments:
A final CDAC meeting for this fiscal year will occur September 20, 2007 at 3:30 PM Eastern Time.
The meeting was adjourned by the DFO.