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Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities to Meet in College Station, Texas on July 25-26, 2024

The Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities (GCPD) welcomes all Texans to join us for our quarterly meeting, both in person and virtually, July 25-26, 2024, at the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas. Registration using the Zoom link below is required to participate virtually.

Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities

QUARTERLY MEETING AGENDA

Thursday, July 25, 2024, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and

 Friday, July 26, 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum

1000 George Bush Drive West, Classroom

College Station, Texas 77845

Members of the public may provide public comment pertaining to disability related topics. There are three ways to take part in this process during the designated public comment time: in-person, by emailing a short written statement in advance to gcpd@gov.texas.gov, or through Zoom. Those who are participating virtually and wish to contribute a public comment are encouraged to use Zoom's Q/A feature at the beginning of the meeting to provide your name and state "I wish to provide public comment." 

In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, the meeting agenda is posted in the Texas Register on the Secretary of State’s website.

Videoconference Meeting via ZOOM; registration is required.

Registration for the Committee meeting:

(Day 1): https://txgov-us.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_a2ECjbpfRbWLUvtgLSQeFA

(Day 2): https://txgov-us.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_sx02zg9kSdu4HHRhepJotQ

A public meeting of the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities will be conducted under Texas Government Code Section 551.127, related to meetings involving members joining by videoconference call. It is the intent of the Committee to have the chairperson present at 1000 George Bush Drive West, College Station, Texas 77845. This location will be open to the public during the open portions of the meeting. Other members of the Committee will join by videoconference from separate locations.

Members of the public will also have access to a live audiovisual stream of the meeting in addition to the option to be physically present at the location. The Committee will record the video and audio of the meeting and make the recording available upon request. For questions, contact (512) 463-5739 or email gcpd@gov.texas.gov.

Meeting Materials Available at: https://gov.texas.gov/organization/disabilities/committee-meetings

Day 1 – July 25, 2024

1. Call to Order/ Roll Call/ Introductions – Ellen Bauman, Vice Chair.
2. Welcoming Remarks
   1. College Station Mayor John Nichols
   2. Susan Ballabina, TAMU Office of the President, Chief of Staff
3. Approval of Committee Member Absences as Submitted (Discussion/Possible Action)
4. Approval of Summary Minutes for February 23 - 24, 2023 (Discussion/Possible Action)
5. Public Comment (3 minutes per presentation) 
6. Listening to the College Station Disability Community
   1. Brazos Valley Council of Governments - Michael Parks, Executive Director
   2. Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living - Jackie Pacha, Executive Director
   3. MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley - Bill Kelly, Executive Director

BREAK

7. Three Inclusive Higher Education Programs, One University: Promoting Choice for Students and Families – (20 min – Dr. Jade Wu, HOPS Program Director; Anita Lang, Aggie ACHIEVE Program Director; Leticia LaSota, PATHS Program Director
8. Reports from Invited Exofficio Agency Representatives, includes follow up topics from previous meetings (Discussion/Possible Action)
   1. Texas Dept. of Licensing and Regulation – Charlotte Melder
   2. Texas Education Agency – Kristin McGuire
   3. Texas Workforce Commission – Claudia Peden
   4. Health and Human Services Commission – Lana Estevilla
   5. Department of Family and Protective Services – Brock Boudreau
   6. Texas Department of Criminal Justice – April Zamora
9. Policy Recommendation Development based on the Committee’s Issue Areas (Discussion/Possible Action) (Access, Communications, Criminal Justice, Education, Employment, Emergency Preparedness, Health, Housing, Transportation, and Veterans
   1. Preserving and Accessing School Records for Students with Disabilities
   2. Support Full Funding of TWC Vocational Rehabilitation Program’s 2026-27 Biennial Budget and Improve TWC Vocational Rehabilitation Program’s Timeliness in Client and Provider Responses – Norine Jaloway Gil, APSE Board Member
   3. Updating Aira Policy Proposal
   4. Addressing Accessible Parking Enforcement Issues
   5. Disability Pathway to Pre-K
   6. STAP DME Replacement and Multiple Applications for a Single Residence
   7. Adaptive Fishing Policy Recommendation
   8. Evacuation chair for college and university buildings

BREAK

10. Executive Director Report and Staff Updates – Ron Lucey (Discussion/Possible Action)

5:00 p.m. Meeting Recess

Reconvene Meeting Day 2 – July 26, 2024, 9:00 a.m.

11. Reconvene / Call to Order - Ellen Bauman, Vice Chair
12. Public Comment (3 minutes per presentation)
13. Presentation on Southwest ADA Center’s Technical Assistance, Training, and Information Dissemination on the Americans with Disabilities Act – Marisa Demaya, Deputy Director, Training, and Information Coordinator

14. ADA Employment Discrimination Complaints by the TWC Civil Rights Division - An exposition of the CRD annual report, and explanation of the employment discrimination process - Robert Gonzalez, EEO Manager

15. Policy Recommendation Development based on the Committee’s Issue Areas (Discussion/Possible Action)(Access, Communications, Criminal Justice, Education, Employment, Emergency Preparedness, Health, Housing, Transportation, and Veterans)

16. Individual Member Reports on Outreach (Discussion)

17. Future Meeting (Discussion/Possible Action)
18. Adjournment – Ellen Bauman, Vice Chair

Notice of Assistance at Public Meetings

The Committee will provide Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) and American Sign Language Interpretation for this meeting. Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need assistance, such as materials in an alternate format, contact the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities at least five (5) working days prior to the meeting. 512-463-5739. Use the Relay Option of Your Choice. E-mail: gcpd@gov.texas.gov

The Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities provides GovDelivery updates for informational purposes on a variety of disability related issues for a diverse audience. Updates may include information provided by external sources. The inclusion of this external information does not constitute an official endorsement or approval by the Committee or the Office of the Governor of any information, policy, product, or service offered by an external source.

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