Page Three To Congressman Owens and Jontz Several members of the Council have been affected by devastating disincentives to voting. The Council is acutely aware that in 1984 the United States Congress passed the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, P.L. 98-435. In order to meet the requirements of this law, some jurisdictions merely encourage persons with disabilities to vote by absentee ballot; an approach which is merely a ruse to avoid compliance with the clear intent of the Act, which is that voting places be accessible to the disabled. It also deprives the disabled voter of an option available to all other absentee voters--the right to change their vote by appearing personally at the polls on election day to cast their ballot. Other jurisdictions create a public spectacle of the person with a disability by having a voting machine taken to the person's vehicle for him/her to vote. These mechanisms are demeaning to the disabled person. methods for accessibility create a loss of dignity and independence for the disabled voter. These The Kokomo Mayor's Advisory Council for Handicapped Individuals has been distressed in the knowledge that in the absence of national standards, there are no means available to redress such inequities. The Americans with Disabilities Act is much needed legislation. Protection of the civil rights of all people, and I underscore the words all people, to include people with disabilities, is long overdue for our great nation. Every Mayor in every town across the United States can establish an Advisory Council for Handicapped Individuals. Those Councils would and should be as diverse as the jurisdictions involved. If national law is enacted via the Americans with Disabilities Act, the physical and attitudinal barriers for persons with disabilities will be eliminated. This legislation would allow our Mayor's Advisory Council for Handicapped Individuals more of an opportunity to work with aspects of our community in the areas of accessibility, employment, public services, and public accommodations. A great deal has been done, but there is so much more to be done. Representing Mayor Robert Sargent, of Kokomo, Indiana, we strongly recommend the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1989. We thank you for the opportunity to address you. Mr. OWENS. Thank you. Mr. John Turney. STATEMENT OF JOHN TURNEY, MEMBER, MAYOR'S ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR HANDICAPPED INDIVIDUALS, KOKOMO, INDIANA Mr. TURNEY. Mr. Owens, Mr. Jontz, I John Turney come before you on behalf of the Mayor's Advisory Council for Handicapped Individuals of Kokomo, Indiana and the Indiana State Commission for the Handicapped. Being a disabled person for the last 12 years, I have become a strong advocate for the disabled community. The Mayor's Advisory Council for Handicapped Individuals in Kokomo, Indiana is expanding on the focus generated during the National and international year of disabled persons. Its efforts to accomplish such goals as improving access to housing, building, and transportation, expanding employment opportunities, expanding participation and recreation in social and cultural activities and reduction in the evidence of disability during the decade of disabled persons. The accomplishments of this council are numerous. The successes are obvious. And the progress is significant. Various activities have been utilized in the Council for the purpose of addressing the unmet needs of disabled persons. Setting the goals to address these needs and encouraging a community-wide commitment to continue the pursuit of these goals is in the future. Historically, in the January, 1988 group of concerned citizens requested that the mayor direct city resources to meet the needs of the disabled persons. Attention was given to established the Mayor's Advisory Council for Handicapped Individuals for the purpose of identifying these needs, increasing public sensitivity to the problems of the handicapped, encouraging action to the citizens which meet these needs for the disabled persons. Presently, the Council meets monthly with the Mayor and or an assistant. A wide variety of activities have been undertaken by the Council. Each new project has become a part of an ongoing program to encourage awareness of the needs of disabled persons. One of the more important functions of the committee is to accept and refer recommendations by citizens to appropriate agencies and review the ideas submitted by the community regarding needs which are not being met. The committee provides the community with a group to approach when an organization action is needed. Networking, the members of the Council provide linkages between Council and other organizations which concern themselves with more specific needs of the handicapped. The Advisory Council members act as representatives to and from the following related organizations. Briefly, Howard County Multiple Sclerosis, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Bona Vista Rehabilitation, Mental Health Association, Indiana State Commission for the Handicapped. This is only a partial list of clubs and organizations for which representatives come to the Mayor's Advisory Council for Handicapped Individuals and to which these members carry information and projects. The outreach is extensive and varied as the interests and experience of the Council membership. The interchange of ideas and information is one of the many values a council such as this, partnerships between public and private sector have developed in a variety of capacities throughout the Council's activities. The expansion of the Council use of existing organization has been of prime importance to the growth of the Council activity. The exchange of information and new legislation and program development which is available through membership in the National organizations of special interests to the handicapped is a valuable tool for expanding programs and defining direction. Representatives of the Council attend the Annual Governor's Council for the Handicapped and they regularly attend conferences and seminars which memberships arise to new developments of interest to the disabled person. Media focus, attention is given to the need to educate the public of the interests and activities of the Council. Local newspaper, television, and radio stations are routinely notified of activities which may be of interest to the public. Response to the media throughout the prominent coverage has been favorable. A weekly press conference in the Mayor's office has been a forum for the announcement of many Council activities. This regularly scheduled conference is attended by representatives of local newspaper, radio, and television stations. The relocation of meetings and local government agencies to accessible buildings was an early project supported by the Mayor and the Council. Meetings of which held by the city and county council had been formerly in buildings which were not accessible. Such meetings are now held in accessible areas and there is a new willingness to provide additional services which may be requested by an individual desiring to attend these meetings. An example of those services, a provision for interpreters for deaf persons attending public hearings upon request. These earlier efforts were recognized by the U.S. Council for the International Year of the Disabled. The City of Kokomo was the first in Indiana, the second in the United States to be chosen as a flagship community. A municipal model to which communities throughout the Nation can look for examples of integrating handicapped persons into the mainstream of the community. The administration has been very proud of this honor and has made a very asserted effort to see this activity of the Council receive any aid which can be provided toward continuing its work. During the calendar year of 1983, members of the Advisory Council received further recognition. Tom Jones received 1983 volunteer Indiana State Meritorious Service Award. At the same time, Rosemary DeBaillie of Kokomo, Indiana was named handicapped of the year for 1983. Later that year, I was honored by being named to the Indiana State Commission for the Handicapped. Employment, various local businesses and industries have agreed to be interviewed by Council members in order to describe company policies regarding the hiring of handicapped persons. This project will assist employers in locating responsible workers and will provide direction to handicapped persons who are seeking employment. Each year a company is honored in its efforts of hiring the handicapped at the annual awards banquet sponsored by the Coun cil. Nominations are accepted from the general public so that anyone may be considered for an award. Bona Vista Rehabilitation Center in Kokomo works in cooperation with Delco Electronics to locate a production operation in Bona Vista so clients can receive some actual experience in machine work. These functions are performed by the Center's clients. Accident prevention, Operation Fire Escape is a project which serves those persons who may need special needs in the event of a fire at their home or business. A list of persons with special needs is kept at the fire department so identifing the address of any person having special needs or using oxygen may be done quickly. This program decreases the likelihood of death or already handicapped person and will increase the evidence of further disabilities through accidents. Recreation and social and cultural activities. Two most recently planned public parks were constructed with accessibility on a focus. All improvements and plans for existing parks are more readily available in other facilities as well. Accessibility to such events as the Howard County 4H Fair, the annual Haynes-Apperson Festival, Veterans Day Parade were improved with special seating and parking arrangements. Improving accessibility, contacts have been made with local businesses in an effort to encourage the participation and ongoing programs. One such program established a city ordinance for handicapped parking. Cooperation is apparent in the increasing number of specifically marked spaces and relocation of some spaces more convenient to the access to available ramps. Shopping area, churches, funeral homes now have identified spaces used by the persons with special needs. An ordinance establishing a fine scheduled for those cars which are illegally parked in assigned spaces in the downtown area have been passed. In conjunction with the ordinance to raise the level of concern, a handicapped parking patrol will be formed to issue parking citations. Volunteers have surveyed accessibility of local restaurants, apartments, and public buildings. It is the intention of the Council to rate these buildings based upon the accessibility. Additionally, the Council sees a high priority a publication of the director rating a business based on accessibility. The survey focused on the need for better access to the public library during the 1983 calendar year. The city cooperated with the library by providing funds for electronic door operations. In addition, a number of inaccessible polling places will now be made accessible. Efforts have been directed to arrange a more effective transportation facility for those persons needing to ride to their place of employment. Recently those efforts have been rewarded through the cooperation of the city administration in the Bona Vista Programs in provision of a transportation of existing citizen senior program bus system and the school. In the extension efforts to increase the mobility of handicapped persons is a commitment by the city to upgrade accessibility wherever improvements such as sidewalk repairs are scheduled. Curb cuts and other alterations are included whenever possible in order to improve accessibility. In summary, the Mayor's Advisory Council for Handicapped Individuals has accomplished much success and heightened public awareness of the need for the handicapped in removing obstacles impeding mobility. Its efforts continue to enhance the quality of life for all residents of Kokomo, Indiana. The Indiana State Commission for the Handicapped was mandated by the legislation to develop a plan to coordinate and integrate local and private efforts to address the needs and concerns of disabled as well as to define and develop services not available in Indiana for persons with disabilities. The mandate requires that the plan provide direction, formation of state policies and programs directly and delivery of services to persons with disabilities. The overriding objective advocated by the Commission is to achieve progress towards independent, equality of opportunity, and normalization of lifestyles for persons with disabilities through law, policies, and practice within the State of Indiana. Philosophically, the Commission believes that every person should be of all conditions which will encourage achievement or optimized balance between the highest level of independence and social responsibility of which person is capable. Additionally, the Commission believes that the best interests of persons with disabilities shall be served through giving emphasis on meetings, excuse me, with disabilities as served through giving emphasis on meeting the human needs they share with all citizens in the manner respecting their individual uniqueness. The design and development of the plan has been formulated and pursued in a matter consistent with a primary objective, philosophical position and emphasis on human need. The plan has been developed to respect the important dimension of the human experience, ecological development, and holistic individuals throughout the State of Indiana. Thank you gentlemen. [The prepared statement of John D. Turney follows:] |