[nfbmi-talk] sent as public comment but not attached to transcripts in full

[joe harcz Comcast]

October 3, 2014

This goes to yesterday's BSBP Commission meeting in part. I sent the following out once again after the May 1, 2014 Commission meeting. It was truncated and not presented in full in the transcripts.

 

Again I'm submitting this as public comment and in the public interest.

 

And Mr. Rodgers should know all of the ADA and 504 violations for he has been informed.



It is quite important to read the last lines of LARA's own accessible meeting policy here which indeed is based upon these federal civil rights laws..

 

Sincerely,

 

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

 

October 21 2013 to Rodgers et all meeting accessibility

 

Paul Joseph Harcz, Jr.

 

1365 E. Mt. Morris Rd.

Mt. Morris, MI  48458

joeharcz at comcast.net

810-516-5262

 

To:

 

Edward F. Rodgers, II, Director

Bureau of Services for Blind Persons

(via e-mail)

 

Dear Mr. Rodgers,

 

 

 

Link from page at:

http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-10573_35828_59075-261561--,00.html

 

 

Then go to LARA Accessible meeting policy.

 

This is what you get in a pdf file which I've converted here:

 

 

 

Table with 5 columns and 4 rows

Effective Date: 

09-12-2011 Policy #: 

G-01 Supersedes: 

3-31-05 Subject: 

Meeting Accessibility 

Page: 

1 of 4 Table endPURPOSE 

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) plans and sponsors 

meetings and events attended exclusively by LARA staff as well as those attended by 

individuals and organizations outside the department. In addition, LARA plans portions 

of and co-sponsors meetings and events with other organizations and individuals 

outside the department. In keeping with federal and state disability rights laws, it is the 

intent of this policy to standardize the department's planning of and participation in 

meetings and events to ensure accessibility for all participants. 

POLICY 

LARA sponsored Meetings and Events 

Events and meetings planned and sponsored entirely by LARA will be accessible, 

whether attended by LARA staff, individuals from outside the department, or both. This 

policy includes but is not limited to meetings open to the public, conferences, 

educational events, press conferences, staff training and retreats. "Accessible" means 

that all who are qualified to attend will be able to attend, participate in all activities, and 

have access to information in the needed alternative formats in a timely manner that 

allows full participation during the event. At a minimum, the site will be barrier-free, and 

additional accommodations will be provided upon request with advance notice. 

Event announcements should be made sufficiently in advance or at least the number of 

days necessary to receive and respond to requests for accommodations. These 

announcements should include a statement similar to the following: 

"The meeting site is accessible, including handicapped parking. Individuals 

attending the meeting are requested to refrain from using heavily scented 

personal care products, in order to enhance accessibility for everyone. 

People with disabilities requiring additional accommodations such as 

information in alternative formats in order to participate in the meeting should 

contact the LARA Office Services, Americans With Disabilities Act 

coordinator." 

Table with 5 columns and 4 rows

Effective Date: 

09-12-2011 Policy #: 

G-01 Supersedes: 

3-31-05 Subject: 

Meeting Accessibility 

Page: 

2 of 4 Table endMeetings and events planned and sponsored by others outside LARA 

When LARA staff participates in an event planned and/or sponsored by another 

organization, the portion of the event presented by LARA staff should be accessible, 

and LARA staff will advocate for accessibility and provide technical assistance to 

increase accessibility at the entire event. 

A LARA bureau participating in the meeting or event is responsible for implementing 

this policy. Questions on this policy may be directed to LARA Office Services, 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator. 

PROCEDURES 

These procedures and resources pertain to meetings and events sponsored and 

planned in whole or in part by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs 

(LARA). These procedures will be revised and updated as approved by the LARA ADA 

Coordinator. 

Meeting/Event Planning Procedures 

1. Know your audience. Do you know all the persons (and their abilities) coming to 

the event? Is it an event only for those invited or registered, or is it an event open 

to the public without pre-registration? If you know the audience, this will help with 

planning, but remember that (for example) anyone could suddenly need to use 

crutches on a temporary basis. If people register for your event, you have the 

opportunity for them to alert you to their accommodation needs and you can 

provide precisely what is requested. Otherwise, you need to prepare for the 

unknown by having an accessible site, materials on hand in alternative formats and 

a sign language interpreter if needed. 2. Site selection. If possible, the bureau planning the meeting or event should 

conduct an onsite visit of the location or proposed location to determine 

accessibility, including factors such as parking, meeting rooms, elevators, 

restrooms, and others which may have an effect on participation in the event. If it 

is not possible for bureau staff to do an on-site visit, staff from a partner 

organization (such as one of Michigan's Centers for Independent Living) may be Table with 5 columns and 4 rows

Effective Date: 

09-12-2011 Policy #: 

G-01 Supersedes: 

3-31-05 Subject: 

Meeting Accessibility 

Page: 

3 of 4 Table endable to provide information about the proposed location based on a visit or past 

experience. 

3. Transportation, parking and getting into and around the facility. Think about 

approaching your event or meeting from private automobiles, taxis, or public 

transportation. Any barriers in the event location? Are there enough accessible 

parking spaces for the event? Any security issues that require advance 

arrangements for guest parking? Are there accessible paths of travel (with ramps, 

curb cuts and elevators where needed) from the parking area to meeting rooms to 

restrooms to other sites for the event, including a minimum 36 inches of clearance 

through doorways for the path of travel. 4. Access statement. In press releases, advertisements, publications and other 

information about the event, include a statement such as this: "The meeting site is accessible, including handicapped 

parking. Individuals attending the meeting are requested to 

refrain from using heavily scented personal care products, in 

order to enhance accessibility for everyone. People with 

disabilities requiring additional accommodations such as 

information in alternative formats in order to participate in the 

meeting should contact the LARA Office Services, Americans 

With Disabilities Act coordinator." 

Before sending this out, it is important to verify that the site actually is accessible 

and that there is adequate handicapped parking as estimated for your event. 

The deadline for requesting additional accommodations or alternative formats 

must allow time for participants to find out about the event and for you to respond 

to requests. If there isn't time to receive and respond to specific requests for 

accommodations, staff need to be prepared for any accommodation need. 

Table with 5 columns and 4 rows

Effective Date: 

09-12-2011 Policy #: 

G-01 Supersedes: 

3-31-05 Subject: 

Meeting Accessibility 

Page: 

4 of 4 Table end5. Have a generous timeline. Publicize the meeting early enough (10 days in 

advance recommended) for people needing accommodations to request them, 

and for you to provide them. Know when people will actually receive the meeting 

announcement. 6. Seating. Designate barrier-free seating locations for people with disabilities 

dispersed throughout the seating area. Have adequate open spaces for 

individuals using wheelchairs, seats with a clear view of sign language 

interpreters for people who are deaf, and seating close to the podium or stage for 

individuals with limited vision. Room layout should allow full participation in 

planned activities. For example, if activities require moving from table to table, 

allow enough space between tables for people using a wheelchair or mobility 

aids. 7. Accessible information throughout the event. This includes speeches, 

PowerPoint and other presentations, flip charts, hand-outs, films, videos and 

other information. For example, accommodations may include sign language 

interpreters, assistive listening systems, and/or real-time captioning for 

individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. People who are blind or visually 

impaired may need materials in alternative formats such as large print, Braille, 

audiotape, and/or a computer disc. The information should be available during 

the event, and not sent after the fact.