Goals and Objectives for 2002-2003
I. TELECOMMUNICATIONS
· GOAL: Placement of Public TTYs by PUC
· OBJECTIVE: Monitor and advocate as necessary CPUC’s implementation of the AB 3152 public TTY program consistent with our client's (CCASDHH) positions as sponsor of AB 3152
· GOAL: Improve the DDTP's responsiveness to deaf community needs
· OBJECTIVE: Monitor and advocate as necessary CPUC’s implementation of AB 1734 in establishing a new administrative committee, hiring staff, and contracting with service providers for the TTY and special equipment distribution programs and the relay program consistent with our client’s (CCASDHH) positions
II. HEALTH
· GOAL: Improve access to small providers (doctor's offices)
· OBJECTIVE: Increase scope of Medi-Cal interpreter reimbursement to cover all significant small Medi-Cal providers and raise reimbursement rates to reflect market
· GOAL: Improve access to specific large providers (clinics and hospitals)
· OBJECTIVE: File OCR and/or court complaints as appropriate
· GOAL: Improve access to hearing aids
· OBJECTIVE: Support AB 2884 and SB 1638 to require health plans to cover hearing aids
III. EMPLOYMENT
· GOAL: Equal employee benefits at Federal Express
|
· OBJECTIVE: Favorably resolve federal class action lawsuit against Federal Express |
IV. GOVERNMENT/PUBLIC SERVICES
· GOAL: Improve emergency call box access
· OBJECTIVE: Initiate litigation against local SAFE’s (Service Authority for Freeways and Expressways) to require emergency call boxes be equipped with TTYs
· GOAL: Improve court access
· OBJECTIVE: Evaluate and work with the family courts in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco and Santa Clara to assure effective auxiliary aids and services policies and procedures, deaf awareness and the availability of deaf-appropriate custody evaluations for family courts and family court services
· OBJECTIVE: Complete court booklet and distribute to family court personnel in the three counties and to all 58 ADA court coordinators
· OBJECTIVE: Support SB 371 to improve working conditions, pay and benefits of court interpreters and support SB 1780 if amended to improve access to interpreters in family court domestic violence cases
V. LAW ENFORCEMENT/LEGAL SERVICES
· GOAL: Improve law enforcement communication access
· OBJECTIVE: Favorable resolution of TTY access complaint filed with U.S. Dept. of Justice against the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department
· OBJECTIVE: Favorable resolution of interpreter access complaint filed with DOJ against Pacifica Police Department
· OBJECTIVE: Favorable resolution of 9-1-1 TTY access complaint filed with DOJ against Sunnyvale Police Department
VI. EDUCATION
· GOAL: Improved communication access in public deaf education programs
· OBJECTIVE: Evaluate merits of litigation and other remedies and take action as appropriate against the Modesto School District for inadequacies in its deaf education program and services
· GOAL: Improve deaf fire safety in hotel guest rooms and suites
· OBJECTIVE: Sponsor amendment to the State Building Code
VIII. CIVIL RIGHTS REMEDIES
· GOAL: Improve state legal remedies for access violations
· OBJECTIVE: Introduce state legislation to increase minimum statutory damages from $1,000 to $4,000
· OBJECTIVE: Conduct at least six professional and/or community education workshops
· OBJECTIVE: Provide high quality advocacy services to at least the number
of individual and group/agency clients agreed upon with DCARA
· OBJECTIVE: Further develop CalCLAD web site to:
o add to list of current activities
o improve list of past accomplishments
o improve and add to deaf case decisions and settlements
o add to citation list of federal and state laws
o improve information on current advocacy and legislation of interest