At July’s Disability Advisory Board meeting, Chair Yola Dore passed the torch to newly elected Chair Louise Smith. Margaret Mann also became the newly elected Vice Chair.
The highlight of the night was the addition of two new items to a future DAB agenda. Following the article “How to Place an Item on the Agenda” on WEHOonline, during Boardmember comments, board member Green initiated the discussion. “I would like to ask the chair to agendize disability access for this year’s Halloween Carnival,” Green said.
Green’s motion came after a presentation on WEHO PRIDE, which left many board members disappointed with the year’s disability accessibility. Board member Watts discussed the financial burden of ticket costs on those who are financially disabled. Chair Dore lamented the lack of handicap accessibility on the Pride float. Green’s motion was approved unanimously, adding the item to the next board meeting’s agenda to ensure enough time for implementing a plan for equal access for disabled individuals at this year’s Halloween Carnival.
Newly elected Vice Chair Mann discussed her difficulty logging on to the Arts and Cultural Commission as a liaison, while newly elected Chair Smith emphasized the urgency for all city meetings to have at least audio available to the public. Smith highlighted the absence of board member Wesley Schwartz and the lack of an audio recording of the meeting, noting that not all individuals with disabilities could attend meetings physically. Smith then moved to agendize an item that would ensure all city meetings are accessible to those living with disabilities.
When city staff pushed back on the loaded agenda and suggested a six-month wait, Smith demanded a faster timeline. The entire DAB voted 6-1 in favor of expediting the timeline, with Chair Dore casting the lone no vote, citing deference to the heavy workload ahead.
The Disability Advisory Board is responsible for ensuring equal access for those with disabilities at all city events and protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of life, from housing to parks and services delivered to residents.
Financially disabled. With all due respect, please explain: How does the advisory board define being financially disabled and what would the board believe the city’s response should be?
Board member Watts —- “financially disabled”
OMFG you have to be kidding, that’s more woke than “unhoused” and it’s a disability?????
If we are going down this road, I guess you would be considered morally disabled, right?
Morally disabled?? This coming from the “jackass” (Larry Block’s words) who wishes people to just die because of their age, or go be insignificant for other reasons. You pearl necklace are morally corrupt.
In WEHOonline’s article “how to place an item the agenda” I commented saying that when I was on the DAB, the decisions about what and when to agendize an item were not made by the board, but by the staff. I was very dissatisfied with that! I am thrilled to see that the current board is no longer accepting that as a done deal! Good for them for speaking up! People with disabilities are often marginalized and overlooked. It appears that no one on the staff is disabled and so are not as sympathetic to the needs of people with… Read more »
Well said! Thank you!!
You want to talk about disability access? How about getting rid of the scooters that constantly block sidewalks in West Hollywood, providing a nuisance for non-disabled and many times blocking access for the disabled. Let’s talk about that, shall we? Any member of the Disability Advisory Board that is pro-scooter should immediately resign. Remaining members should put all their energy into removing these dangerous scooters and ebikes from West Hollywood. PLEASE!!
I 100% agree with you and I hope you read my comment! Thank you!
Good for the Disability Board! If issues regarding access at Pride don’t start right away, nothing will be in place by next June. The Disability Board should have its’ own accessible presence in the parade to reflect the City’s commitment of inclusion for people with disabilities.