Minutes
UCLA COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY
Tuesday, July 8, 2008

  1. Introduction & Quorum
  2. Minutes
  3. Agenda
  4. Subcommittee Reports
  5. Campus Reports
  6. Annual Reports
  7. Announcements
  8. Adjournment

I. Introduction & Quorum

Al Aubin, Mark Ackerman, Donna Bryan, Chad Brown, Joy Chantarasompoth, Stephanie Fisher, Thomas Griffin, Jim McGlynn, Stephanie Fisher, Eileen Fowler, Adrienne Malka, Wendy Motch, Mary O’Connor, Andrew Tai, Dr. Tracy Shaw and Alex Stavchanski.

Excused: Jamie Hoffman, Kathy Molini, Sam Schaffel, Malinda Lee, Victor Pineda, Mike Clark, Bert Cueva, Patrick Burke

II.Minutes

The Minutes of the June 10, 2008 meeting were reviewed and approved with the following corrections:  Andrew Tai was absent and Thomas Griffin should have been on the excused list.   This meeting did not have a quorum.

III. Agenda

A. Elections

Stephanie Fisher report was on the committee’s extensive discussions regarding the elections. Wendy Motch and Adrienne Malka received recommendation for the co chair positions.

Voting members that were present voted in favor for Wendy Motch and Adrienne Malka as co chairs for the academic year 2008 2009. Stephanie will send out an e mail for the voting members that were not present. (Post-script: Wendy Motch and Adrienne Malka were unanimously voted in as co-chairs).

B. Subcommittee Reports - No Reports

IV. Campus Reports

A. ADA & 504 Compliance Office - No Report

B. Student Psychological Services

Dr. Tracie Shaw handed out brochures regarding programs focusing on stress and stress management, and academic success for freshmen and transfer students.  She shared that the wellness programs have been quite successful over this last year.

Starting August 1, the Student Psychological Services new name will be “Counseling and Psychological Services” which is the universal name used across most universities.

C. Disabled Students Union - No Report

D. Undergraduate Students Association - No Report

E. Graduate Student Association

Wendy Motch mentioned that on July 18, she will meet with the president of GSA and Christine Wilson to discuss graduate student orientation and that she will mention Disability Resources as part of that orientation. Stephanie made a request to Wendy to mention also the nominating process, so that UCOD could get more students appointed and be more active next year on the committee.

F. Disabilities and Computing Program

Patrick Burke indicated that DCP updated their web pages to make it easier to keep information current and that they added news items. This includes an online request form for the popular laptop loans. Please check the latest at www.dcp.ucla.edu and send DCP any comments you may have.

On July 22 at the UC Computing Support Conference, the DCP will be leading a panel discussion:

  • Making Accessibility a Reality
  • Strategies and techniques for implementing electronic accessibility in the campus environment

Patrick noted that he will be moderating, Andrew will provide tech support, and Chris Patterson of ATS will be speaking. The other panelists are from UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara. They will primarily discuss ways to include accessibility as a natural part of the web design process.

G. Office for Students with Disabilities - No Report

H. Tarjan Center

Mary O’ Connor reported that they are continuing their work in disabilities and the arts. She added that they recently welcomed three new clinical child psychology interns to their program to work half time in the outpatient clinics.

I. UCLA Recreation

Wendy Motch announced they have adaptive recreation programs throughout the summer and that camp is going on right now for ages three through seventeen. Individual assessments for children with disabilities are done in the camp programs to see if they can provide accommodations or if the family is able to provide an assistant if needed. Wendy added that one of the challenges is that one of the main recreation facilities is not ADA accessible, and that this facility is on the list to be upgraded.

J. Employee Disability Management Servies

Adrienne Malka announced that effective July 1, 2008 the UC System has a new policy on reasonable accommodation for faculty, which involves disability leave, and medical separation, relative to reasonable separation.

K. Dean of Students Office, Judicial Affairs

Joy Chantarasompoth attended a conference/workshop last week in San Diego regarding sexual assault, against victims with disabilities and it was mentioned that females with disabilities are more likely to become victims of sexual assault than females without disabilities. The workshop geared toward, how to promote and advertise workshops, conferences or meetings that reach out to the disabled community.

It was stated that for a student entering college, many times they want a clean slate and that it is up to the student to self identify and register with the Office for Students with Disabilities if they want resources provided for them. In terms of outreach, information is made available that resources are available, but the ownership of responsibility is on the student.

L. Office of Ombuds Services

Thomas Griffin is an Ombudsperson and he mentioned that in addition to serving individuals who come to the office they do some outreach and conflict resolution workshops as well. They deal with conflicts with internal and interpersonal college for student, staff, faculty administrators, any type of UCLA conflict.

He stated that the Ombuds office operate on four principles Confidentiality, unless there is a threat of harm. Informality, they do not keep records after a couple weeks and if it seems the issue has been resolved, everything is shredded. Neutrality and lastly they are Independent they try to be outside the chain of command as much as possible to provide, an objective perspective.

V.    Annual Reports:

Stephanie mentioned that she recently received an e mail from Joan Earle Hahn and it will be among the first order of business when UCOD resumes in the fall.

VI.    Announcement

No UCOD meeting in August and December.

Stephanie stated that Wendy and Adrienne, prior to the September meeting would be in communication via e mail, with members with specific requests or ideas about what is coming up in the next year.

Wendy Motch mentioned that the committees will remain the same for next year and will look if there is a need for other committees or folks to bring ideas to the table at September’s meeting. If anyone is interested in serving in a leadership role, be involved, or change of committee, September will be a time for that discussion.

Adjournment - Meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.

Next Meeting: Tuesday September 9, 2008 at the Faculty Center - Hacienda Room