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Office of the Texas Governor, Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities
GCPD's Quarterly Meeting: October 7, 2022

The Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities (GCPD) welcomes all Texans to join us for our quarterly business meeting on Friday, October 7, 2022, either in person at the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County or virtually via ZOOM. Registration [ [link removed] ] is required to participate virtually.

*Texas GCPD Quarterly Meeting Agenda*

October 7, 2022

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County Board Room

1900 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002

Meeting Materials Available at:

[link removed]

Members of the public may contribute a public comment pertaining to disability related topics. There are _three_ ways to take part in this process: in-person, by speaking during the designated public comment time or emailing a short written statement in advance to [email protected]. Those who wish to contribute a verbal public comment are encouraged to use Zoom's chat feature at the beginning of the meeting to provide your name and state "I wish to provide public comment." If you connect via telephone and wish to give public comment, please email [email protected] before the meeting begins or leave a voicemail at 512-463-5739 with your name and phone number.

In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, the meeting agenda [ [link removed] ] is posted on the Secretary of State?s website and is placed below:


* Call to Order/ Roll Call/ Introductions - Richard Martinez, Chair
* Welcome from METRO, Arturo Jackson

* Approval of Committee Member Absences as Submitted (Discussion/Possible Action)
* Approval of Summary Minutes from August 4-5, 2022, and September 14, 2022 (Discussion/Possible Action)
* Selection of GCPD Vice Chair (Discussion/Possible Action)
* Public Comment (3 minutes per presentation)
* Listening to the Local Disability Community (Discussion)
* Houston Mayor?s Office for People with Disabilities, Angel Ponce
* Houston Center for Independent Living, Jackie McFarlane

* Reports from Invited Exofficio Agency Representatives, includes follow up topics from previous meetings (Discussion/Possible Action)
* Texas State Independent Living Council ? April Pollreisz
* Department of Family and Protective Services - Cheryl Gomez
* Texas Dept. of Licensing and Regulation - Marsha Godeaux
* Texas Education Agency - Justin Porter, Ed.D.
* Texas Workforce Commission - Claudia Peden
* Health and Human Services Commission - Clair Benitez

* Pending HHSC-related Policy Recommendations brought forth at previous GCPD Meeting (Action/Discussion)
* Adult Protective Services complaint process
* Money Follows the Person projects
* Personal emergency preparedness and evacuation planning with Texans with disabilities through HHS programs
* Deaf Blind Multiply Disabled waiver program
* People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experiencing mental health crisis and accessing psychiatric treatment or diversion initiatives
* Hidden epidemic of sexual assault among people with IDD
* Video surveillance cameras at State Supported Living Centers
* Review of SSLC system, based on individualized needs of the communities
* Medicaid reimbursement rates for audiologists
* Other recommendations

* Older Individuals Who are Blind (OIB) Program Funding, Larry Johnson, American Council of the Blind of Texas
* Policy Recommendation Development based on the Committee's Issue Areas (Discussion/Possible Action) (Access, Communications, Education, Employment, Emergency Preparedness, Health, Housing, Recreation, Transportation, and Veterans)
* Improving Access to Services for Parents and Children Served by DFPS Child Protective Services, April Garcia, parent advocate
* Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (ODHHS) Coordination for Interpreter Assignments
* Appointing a Disability Resource Specialist with background in deafness in each Region
* Integration between HHSC?s Healthcare Assessment Data for Children in DFPS Conservatorship with IMPACT to better identify Children who are deaf or hard of hearing

* Service Animal/Emotional Support Animal Certification of Healthcare Practitioners, amendment
* Educating CASA volunteers and attorneys on Deaf Communication, Emma Faye Rudkin
* Conducting a Legislative study and interagency workgroup to promote Braille literacy for blind children in pre-K through 12th grade, Ron Lucey
* Follow-up on policy recommendations for Transition for 504 Students and Dyslexia Training for Teachers, Elyse Lieberman
* State as a Model Employer, Ron Lucey

11. Possible Policy Recommendations from Public Comments Received (Discussion/Possible Action)

12.?Executive Director Report and Staff Updates - Ron Lucey (Discussion/Possible Action)


* Accomplishments for Fiscal Year 2022, 4th Quarter
* Outreach and policy activities
* GCPD subcommittees and workgroups

13.?Individual Member Reports (Discussion/Possible Action)

14. Future Meeting (Discussion/Possible Action)

15. Adjournment - Richard Martinez, Chair

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_Notices of Assistance at Public Meetings_

GCPD 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, should contact the GCPD at least seven (7) working days prior to the meeting. GCPD can be reached at (512) 463-5739 or [email protected]

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 and other members present at 1900 Main Street, Houston Texas. 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 Zoom recording available upon request. For questions, contact (512) 463-5739 or email [email protected] <[email protected]>.



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