Nov 13, 2025 Citizens&#39; Advisory Commission on Disabilities

UM, THANK YOU, UH, FOR THAT.

UM, WE'LL BEGIN OUR AGENDA IN JUST A SECOND.

I WANT TO, UH, WELCOME, UH, FOLKS, ESPECIALLY THOSE COMING IN FROM ZOOM AND REMEMBER AND REMIND YOU THAT, UM, THE WAY WE, UM, FEEL INCLUDED IN OUR DISABILITY COMMUNITIES IS TO USE OUR, UM, OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACCESSIBILITY.

SO FOR OUR COMMISSION, WE HAVE A ZOOM OPTION AND YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND GET THE ZOOM MEETING, UM, INFORMATION.

ALSO, IF YOU SHOULD MISS TODAY'S MEETING, UH, YOU CAN GO ONLINE IN ANOTHER DAY AND UNDER OUR NOTES, UH, UH, MINUTES FOR THE DAY, YOU'LL FIND A VIDEO SO YOU CAN AGAIN, UH, ACCESS, UM, WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN K COD.

SO YOU FEEL INCLUDED, UM, FROM THE DRC? YES.

OKAY, EXCELLENT.

PERFECT TIMING.

I COULDN'T, DID YOU WANNA START WITH TWO THINGS FIRST? DID YOU WANNA START WITH APPROVING THE MINUTES? WE TO HAVE THE MINUTES? YES.

UM, TODAY, UM, OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM IS TO, UM, HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE DRC.

IF I COULD HAVE A MOTION TO, UH, RECEIVE AND, UM, APPROVE THE MINUTES.

UH, I'M SORRY.

I'M SORRY

[1. 25-56880 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Citizens' Advisory Commission on Disabilities meeting of Thursday, October 9, 2025. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

FROM LAST.

YEP.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

UH, CAN I HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? A MOTION? I'LL SECOND.

UM, AND IF WE COULD ROLL, HAVE THE VOTE.

JUST FOR THE RECORD.

THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE, SINCE THERE'S NO ONE FROM THE PUBLIC.

I'M SORRY.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY FOR THE RECORD, THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM SINCE THERE'S NO ONE FROM THE PUBLIC.

I, I'M NOT SURE IF WE WANTED TO CHECK THE ZOOM FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE, PUBLIC COMMENT.

THERE'S NONE AS WELL.

WE CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE VOTE NOW.

HAVE THAT, UM, CHAIR SWANSON.

I'LL TAKE THE VOTE FOR THE MINUTES NOW.

I CAN'T.

UM, CHAIR S CHAIR SWANSON.

WELL, WHAT, WE'RE TAKING THE VOTE FOR THE MINUTES NOW.

SO I WAS JUST CALLING ROLL CALL VOTE.

SO CHAIR SWANSON.

UH, VICE CHAIR GARBE AYE.

SECRETARY DEAN.

COMMISSIONER ADAMS? AYE.

UH, COMMISSIONER HOPE.

COMMISSIONER JONES.

COMMISSIONER ROMERO? AYE.

MOTION IS CARRIED.

UM, NOW THAT I HAVE THE AGENDA NOTES MIGHT MAKE IT EASIER.

UM, SO NOW WE'LL MOVE TO OUR PRESENTATION AND, UM, WE'LL NEED A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE REPORTS.

UM, THAT'S NOT CORRECT.

I'M SORRY, UH, TO EVERYONE, I THINK, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE OUR AD HOC REPORTS FIRST? WE CAN, WE CAN HAVE THE AD HOC REPORT FIRST, BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO MOVE TO THE PRESENTATION YES.

UH, INSTEAD WE CAN DO THE PRESENTATION FIRST.

YES, LET'S DO THAT.

SO WE'RE DOING ITEM NUMBER THREE RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND

[3. 25-56882 Recommendation to receive and file a report from Disabled Resources Center, Inc. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

FILE A REPORT.

FROM DISABLED RESOURCES CENTER INC.

AND MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I SOLE MOTION I SECOND.

SLIDE AND AFTER THE SPEAKER WANTS TO.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

UM, SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PRESENTATION

[00:10:07]

MY NAME IS DOLORES MASON AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR DISABLED RESOURCE CENTER THAT'S IN LONG BEACH.

I'M HERE TODAY TO INTRODUCE TO YOU ONE OF OUR STAR, REALLY STAR EMPLOYEES NAMED GINO ELLIOT.

NOW GINO IS THE INDEPENDENT PEER SUPPORT COUNSELOR, AND HE IS ALSO THE, UH, CREATOR OF THE FABULOUS WELL-KNOWN TRANSITIONAL YOUTH PROGRAM.

I, I WANT TO, UH, NOT ONLY INTRODUCE GINO, BUT I'D LIKE TO TURN THE FLORA OVER TO HIM SO HE CAN ENTERTAIN YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GINO.

OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU DOLORES.

UH, AS, AS SHE MENTIONED, MY NAME IS GINA ELLIOTT AND, UH, PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH EVERYONE TODAY.

WITH THIS, OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY, TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR LIVES AND TO ADVOCATE ON THEIR OWN BEHALF.

OUR VISION IS FULLY INCLUSIVE SOCIETY WHERE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE EQUAL ACCESS, AUTONOMY, AND OPPORTUNITY.

A STORY OF VISION AND ADVOCACY.

IN 1976, JERRY STEIN LEE TARDY AND WARREN MOSS, THREE YOUNG MEN FROM LONG BEACH LIVING WITH DISABILITIES SAW A GAP IN SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.

FUELED BY A SHARED VISION OF EMPOWERMENT AND INDEPENDENCE, THEY TOOK ACTION WITH A MODEST GRANT FROM THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

THEY OPENED THE FIRST OFFICE OF WHAT WOULD BECOME THE DISABLED RESOURCES CENTER.

THEIR GOAL WAS SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL TO CREATE A REFERRAL CENTER WHERE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES COULD FIND RESOURCES, SUPPORT, AND COMMUNITY.

BUT WHAT STARTED AS A SMALL INITIATIVE QUICKLY GREW AS MORE INDIVIDUALS CAME THROUGH THE DOORS.

THE FOUNDERS LISTENED AND RESPONDED THE ADDED PROGRAM BASED ON WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDED MOST FROM ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TO EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND INDEPENDENT LIVING SUPPORT.

WHAT MAKES THEIR STORY ESPECIALLY REMARKABLE IS THEY BUILT DRC NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, BUT WITH THEM.

THE FOUNDERS THEMSELVES WERE LIVING EXAMPLES OF RESILIENCE AND LEADERSHIP.

THEY BELIEVED THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SHOULD NOT ONLY RECEIVE SERVICES, BUT ALSO LEAD AND SHAPE THEM.

THIS PHILOSOPHY BECAME THE BACKBONE OF DRCS CULTURE, WHERE TODAY MOST STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS ARE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES SERVING AS ROLE MODELS AND ADVOCATES.

OUR CONSUMERS ARE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES SEEKING SUPPORT, RESOURCES OR ADVOCACY FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE OR SERVICES.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS INTERESTED IN COLLABORATION, EMPLOYERS AND EDUCATORS SEEKING TRAINING OR ACCESSIBILITY CONSULTATION, ANYONE IN THE SERVICE AREA NEEDING DISABILITY RELATED SUPPORT.

TO BE AN INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER, YOU MUST CARRY THESE

[00:15:01]

BASIC CORE SERVICES, ADVOCACY, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY, HOUSING INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, PEER SUPPORT, PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES, TRANSITION AND DIVERSION.

DRCS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES INCLUDE BENEFITS, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH COVERED CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, MOBILITY, TRAVEL TRAINING, AND TRANSITIONAL YOUTH SERVICES.

DRC SERVES THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY ACROSS ITS PROGRAMS. WITH EACH PROGRAM TAILORED TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR DIVERSE CONSUMER BASE.

SERVES CITIES ACROSS LOS ANGELES AND ORANGE COUNTIES, INCLUDING LONG BEACH, ARTESIA, AVALON, CYPRUS, HAWAIIAN GARDENS, LAKEWOOD, LA PALMA, SEAL BEACH, AND SIGNAL HILL.

PUBLIC FUNDERS INCLUDE CITY OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCES, CONNECTION, DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION, AND LA METRO.

PRIVATE FUNDERS AND CORPORATE CONTRIBUTORS INCLUDE EDISON INTERNATIONAL, PG AND E LA CARE, HEALTH PLAN, JOSEPHINE GUM FOUNDATION, EARL B AND LORRAINE MILLER FOUNDATION, UNITED WAY, FEY COMMUNITY FUND, ETHEL JOSEPHINE SCANLAN FOUNDATION, AND A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF ANONYMOUS DONORS.

HMM.

SO IT'S BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO BE WITH THE DRC FOR ABOUT 14 YEARS.

UM, WHEN I'M NOT WITH THE DRC, I'M ALSO A LONG BEACH LIFEGUARD.

SO I, I GREW UP IN THIS TOWN.

UH, I ACTUALLY HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS ALSO THAT'S ALSO IN THIS CITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME, UH, GIVE MY POWERPOINT.

IS THERE ANY OTHER THINGS THAT, QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE? THANK YOU.

UH, AS PER OUR, UM, PROTOCOL, ARE THERE ANY CLARIFYING QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE AT THIS POINT? IF, IF NOT, WE'LL GO TO, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT.

DO WE HAVE, UM, PUBLIC FROM VIA ZOOM? NONE VIA ZOOM AND NONE IN PERSON.

NO ONE.

THE THING ABOUT IT IS, IS TO, IF, IF THE CONSUMER THEMSELVES PUT IN THE WORK AND LOOK, UM, IF YOU DO HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE RENTING BACK HOUSES, LIKE A MOTHER-IN-LAW'S HOME, USUALLY THEY'RE NOT COMPUTER SAVVY.

UM, THEN WE WILL TAKE IT, UH, BEHIND THE RAIL AS THEY SAY.

ARE THERE QUESTIONS FROM, UM, THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION? I'D LIKE TO, AS PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT, I'D LIKE TO JUST, I, IS IT TRUE THAT YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR 50 YEARS? HALF A CENTURY? UH, NEXT YEAR WILL BE OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY, YES.

YEAH, IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

UM, FOR ANYTHING TO LAST A FEW YEARS, LET ALONE 50 YEARS.

SO, AND TO HAVE GROWN.

UM, MY QUESTION COMES FROM MY INTEREST IN HOUSING AND THE FACT THAT WE'VE HAD SUCH A HORRIFIC, UM, UH, DISCREPANCY BETWEEN WHAT'S AVAILABLE, WHAT A, AND THEN B WHAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND C AFFORDABLE.

UM, CAN YOU SUMMARIZE WHAT THE DRC IS DOING IN THE HOUSING, UM, AREA? SURE, SURE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS GIVE UPDATE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT MAY BE AVAILABLE, UM, IF SECTION EIGHT IS OPEN IN LONG BEACH OR LA COUNTY, UM, LOOKING FOR ACCESSIBILITY DEPENDING ON, ON THE NEEDS OF, OF THE INDIVIDUAL.

SO ALL OUR SERVICES ARE KIND OF CATERED TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND NOT JUST ONE BLANKET ONE, ONE, UH, ANSWER FITS ALL.

BUT THAT'S A, THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT QUESTION TO, TO ANSWER IF I COULD FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

SURE.

UM, SO YOU'RE GOING OUT TO THE OPEN MARKET OR TO, UM, OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU SEE, UM, IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

DO YOU ALSO MAINTAIN RESIDENTS YOURSELF, UM, UNITS, BEDS AND THAT SORT OF THING? YOU KNOW, THE DRC OURSELVES, WE DON'T OWN ANY, ANY PROPERTY, SO WE CAN ONLY FOLLOW WHAT, UM, WHAT MAYBE WE CAN HEAR OR LOOK AROUND THAT'S, THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR SECTION EIGHT OR, UM, SENIOR HOUSING.

UH, I KNOW I LIVE IN, UH, DISTRICT NINE AND SO SOME OF THE TIMES, IF YOU, AND, AND, AND

[00:20:01]

AND SO YOU CAN ADVISE THEM TO LOOK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE YOU THINK WOULD BE A ACCESSIBLE PLACE.

UH, I KNOW, UH, MY FRIENDS LIVING HERE IN, UM, CALIFORNIA HEIGHTS WHERE YOU FOUND A ONE BEDROOM FOR $650 IN THE LAST YEAR.

YOU KNOW, AND I FOUND ONE OVER ON WOODRUFF AND WARDLOW, NEAR MILLIKEN, UH, TWO BEDROOM HOME, UH, FOR NINE 50.

AND IT COMES WITH AVOCADO TREES.

SO, YOU KNOW, AND SOME OF THESE PEOPLE THAT OWN THESE HOMES, THEY'RE NOT COMPUTER SAVVY, SO THEY WON'T PUT 'EM ONLINE.

SO YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF PUT IN THE LEGWORK IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO, WHETHER YOU, YOU KNOW, HAVE A CAR OR WALK THE NEIGHBORHOODS OR TAKE A SCOOTER OR AN E-BIKE AND REALLY KIND OF PUT IN THE WORK.

WE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH ONLINE OR WHAT WE SEE BY DRIVING THROUGH THE COMMUNITY THEMSELVES OR WHAT'S MADE AVAILABLE PUBLICLY.

ANOTHER FOLLOW UP.

YOU'RE, YES.

YOU'RE MAKING ME THINK THROUGH THIS, UH, HOUSING, UH, ISSUE IS, IF YOU COULD ESTIMATE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY HOUSED HERE IN LONG BEACH THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS, JUST GUESSTIMATE STARTING FROM 50 YEARS AGO, FROM WHENEVER YOU HAVE A SENSE OF IT, YOU CAN REFERENCE IT.

UH, I, I THINK WITHIN THE, PROBABLY WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT AT LEAST 20 SOMETHING FAMILIES INTO HOMES.

WE HAVE FOUND SOMETHING FOR THEM AND WITH THEIR ASSISTANCE AS WELL, BECAUSE THEY'RE OUT THERE HUNTING AS AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

'CAUSE WE HAVE OTHER CONSUMERS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF.

BUT WE HAVE A, A GREAT NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS THAT WILL, UH, DONATE THEIR TIME TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE IF THEY NEED A RAMP BUILD.

SO WE DO HAVE SOME CONTRACTORS THAT GO, HEY, I'LL, I'LL PUT IN THE RAMP IF IT'S OKAY WITH THE OWNERS AT NO COST TO YOU.

BUT THAT'S ALSO PART OF OUR TRANSITION AND DIVERSION, WHICH WE HAVE SOME, UH, PUBLIC FUNDS IN WHICH WE CAN USE FOR THAT AS WELL.

UM, OTHERS? WELL, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

YEP.

I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, LIKE AS A COMMISSION, LIKE HOW CAN WE COLLABORATE WITH YOU? HOW CAN WE SUPPORT YOU? LIKE HOW DO YOU SEE US FITTING INTO LIKE, YOUR ECOSYSTEM AT THE DRC? UM, YOU GUYS ARE THE EYES AND EARS OF THE COMMUNITY.

YOU PROBABLY HEAR MORE ABOUT THINGS THAN WE DO OR BEFORE WE DO.

SO THAT KIND OF COLLABORATION AND WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION AND PASS IT ON TO, UM, OUR, OUR CONSTITUENTS OR YOUR, YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND THE CITIZENS HERE.

UH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

ANY KIND OF ASSISTANCE IS, IS, IS NEEDED IF WE CAN PASS IT ON TO, TO KEEP THESE FAMILIES FROM BECOMING STATISTICS.

AND MY TRANSITIONAL YOUTH GROUP, WHICH IS NUMBER TWO IN THE STATE NEXT TO, UH, DALE MCINTOSH, I WORK CLOSELY WITH LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND IF YOU, THE STATISTICS HAVE IT THAT IF YOUR FAMILY IS HOMELESS, THE CHANCES ARE THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES, WHEN THEY GROW UP, WE'LL BE HOMELESS.

AND WE DON'T WANT THAT.

WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM INDEPENDENT, UH, BECOME PART OF THE COMMUNITY THEMSELVES AND EASIER TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE.

'CAUSE YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO ASK FOR HELP FROM SOMEBODY THAT YOU KNOW THAN, THAN AN ORGANIZATION OR, UM, PLACES THAT YOU DON'T BY TRANSITIONAL YOUTH SERVICES.

BY TRANSITIONAL YOUTH SERVICES, UM, UH, WHAT IS, WHAT EXACTLY IS TRANSITIONAL IN THAT CASE? IS IT, UH, TRANSITIONAL WILL BE AGES FOR THE LONG BEACH UNIFIED? IT'S 14 TO 22.

SO TRANSITIONAL REFERS TO THE AGE? CORRECT.

OH, OKAY.

CORRECT.

AND THEN OUR ORGANIZATION GOES TO 24, AND THEN FROM 24 ON, THEN THEY BECOME INDEPENDENT LIVING, UM, SKILLS CONSUMERS.

UH, SAY A $50 A WEEK BUDGET.

MM-HMM .

GREAT QUESTION.

I'M COMMISSIONER ADAMS. UM, CAN YOU JUST ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR, WITH THE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND YOUR TRANSITIONAL GROUP? DO YOU MEET ONCE A MONTH, TWICE A MONTH? DO YOU HAVE A, A, A SCHEDULE OF HOW, BECAUSE POSSIBLY MAYBE WE WANT TO GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR PROGRAM.

SO IS THERE ANYTHING SURE.

YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

UH, YEAH, I WORK CLOSELY WITH LONG BEACH UNIFIED, WHAT THEY CALL THE ADULT CAREER TRANSITION OR THE A CT PROGRAM.

SO, UM, THESE STUDENTS, WE MEET ONCE A ONCE A WEEK, ONCE A WEEK, AND WE WORK ON DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS.

SO, UH, THE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW IS CALLED FLAVORS TOGETHER, WHICH WE'RE LEARNING HOW TO EAT AND SHOP ON A BUDGET, UH, COINCIDENT WITH THE, WITH, UH, WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION, HOW THEY SHUT DOWN, UH, OUR CALFRESH AND THE SNAP BENEFITS, BUT HOW TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN YOURSELF ON,

[00:25:01]

UH, HOW TO MAKE NUTRITIOUS MEALS, HOW TO SHOP FOR 'EM, AND THEN HOW TO MAKE THE MEALS NOT SO BORING.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S A BIG THING TO GET THEM EDUCATED FINANCIALLY, UH, BUILD THAT, UM, CONFIDENCE TO COOK AND THE ABILITY TO SHOP.

AND THAT, THAT WAS FOR WHICH AGES? UH, 14 TO 24.

SO IT'S WITH THE, THAT PROGRAM? YES, IT'S WITH THE ACP PROGRAM.

OH, THAT'S GREAT.

MM-HMM .

THANK FOR HER TRANSITION THROUGH LONG BEACH UNIFIED.

GREAT QUESTION.

HI, COMMISSIONER.

HOPE, UH, IF SOMEBODY, UH, WANTED TO GET IN CONTACT WITH YOU, HOW WOULD THEY GO ABOUT DOING THAT? AND WHAT DOES THE INTAKE PROCESS LOOK LIKE? OKAY, SO, UM, THEY COULD DO IT A NUMBER OF WAYS.

ONE, THEY CAN GO ONLINE, UH, VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

UH, TWO, THEY CAN CALL OR THREE JUST WALK INTO THE OFFICE AND THE INTAKE CAN HAPPEN.

WE DO HAVE A GROUP INTAKE THAT HAPPENS ON WEDNESDAY, BUT THEY CAN BE, HAVE AN INTAKE ANY DAY THEY WALK THROUGH.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, SOMETIMES I COME ACROSS RESOURCES OR PROBABLY RESOURCES THAT WE COME ACROSS.

YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW ABOUT MOST OF THEM, BUT YOU HAD MENTIONED IF YOU COULD SHARE STUFF WITH YOU, HOW WOULD WE GET IN TOUCH OR WHO WOULD, I MEAN, I HAVE DOLORES'S EMAIL, BUT WHO WOULD WE EMAIL ANY KIND OF INFORMATION TOO? UM, I KNOW JENNIFER IS A, UH, WAS SITTING ON OUR BOARD.

SO, UH, JENNIFER IS A, A BIG RESOURCE FOR US.

COMMISSIONER, UM, OKAY.

I, UM, YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW THIS, BUT WE HAD A COMMITTEE THAT WORKED WITH, UM, A PROFESSOR AT CAL STATE LONG BEACH.

MM-HMM .

AND, UM, AND THEN A GRADUATE STUDENT, A GRADUATE STUDENT TO CREATE A SURVEY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

AND IT'S ABOUT TO DISTRIBUTE IN DECEMBER, I THINK.

SO, UM, WE ARE GOING TO BE COMING TO THE DRC TO OH, UM, TO TRY TO GET THAT OUT TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE OTHER MEANS OF MM-HMM .

OF GETTING IT OUT AS WELL.

BUT, UM, THE DRC WILL BE A HUGE, UM, WOULD BE A HUGE, UH, HELP IF WE COULD GET THAT FROM YOU.

SURE.

GET THAT ASSISTANCE FROM YOU.

THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.

MOVE FORWARD TO THAT.

THAT'D BE GREAT.

UM, YOU MAY HAVE MENTIONED THIS, I'VE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH MY HEARING SUPPORT, UH, TODAY, UM, REGARDING THE TRANSITIONAL YOUTH MM-HMM .

SKILLS PROGRAM THAT YOU'RE OFFERING.

IS THERE DIRECT FUNDING EITHER THROUGH THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR THE COUNTY FOR THAT AGE GROUP? FOR THE DRC? RIGHT.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING ON A, WE, WE HAVE A, WE RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE GUMBY, AND SO WE'RE WORKING OFF THOSE MONIES.

AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE'RE FINDING SOMETHING ELSE TO KEEP IT, TO KEEP THE PROGRAM GOING.

SO DOLORES IS ALWAYS, UH, LOOKING FOR GRANTS FOR US.

AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS, THAT'S WHAT KEEPS THE PROGRAM ALIVE.

WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE A GOVERNMENTAL FOCUS ON THIS AGE GROUP? WE'RE GOING OUT TO PRIVATE, NONPROFIT, UM, FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FUNDING? OR ARE THERE AGE FOCUSED FUNDS THAT COME IN THROUGH OUR FED FEDERAL OR STATE GOVERNMENT? UH, I BELIEVE THERE'S PROBABLY THEIR STATE FUNDS THAT COME IN WITH, 'CAUSE WE WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION.

EXCELLENT.

BUT WE CAN NEVER, AS YOU KNOW, ANY PROGRAM, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY.

SO, UM, REGARDING THE TRANSITIONAL YOUTH SERVICES, YOU MENTIONED THAT RIGHT NOW THEY'RE IN A, UM, A FOOD AND COOKING PROGRAM.

AND ARE THEY LIKE KIND OF INTERACTIVE HANDS-ON? RIGHT.

UM, WHAT OTHER TYPES OF PROGRAMS DO YOU OFFER THEM? THERE'S, UH, WELL, THERE'S ALSO A HYGIENE PROGRAM.

SO THERE'S HYGIENE, THERE'S FINANCIAL, THERE'S, UH, COMMUNICATION, ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH OUR INDEPENDENCE.

UM, EVERY PARENT RE REGARDLESS IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY OR NOT, WANTS THAT SAME QUESTION ANSWERED.

AND THE QUESTION IS, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO MY KID WHEN I'M GONE? YEAH.

SOMETHING WENT WRONG.

PLEASE TRY AGAIN.

OOPS.

SO WE CAN FULFILL THOSE NEEDS IN ORDER TO HELP THESE STUDENTS BECOME INDEPENDENT AND LIVE THEIR LIVES FOR AS LONG AS THEY HAVE IT.

AND RELIEVE THAT KIND OF PRESSURE ON A PARENT TO GO, MAN, MY KID'S GONNA BE OKAY.

UH, THAT DOESN'T HELP SOLVING THAT HELPS MORE THAN JUST THAT STUDENT.

SO WHEN WE HAVE PROGRAMS THAT HELP AN INDIVIDUAL, IT HELPS, HELPS THE FAMILY AND THAT FAMILY LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT COMMUNITY MAKES UP OUR SOCIETY.

SO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE CHANGE, THIS IS HOW WE DO IT.

[00:30:01]

SO, SO THE ONE THING THAT WE DO NOTICE IS THAT EVERY, WELL PICK THIS GENERATION CANNOT GET THESE THINGS OUT OF THEIR HANDS.

RIGHT? SO THE THING IT IS, IS THAT WHEN YOU TALK TO THE PARENTS, THEY GO, MY CHILD CANNOT FOCUS.

SO THE QUESTION IS, DO THEY PLAY VIDEO GAMES? AND THE ANSWER IS USUALLY, YEAH.

THEY PLAY VIDEO GAMES.

SO YES, THEY CAN FOCUS, BUT IF YOU MAKE IT SO UNINTERESTING, THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT.

SO YOU HAVE TO BRING 'EM INTO IT.

AND THAT'S KIND OF THE PERSONALITY.

SO, UM, WHICH MAKES ME A GREAT FIT BECAUSE I'M A SWIM COACH HERE AT BEACH, AND SO I'M ALWAYS INTERACTING WITH STUDENTS, UH, BRINGING OUT THE BEST.

SO MY JOB AS A COACH IS TO SAY YES, AND FOR US TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE DO IT TOGETHER.

SO IF YOU MAKE SOMEONE PART OF THE PROCESS, THE MORE LIKELY TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL.

THAT'S JUST TO STAND UP AND JUST TELL 'EM, YOU'RE GONNA DO THIS.

THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT, THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT.

UH, I HOPE THAT YOU THINK WE'RE PART OF YOUR PROCESS.

I, I, I'D LIKE TO KEEP THE SPIRIT OF THAT, UH, FORWARD.

AND, UM, AND WE NEED TO STEP UP.

I THINK THERE'S A FEW OF US HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A TOUR OF THE DRC.

SOME OF US ARE NOT AS FAMILIAR AS OTHERS, SO, UM, I'VE ASKED JENNIFER TO ASSIST US IN THAT.

SO AGAIN, IT'S JUST INFORMING YOU'VE BEEN AROUND HERE LONGER THAN US, , BUT WE NEED TO, UM, REALLY, UH, HAVE THAT CROSS, UH, COMMUNICATION.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY AND, UH, TAKING, UM, NOT ONLY THE TIME, BUT THE THOUGHTFULNESS TO PUT FORWARD INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP US, UM, WITH OUR COMMUNITIES OF DISABILITY.

SORRY.

UM, ALONG THOSE LINES, WHERE DO YOU HOLD THE, THE TRANSITIONAL YOUTH, UM, TRAINING SESSIONS OR WHATEVER? SO THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT IT USED TO DO.

SO I USED TO GO, THEY USED TO HAVE A CLASSROOM FOR US AT CAL STATE LONG BEACH.

SO I USED TO MAKE A VISIT TO CAL STATE LONG BEACH, OR I WOULD GO TO TUCKER, UH, WHICH IS ON, UM, GOSH, I WANNA SAY STEARNS AND NEAR BELLFLOWER.

AND NOW THEY COME TO OUR OFFICE.

OH, OKAY.

SO THAT WAY WE CAN ALSO WORK ON THE DIFFERENT SKILL, WHICH IS TRANSPORTATION, HAVING THE CONFIDENCE OH YEAH.

TO GET ON OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, WHICH PROBABLY LONG BEACH, THERE'S SECOND TO NO CITY WITH OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

I WOULD LOVE TO, IF, IF IT'S POSSIBLE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU, UM, I KNOW SOMETIMES YOU DON'T WANNA INCLUDE OUTSIDE PEOPLE IN THOSE CLASSES, BUT THOSE TYPES OF CLASSES.

BUT, UM, IF POSSIBLE I WOULD LOVE TO, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ONE OF THOSE.

ABSOLUTELY.

NO, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO.

COOL.

COMMISSIONER ROMERO? AYE.

OUR DOORS ARE MUCH LIKE YOUR CHAMBER OPEN TO EVERYBODY.

UM, WE'RE, WE LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS, WHICH IS WONDERFUL, AND YOU LIKE TO ANSWER THEM.

SO THIS SUPER, UM, TONY, UM, IF YOU COULD CALL FOR THE VOTE.

COMMISSIONER ADAMS. AYE.

SECRETARY DEAN.

UH, WHICH IS TO RECEIVE AND FILE REPORTS FROM THE CURRENT AD HOC COMMITTEES.

VICE CHAIR GARBE AYE.

YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US OVER.

AND AS A, AS A COACH, I'M USED TO ANSWERING QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, , WHAT, WHAT'S THE SET WE'RE GONNA DO AGAIN? WHAT I GOTCHA.

HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON.

UM, I THINK NOW WE'RE REALIGNING OUR AGENDA TO WHAT WE, UH, JUMPED OVER.

THAT'S ITEM NUMBER TWO.

[2. 25-56881 Recommendation to receive and file reports from current Ad Hoc Committees; discuss anticipated Ad Hoc Committees for upcoming projects; and, if appropriate, take action to dissolve or create Ad Hoc Committees. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

UM, AND I BELIEVE WE NEED TO START WITH A MOTION.

MOTION AND A SECOND.

SECOND.

UM, ARE THERE REPORTS? UH, YES, WE HAVE A FEW REPORTS.

THANK YOU TONY.

THE SURVEY AND PROVIDING INFORMATION ON HOW TO TAKE THE SURVEY.

UH, SO HELLO COMMISSIONERS.

UM, I'M HAPPY TO DELIVER THE DISABILITY DATA AND COMMUNITY SURVEY AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORT.

THE COMMITTEE IS ON THE VERY FINAL STAGES OF COMPLETING THE SURVEY QUESTIONS.

CITY LEADERSHIP HAS ALREADY REVIEWED AND SUBMITTED THEIR EDITS, AND THOSE EDITS WILL BE RESUBMITTED FOR WHAT WE HOPE IS OUR FINAL APPROVAL WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK AND A HALF.

THE COMMITTEE FILMED AN INFORMATIONAL SEGMENT ABOUT THE SURVEY, ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO TAKE

[00:35:01]

THIS WILL BE SHOWN ON LBTV THREE.

ONCE THE SURVEY HAS BEEN RELEASED, JENNIFER IS WORKING ON GETTING THE POSTERS PRINTED TO BE IN OVER 200 LONG BEACH TRANSIT BUSES AND IN DIAL A LIFT VANS PROGRESS IS BEING MADE AND THE COMMITTEE IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT.

AND THIS CONCLUDES THE REPORT.

I THINK WE GO FROM ONE TO ANOTHER.

IS THAT IT? AND THEN, OR IS THAT THE ONLY, THAT'S THE ONLY REPORT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW AS YOU GET IT.

UM, SO WE'LL CALL FOR THE MOTION.

JUST FOR THE RECORD.

THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO IN PERSON AND IN THE ZOOM.

IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE VOTE JUST TO RECEIVE AND FILE IT.

COMMISSIONER ADAMS. AYE.

COMMISSIONER HOPE.

COMMISSIONER ROMERO? AYE.

COMMISSIONER JONES? AYE.

[PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Citizens' Advisory Commission on Disabilities on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Chair.]

UH, WE'LL TAKE ANY NON-AG AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENTS.

IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.

UM, IN THIS CASE, IT WOULD HAVE TO DO WITH, UM, FOLKS COMING IN VIA A ZOOM.

USE THE RAISED HAND FEATURE OR DIAL NINE IF YOU'RE CALLING FROM A PHONE.

SO WE HAVE NONE IN THE ZOOM AND IN PERSON.

SO THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. OKAY, THANK YOU.

UM, COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE

[ANNOUNCEMENTS]

ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS AT THIS TIME? UH, COMMISSIONER DEAN.

SECRETARY DEAN.

HI.

UM, SO I JUST WANNA LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT I ENDED UP GOING TO THE, UH, WAVES OF ABILITY EVENT ON SATURDAY.

UM, WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER DUG IN, BROUGHT IN AMY FROM WAVES OF ABILITY, UM, IF YOU REMEMBER, A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

AND, UH, IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.

UM, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, LOWER ATTENDANCE, BUT IT'S THE FIRST YEAR AND THAT ALL TAKES A WHILE.

UH, BUT THERE WERE ABOUT 20 BOOTHS.

WELLNESS BOOTHS FOCUSED MOSTLY ON DISABILITY.

UM, BUT ALL, YOU KNOW, DIRECTED TOWARDS GENERAL WELLNESS, UM, WHICH WERE GREAT.

AND THEN, UM, AND THEN THERE WERE A WHOLE BUNCH OF VOLUNTEERS, LIKE, NOT EXAGGERATING, 40 TO 50 VOLUNTEERS DOWN AT THE, UM, LIKE THE BOAT AREA WHERE THEY WERE TAKING OUT THE, UM, BOARD, WHAT'S IT CALLED? THE RAMP, NOT A SURF BOARD, BUT THE PADDLE BOARD.

OH, THE PADDLE BOARD THAT HAS LIKE TWO KIND OF OUTRIGGER THINGS OFF OF IT.

AND UM, THERE'S A PERSON ON THE BACK, A PERSON IN THE FRONT, AND THEN, UM, A PERSON WITH, UM, DISABILITIES SITTING ON A CHAIR.

AND I DID IT.

OH, NICE.

I HAVE PICTURES, .

UM, IT WAS TOTALLY FUN.

I BROUGHT MY LITTLE DOG ROCKY WITH ME IN MY ARM.

UM, IT, AND IT WAS AMAZING.

IT WAS TOTALLY AMAZING.

UM, AND, UM, THEY ALSO HAD A, UH, UH, UM, WHAT'S IT CALLED? THE DRUMMING, THE CHINESE DRUMMING BOAT.

THE DRAG DRAGON BOAT.

THE DRAGON BOAT, YEAH.

DRAGON BOAT.

THEY HAD A DRAGON BOAT YOU COULD GO ON IT GO OUT IN AS WELL.

ANYWAY, IT WAS AN AMAZING EVENT AND UM, HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR WE CAN HAVE A BOOTH AND, UM, AND PARTICIPATE AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET MORE ATTENDANCE.

ANYWAY, JUST WANNA LET EVERYONE KNOW.

UM, SECRETARY DEAN, UH, JUST FOR THE RECORD, WOULD YOU RESTATE THE NAME OF THE GROUP AND HOW THEY PEOPLE CAN GET CONNECTED TO IT? UM, THE, UH, OH, HERE, SO THE EVENT WAS CALLED WAYS OF ABILITY, UM, AND THE, UM, UM, UM, I WILL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU WITH THE NAME OF THE GROUP.

IT'S SOMETHING LIKE ADAPTIVE FREEDOM.

I THINK IT'S ADAPTIVE FREEDOM AND WE CAN PUT IT IN OUR MINUTES ASSOCIATION.

YEAH, I'LL, I CAN GET BACK TO EVERYONE.

EXCELLENT.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS.

DID YOU HAVE ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT? MM-HMM.

DEPARTMENT IS, UM, WORKING TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, UH, IN THE AREA OF HOUSING.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? UM, MY ANNOUNCEMENT IS THAT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

[00:40:01]

THEY HAD A, UH, FAIRLY LARGE EVENT LAST NIGHT AT BILLY JEAN KING, UM, WITH A LOT OF INFORMATION.

THERE IS A SURVEY THAT YOU CAN TAKE AT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, WEBSITE.

SO I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING TO THIS VIA V UH, VIDEO AFTER, AND ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE TO, UM, IT'S A VERY SHORT, UM, A SURVEY, BUT IT LETS PEOPLE KNOW THAT WHAT WE'RE THINKING IN TERMS OF, UM, HOUSING.

UM, AND WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR, UH, JUST, YOU JUST HAVE TO TURN TO MY RIGHT.

ALWAYS .

SORRY, I HAVE THE NAME.

IT'S CALLED ADAPTIVE FREEDOM FOUNDATION.

THAT'S GOOD TO HAVE UNDER THE RECORD.

UM, CHAIR, CHAIR FIRST.

I HAVE A QUICK LITTLE QUESTION.

UH, THIS COMMISSIONER ADAMS, UM, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR OUR COMMISSION BOARD TO MAYBE REQUEST, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE THAT WAS DEVELOPED LAST YEAR, JUST TO SEE IF WE CAN BRING THEM BACK OUT AGAIN TO PRESENT TO US AND HAVE THEM COME AND PRESENT WHAT, WHAT IS HAPPENING.

SO THAT'S UNDER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE COMMUNITY, UM, CRISIS RESPONSE, CRISIS RESPONSE, CCR.

SO IF WE CAN PUT THAT IN OUR NOTES AND WE WILL CERTAINLY ATTEND TO THAT.

EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT SUGGESTION.

AND THEN FOR STAFF, ARE THERE, SO STAFF REPORT, SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY FOR THE RECORD, UH, FOR THOSE THAT ARE ABSENT, COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ IS EXCUSED AND COMMISSIONER VONG IS UNEXCUSED.

SO JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD AND IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THAT, SEEING NONE.

SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND ADD THAT TO THE MINUTES.

K COD MEETING HAS COME TO AN END AT 1 44.

AND THERE'S NO FURTHER REPORTS FROM STAFF.

WELL, WITH THAT, ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL

[ADJOURNMENT]

THANK YOU ALL.