REGULAR CALLED MEETING OF THE MAYOR’S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Friday, June 13, 2025, 5:30 p.m. Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room #1101 301 West 2nd Street Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Christi Vitela, 512- 974-2792, christi.vitela@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Conor Kelly, Chair Elisabeth Meyer, Vice Chair Gabriel Arellano Lisa Chang DeLawnia Comer-HaGans Audrea Diaz Mickey Fetonte Jonathan Franks Lynn Murphy Elizabeth Slade Kristen Vassallo AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities regular called meeting on May 9, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. 5. Discussion of funding for the therapeutic recreation program in the Austin Parks and Recreation Department. Update from the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) representative regarding the latest meeting. Update regarding the most recent meeting of the Austin Transit Partnership Community Advisory Committee. Discussion regarding the identification of additional priorities in 2025 for the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. Update from the October 2025 Disability Event Working Group on their most recent meetings and accomplishments. WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS 7. Recommendation from the Candidate Qualities Priority Working Group regarding the review and approval of candidate equality practices within the City of Austin hiring department. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 8. Approve a Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities job candidate qualities priority list. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call …
Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Friday, May 9, 2025 MAYOR’S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Friday, May 9, 2025 The Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities convened in a regular called meeting on Friday, May 9, 2025, at City Hall, 301 W 2nd St., Austin, Texas. Chair Kelly called the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities Meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Conor Kelly, Chair Gabriel Arellano Audrea Diaz Lynn Murphy Elizabeth Slade Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Lisa Chang DeLawnia Comer-HaGans Mickey Fetonte Kristen Vassallo PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Melinda Crockom - Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities regular called meeting on April 11, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of April 11, 2025, were approved on Commissioner Vassallo’s motion, Chair Kelly’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Slade was off the dais. Vice Chair Meyer and Commissioner Frank were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Update from the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) representative regarding the meeting on April 23, 2025. 1 Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Friday, May 9, 2025 Update provided by Commissioner Chang. 3. 4. Discussion of the Equity and Inclusion Office’s Undoing Institutional Racism Training. Update provided by Chair Kelly. Update regarding the most recent meeting of the Austin Transit Partnership Community Advisory Committee. Withdrawn. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve the formation of a Working group to plan for a disability awareness event in October 2025. The motion to approve the formation of a Working Group to plan a disability awareness in October 2025, was approved on Commissioner Chang’s motion, festival Commissioner Vassallo’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Slade was off the dais. Vice Chair Meyer and Commissioner Frank were absent. The motion to approve adding Commissioners Arellano, Chang, and Murphy, and Warren “Wawa” Snipes, Douglas Ridloff, Ricardo Leon, Heather Pavey, Amy Baxter, Michelle Lapis to the Working Group was approved on Chair Kelly’s motion, Commissioner Murphy’s second on a 9-0 vote. Vice Chair Meyer and Commissioner Frank were absent. 6. Select a Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities member liaison to participate in the interview panel and relay Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities authorized feedback on the interview process for the Civil Rights Officer. Withdrawn. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Identify 1-2 additional long term priorities for 2025 for the …
Testing Candidates Knowledge of Disabilities - City of Austin 1. Issues impacting individuals with disabilities a. Types of disabilities i. Does the candidate understand what kinds of disabilities impact community members? b. Daily life i. Does the candidate understand what kinds of barriers individuals with disabilities face? c. Services/Accommodations available i. Does the candidate understand what kinds of accommodations are common for different types of disabilities? 2. Community engagement a. Does the candidate know Austin community organizations? If appropriate, does the candidate have contacts there? b. What is the candidate’s past involvement in Austin community organizations? c. How do they propose being involved in the future, as it relates to the position? 3. Legal protections a. Accommodations i. Does the candidate understand situations where individuals with disabilities are legally entitled to accommodation (ex. work, public places, transportation)? b. Anti-discrimination i. Does the candidate understand what protections individuals with disabilities have against discriminatory practices?
Proposal to Establish a Therapeutic Recreation Program in South Austin by: Ivette Gonzalez, BA; MPA- mother/advocate of Antonio Hueyopa and residents in District 2 Purpose: This request proposes the development and funding of a new Adult Therapeutic Recreation Program in South Austin, aimed at addressing a regional service gap and expanding equitable access to therapeutic recreation services across the city. Background: According to data from COA Parks and Recreation Department, current Adult Therapeutic Recreation Programs in the North Austin areas are housed at the McBeth, Alamo, Dottie Jordan, and Parque Zaragoza Recreation Centers. These centers collectively serve 129 individuals through programs such as: - Good Neighbor Adventure Club ($176,108 budget) - Healthy Aging ($122,764) - The Hangout ($57,800) - Capital City Explorers ($120,987) - Social Club ($59,102) Staffing across these programs includes Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS), supported by 2–5 full-time equivalents (FTEs) and 2–4 temporary staff per site. While these programs offer quality services in Central and East Austin, South Austin currently lacks a dedicated therapeutic recreation program, leaving residents without equitable access. Proposal To be Considered and Recommendations: In order to rectify this deficit, I propose the creation of a Therapeutic Recreation Program in South Austin that models successful elements of existing sites. The proposed program would: - Offer structured programming at either of the two existing recreation centers in South Austin- Ditmar and Dove Springs. In the future and as enrollment increases, programs should be implemented at both sites and the COA would potentially explore building a new facility in South Austin to meet the needs of the fast-growing development and population - The new program would potentially be staffed with existing CTRS professionals that become regionalized across COA therapeutic recreation programs (salary range: $47,465–$60,694) and supported by trained temporary staff. This means that current staff would be offered the opportunity to work at sites that are closest to their homes, which would minimize their daily commute and encourage community investment. - The new program would provide social, emotional, and physical wellness activities similar to “The Hangout,” “Healthy Aging,” and “Good Neighbor Adventure Club.” Estimated budget allocation would fall in line with existing therapeutic recreation programs, ranging from $60,000 to $120,000 annually, depending on program scope and staffing levels. Justification: - South Austin has no current therapeutic recreation programming, representing an unmet need. Based on the most recent US Census Bureau data for Austin, Texas and your …
Therapeutic Recreation Services reallygreatsite.com Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is proud to offer Therapeutic Recreation Services to provide safe, accessible, fun and supportive recreation environments for all persons no matter their abilities. PARD’s Therapeutic Recreation Services include both adaptive and inclusive programs which are facilitated and supported by Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS). District 8 Danny G. McBeth Recreation Center Year-Round Adult Day Program - $176,108 Good Neighbor Adventure Club (GNAC) 58 unique individuals attending Camps - Youth, Teens, Young Adults - $220,043 10 weeks, Monday - Friday 30 participants enrolled weekly 58 participants waitlisted weekly Recreation Therapy Social Skill Groups - $16,590 16 unique individuals enrolled Adaptive Sports - $16,400 Adult Enrichment Programs - $4,847 Community Events - $6,090 Operating Budget: $823,257 FTE Budget: $349,117 Alamo Recreation Center District 1 Year-round Adult Day Programs - $180,564 Healthy Aging 17 unique participants The Hangout 13 unique participants Adult Job Skills - $16,590 40 participants enrolled Community Events - $12,000 Inclusion Summer Staff Support - $50,000 Operating Budget: 498,226 FTE Budget: 180,626 District 1 Dottie Jordan Recreation Center Year-round Adult Day Program - $120,987 Capital City Explorers - 25 Unique Participants Inclusive Preschool Programs - $17,566 Adult Enrichment - $8,538 Community Events - $22,625 Operating Budget: 245,434 FTE Budget: $118,349 Modifications & Support Youth Program Inclusion Support Staffing - $409,041 + $50,000 Alamo Task Order After School, Camp Day and Summer Camp 104 participants receiving support services Inclusion Support Staff Trainings (256 hours) - $32,440 ASL Interpreters - $54,197 Operating Budget: $584,466 FTE Budget: $264,688 District 3 Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center TR Year-Round Adult Day Program - $59,102 Social Club 16 Unique participants Inclusive Summer Camp - $70,779 After School - $58,286 Camp Days - $18,855 Youth Sports - $15,833 Out of School Time Programs - $11,247 Community Events - $6,000 Operating Budget: $676,358 FTE Budget: $265,435
Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Minutes June 13, 2025 MAYOR’S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Friday, June 13, 2025 The Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities convened in a regular meeting on Friday, June 13, 2025, at City Hall, 301 W 2nd St. Room 1101, Austin, Texas. Chair Kelly called the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities Meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Conor Kelly, Chair Gabriel Arellano Audrea Diaz Elizabeth Slade Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Elisabeth Meyer, Vice Chair DeLawnia Comer-HaGans Mickey Fetonte Lynn Murphy Kristen Vassallo PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Joseph Tsai – CONVO Access Raelene Gomes – Austin Lighthouse Melinda Crockom - Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities regular called meeting on May 9, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of May 9, 2025, were approved with an amendment to strike Commissioner Vassallo’s name and insert Commissioner Arellano’s name on items 1 and 5 on Chair Kelly’s motion, Commissioner Vassallo’s second on an 7-0 vote. 1 Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Minutes June 13, 2025 Vice Chair Meyer abstained. Commissioner Comer-Hagans was off the dais. Commissioners Chang and Franks were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. 5. Discussion of funding for the therapeutic recreation program in the Austin Parks and Recreation Department. The presentation was provided by Ivette Gonzalez, mother/advocate of Antonio Hueyopa, District 2 resident and by Sara Carlson, Recreation Program Manager, Parks and Recreation Department, and Evan Kessler, Recreation Program Supervisor, Parks and Recreation Department. Update from the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) representative regarding the latest meeting. Update provided by Chair Kelly. Update regarding the most recent meeting of the Austin Transit Partnership Community Advisory Committee. Update provided by Vice Chair Meyer. Discussion regarding the identification of additional priorities in 2025 for the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities. Discussion was held. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. Update from the Candidate Qualities Priority Working Group regarding the review and approval of candidate equality practices within the City of Austin hiring department. Update provided by Commissioner Arellano. WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS 7. Recommendation from the Candidate Qualities Priority Working Group regarding the review and approval of candidate equality practices within the City of Austin hiring department. Item discussed with item 8. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 8. Approve a Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities …
