We are interested in learning from you about your understanding of the emergency evacuation and sheltering process in Miami-Dade County for people with disabilities.
If you are a person with a disability, please fill out the form below and email it back to mdubin@ciladvocacy.org:
Name
Address
Phone
Email
Nature of disability
__ I have sought emergency evacuation in Florida.
Where?
When?
What happened?
Describe your experience:
__ I have sought emergency sheltering in Florida.
Where?
When?
What happened?
Describe your experience:
___ I am pre-registered for a Special Needs Shelter in Florida
Where?
Please describe your experience
If you have not pre-registered for a Special Needs Shelter and are qualified to do so, please explain why you have not done so.
Do you know who is supposed to pre-register?
Do you know what a Special Needs Shelter is?
Have you ever had difficulty obtaining information about the emergency evacuation and sheltering process? Please describe.
Would you like assistance in registering?
If you use a wheelchair, do you know where the accessible emergency shelters are located in your community?
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, did you experience any difficulties in obtaining effective communication about services concerning emergency sheltering and evacuation?
If you have a visual disability, please describe your experiences or concerns regarding emergency evacuation and sheltering.
If you have a mental illness or cognitive disability, please describe your experiences or concerns regarding emergency evacuation and sheltering.
Do you have a service dog? Did you experience any problems in evacuation or sheltering?
Comments?
Questions?
Thank you.
Please visit the Access Board's site for material on Emergency Evacuation.
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Friday, August 12, 2005
Join Us for the Next Violence Information Exchange August 18th
Domestic Violence Resource--
Women’s Fund is delighted to announce the next Domestic Violence Information Exchange, an on-going series of meetings, which take place on the third Thursday of every other month. The Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade is jointly sponsoring these meetings with the Dade Alliance Against Domestic Violence.
Join us for the next Domestic Violence Information Exchange on August 18, 2005 at 12:30 p.m. at the YWCA, 351 N.W. 5 Street, Miami, FL 33128. These bimonthly meetings provide a forum where anyone interested in the issue of domestic violence can gather to learn about existing programs and meet folks who could be a source of referrals and/or work collaboratively.
These meetings serve to facilitate discussion about filling the gaps in service and bring more awareness to this issue. EVERYONE IS WELCOME-- CONCERNED CITIZENS, ADVOCATES, SURVIVORS AND PROFESSIONALS. Feel free to bring a brown bag lunch or something to snack on!
We will be following the original concept of “We Care” – an informal gathering on a regular basis, to network, exchange ideas and discuss current issues. Everyone will be given an opportunity to briefly present to the group. Please join us and feel free to invite other folks you think might be interested.
Other bimonthly meetings will be held on October 20 and December 15. (Contact: sophie@ womensfundmiami.org)
Women’s Fund is delighted to announce the next Domestic Violence Information Exchange, an on-going series of meetings, which take place on the third Thursday of every other month. The Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade is jointly sponsoring these meetings with the Dade Alliance Against Domestic Violence.
Join us for the next Domestic Violence Information Exchange on August 18, 2005 at 12:30 p.m. at the YWCA, 351 N.W. 5 Street, Miami, FL 33128. These bimonthly meetings provide a forum where anyone interested in the issue of domestic violence can gather to learn about existing programs and meet folks who could be a source of referrals and/or work collaboratively.
These meetings serve to facilitate discussion about filling the gaps in service and bring more awareness to this issue. EVERYONE IS WELCOME-- CONCERNED CITIZENS, ADVOCATES, SURVIVORS AND PROFESSIONALS. Feel free to bring a brown bag lunch or something to snack on!
We will be following the original concept of “We Care” – an informal gathering on a regular basis, to network, exchange ideas and discuss current issues. Everyone will be given an opportunity to briefly present to the group. Please join us and feel free to invite other folks you think might be interested.
Other bimonthly meetings will be held on October 20 and December 15. (Contact: sophie@ womensfundmiami.org)
Monday, August 08, 2005
Settlement Agreement Between the United States and the City of Miami
Under Project Civic Access, a total of 129 cities, towns, and counties have entered into 135 agreements with the U.S. Department of Justice to make their programs, services, and facilities accessible to people with disabilities.
Access to civic life is a fundamental part of American society. On August 23, 1999, the Department of Justice reached a settlement with the City of Toledo, Ohio, in which the City agreed to remove barriers and relocate activities throughout its city government, including the municipal courthouse, district and neighborhood police stations, a market-outlet complex, fire stations, parking garages, museums, community and social services, the city’s parks and recreation centers, the health department, and other city administrative buildings. In order to build upon that settlement, the Disability Rights Section (DRS) of the Department’s Civil Rights Division then began similar reviews of other local and state governments and to develop technical assistance materials so that communities could immediately begin to come into full compliance with the requirements of title II of the ADA.The project now includes 134 settlement agreements with 128 localities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. In most of these matters, the compliance reviews were undertaken on the Department’s own initiative under the authority of title II and, in many cases, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 because the governments receive financial assistance from the Department and are prohibited by the Act from discriminating on the basis of disability. Some matters were undertaken in response to complaints filed against the localities.Compliance review sites were chosen based upon the Department’s desire to visit every state, the population of the site, and, in some cases, its proximity to a university or tourist attraction. The majority of the compliance reviews occurred in small cities and towns, because they represent the most common form of local government.DRS requested and received data from these local governments, and conducted physical surveys of facilities owned or leased by these government; of polling places; and of 9-1-1 systems.Local government officials have responded favorably and cooperated fully in the Department’s reviews. They were timely in submitting records as requested, made themselves available to answer questions during the on-site visits, and escorted investigators throughout their communities so that facilities surveys could be accomplished quickly and efficiently. Most importantly, these officials have indicated a willingness to effect changes to make their programs and services accessible to persons with disabilities.During the investigations, staff of the Disability Rights Section reviewed compliance with most ADA requirements. The Section has found that the vast majority of communities are aware of their ADA obligations and have made progress in meeting them. Settlement agreements resolve the balance of outstanding issues. Typical issues addressed during the Department’s investigations include:
physical modifications of facilities to improve accessibility. Facilities include city and town halls; police and fire stations and sheriff departments; courthouses; centers for health care delivery, childcare, teen and senior activities, conventions, and recreation; animal shelters; libraries; baseball stadiums; parks (including ice skating rinks, public pools, playgrounds, ball fields and bleachers, band shells and gazebos). The agreements secure the following:
- accessible parking- accessible routes into and through the facilities- accessible rest rooms, drinking fountains, and telephones- accessible service counters and concession stands, or the provision of services at alternate, accessible locations- accessible bathing facilities at public pools
physical modifications to polling places and/or the provision of curbside or absentee balloting;
permanent and conspicuous notice to the community of their ADA rights and the government’s ADA obligations;
establishment of an ADA grievance procedure where none existed in communities employing more than 50 persons;
establishment of delivery systems and time frames for providing auxiliary aids (qualified sign language interpreters and alternate formats (Braille, large print, cassette tapes, etc.);
installation of assistive listening systems in assembly areas (e.g., legislative chambers, court rooms, municipal auditoriums);
strengthening of 9-1-1 emergency services through the acquisition of additional text telephones (TTY’s) to achieve a 1-1 ratio of TTY’s and answering positions, training to recognize "silent calls", and accountability through performance evaluations and discipline of employees;
better telephone communication between the government and citizens with hearing or speech impairments through the acquisition of additional TTY’s and/or utilization of the state relay service, official publication of TTY/relay numbers, and training of employees;
adoption of procedures for relocating inaccessible activities to accessible locations upon request (e.g., City and Town Council meetings, municipal and county court proceedings).
Miami Settlement:
SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION
The United States Department of Justice (Department) initiated this matter as a compliance review of Miami, Florida under title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12131-12134, and the Department’s implementing regulation, 28 C.F.R. Part 35. Because the City receives financial assistance from the Department of Justice, the review was also conducted under the authority of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794, and the Department’s implementing regulation, 28 C.F.R. Part 42, Subpart G.
The review was conducted by the Disability Rights Section of the Department’s Civil Rights Division and focused on the City’s compliance with the following title II requirements:
C to conduct a self-evaluation of its services, policies, and practices by July 26, 1992, and make modifications necessary to comply with the Department’s title II regulation, 28 C.F.R. § 35.105;
C to notify applicants, participants, beneficiaries, and other interested persons of their rights and the City’s obligations under title II and the Department’s regulation, 28 C.F.R. § 35.106;
C to designate a responsible employee to coordinate its efforts to comply with and carry out the City’s ADA responsibilities, 28 C.F.R. § 35.107(a);
C to establish a grievance procedure for resolving complaints of violations of title II, 28 C.F.R. § 35.107(b);
C to operate each program, service, or activity so that, when viewed in its entirety, it is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, 28 C.F.R. § 35.150, by:
C delivery of services, programs, or activities in alternate ways, including, for example, redesign of equipment, reassignment of services, assignment of aides, home visits, or other methods of compliance or, if these methods are not effective in making the programs accessible,
C physical changes to buildings (required to have been made by January 26, 1995), in accordance with the Department’s title II regulation, 28 C.F.R. § 35.151, and the ADA Standards for Accessible Design (Standards), 28 C.F.R. pt. 36, App. A, or the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS), 41 C.F.R. § 101-19.6, App. A.
C to ensure that facilities for which construction or alteration was begun after January 26, 1992, are readily accessible to and usable by people with disabilities, in accordance with 1) the Department’s title II regulation and 2) the Standards or UFAS, 28 C.F.R. § 35.151;
C to ensure that communications with applicants, participants, and members of the public with disabilities are as effective as communications with others, including furnishing auxiliary aids and services when necessary, 28 C.F.R. § 35.160;
C to provide direct access via TTY (text telephone) or computer-to-telephone emergency services, including 9-1-1 services, for persons who use TTY’s and computer modems, 28 C.F.R. § 35.162;
C to provide information for interested persons with disabilities concerning the existence and location of the City’s accessible services, activities, and facilities, 28 C.F.R. § 35.163(a); and
C to provide signage at all inaccessible entrances to each of its facilities, directing users to an accessible entrance or to information about accessible facilities, 28 C.F.R. § 35.163(b).
As part of its compliance review, the Department reviewed the following facilities, which – because construction or alterations commenced after January 26, 1992 – must comply with the ADA’s new construction or alterations requirements:
Lemon City Park and Day Care
Antonio Maceo Park
City Hall
Margaret Pace Park
Watersport / Shake-a-Leg
Bryan Park
Curtis Park and Pool
Eaton Park
Hadley Park and Pool
Miamarina at Bayside
Moore Park
Munroe Park and Tennis Center
Neighborhood Enhancement Team - Coconut Grove SW
Elizabeth Virrick Park
West End Park and Recreation Center
Jose Marti Park
Shenandoah Park and Recreation Center
Sandra Delucca Developmental Center
The Department’s program access review covered those of the City’s programs, services, and activities that operate in the following facilities:
Administrative Building / Miami Riverside Center
African Square Park
Armbrister Park
Athalie Range Park
Belafonte-Tacolcy Center
Buena Vista Park
Coconut Grove Expo Center
Coral Gate Park
Coral Way Neighborhood Enhancement Team,
Dinner Key Marina
Dorsey Park
Douglas Park and Recreation Center
Fern Island - South Fork Park
Fire Station #2
Fire Station #3
Fire Station #4
Fire Station #5
Fire Station #6
Fire Station # 7
Fire Station #8
Fire Station #9
Fire Station #10
Fire Station #11
Fire Station #12
Gibson Park
Grapeland Heights Park
Juan Pablo Duarte Park
Kennedy Park
Robert King High Park
Knight Center
Legion Memorial Park
Lummus Park
Manuel Artime Community Center
Melreese Golf Course
Morningside Park
Neighborhood Enhancement Team – Flagami
Neighborhood Enhancement Team - Little Haiti
Neighborhood Enhancement Team - Upper Eastside
Neighborhood Enhancement Team - Overtown
Neighborhood Enhancement Team – Downtown
Neighborhood Enhancement Team – Little Havana East
North Police Substation/Net-Model City
Peacock Park/ Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce / Neighborhood Enhancement Team
Police Headquarters
Roberto Clemente Park/ Neighborhood Enhancement Team – Wynwood
Solid Waste Department
Southside Park
Williams Park
Orange Bowl
Finally, the Department reviewed the City’s Police Department’s policies and procedures regarding providing effective communication to persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
Continued on site.
Access to civic life is a fundamental part of American society. On August 23, 1999, the Department of Justice reached a settlement with the City of Toledo, Ohio, in which the City agreed to remove barriers and relocate activities throughout its city government, including the municipal courthouse, district and neighborhood police stations, a market-outlet complex, fire stations, parking garages, museums, community and social services, the city’s parks and recreation centers, the health department, and other city administrative buildings. In order to build upon that settlement, the Disability Rights Section (DRS) of the Department’s Civil Rights Division then began similar reviews of other local and state governments and to develop technical assistance materials so that communities could immediately begin to come into full compliance with the requirements of title II of the ADA.The project now includes 134 settlement agreements with 128 localities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. In most of these matters, the compliance reviews were undertaken on the Department’s own initiative under the authority of title II and, in many cases, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 because the governments receive financial assistance from the Department and are prohibited by the Act from discriminating on the basis of disability. Some matters were undertaken in response to complaints filed against the localities.Compliance review sites were chosen based upon the Department’s desire to visit every state, the population of the site, and, in some cases, its proximity to a university or tourist attraction. The majority of the compliance reviews occurred in small cities and towns, because they represent the most common form of local government.DRS requested and received data from these local governments, and conducted physical surveys of facilities owned or leased by these government; of polling places; and of 9-1-1 systems.Local government officials have responded favorably and cooperated fully in the Department’s reviews. They were timely in submitting records as requested, made themselves available to answer questions during the on-site visits, and escorted investigators throughout their communities so that facilities surveys could be accomplished quickly and efficiently. Most importantly, these officials have indicated a willingness to effect changes to make their programs and services accessible to persons with disabilities.During the investigations, staff of the Disability Rights Section reviewed compliance with most ADA requirements. The Section has found that the vast majority of communities are aware of their ADA obligations and have made progress in meeting them. Settlement agreements resolve the balance of outstanding issues. Typical issues addressed during the Department’s investigations include:
physical modifications of facilities to improve accessibility. Facilities include city and town halls; police and fire stations and sheriff departments; courthouses; centers for health care delivery, childcare, teen and senior activities, conventions, and recreation; animal shelters; libraries; baseball stadiums; parks (including ice skating rinks, public pools, playgrounds, ball fields and bleachers, band shells and gazebos). The agreements secure the following:
- accessible parking- accessible routes into and through the facilities- accessible rest rooms, drinking fountains, and telephones- accessible service counters and concession stands, or the provision of services at alternate, accessible locations- accessible bathing facilities at public pools
physical modifications to polling places and/or the provision of curbside or absentee balloting;
permanent and conspicuous notice to the community of their ADA rights and the government’s ADA obligations;
establishment of an ADA grievance procedure where none existed in communities employing more than 50 persons;
establishment of delivery systems and time frames for providing auxiliary aids (qualified sign language interpreters and alternate formats (Braille, large print, cassette tapes, etc.);
installation of assistive listening systems in assembly areas (e.g., legislative chambers, court rooms, municipal auditoriums);
strengthening of 9-1-1 emergency services through the acquisition of additional text telephones (TTY’s) to achieve a 1-1 ratio of TTY’s and answering positions, training to recognize "silent calls", and accountability through performance evaluations and discipline of employees;
better telephone communication between the government and citizens with hearing or speech impairments through the acquisition of additional TTY’s and/or utilization of the state relay service, official publication of TTY/relay numbers, and training of employees;
adoption of procedures for relocating inaccessible activities to accessible locations upon request (e.g., City and Town Council meetings, municipal and county court proceedings).
Miami Settlement:
SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION
The United States Department of Justice (Department) initiated this matter as a compliance review of Miami, Florida under title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12131-12134, and the Department’s implementing regulation, 28 C.F.R. Part 35. Because the City receives financial assistance from the Department of Justice, the review was also conducted under the authority of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794, and the Department’s implementing regulation, 28 C.F.R. Part 42, Subpart G.
The review was conducted by the Disability Rights Section of the Department’s Civil Rights Division and focused on the City’s compliance with the following title II requirements:
C to conduct a self-evaluation of its services, policies, and practices by July 26, 1992, and make modifications necessary to comply with the Department’s title II regulation, 28 C.F.R. § 35.105;
C to notify applicants, participants, beneficiaries, and other interested persons of their rights and the City’s obligations under title II and the Department’s regulation, 28 C.F.R. § 35.106;
C to designate a responsible employee to coordinate its efforts to comply with and carry out the City’s ADA responsibilities, 28 C.F.R. § 35.107(a);
C to establish a grievance procedure for resolving complaints of violations of title II, 28 C.F.R. § 35.107(b);
C to operate each program, service, or activity so that, when viewed in its entirety, it is readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, 28 C.F.R. § 35.150, by:
C delivery of services, programs, or activities in alternate ways, including, for example, redesign of equipment, reassignment of services, assignment of aides, home visits, or other methods of compliance or, if these methods are not effective in making the programs accessible,
C physical changes to buildings (required to have been made by January 26, 1995), in accordance with the Department’s title II regulation, 28 C.F.R. § 35.151, and the ADA Standards for Accessible Design (Standards), 28 C.F.R. pt. 36, App. A, or the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS), 41 C.F.R. § 101-19.6, App. A.
C to ensure that facilities for which construction or alteration was begun after January 26, 1992, are readily accessible to and usable by people with disabilities, in accordance with 1) the Department’s title II regulation and 2) the Standards or UFAS, 28 C.F.R. § 35.151;
C to ensure that communications with applicants, participants, and members of the public with disabilities are as effective as communications with others, including furnishing auxiliary aids and services when necessary, 28 C.F.R. § 35.160;
C to provide direct access via TTY (text telephone) or computer-to-telephone emergency services, including 9-1-1 services, for persons who use TTY’s and computer modems, 28 C.F.R. § 35.162;
C to provide information for interested persons with disabilities concerning the existence and location of the City’s accessible services, activities, and facilities, 28 C.F.R. § 35.163(a); and
C to provide signage at all inaccessible entrances to each of its facilities, directing users to an accessible entrance or to information about accessible facilities, 28 C.F.R. § 35.163(b).
As part of its compliance review, the Department reviewed the following facilities, which – because construction or alterations commenced after January 26, 1992 – must comply with the ADA’s new construction or alterations requirements:
Lemon City Park and Day Care
Antonio Maceo Park
City Hall
Margaret Pace Park
Watersport / Shake-a-Leg
Bryan Park
Curtis Park and Pool
Eaton Park
Hadley Park and Pool
Miamarina at Bayside
Moore Park
Munroe Park and Tennis Center
Neighborhood Enhancement Team - Coconut Grove SW
Elizabeth Virrick Park
West End Park and Recreation Center
Jose Marti Park
Shenandoah Park and Recreation Center
Sandra Delucca Developmental Center
The Department’s program access review covered those of the City’s programs, services, and activities that operate in the following facilities:
Administrative Building / Miami Riverside Center
African Square Park
Armbrister Park
Athalie Range Park
Belafonte-Tacolcy Center
Buena Vista Park
Coconut Grove Expo Center
Coral Gate Park
Coral Way Neighborhood Enhancement Team,
Dinner Key Marina
Dorsey Park
Douglas Park and Recreation Center
Fern Island - South Fork Park
Fire Station #2
Fire Station #3
Fire Station #4
Fire Station #5
Fire Station #6
Fire Station # 7
Fire Station #8
Fire Station #9
Fire Station #10
Fire Station #11
Fire Station #12
Gibson Park
Grapeland Heights Park
Juan Pablo Duarte Park
Kennedy Park
Robert King High Park
Knight Center
Legion Memorial Park
Lummus Park
Manuel Artime Community Center
Melreese Golf Course
Morningside Park
Neighborhood Enhancement Team – Flagami
Neighborhood Enhancement Team - Little Haiti
Neighborhood Enhancement Team - Upper Eastside
Neighborhood Enhancement Team - Overtown
Neighborhood Enhancement Team – Downtown
Neighborhood Enhancement Team – Little Havana East
North Police Substation/Net-Model City
Peacock Park/ Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce / Neighborhood Enhancement Team
Police Headquarters
Roberto Clemente Park/ Neighborhood Enhancement Team – Wynwood
Solid Waste Department
Southside Park
Williams Park
Orange Bowl
Finally, the Department reviewed the City’s Police Department’s policies and procedures regarding providing effective communication to persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
Continued on site.
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