WEBVTT
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I remember vividly getting on the hospital wheelchair.
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I remember looking down at the street below.
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I was a few stories high, and I could see just pedestrians walking by sidewalks, jumping the curb, hopping on a metro bus, and instantly I felt that that world I didn't belong in because I couldn't do those things.
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From City Hall in downtown Houston, this is 901 Bagby inside the mayor's office.
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This week, making Houston Accessible for Everyone.
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Our guest is Angel Ponce of the Mayor's Office of People with Disabilities.
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Angel, it's great to meet you in person.
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Thanks for coming in.
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Thanks for having me here, Owen.
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So uh you have a unique perspective uh on living with a disability.
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Uh, and I I do want to talk about all the work that your office does.
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But I want to start with you and uh a car crash that happened back in 2004.
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I know that was life-changing for you.
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As much as you're comfortable sharing, what happened back then?
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All right, let's start from the beginning.
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So I was born in.
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Um, so I was involved in a horrible automobile wreck in 2004.
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And um I don't remember much of the wreck.
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I just remember waking up in the hospital.
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I was at Memorial Herman, and I could just hear the the the sounds in the hospital room and the nurses walking around.
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And I just knew that something was different about my life.
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Uh I started asking questions to family members, uh, and then I would easily forget about our conversations, but I remember vividly uh getting on the hospital wheelchair and then going to um going out to the hallway, and I was wearing a vest that they put around me so that you know I would heal properly, uh, because I suffered a spinal cord injury in my car wreck.
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And I remember looking down at the street below, I was a few stories high, and I could see just pedestrians walking by sidewalks, jumping a curb, hopping on a metro bus, and instantly I felt that that that world I didn't belong in uh because I couldn't do those things.
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I couldn't jump a curb.
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Uh I I I thought at that point like I couldn't just go up the steps of a metro bus.
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And so I quickly I felt like I was I didn't belong in society.
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And sure enough, I got released from the hospital, I went back home.
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And before all of that happened, I I used services from the city of Houston.
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In fact, uh one of my first uh interactions with a city employee was somebody coming into my school, uh, because I was I wasn't the the the straight A student, you know, and somebody from the city came to my school and said, Hey, Angel, I I hear you're you got some problems.
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Let's let's see how we can help you.
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And so I knew that I could rely on the city for support.
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And so when this accident happened to me, the first thing I thought about is I I want to reach out to the city to see what services are available to me.
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And then when I learned about the services that were available to me, I said, I want to do something similar.
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I want to support my community.
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I don't know in which way.
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And the maybe the first thing that I can do is just talk to youth about making positive choices.
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Interesting.
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So that's that's how I got involved in the city.
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That's how it started.
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And and you joined this office, the mayor's office for people with disabilities, uh, pretty early on.
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I mean, you've been in the office now more than 10 years.
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What got you in there initially?
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So uh one of my first roles at the city was working for the um mayor's uh office of gang prevention and intervention.
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And I was doing administrative work.
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I was in a in a copy room one day, and I saw this gentleman, one of the former directors of the uh mayor's office for people with disabilities, pass by.
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Um he was getting a tour and he had a uh a guy dog.
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And so I saw a dog, and I quickly just I left the copy room and I went to to say hi to the gentleman, and like and I reached over to pet the dog.
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And I don't know if you know, Owen, but when when somebody has a guide dog or a service animal, they're working.
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And so the rule is don't just don't touch them, don't distract them.
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I didn't know those things at that moment, right?
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And so um his name was Jay Stiley, and Jay Stiley quickly stopped me and said, no, this animal is working.
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Um next time ask for permission or or or uh or talk to me first.
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And at that moment, I was like, oh, this guy's kind of rude, you know?
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And so then I left and I didn't hear from him.
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I got a notification from a former director and said, Hey, Angel, I think there's a position open at the mayor's office for people with disabilities, and I think maybe you would be a good fit for it, so you should apply.
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And it was a uh community liaison position.
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And I said, Okay, I'll try it out.
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And so I applied, and then I went for my interview, and no one guessed who was who was on the interview panel.
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Let's see where this is.
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Yeah, it was Jay Stitely.
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And uh and I said to myself, well, this isn't this is not gonna go pretty good, pretty well for me.
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Uh, but sure enough, uh, he and I connected well, and um I got through the interview process and I got a call and I got the job.
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And so I was one of the I started in the mayor's office for people with disabilities in 2014, and I've been there ever since.
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Yeah.
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What what um after the accident, when you go back and think, I mean, obviously you tell the story of being in the hospital and looking down at the street and feeling like, I don't belong, but you didn't lose the desire to belong.
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So so there was some fighting, right, that had to be done.
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There was probably a lot of work to get you where you are today.
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Can you tell me a little bit about that that process?
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So um when I came back to the home I was in, uh we had steps in the house.
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And my family quickly uh installed not an ADA compliance uh ramp, but you know, it worked.
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Um but then I I that those kinds of things helped me realize that there are opportunities out there for folks to still have access to public life, and so uh it was just that one moment that really opened up my eyes and said, well, if if if this makes me feel good about myself, then I want to be able to do that for somebody else.
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And so um I quickly, when I moved into the role at the mayor's office for people with disabilities, uh, one of my first things to do at the office was to take calls, listen to constituents about the the situations, the concerns that they have.
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And a lot of those were I feel like I'm being discriminated at my job because um I'm not provided reasonable accommodations.
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Or I am being evicted and I feel like my landlord is discriminating against me and I don't have anywhere to go.
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Or I am on a fixed income, I'm relying on Social Security, and um I don't have enough money to pay my rent or to pay my utilities this month.
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And so for me, that was an eye-opening experience that uh is not just about accessibility, but people with disabilities face the same barriers that non-disabled people face every day.
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And so for me, I wanted to connect with our partners or make new partners so that we can provide more resources to the community.
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So let's dig into that a little bit because the office exists for a reason, and that's to to be to be what, an advocate, to help, to to be a support system.
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What is the job of the office?
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Uh so the job, I think it grows every year.
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Okay.
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Well, that's a good thing.
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Yeah, it is a good thing.
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Our main job, uh, one of the things that we've been tasked to do is not just to serve as the lead advocate for the rights and needs of Houstonians and our visitors living with disabilities, but to provide um recommendations to uh to our mayor, to city council members, uh to department directors.
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And um one of those is uh our ADA self-evaluation and transition plan.
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And this is uh a uh a plan for us.
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Uh and and I don't want to say we're a little late to the game, but we should have started a long time ago.
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Um but we're here now, and we started our our phase one in 2024.
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And we just what we did uh Owen is we took a pilot study and just looked at our facilities, we looked at our programs, we looked at our activities, our services, and um and and and and looked holistically at what we're doing, what where we're missing the gap, and what we need to be doing to meet those ADA requirements.
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And so, uh long story short, uh not only are we an advocate, but we provide recommendations, but we ensure that the city has a plan to help uh our constituents have access to public services.
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Okay, so it goes both ways.
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You want to keep everybody in check, but then when they need your help, they want to lean on you, right?
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So so when the mayor comes to you and he says, Angel, you're in charge.
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I want to keep you in charge.
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Uh what are some of those priorities that the mayor's asked of you with this office?
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I I hope that he wants to keep me in charge for a very long time.
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Um, so one of our priorities is that not just what I mentioned, our ADA plan, uh, but ensuring that our directors, our leaders in the city have a plan for accessibility.
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Um the our mayor has run on a platform of public safety and transparency.
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And so one of the things that we're doing uh to ensure that we're meeting that is uh providing educational workshops and as well with our communication strategy, our accessible communication strategy, is to let our community members know what is MOPD up to?
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What are we doing in the community?
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Not just live in a silo, but like show it on social media, send out newsletters, letting our community members not just know what resources are available to them, but what we are doing transparency-wise, uh so so that they know that we're working for them.
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Yeah, and and to that end, the kind of work I think and people think of, well, someone with disabilities, it's um it's a handrail somewhere or it's a ramp.
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But to your earlier point, there's so many other aspects of life with disability that maybe the average person doesn't think about.
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Can you talk about that?
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So oftentimes when we think about a disability barrier, right?
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We think about a ramp or a sidewalk that's inaccessible, or maybe there isn't a ramp available uh to a fist uh a building.
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Uh and that's thinking about in a more physical way, right?
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But we oftentimes miss the what we call the non-apparent or the invisible disabilities.
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Uh so we've been tasked to ensuring that when we are holding a press conference, that we have an American Sign Language interpreter available to ensure that everybody, including people that are deaf or hard of hearing, uh get the same information, right?
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Ensuring that our public meetings have uh captioning for those folks that need it.
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Uh, or ensuring that a an event that is hosted by the city has a sensory-friendly space for those folks that need to get away from the large crowds or the loud noises or the or the intense lighting so that um so that they can also enjoy those uh those uh city events.
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Right.
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Um and and I think another one that people often maybe they don't know, uh digital, right?
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I mean websites and and people maybe with with sight problems or vision problems, right?
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Is that another one?
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Oh yes.
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Um so I'm glad that you brought that up, Owen.
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Uh recently, uh the Department of Justice has um has put out a new rule for digital accessibility.
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Uh but I like to say that the city of Houston, uh, we started a long time ago, even before this rule became uh policy.
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Uh this rule says that uh entities, uh local government entities with uh 50,000 or more uh residents must meet a digital accessibility deadline by April 26th, 2027.
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Uh like I said, we started a long time ago.
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We actually uh are bringing in a consultant that worked with us on our right-of-way to provide uh recommendations and a path of digital accessibility uh to not just our HIITS department, but to our procurement process.
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And um when we think about okay, well, what does that mean?
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That's ensuring that not just uh we have ramps available, but that uh our websites are accessible, meaning that our images have uh alt text, uh, so that folks that uh that are using uh screen readers uh know what the image is, uh that the website itself is produced and uh in a way that a person that is using a keyboard to maneuver through the through the website uh can follow along accordingly.
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And so, and as well as PDF forms or Word documents that have any information for the public that it's uh that it's screen reader friendly.
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That's to say that it's not just about a facility or ramp or sidewalk being accessible, but access to information is equally uh important.
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And so having a digital platform that is accessible to the community ensures and tells our constituents that um that we are doing what we need to do to ensure that they have the information that everybody else has as well.
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A lot of your work, I understand, um, is with outside advocates and community groups.
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Can you talk about those relationships and how important they are to what you do, but also to the constituents?
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So um uh we have a very strong relationship with Houston Metro, uh mostly on the uh Metro Live, paratransit uh space.
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Uh when we are hearing from community members that um that don't have access to public transportation, we ensure that not just they have access to uh the resources that Houston Metro has, but that if there is any moment where there is a some type of miscommunication happening, we serve as that middle person to help coordinate communication and ensure that the that the writer is having the same access as anybody other writers.
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We also have a very strong relationship with disability rights Texas.
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Um oftentimes we hear of community members that live within, that live outside the city limits, that feel like they're being discriminated.
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And, you know, we're we're not a legal firm, so we can provide that type of legal advice, but we have a very strong relationship with lawyers who can do that.
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And so we connect those folks to them.
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Um another very strong advocate that we have is Tier Memorial Herman and the Alexander Institute for Inclusion.
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Uh, we together produce an uh uh arts and film festival every year that takes place throughout the throughout the month of uh February.
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It's called Real Abilities Film and Arts Festival.
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And it's an opportunity not just to bring awareness to the needs of people living with disabilities, but to show how people with disabilities and their talents uh not just bring economic stability, but uh open up uh employment and other opportunities for our community members.
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It's interesting when you mention that.
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There's a certain amount of this message that needs to get to those with disabilities, but there's a third part of this message that needs to get to people who don't have disabilities, right?
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To to really fully appreciate what your community goes through.
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And and I think that's one of the biggest missions of um not just our office, but with our partners, is uh that disability is not just a life or or a um a thing that people with disabilities have to live with.
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Uh disability is an every Houstonian uh important piece of life.
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Uh I say that by saying that um that just because a person doesn't have access to a ramp um or there is a lack of ramp, for example, when we when we put our our resources into installing an ADA compliance sidewalk, it not just benefits a person using a wheelchair, but it benefits a mother or father that is pushing a stroller uh throughout a neighborhood.
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Uh and not just benefits a person with a disability, but it benefits their caregiver.
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Oftentimes we miss that part.
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Uh uh that caregivers play a very important part in the life of somebody living with a disability.
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One of our most recent, strongest partnerships right now is with AARP.
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And oftentimes people think, well, you know, like what kind of how how can this partnership work?
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Or like what is the partnership there?
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Uh not just with caregivers, but uh creating walkable spaces for community members.
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We know that our seniors um oftentimes stay at home or living with family members uh or or don't go out and walk uh to create a more healthier lifestyle because they don't have sidewalks or they don't have or they don't live in a safe neighborhood.
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And so with our partnership, we want to make sure that uh we are are identifying accessible sidewalks so that people with disabilities and our senior citizens can uh produce a lifestyle where they can live more healthier.
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So when someone is, you know, going about their neighborhood, maybe they notice a sidewalk is out of place, or maybe there isn't one.
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Frankly, there's a lot of neighborhoods in Houston without sidewalks.
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Where does someone take a concern or a recommendation that they have?
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Do they call your office?
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What do they do?
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They do.
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Um so we always recommend folks to call our office.
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Um, individuals with or without disabilities that want to report a sidewalk uh through our pedition accessibility review program, which is a program that was created in 1993 to uh help identify inaccessible sidewalks.
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This is one of three programs within the city that identifies uh sidewalks that are not existent or that are broken down.
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And uh folks can contact us at 832-394-0814, uh, send us an email at m opdmail at houston tx.gov.
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Uh, but I think that one of the best ways to really let not just us but the city of Houston know is to report it to 311.
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We want to make sure that it is documented, that we're doing something about it.
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And one of the best ways to do that is to report it to 311.
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Um, I will say, and I'll add to that, that the program provides an opportunity for constituents that have disabilities to report these sidewalks, and we work collectively with the Houston Public Works Department uh to ensure that we are meeting those those requirements.
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Um for example, I have a uh one of my um senior staff members, Kimberly Blanchard, uh has taken on the role of our accessible infrastructure uh and our access to employment programs, which I can talk a little bit more about it.
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Um but she meets with the folks at the at Houston Public Works Sidewalk Team.
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They get together, they go out and visit the property, talk to the homeowners or the property owners, uh, identify, you know, what their need is.
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Because oftentimes folks report a sidewalk at an intersection, but realistically they want to get to the gas station or they want to get to their local um church, and there are more barriers along the way.
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And so by connecting with them and talking to them, not only do we establish trust, but we let them know that we're listening to them and we had we're able to identify additional barriers that they might not have even thought about.
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Speaking of barriers, you know, we're in a part of the world where we get natural disasters, obviously hurricanes, and most recently with the with the cold winter storms that have come through, power outages.
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For folks with disabilities, I imagine, uh responding, maybe evacuating, that can be a lot more challenging.
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How does your office help with that part of life?
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Yeah, that's uh that's a good thing.
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That's a big one, and it's something that we think about every year, year long.
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Right.
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Um, I know uh director Brian Mason uh talked a lot about what what folks need to be thinking about, and that that it's not just a hurricane season problem, it is a 365 problem, right?
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We need to think about these kinds of things every single day.
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What I would add to what what uh director uh Mason mentioned, um on top of ensuring that folks have a uh a bag with their medical um or and their their medicine prescriptions available to them, uh on top of uh registering for the STEAR program, uh which has been a fantastic resource within the last few years.
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What I would add to that is with this, the STEAR program offers the opportunity uh for local groups to re be able to respond and evacuate individuals in case they need it, uh uh pre-during and post-disasters.
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But I always tell people with disabilities that on top of signing up for STEAR, which and they they need to sign every sign up every single year because it's white, and then folks need to uh reapply again.
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Uh, I would say have a plan B.
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Uh, if you are an individual with a disability living in an area that historically has flooded or during an emergency situation, you are you you need to evacuate.
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Evacuate early if you can.
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Um, get to know your neighbors.
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Uh, and I will also tell the neighbors to get to know those folks that are living in their communities with disabilities.
00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:53.759
Uh attend maybe uh community meetings and in or community groups and and introduce yourself to them.
00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:55.680
That way they know where you live.
00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:57.759
Uh I have a fantastic neighbor.
00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:59.119
His name is Richard.
00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:02.559
Uh, Richard's wife is a person that is blind.
00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:13.200
And so when we encounter emergency situations, we live, we live in Acres home, and um he always checks on me, and I always check on him.
00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:21.119
And oftentimes it's not about just going and knocking on the door, but it's just sending a very simple text message and saying, Hey, are you guys doing okay?
00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:22.720
Do you guys need anything?
00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:25.200
And so it could be as easy as that.
00:24:25.440 --> 00:25:04.880
Uh, and so having a plan B, having um engaging, communicating with with your neighbors, and um, on top of having a uh maybe a Ziploc bag with your with your medications and have enough to last you for more than seven days, I would say, uh having uh external battery uh uh resources for those folks that are using durable medical equipment, oxygen tanks, uh, because you know, one of our last uh emergency situations, I think it was barrel, uh last I was uh without power for almost 10 plus days.
00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:14.240
And so I can only imagine what um what community members with disabilities that that that rely on assistive devices uh can face.
00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:20.160
And so um we work very collectively with our Office of Emergency Management.
00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:29.039
We've uh together have produced uh videos to communicate and educate our community members with disabilities on the do's and don'ts, things to be aware of.
00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:51.759
And so um oftentimes we also uh work with them when um when there is an emergency coming or when there's a potential uh storm coming in, uh, that when the mayor is holding a press conference, that we ensure that um that all the uh assistive language uh systems are in place so that everybody gets the same information.
00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:54.000
Yeah, but still that sense of community, yeah.
00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:55.680
It's like you can't say enough about it, right?
00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:57.039
It's just kind of so important.
00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:57.920
It really is.
00:25:58.160 --> 00:26:10.000
Uh so much so that in my community, um during, I think it was Beryl, uh there people know people didn't have uh refrigerator access, right?
00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:11.359
They didn't have any power.
00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:15.119
And so my community just did a little kind of get together.
00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:18.480
People did some barbecue and everybody was just kind of mingling.
00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:24.319
And so that that's that's one of the uh ways to kind of get to know your neighbors is just to go out and just say hi.
00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:24.799
Yeah.
00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:26.559
You mentioned work earlier.
00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:33.440
Um we're recording here, middle of October, and October's National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:36.160
Um specifically employment.
00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:38.079
What's important about this month?
00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:47.599
So uh Endeam is uh an annual uh event that not just happens in the city, but happens uh at the national level.
00:26:47.839 --> 00:27:08.319
It is an opportunity not just to bring awareness to employment for people with disabilities, but to also uh educate employers on how they can uh uh create more uh inclusive, accessible workplaces for uh community members or candidates with disabilities.
00:27:08.480 --> 00:28:05.519
Uh recently, uh one of our partnerships is with the Texas Workforce Solutions um uh or uh T uh and as well Vocational Rehabilitation to uh we came together to produce our uh and Deem uh Employment Fair, where we brought in more than 30 employers that are actively hiring people with and without disabilities, but most importantly for this event with disabilities, uh we brought in partners like Easter Seals as well as vocational rehabilitation to host sessions uh to um uh educate potential candidates on what they should know about uh how to uh how to request a reasonable accommodation at work, or what they need to know about their SSI and SSDI benefits and how they can they can uh apply for work in work in Texas.
00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:11.039
Um so those kind of small things uh really highlight uh the need.
00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:18.720
Uh we had, man, I I think we had like over over 300 people come through our through our event.
00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:44.880
And um several of those folks approached me right after before they were leaving, and they said that um that not only this is one of the best events, uh kudos to my team, um, you know, William, Amanda, Kimberly, uh, Norma, and um and Marina, but for all the work that they done to help make sure that this event is successful.
00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:56.799
But I think it's it's these kinds of events that that offer an opportunity for folks not just to find employment, but to find hope still.
00:28:57.039 --> 00:29:08.960
That there are agencies and organizations and that the city of Houston truly uh cares about the the lives that our Houstonians with disabilities are living.
00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:22.480
And it just really shows that um that there are so many people out there that have degree plants that have little to no job experience because employers are just not giving them an opportunity.
00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:35.359
Uh, one of our ways to help combat that is through our access to employment program, which is uh led by one of our key members, Kimberly Blanchard, which uh she has a lot of hats now.
00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:40.640
It's like it goes with that um all uh all other duties as assigned, right?
00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:43.519
Pardon the rest in the in the job description.
00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:57.920
Uh but this is a way for us not just to kind of uh solidify our partnership with TWCVR, but um a way to bring more awareness between inside the city of Houston.
00:29:58.079 --> 00:30:05.440
And so with this access of employment program, I was at the gym one day, Owen, and you know, all my great ideas happened at the gym.
00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:16.000
I was like crawling, crawling a 40-pounder, and I was like, how can we bring more people with disabilities into city and county jobs?
00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:52.559
And so um we created this access to employment program in partnership with the folks to identify qualified individuals that have degree plans that may not have as much as job skills because they haven't been given the opportunity, an opportunity to come into the city and work eight to 12 weeks in a division and right now within the department of neighborhoods uh to gain meaningful employment skills and then be able to add that to the resume uh in case they want to pursue other job opportunities.
00:30:52.720 --> 00:31:21.200
And then in the meantime, what we hope to accomplish is connect them to different divisions or other departments within the city of Houston so that they can build those relationships and show that not only do they have a degree in in um in human resources or a degree in psychology, but that they are they that they know how the city works and that they have the ability to get the job done.
00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:23.759
So, how does someone get involved in the in that program?
00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:57.119
Uh so you can call our office, um again, 832-394-0814, or at email uh mopd mail at houston tx.gov um or connect with their vocational rehabilitation counselor uh and let them know that they want to work at the city of Houston, and then they'll connect with us at the Office for People with Disabilities, and we'll get them, we'll we'll put them through the same um the same scenario that they would if they were going through an interview process with another department.
00:31:57.359 --> 00:32:21.440
So we'll look at the the applications that come in, uh, we'll create an interview process, uh, we'll have three to four people interviewing them, and then the employer will make their decision, bring them on for eight to twelve weeks, and then uh hopefully create a pathway for them to continue their career here at the county or elsewhere.
00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:35.440
When you look outside of the city and you look at employer employers in general around the city, is is there one thing or a couple things that they could do better or do differently that would help support people with disabilities?
00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:52.240
Uh the number one thing, Owen, that I would say that I've seen uh both private and um public and uh employers do uh is uh universal design.
00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:56.400
Uh and that starts from the application process.
00:32:57.519 --> 00:33:01.119
You're talking about physical design, whether it's whether it's a website or a building or anything.
00:33:01.599 --> 00:33:07.279
Digital, um, or even just right right when we're getting to the interview process, right?
00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:11.279
Why do we oftentimes, yes, uh there's high rises, right?
00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:17.759
There's build there's businesses, uh companies that are located uh, you know, on the 24th floor, for example.
00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:25.440
But if we can create a space where the interview can happen at the lower level, uh, why can't we do that?
00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:51.680
Or um if there is a a uh a company that knows that their elevator is out, but they still have an interview on the second floor, uh, why not with universal design change the meeting to a first floor so that when a candidate comes in, if they've self-disclosed that they have or don't have a disability, that it doesn't become a thing, right?
00:33:52.160 --> 00:34:21.280
We've seen from in my personal experience, I've seen as well is that when we walk into an when we walk or roll into an interview, and um, for example, in this case, if the interview is on the second floor, but the elevator's out and I can't go up some steps, then the the the uh the interview shifts from your ability, your your uh your job skills to your ability to perform the job.
00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:34.719
So the the interviewer is not thinking about, you know, can you you know do data analytics, but can you what are we gonna do if the next time this happens?
00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:47.039
Uh so I think creating universal design from the beginning, creating spaces that are accessible to everybody shifts the focus to the job and not the ability to perform the job.
00:34:47.199 --> 00:35:22.079
And the second thing that I would say is uh employers having educational workshops on disability etiquette, sensitivity trainings, the do's and don'ts when interacting, not just with customers, with constituents, uh, or with other colleagues with disabilities, but um what are the different types of disabilities that people will encounter during the time that they're working with individuals so that they are better aware on how to interact with them uh or how to create systems so that they can better perform or better communicate with them.
00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:23.599
Yeah, the the preparation there.
00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:25.039
Yeah, yeah, preparation is key.
00:35:25.360 --> 00:35:28.639
If you're ready for everything, then you don't the elevator being out isn't a problem.
00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:29.519
Isn't a problem.
00:35:29.679 --> 00:35:29.840
Right.
00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:33.920
So like then the elevator is not the conversation anymore.
00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:36.079
It's uh it's it's my ability to get the.
00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:44.239
Well, oftentimes to the disadvantage of the person with the disability who's applying because they don't really get the full attention that they deserve in that moment, right?
00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:58.400
Yeah, and you know, there's you know, throughout the year, there's different, there's the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, there's International Day of People with Disabilities, which is happening in November, um, or October, which is endem.
00:35:58.880 --> 00:36:05.199
Uh, it shouldn't just be a a month or a certain part of the year when we're talking about these things.
00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:06.960
It should be year-long.
00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:13.760
Um, ideally, it should be a conversation that that that needs to happen at every single staff meeting.
00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:16.800
Is are we meeting the needs of all employees?
00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:25.679
Do we have a an agenda for this meeting that is accessible to somebody that is using uh uh a screen reader?
00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:29.119
Or we're hosting a Teams or Zoom call?
00:36:29.280 --> 00:36:35.440
Uh let's make sure that we follow an SOP so that people know how to access captioning.
00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:46.480
Or if we know that somebody is gonna that is gonna join the meeting that is deaf or hard of hearing, that needs ASL, schedule an American Sign Language Interpreter so that they have that same information.
00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:51.599
How can technology help make people more independent in that case?
00:36:51.920 --> 00:36:53.920
Oh, that's a very good question.
00:36:54.159 --> 00:36:58.639
Um technology is leading the way, right?
00:36:58.880 --> 00:37:04.320
Um, I think uh I'll give you one good example.
00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:09.519
Uh we have a current uh employee in our office, Marina.
00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:18.000
Uh she uses uh software to um to get the get her job done.
00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:30.159
Uh technology is not just leading the way, is not just probably the only way that we're gonna be able to get our jobs done in the near future or even now, per se, right?
00:37:30.559 --> 00:37:41.519
Um but it really is an eye-opener to where we're missing the gap, uh, where we're missing uh what uh our where we're missing services.
00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:51.360
I had one uh Marina take a look at some of our systems, and we found some barriers uh within some websites.
00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:54.719
Um and we're talking to those folks now to help address those.
00:37:54.880 --> 00:38:08.880
Uh when we did our pilot study uh on our websites, uh we did one, we did our pilot study on the on the mayor's website, and then our and then the second pilot study we did on the Houston Public Library website.
00:38:09.039 --> 00:38:14.480
And we found some some barriers uh for people using assistive devices.
00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:20.800
Um and then, but we quickly communicated that with the webmasters and they fixed those.
00:38:20.960 --> 00:38:27.360
And it was it was so easy for them to get those fixed, something that all webmasters can be doing now.
00:38:27.519 --> 00:38:34.000
And just by doing that, we create a more accessible digital platform for all of our constituents.
00:38:34.639 --> 00:38:41.519
So let me ask you as we close out uh out this interview, uh, when you look ahead at the next few years, uh what do you see in the future?
00:38:41.679 --> 00:38:44.880
What are some priorities you want to work toward, goals that you have?
00:38:46.079 --> 00:39:06.400
I I would like to see a city of Houston um that that not just has a support system in our office, but the human resources department have uh Title I liaisons across the city in different departments.
00:39:07.199 --> 00:39:21.519
I see a city of Houston within the next couple of years that have Title II liaisons in different departments so that uh department leaders are not just always coming to us, but like, what do we do?
00:39:21.679 --> 00:39:23.679
Can you provide us some recommendations?
00:39:23.920 --> 00:39:32.320
But we provide the education to those liaisons and they can work directly with their leadership to address those issues in-house.
00:39:32.559 --> 00:39:33.760
Um, that's one.
00:39:34.559 --> 00:39:42.000
The second thing is um housing uh opportunities for people living with disabilities.
00:39:42.320 --> 00:39:44.800
I visit um New York.
00:39:45.119 --> 00:39:55.360
And so one of the things that that we do at our office is we stay in active communication with different MOPDs throughout the throughout the nation.
00:39:55.679 --> 00:40:00.320
We have uh monthly meetings with New York, Chicago, Boston, St.
00:40:00.559 --> 00:40:00.719
St.
00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:04.480
Louis, and we talk about like what are the things that they're doing.
00:40:04.719 --> 00:40:08.480
Um I've talked to New York about their access to employment program.
00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:32.639
I've talked to Boston about how they're um how they're managing their housing uh so these are bigger systems that have way more people, but ideally I like to uh not just with having liaisons, but having an individual in the housing department that specifically focuses on on housing concerns for people with disabilities.
00:40:32.800 --> 00:40:53.199
Uh and then we already have a very strong relationship with OEM on disabilities, uh, maybe a um, you know, other other departments that are that are willing and able to to uh to provide and have somebody within their spaces to be the disability advocate for their department.
00:40:53.440 --> 00:41:08.559
And then um I feel personally from my life experience that access to meaningful employment opened up opportunities for me everywhere else.
00:41:08.800 --> 00:41:29.119
Not just from like being independent and having my own place, but being able to just leave my my house one day and go to a coffee shop that is accessible and spending my own money without having to worry about whether I'm gonna be able to meet uh my rent this this month.
00:41:29.360 --> 00:41:55.920
And so I would like to create and uh uh bring us uh bring us to a time in the city where people with disabilities uh not just have access to meaningful employment opportunities, but that are able to feel like they have the independence to do what they want whenever they want to do it, because the city is open and accessible to them.
00:41:56.559 --> 00:41:59.119
You've been a very inspiring force along that way.
00:41:59.199 --> 00:42:02.880
So I I appreciate you coming in and sharing your entire story with us.
00:42:02.960 --> 00:42:04.079
It's it's beautiful.
00:42:04.400 --> 00:42:04.960
Absolutely.
00:42:05.119 --> 00:42:14.800
I I and and I and I think the last thing that I would say, Owen, is the Office for People with Disabilities is a very small team.
00:42:15.119 --> 00:42:22.719
We uh we serve over 215,000 Houstonians with disabilities.
00:42:22.800 --> 00:42:25.519
And these are just the folks that we know about.
00:42:26.320 --> 00:42:35.119
We believe that we have even folks that don't know that they have a disability, over a million within the greater Houston area.
00:42:35.360 --> 00:42:43.599
And so that is to say that although we're a small team, we're here to serve, we're here to provide uh guidance.
00:42:43.840 --> 00:42:52.559
If we don't know, we will communicate with either internal or external partners to help meet the needs of those folks.
00:42:52.800 --> 00:43:03.440
Um, and one of the best ways to for somebody with a disability or an ally, an advocate for disabilities, is to get involved.
00:43:03.679 --> 00:43:10.960
One of the best ways to do that is to attend, listen uh to the Houston Commission on Disabilities.
00:43:11.280 --> 00:43:21.119
These are 14 members that have been appointed by Mary John Whitmire to represent the needs of Houstonians with disabilities.
00:43:21.360 --> 00:43:26.480
Nine of those members are people with disabilities that live within the city limits.
00:43:26.639 --> 00:43:33.840
And the rest of them don't have to have a disability and don't have to live within the city limits, but within the greater Houston area.
00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:47.920
And they are they've been tasked with uh engaging with the community, listening to the needs, providing guidance to not just my office, but to uh to the mayor, city council members, and other city departments.
00:43:48.079 --> 00:44:05.199
And one of the best ways to get involved and learn what's happening in the community is to attend those meetings, listen to the hot topics that are affecting our community, and to talk to these commission members about what they would like our city to be like in the next uh four to eight years.
00:44:05.440 --> 00:44:06.880
Yeah, and not be afraid to speak up, right?
00:44:07.119 --> 00:44:08.159
Not be afraid to speak up.
00:44:08.320 --> 00:44:13.039
Oftentimes, you know, people call my office and be like, I'm gonna go to city council and I'm gonna tell them this.
00:44:13.119 --> 00:44:14.960
And I say, yes, do it.
00:44:15.119 --> 00:44:15.519
Please.
00:44:16.079 --> 00:44:17.280
I want them to know that too.
00:44:17.519 --> 00:44:17.840
Sign up.
00:44:18.079 --> 00:44:18.639
You sign up.
00:44:18.960 --> 00:44:20.559
Yeah, that is that is your right.
00:44:21.280 --> 00:44:22.239
Angel, thanks for your time.
00:44:22.320 --> 00:44:24.320
I've really enjoyed chatting with you.
00:44:24.559 --> 00:44:25.519
Thank you, Owen.
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.680
I remember vividly getting on the hospital wheelchair.
00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:06.160
I remember looking down at the street below.
00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:23.199
I was a few stories high, and I could see just pedestrians walking by sidewalks, jumping the curb, hopping on a metro bus, and instantly I felt that that world I didn't belong in because I couldn't do those things.
00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:30.640
From City Hall in downtown Houston, this is 901 Bagby inside the mayor's office.
00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:36.079
This week, making Houston Accessible for Everyone.
00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:40.479
Our guest is Angel Ponce of the Mayor's Office of People with Disabilities.
00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:42.079
Angel, it's great to meet you in person.
00:00:42.159 --> 00:00:42.880
Thanks for coming in.
00:00:43.119 --> 00:00:44.479
Thanks for having me here, Owen.
00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:48.479
So uh you have a unique perspective uh on living with a disability.
00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:51.200
Uh, and I I do want to talk about all the work that your office does.
00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:55.439
But I want to start with you and uh a car crash that happened back in 2004.
00:00:55.600 --> 00:00:57.359
I know that was life-changing for you.
00:00:57.520 --> 00:01:00.880
As much as you're comfortable sharing, what happened back then?
00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:02.719
All right, let's start from the beginning.
00:01:02.799 --> 00:01:03.600
So I was born in.
00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:12.159
Um, so I was involved in a horrible automobile wreck in 2004.
00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:16.560
And um I don't remember much of the wreck.
00:01:16.719 --> 00:01:18.959
I just remember waking up in the hospital.
00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:29.280
I was at Memorial Herman, and I could just hear the the the sounds in the hospital room and the nurses walking around.
00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:32.719
And I just knew that something was different about my life.
00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:59.120
Uh I started asking questions to family members, uh, and then I would easily forget about our conversations, but I remember vividly uh getting on the hospital wheelchair and then going to um going out to the hallway, and I was wearing a vest that they put around me so that you know I would heal properly, uh, because I suffered a spinal cord injury in my car wreck.
00:01:59.599 --> 00:02:21.280
And I remember looking down at the street below, I was a few stories high, and I could see just pedestrians walking by sidewalks, jumping a curb, hopping on a metro bus, and instantly I felt that that that world I didn't belong in uh because I couldn't do those things.
00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:22.800
I couldn't jump a curb.
00:02:22.960 --> 00:02:28.080
Uh I I I thought at that point like I couldn't just go up the steps of a metro bus.
00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:34.319
And so I quickly I felt like I was I didn't belong in society.
00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:39.199
And sure enough, I got released from the hospital, I went back home.
00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:45.599
And before all of that happened, I I used services from the city of Houston.
00:02:45.840 --> 00:03:01.199
In fact, uh one of my first uh interactions with a city employee was somebody coming into my school, uh, because I was I wasn't the the the straight A student, you know, and somebody from the city came to my school and said, Hey, Angel, I I hear you're you got some problems.
00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:03.360
Let's let's see how we can help you.
00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:08.400
And so I knew that I could rely on the city for support.
00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:17.439
And so when this accident happened to me, the first thing I thought about is I I want to reach out to the city to see what services are available to me.
00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:23.439
And then when I learned about the services that were available to me, I said, I want to do something similar.
00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:25.199
I want to support my community.
00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:26.800
I don't know in which way.
00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:32.080
And the maybe the first thing that I can do is just talk to youth about making positive choices.
00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:32.719
Interesting.
00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:34.400
So that's that's how I got involved in the city.
00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:35.360
That's how it started.
00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:40.560
And and you joined this office, the mayor's office for people with disabilities, uh, pretty early on.
00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:42.479
I mean, you've been in the office now more than 10 years.
00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:44.479
What got you in there initially?
00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:52.960
So uh one of my first roles at the city was working for the um mayor's uh office of gang prevention and intervention.
00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:55.120
And I was doing administrative work.
00:03:55.280 --> 00:04:05.919
I was in a in a copy room one day, and I saw this gentleman, one of the former directors of the uh mayor's office for people with disabilities, pass by.
00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:10.479
Um he was getting a tour and he had a uh a guy dog.
00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:20.160
And so I saw a dog, and I quickly just I left the copy room and I went to to say hi to the gentleman, and like and I reached over to pet the dog.
00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:26.800
And I don't know if you know, Owen, but when when somebody has a guide dog or a service animal, they're working.
00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:30.639
And so the rule is don't just don't touch them, don't distract them.
00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:33.040
I didn't know those things at that moment, right?
00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:40.399
And so um his name was Jay Stiley, and Jay Stiley quickly stopped me and said, no, this animal is working.
00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:45.600
Um next time ask for permission or or or uh or talk to me first.
00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:49.040
And at that moment, I was like, oh, this guy's kind of rude, you know?
00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:52.639
And so then I left and I didn't hear from him.
00:04:53.040 --> 00:05:05.199
I got a notification from a former director and said, Hey, Angel, I think there's a position open at the mayor's office for people with disabilities, and I think maybe you would be a good fit for it, so you should apply.
00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:08.560
And it was a uh community liaison position.
00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:10.399
And I said, Okay, I'll try it out.
00:05:10.560 --> 00:05:16.879
And so I applied, and then I went for my interview, and no one guessed who was who was on the interview panel.
00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:18.079
Let's see where this is.
00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:19.680
Yeah, it was Jay Stitely.
00:05:20.319 --> 00:05:25.839
And uh and I said to myself, well, this isn't this is not gonna go pretty good, pretty well for me.
00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:34.879
Uh, but sure enough, uh, he and I connected well, and um I got through the interview process and I got a call and I got the job.
00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:46.240
And so I was one of the I started in the mayor's office for people with disabilities in 2014, and I've been there ever since.
00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:46.800
Yeah.
00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:58.720
What what um after the accident, when you go back and think, I mean, obviously you tell the story of being in the hospital and looking down at the street and feeling like, I don't belong, but you didn't lose the desire to belong.
00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:01.519
So so there was some fighting, right, that had to be done.
00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:04.560
There was probably a lot of work to get you where you are today.
00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:07.199
Can you tell me a little bit about that that process?
00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:17.040
So um when I came back to the home I was in, uh we had steps in the house.
00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:24.800
And my family quickly uh installed not an ADA compliance uh ramp, but you know, it worked.
00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:49.759
Um but then I I that those kinds of things helped me realize that there are opportunities out there for folks to still have access to public life, and so uh it was just that one moment that really opened up my eyes and said, well, if if if this makes me feel good about myself, then I want to be able to do that for somebody else.
00:06:50.079 --> 00:07:09.839
And so um I quickly, when I moved into the role at the mayor's office for people with disabilities, uh, one of my first things to do at the office was to take calls, listen to constituents about the the situations, the concerns that they have.
00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:18.720
And a lot of those were I feel like I'm being discriminated at my job because um I'm not provided reasonable accommodations.
00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:28.000
Or I am being evicted and I feel like my landlord is discriminating against me and I don't have anywhere to go.
00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:39.680
Or I am on a fixed income, I'm relying on Social Security, and um I don't have enough money to pay my rent or to pay my utilities this month.
00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:54.879
And so for me, that was an eye-opening experience that uh is not just about accessibility, but people with disabilities face the same barriers that non-disabled people face every day.
00:07:55.120 --> 00:08:05.360
And so for me, I wanted to connect with our partners or make new partners so that we can provide more resources to the community.
00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:15.120
So let's dig into that a little bit because the office exists for a reason, and that's to to be to be what, an advocate, to help, to to be a support system.
00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:17.199
What is the job of the office?
00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:20.560
Uh so the job, I think it grows every year.
00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:21.040
Okay.
00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:21.680
Well, that's a good thing.
00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:23.360
Yeah, it is a good thing.
00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:45.600
Our main job, uh, one of the things that we've been tasked to do is not just to serve as the lead advocate for the rights and needs of Houstonians and our visitors living with disabilities, but to provide um recommendations to uh to our mayor, to city council members, uh to department directors.
00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:52.159
And um one of those is uh our ADA self-evaluation and transition plan.
00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:57.519
And this is uh a uh a plan for us.
00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:03.360
Uh and and I don't want to say we're a little late to the game, but we should have started a long time ago.
00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:09.840
Um but we're here now, and we started our our phase one in 2024.
00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:30.960
And we just what we did uh Owen is we took a pilot study and just looked at our facilities, we looked at our programs, we looked at our activities, our services, and um and and and and looked holistically at what we're doing, what where we're missing the gap, and what we need to be doing to meet those ADA requirements.
00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:44.399
And so, uh long story short, uh not only are we an advocate, but we provide recommendations, but we ensure that the city has a plan to help uh our constituents have access to public services.
00:09:44.720 --> 00:09:46.159
Okay, so it goes both ways.
00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:50.559
You want to keep everybody in check, but then when they need your help, they want to lean on you, right?
00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:54.559
So so when the mayor comes to you and he says, Angel, you're in charge.
00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:55.919
I want to keep you in charge.
00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:59.600
Uh what are some of those priorities that the mayor's asked of you with this office?
00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:04.639
I I hope that he wants to keep me in charge for a very long time.
00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:17.440
Um, so one of our priorities is that not just what I mentioned, our ADA plan, uh, but ensuring that our directors, our leaders in the city have a plan for accessibility.
00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:23.679
Um the our mayor has run on a platform of public safety and transparency.
00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:42.639
And so one of the things that we're doing uh to ensure that we're meeting that is uh providing educational workshops and as well with our communication strategy, our accessible communication strategy, is to let our community members know what is MOPD up to?
00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:44.320
What are we doing in the community?
00:10:44.480 --> 00:11:00.080
Not just live in a silo, but like show it on social media, send out newsletters, letting our community members not just know what resources are available to them, but what we are doing transparency-wise, uh so so that they know that we're working for them.
00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:08.960
Yeah, and and to that end, the kind of work I think and people think of, well, someone with disabilities, it's um it's a handrail somewhere or it's a ramp.
00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:16.399
But to your earlier point, there's so many other aspects of life with disability that maybe the average person doesn't think about.
00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:17.440
Can you talk about that?
00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:21.919
So oftentimes when we think about a disability barrier, right?
00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:34.000
We think about a ramp or a sidewalk that's inaccessible, or maybe there isn't a ramp available uh to a fist uh a building.
00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:38.639
Uh and that's thinking about in a more physical way, right?
00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:44.320
But we oftentimes miss the what we call the non-apparent or the invisible disabilities.
00:11:44.559 --> 00:12:03.200
Uh so we've been tasked to ensuring that when we are holding a press conference, that we have an American Sign Language interpreter available to ensure that everybody, including people that are deaf or hard of hearing, uh get the same information, right?
00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:09.679
Ensuring that our public meetings have uh captioning for those folks that need it.
00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:29.279
Uh, or ensuring that a an event that is hosted by the city has a sensory-friendly space for those folks that need to get away from the large crowds or the loud noises or the or the intense lighting so that um so that they can also enjoy those uh those uh city events.
00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:29.919
Right.
00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:35.759
Um and and I think another one that people often maybe they don't know, uh digital, right?
00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:40.559
I mean websites and and people maybe with with sight problems or vision problems, right?
00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:41.360
Is that another one?
00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:42.159
Oh yes.
00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:44.879
Um so I'm glad that you brought that up, Owen.
00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:53.440
Uh recently, uh the Department of Justice has um has put out a new rule for digital accessibility.
00:12:53.600 --> 00:13:01.360
Uh but I like to say that the city of Houston, uh, we started a long time ago, even before this rule became uh policy.
00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:17.360
Uh this rule says that uh entities, uh local government entities with uh 50,000 or more uh residents must meet a digital accessibility deadline by April 26th, 2027.
00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:20.320
Uh like I said, we started a long time ago.
00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:38.000
We actually uh are bringing in a consultant that worked with us on our right-of-way to provide uh recommendations and a path of digital accessibility uh to not just our HIITS department, but to our procurement process.
00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:41.120
And um when we think about okay, well, what does that mean?
00:13:41.279 --> 00:14:13.039
That's ensuring that not just uh we have ramps available, but that uh our websites are accessible, meaning that our images have uh alt text, uh, so that folks that uh that are using uh screen readers uh know what the image is, uh that the website itself is produced and uh in a way that a person that is using a keyboard to maneuver through the through the website uh can follow along accordingly.
00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:22.879
And so, and as well as PDF forms or Word documents that have any information for the public that it's uh that it's screen reader friendly.
00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:35.600
That's to say that it's not just about a facility or ramp or sidewalk being accessible, but access to information is equally uh important.
00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:50.320
And so having a digital platform that is accessible to the community ensures and tells our constituents that um that we are doing what we need to do to ensure that they have the information that everybody else has as well.
00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:56.159
A lot of your work, I understand, um, is with outside advocates and community groups.
00:14:56.320 --> 00:15:01.200
Can you talk about those relationships and how important they are to what you do, but also to the constituents?
00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:13.679
So um uh we have a very strong relationship with Houston Metro, uh mostly on the uh Metro Live, paratransit uh space.
00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:45.039
Uh when we are hearing from community members that um that don't have access to public transportation, we ensure that not just they have access to uh the resources that Houston Metro has, but that if there is any moment where there is a some type of miscommunication happening, we serve as that middle person to help coordinate communication and ensure that the that the writer is having the same access as anybody other writers.
00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:49.600
We also have a very strong relationship with disability rights Texas.
00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:58.799
Um oftentimes we hear of community members that live within, that live outside the city limits, that feel like they're being discriminated.
00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:09.200
And, you know, we're we're not a legal firm, so we can provide that type of legal advice, but we have a very strong relationship with lawyers who can do that.
00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:11.279
And so we connect those folks to them.
00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:18.720
Um another very strong advocate that we have is Tier Memorial Herman and the Alexander Institute for Inclusion.
00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:28.879
Uh, we together produce an uh uh arts and film festival every year that takes place throughout the throughout the month of uh February.
00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:32.000
It's called Real Abilities Film and Arts Festival.
00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:51.360
And it's an opportunity not just to bring awareness to the needs of people living with disabilities, but to show how people with disabilities and their talents uh not just bring economic stability, but uh open up uh employment and other opportunities for our community members.
00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:53.440
It's interesting when you mention that.
00:16:54.000 --> 00:17:03.279
There's a certain amount of this message that needs to get to those with disabilities, but there's a third part of this message that needs to get to people who don't have disabilities, right?
00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:07.519
To to really fully appreciate what your community goes through.
00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:28.000
And and I think that's one of the biggest missions of um not just our office, but with our partners, is uh that disability is not just a life or or a um a thing that people with disabilities have to live with.
00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:35.680
Uh disability is an every Houstonian uh important piece of life.
00:17:35.839 --> 00:18:03.440
Uh I say that by saying that um that just because a person doesn't have access to a ramp um or there is a lack of ramp, for example, when we when we put our our resources into installing an ADA compliance sidewalk, it not just benefits a person using a wheelchair, but it benefits a mother or father that is pushing a stroller uh throughout a neighborhood.
00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:09.519
Uh and not just benefits a person with a disability, but it benefits their caregiver.
00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:11.920
Oftentimes we miss that part.
00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:20.079
Uh uh that caregivers play a very important part in the life of somebody living with a disability.
00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:25.599
One of our most recent, strongest partnerships right now is with AARP.
00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:31.359
And oftentimes people think, well, you know, like what kind of how how can this partnership work?
00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:33.599
Or like what is the partnership there?
00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:41.680
Uh not just with caregivers, but uh creating walkable spaces for community members.
00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:56.400
We know that our seniors um oftentimes stay at home or living with family members uh or or don't go out and walk uh to create a more healthier lifestyle because they don't have sidewalks or they don't have or they don't live in a safe neighborhood.
00:18:56.559 --> 00:19:10.640
And so with our partnership, we want to make sure that uh we are are identifying accessible sidewalks so that people with disabilities and our senior citizens can uh produce a lifestyle where they can live more healthier.
00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:17.839
So when someone is, you know, going about their neighborhood, maybe they notice a sidewalk is out of place, or maybe there isn't one.
00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:20.640
Frankly, there's a lot of neighborhoods in Houston without sidewalks.
00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:23.920
Where does someone take a concern or a recommendation that they have?
00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:24.960
Do they call your office?
00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:25.680
What do they do?
00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.559
They do.
00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:29.519
Um so we always recommend folks to call our office.
00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:44.559
Um, individuals with or without disabilities that want to report a sidewalk uh through our pedition accessibility review program, which is a program that was created in 1993 to uh help identify inaccessible sidewalks.
00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:53.359
This is one of three programs within the city that identifies uh sidewalks that are not existent or that are broken down.
00:19:53.599 --> 00:20:02.880
And uh folks can contact us at 832-394-0814, uh, send us an email at m opdmail at houston tx.gov.
00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:12.559
Uh, but I think that one of the best ways to really let not just us but the city of Houston know is to report it to 311.
00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:16.480
We want to make sure that it is documented, that we're doing something about it.
00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:19.920
And one of the best ways to do that is to report it to 311.
00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:37.279
Um, I will say, and I'll add to that, that the program provides an opportunity for constituents that have disabilities to report these sidewalks, and we work collectively with the Houston Public Works Department uh to ensure that we are meeting those those requirements.
00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:52.160
Um for example, I have a uh one of my um senior staff members, Kimberly Blanchard, uh has taken on the role of our accessible infrastructure uh and our access to employment programs, which I can talk a little bit more about it.
00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:58.559
Um but she meets with the folks at the at Houston Public Works Sidewalk Team.
00:20:58.799 --> 00:21:08.960
They get together, they go out and visit the property, talk to the homeowners or the property owners, uh, identify, you know, what their need is.
00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:23.119
Because oftentimes folks report a sidewalk at an intersection, but realistically they want to get to the gas station or they want to get to their local um church, and there are more barriers along the way.
00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:36.480
And so by connecting with them and talking to them, not only do we establish trust, but we let them know that we're listening to them and we had we're able to identify additional barriers that they might not have even thought about.
00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:48.079
Speaking of barriers, you know, we're in a part of the world where we get natural disasters, obviously hurricanes, and most recently with the with the cold winter storms that have come through, power outages.
00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:55.279
For folks with disabilities, I imagine, uh responding, maybe evacuating, that can be a lot more challenging.
00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:57.839
How does your office help with that part of life?
00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:59.839
Yeah, that's uh that's a good thing.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:04.880
That's a big one, and it's something that we think about every year, year long.
00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:05.279
Right.
00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:18.880
Um, I know uh director Brian Mason uh talked a lot about what what folks need to be thinking about, and that that it's not just a hurricane season problem, it is a 365 problem, right?
00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:22.720
We need to think about these kinds of things every single day.
00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:49.680
What I would add to what what uh director uh Mason mentioned, um on top of ensuring that folks have a uh a bag with their medical um or and their their medicine prescriptions available to them, uh on top of uh registering for the STEAR program, uh which has been a fantastic resource within the last few years.
00:22:50.640 --> 00:23:05.680
What I would add to that is with this, the STEAR program offers the opportunity uh for local groups to re be able to respond and evacuate individuals in case they need it, uh uh pre-during and post-disasters.
00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:18.880
But I always tell people with disabilities that on top of signing up for STEAR, which and they they need to sign every sign up every single year because it's white, and then folks need to uh reapply again.
00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:22.319
Uh, I would say have a plan B.
00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:34.640
Uh, if you are an individual with a disability living in an area that historically has flooded or during an emergency situation, you are you you need to evacuate.
00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:37.119
Evacuate early if you can.
00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:39.359
Um, get to know your neighbors.
00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:46.480
Uh, and I will also tell the neighbors to get to know those folks that are living in their communities with disabilities.
00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:53.759
Uh attend maybe uh community meetings and in or community groups and and introduce yourself to them.
00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:55.680
That way they know where you live.
00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:57.759
Uh I have a fantastic neighbor.
00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:59.119
His name is Richard.
00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:02.559
Uh, Richard's wife is a person that is blind.
00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:13.200
And so when we encounter emergency situations, we live, we live in Acres home, and um he always checks on me, and I always check on him.
00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:21.119
And oftentimes it's not about just going and knocking on the door, but it's just sending a very simple text message and saying, Hey, are you guys doing okay?
00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:22.720
Do you guys need anything?
00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:25.200
And so it could be as easy as that.
00:24:25.440 --> 00:25:04.880
Uh, and so having a plan B, having um engaging, communicating with with your neighbors, and um, on top of having a uh maybe a Ziploc bag with your with your medications and have enough to last you for more than seven days, I would say, uh having uh external battery uh uh resources for those folks that are using durable medical equipment, oxygen tanks, uh, because you know, one of our last uh emergency situations, I think it was barrel, uh last I was uh without power for almost 10 plus days.
00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:14.240
And so I can only imagine what um what community members with disabilities that that that rely on assistive devices uh can face.
00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:20.160
And so um we work very collectively with our Office of Emergency Management.
00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:29.039
We've uh together have produced uh videos to communicate and educate our community members with disabilities on the do's and don'ts, things to be aware of.
00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:51.759
And so um oftentimes we also uh work with them when um when there is an emergency coming or when there's a potential uh storm coming in, uh, that when the mayor is holding a press conference, that we ensure that um that all the uh assistive language uh systems are in place so that everybody gets the same information.
00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:54.000
Yeah, but still that sense of community, yeah.
00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:55.680
It's like you can't say enough about it, right?
00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:57.039
It's just kind of so important.
00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:57.920
It really is.
00:25:58.160 --> 00:26:10.000
Uh so much so that in my community, um during, I think it was Beryl, uh there people know people didn't have uh refrigerator access, right?
00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:11.359
They didn't have any power.
00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:15.119
And so my community just did a little kind of get together.
00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:18.480
People did some barbecue and everybody was just kind of mingling.
00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:24.319
And so that that's that's one of the uh ways to kind of get to know your neighbors is just to go out and just say hi.
00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:24.799
Yeah.
00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:26.559
You mentioned work earlier.
00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:33.440
Um we're recording here, middle of October, and October's National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:36.160
Um specifically employment.
00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:38.079
What's important about this month?
00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:47.599
So uh Endeam is uh an annual uh event that not just happens in the city, but happens uh at the national level.
00:26:47.839 --> 00:27:08.319
It is an opportunity not just to bring awareness to employment for people with disabilities, but to also uh educate employers on how they can uh uh create more uh inclusive, accessible workplaces for uh community members or candidates with disabilities.
00:27:08.480 --> 00:28:05.519
Uh recently, uh one of our partnerships is with the Texas Workforce Solutions um uh or uh T uh and as well Vocational Rehabilitation to uh we came together to produce our uh and Deem uh Employment Fair, where we brought in more than 30 employers that are actively hiring people with and without disabilities, but most importantly for this event with disabilities, uh we brought in partners like Easter Seals as well as vocational rehabilitation to host sessions uh to um uh educate potential candidates on what they should know about uh how to uh how to request a reasonable accommodation at work, or what they need to know about their SSI and SSDI benefits and how they can they can uh apply for work in work in Texas.
00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:11.039
Um so those kind of small things uh really highlight uh the need.
00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:18.720
Uh we had, man, I I think we had like over over 300 people come through our through our event.
00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:44.880
And um several of those folks approached me right after before they were leaving, and they said that um that not only this is one of the best events, uh kudos to my team, um, you know, William, Amanda, Kimberly, uh, Norma, and um and Marina, but for all the work that they done to help make sure that this event is successful.
00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:56.799
But I think it's it's these kinds of events that that offer an opportunity for folks not just to find employment, but to find hope still.
00:28:57.039 --> 00:29:08.960
That there are agencies and organizations and that the city of Houston truly uh cares about the the lives that our Houstonians with disabilities are living.
00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:22.480
And it just really shows that um that there are so many people out there that have degree plants that have little to no job experience because employers are just not giving them an opportunity.
00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:35.359
Uh, one of our ways to help combat that is through our access to employment program, which is uh led by one of our key members, Kimberly Blanchard, which uh she has a lot of hats now.
00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:40.640
It's like it goes with that um all uh all other duties as assigned, right?
00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:43.519
Pardon the rest in the in the job description.
00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:57.920
Uh but this is a way for us not just to kind of uh solidify our partnership with TWCVR, but um a way to bring more awareness between inside the city of Houston.
00:29:58.079 --> 00:30:05.440
And so with this access of employment program, I was at the gym one day, Owen, and you know, all my great ideas happened at the gym.
00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:16.000
I was like crawling, crawling a 40-pounder, and I was like, how can we bring more people with disabilities into city and county jobs?
00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:52.559
And so um we created this access to employment program in partnership with the folks to identify qualified individuals that have degree plans that may not have as much as job skills because they haven't been given the opportunity, an opportunity to come into the city and work eight to 12 weeks in a division and right now within the department of neighborhoods uh to gain meaningful employment skills and then be able to add that to the resume uh in case they want to pursue other job opportunities.
00:30:52.720 --> 00:31:21.200
And then in the meantime, what we hope to accomplish is connect them to different divisions or other departments within the city of Houston so that they can build those relationships and show that not only do they have a degree in in um in human resources or a degree in psychology, but that they are they that they know how the city works and that they have the ability to get the job done.
00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:23.759
So, how does someone get involved in the in that program?
00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:57.119
Uh so you can call our office, um again, 832-394-0814, or at email uh mopd mail at houston tx.gov um or connect with their vocational rehabilitation counselor uh and let them know that they want to work at the city of Houston, and then they'll connect with us at the Office for People with Disabilities, and we'll get them, we'll we'll put them through the same um the same scenario that they would if they were going through an interview process with another department.
00:31:57.359 --> 00:32:21.440
So we'll look at the the applications that come in, uh, we'll create an interview process, uh, we'll have three to four people interviewing them, and then the employer will make their decision, bring them on for eight to twelve weeks, and then uh hopefully create a pathway for them to continue their career here at the county or elsewhere.
00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:35.440
When you look outside of the city and you look at employer employers in general around the city, is is there one thing or a couple things that they could do better or do differently that would help support people with disabilities?
00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:52.240
Uh the number one thing, Owen, that I would say that I've seen uh both private and um public and uh employers do uh is uh universal design.
00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:56.400
Uh and that starts from the application process.
00:32:57.519 --> 00:33:01.119
You're talking about physical design, whether it's whether it's a website or a building or anything.
00:33:01.599 --> 00:33:07.279
Digital, um, or even just right right when we're getting to the interview process, right?
00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:11.279
Why do we oftentimes, yes, uh there's high rises, right?
00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:17.759
There's build there's businesses, uh companies that are located uh, you know, on the 24th floor, for example.
00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:25.440
But if we can create a space where the interview can happen at the lower level, uh, why can't we do that?
00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:51.680
Or um if there is a a uh a company that knows that their elevator is out, but they still have an interview on the second floor, uh, why not with universal design change the meeting to a first floor so that when a candidate comes in, if they've self-disclosed that they have or don't have a disability, that it doesn't become a thing, right?
00:33:52.160 --> 00:34:21.280
We've seen from in my personal experience, I've seen as well is that when we walk into an when we walk or roll into an interview, and um, for example, in this case, if the interview is on the second floor, but the elevator's out and I can't go up some steps, then the the the uh the interview shifts from your ability, your your uh your job skills to your ability to perform the job.
00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:34.719
So the the interviewer is not thinking about, you know, can you you know do data analytics, but can you what are we gonna do if the next time this happens?
00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:47.039
Uh so I think creating universal design from the beginning, creating spaces that are accessible to everybody shifts the focus to the job and not the ability to perform the job.
00:34:47.199 --> 00:35:22.079
And the second thing that I would say is uh employers having educational workshops on disability etiquette, sensitivity trainings, the do's and don'ts when interacting, not just with customers, with constituents, uh, or with other colleagues with disabilities, but um what are the different types of disabilities that people will encounter during the time that they're working with individuals so that they are better aware on how to interact with them uh or how to create systems so that they can better perform or better communicate with them.
00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:23.599
Yeah, the the preparation there.
00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:25.039
Yeah, yeah, preparation is key.
00:35:25.360 --> 00:35:28.639
If you're ready for everything, then you don't the elevator being out isn't a problem.
00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:29.519
Isn't a problem.
00:35:29.679 --> 00:35:29.840
Right.
00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:33.920
So like then the elevator is not the conversation anymore.
00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:36.079
It's uh it's it's my ability to get the.
00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:44.239
Well, oftentimes to the disadvantage of the person with the disability who's applying because they don't really get the full attention that they deserve in that moment, right?
00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:58.400
Yeah, and you know, there's you know, throughout the year, there's different, there's the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, there's International Day of People with Disabilities, which is happening in November, um, or October, which is endem.
00:35:58.880 --> 00:36:05.199
Uh, it shouldn't just be a a month or a certain part of the year when we're talking about these things.
00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:06.960
It should be year-long.
00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:13.760
Um, ideally, it should be a conversation that that that needs to happen at every single staff meeting.
00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:16.800
Is are we meeting the needs of all employees?
00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:25.679
Do we have a an agenda for this meeting that is accessible to somebody that is using uh uh a screen reader?
00:36:25.920 --> 00:36:29.119
Or we're hosting a Teams or Zoom call?
00:36:29.280 --> 00:36:35.440
Uh let's make sure that we follow an SOP so that people know how to access captioning.
00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:46.480
Or if we know that somebody is gonna that is gonna join the meeting that is deaf or hard of hearing, that needs ASL, schedule an American Sign Language Interpreter so that they have that same information.
00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:51.599
How can technology help make people more independent in that case?
00:36:51.920 --> 00:36:53.920
Oh, that's a very good question.
00:36:54.159 --> 00:36:58.639
Um technology is leading the way, right?
00:36:58.880 --> 00:37:04.320
Um, I think uh I'll give you one good example.
00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:09.519
Uh we have a current uh employee in our office, Marina.
00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:18.000
Uh she uses uh software to um to get the get her job done.
00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:30.159
Uh technology is not just leading the way, is not just probably the only way that we're gonna be able to get our jobs done in the near future or even now, per se, right?
00:37:30.559 --> 00:37:41.519
Um but it really is an eye-opener to where we're missing the gap, uh, where we're missing uh what uh our where we're missing services.
00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:51.360
I had one uh Marina take a look at some of our systems, and we found some barriers uh within some websites.
00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:54.719
Um and we're talking to those folks now to help address those.
00:37:54.880 --> 00:38:08.880
Uh when we did our pilot study uh on our websites, uh we did one, we did our pilot study on the on the mayor's website, and then our and then the second pilot study we did on the Houston Public Library website.
00:38:09.039 --> 00:38:14.480
And we found some some barriers uh for people using assistive devices.
00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:20.800
Um and then, but we quickly communicated that with the webmasters and they fixed those.
00:38:20.960 --> 00:38:27.360
And it was it was so easy for them to get those fixed, something that all webmasters can be doing now.
00:38:27.519 --> 00:38:34.000
And just by doing that, we create a more accessible digital platform for all of our constituents.
00:38:34.639 --> 00:38:41.519
So let me ask you as we close out uh out this interview, uh, when you look ahead at the next few years, uh what do you see in the future?
00:38:41.679 --> 00:38:44.880
What are some priorities you want to work toward, goals that you have?
00:38:46.079 --> 00:39:06.400
I I would like to see a city of Houston um that that not just has a support system in our office, but the human resources department have uh Title I liaisons across the city in different departments.
00:39:07.199 --> 00:39:21.519
I see a city of Houston within the next couple of years that have Title II liaisons in different departments so that uh department leaders are not just always coming to us, but like, what do we do?
00:39:21.679 --> 00:39:23.679
Can you provide us some recommendations?
00:39:23.920 --> 00:39:32.320
But we provide the education to those liaisons and they can work directly with their leadership to address those issues in-house.
00:39:32.559 --> 00:39:33.760
Um, that's one.
00:39:34.559 --> 00:39:42.000
The second thing is um housing uh opportunities for people living with disabilities.
00:39:42.320 --> 00:39:44.800
I visit um New York.
00:39:45.119 --> 00:39:55.360
And so one of the things that that we do at our office is we stay in active communication with different MOPDs throughout the throughout the nation.
00:39:55.679 --> 00:40:00.320
We have uh monthly meetings with New York, Chicago, Boston, St.
00:40:00.559 --> 00:40:00.719
St.
00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:04.480
Louis, and we talk about like what are the things that they're doing.
00:40:04.719 --> 00:40:08.480
Um I've talked to New York about their access to employment program.
00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:32.639
I've talked to Boston about how they're um how they're managing their housing uh so these are bigger systems that have way more people, but ideally I like to uh not just with having liaisons, but having an individual in the housing department that specifically focuses on on housing concerns for people with disabilities.
00:40:32.800 --> 00:40:53.199
Uh and then we already have a very strong relationship with OEM on disabilities, uh, maybe a um, you know, other other departments that are that are willing and able to to uh to provide and have somebody within their spaces to be the disability advocate for their department.
00:40:53.440 --> 00:41:08.559
And then um I feel personally from my life experience that access to meaningful employment opened up opportunities for me everywhere else.
00:41:08.800 --> 00:41:29.119
Not just from like being independent and having my own place, but being able to just leave my my house one day and go to a coffee shop that is accessible and spending my own money without having to worry about whether I'm gonna be able to meet uh my rent this this month.
00:41:29.360 --> 00:41:55.920
And so I would like to create and uh uh bring us uh bring us to a time in the city where people with disabilities uh not just have access to meaningful employment opportunities, but that are able to feel like they have the independence to do what they want whenever they want to do it, because the city is open and accessible to them.
00:41:56.559 --> 00:41:59.119
You've been a very inspiring force along that way.
00:41:59.199 --> 00:42:02.880
So I I appreciate you coming in and sharing your entire story with us.
00:42:02.960 --> 00:42:04.079
It's it's beautiful.
00:42:04.400 --> 00:42:04.960
Absolutely.
00:42:05.119 --> 00:42:14.800
I I and and I and I think the last thing that I would say, Owen, is the Office for People with Disabilities is a very small team.
00:42:15.119 --> 00:42:22.719
We uh we serve over 215,000 Houstonians with disabilities.
00:42:22.800 --> 00:42:25.519
And these are just the folks that we know about.
00:42:26.320 --> 00:42:35.119
We believe that we have even folks that don't know that they have a disability, over a million within the greater Houston area.
00:42:35.360 --> 00:42:43.599
And so that is to say that although we're a small team, we're here to serve, we're here to provide uh guidance.
00:42:43.840 --> 00:42:52.559
If we don't know, we will communicate with either internal or external partners to help meet the needs of those folks.
00:42:52.800 --> 00:43:03.440
Um, and one of the best ways to for somebody with a disability or an ally, an advocate for disabilities, is to get involved.
00:43:03.679 --> 00:43:10.960
One of the best ways to do that is to attend, listen uh to the Houston Commission on Disabilities.
00:43:11.280 --> 00:43:21.119
These are 14 members that have been appointed by Mary John Whitmire to represent the needs of Houstonians with disabilities.
00:43:21.360 --> 00:43:26.480
Nine of those members are people with disabilities that live within the city limits.
00:43:26.639 --> 00:43:33.840
And the rest of them don't have to have a disability and don't have to live within the city limits, but within the greater Houston area.
00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:47.920
And they are they've been tasked with uh engaging with the community, listening to the needs, providing guidance to not just my office, but to uh to the mayor, city council members, and other city departments.
00:43:48.079 --> 00:44:05.199
And one of the best ways to get involved and learn what's happening in the community is to attend those meetings, listen to the hot topics that are affecting our community, and to talk to these commission members about what they would like our city to be like in the next uh four to eight years.
00:44:05.440 --> 00:44:06.880
Yeah, and not be afraid to speak up, right?
00:44:07.119 --> 00:44:08.159
Not be afraid to speak up.
00:44:08.320 --> 00:44:13.039
Oftentimes, you know, people call my office and be like, I'm gonna go to city council and I'm gonna tell them this.
00:44:13.119 --> 00:44:14.960
And I say, yes, do it.
00:44:15.119 --> 00:44:15.519
Please.
00:44:16.079 --> 00:44:17.280
I want them to know that too.
00:44:17.519 --> 00:44:17.840
Sign up.
00:44:18.079 --> 00:44:18.639
You sign up.
00:44:18.960 --> 00:44:20.559
Yeah, that is that is your right.
00:44:21.280 --> 00:44:22.239
Angel, thanks for your time.
00:44:22.320 --> 00:44:24.320
I've really enjoyed chatting with you.
00:44:24.559 --> 00:44:25.519
Thank you, Owen.
