REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR’S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2026, AT 5:30PM AUSTIN CITY HALL, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM 1101 301 W 2nd STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 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, contact Nekaybaw Watson, Nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov, 512-974-2562. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Lisa Chang, Chair Alejandro San Martin, Vice Chair Gabriel Arellano DeLawnia Comer-HaGans CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA Lynn Murphy Katie Simon Elizabeth Slade Kristen Vassallo 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 meeting on June 12th , 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. 3. Staff briefing regarding the New Officer Involved Shooting Dashboard. Presentation by Sara Peralta, Public Information and Marketing Program Manager, Austin Police Oversight and Katrina Dorsey, Community Engagement Specialist, Austin Police Oversight. Staff briefing regarding fair housing and disability rights. Presentation by Enrique Serrano, Civil Rights Officer, Austin Equity and Inclusion. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. 5. Presentation from the Travis County Clerk’s Office regarding election building accessibility requirements. Presentation by Dyana Limon-Mercado, Travis County Clerk, Travis County Clerk’s Office. Discussion regarding the commission’s interest in a presentation from CapMetro. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Nekaybaw Watson or nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov to request service or for additional information. Austin City Clerk’s Office, 512-974-2562 at at For more information on the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities, please contact Nekaybaw Watson at nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov.
MAYOR’S COMMITTEE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES REGULAR MEETING MINUTES FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2026 The Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities convened in a regular meeting on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 301 W 2nd St. in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Chang called the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Lisa Chang, Vice Chair Katie Simon Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: DeLawnia Comer-HaGans Lynn Murphy Alejandro San Martin Elizabeth Slade Kristen Vassallo Commissioners Absent: Gabriel Arellano PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Shreyan Khanna – Introduction to the Commission APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Regular Meeting on April 10, 2026. The motion to approve the minutes of the April 10, 2026, regular meeting of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities was approved on Commissioner Vassallo’s motion, Commissioner Murphy’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Arellano was absent. 1 STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing regarding the Austin Resilience Network. Presentation provided by James Redick, Director, Ausitn Emergency Management and Natalie Lyell, Resilience and Partnership Manager, Austin Emergency Management. Briefing given by James Redick, Director, Austin Emergency Management and Natalie Lyell, Resilience and Partnership Manager, Austin Emergency Management. 3. Staff briefing regarding the Levers of Economic Mobility Index. Presentation provided by Gary Aaron, Business Process Consultant Sr, Austin Equity and Inclusion and Shivani Datar, Business Process Specialist, Austin Equity and Inclusion. Briefing given by Gary Aaron, Business Process Consultant Sr, Austin Equity and Inclusion and Shivani Datar, Business Process Specialist, Austin Equity and Inclusion. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. Discussion regarding the Annual Internal Review and Report. Item was postponed until the next regular meeting by Vice Chair Chang with no objection. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve the election of Chair. The motion to elect Commissioner San Martin as the chair of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities failed on Commissioner Martin’s motion, Commissioner Murphy on vote of 1-6. Commissioner San Martin voted aye. Commissioners Comer-HaGans, Murphy, Slade, Simon, and Vassallo voted nay. Vice Chair Chang abstained. Commissioner Arellano was absent. The motion to elect Vice Chair Chang as Chair of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities was approved on Commissioner Vassallo’s motion, Commissioner Slade’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Arellano was absent. 6. Approve the election of Vice Chair. The motion to elect Commissioner San Martin as Vice Chair of the Mayor’s Committee for …
Officer Involved Shooting Dashboard Austin Police Oversight About Austin Police Oversight Austin Police Oversight is a separate and independent department from APD created to provide impartial oversight of the Austin Police Department’s conduct, practices, and policies to enhance accountability, inform the public to increase transparency and create sustainable partnerships throughout the community. ACCOUNTABILITY TRANSPARENCY PARTNERSHIPS 2 About Austin Police Oversight WHAT WE DO WHAT WE DO NOT DO ✓ Separate, independent, civilian oversight ✓ Review all community complaints ✓ We have full access to all APD databases ✓ Make recommendations to the Chief of Police & City Manager related to discipline, administrative policies and training ✓ Educate community members about the complaint process, our reports and recommendations, and their rights when interacting with law enforcement We do NOT work for or report to APD or the Chief of Police We do NOT oversee other law enforcement agencies We do NOT oversee criminal cases We do NOT administer discipline to officers We are NOT the final decision-makers on issues related to discipline and training 3 OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING DASHBOARD View Online 4 About Officer Involved Shootings ▪ An officer involved shooting is when an APD officer discharges their firearm. ▪ APO’s last OIS report was released in June 2020. 5 Making Information More Accessible The new Officer-Involved Shooting Dashboard was created to: • Transform historical reports into an interactive tool • • Increase transparency Improve public access to information • Support public understanding with data-driven insights What's included: Demographics (subject & officers) Incident Summaries Use of Force Details Trends over time Geographic Mapping Filter by district, year, etc. 6 Data Governance Incident summaries (date, location, outcome) Demographics (subjects & officers) Use-of-force details (weapon type etc) Trends over time (currently 5 years, 2018-2025) Geographic mapping of incidents Filters (year, district, etc.) Data Validation Processes ▪ Critical Incident Briefing (CIB) Info ▪ SIU Yearly Spreadsheets ▪ Internal Affairs (IA ) Case Files 7 Overview Page 8 Officer Insights 9 Subject Insights 10 Incident Details 11 Spanish Dashboard 12 User Accessibility and Testing ▪ English and Spanish language dashboard launched simultaneously ▪ User testing performed by APO staff and volunteers from the City’s Shared Voices program ▪ Logical tab order, high contrast alternative color themes etc. ▪ Meets Federal web accessibility requirements (WCAG 2.1) 13 What’s Next? • Establish a process for updating and maintaining the dashboard. • Present dashboard to community and commissions. • …
Fair Housing and Disability Rights Austin Equity and Inclusion Agenda: Fair Housing Laws & Disability Rights • Fair Housing Act and ADA related to disability • Examples of Disability Discrimination in Housing • Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications Service Animals vs. Emotional Support Animals • What Housing Providers Need to Know Fair Housing Case Process & Updates • Intake Process and Investigation Process • Recognizing Fair Housing Progress: Increased Closures & Impact • Performance Period (07/06/2025-06/30/2026) Outreach and Community Engagement • Fair Housing Outreach: Moving Beyond Complaint Response to Proactive Engagement 2 What is Fair Housing? Fair Housing laws prohibit discrimination in housing-related activities, including rental, sales, lending, advertising, and zoning. Protected classes: • National Origin • Sex • Race • Color • Familial Status • Religion • Disability 1968 Fair Housing Act passed, including local adoption in Austin 1988 Fair Housing Act expanded to protect people with disabilities 1990 The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) further protects people with disabilities from discrimination in housing, public spaces, and employment 3 Definition on Disability under Fair Housing Act Under the law, a person has a disability if any ONE of these is true: Has a Condition A physical or mental condition that greatly limits one or more major life activities Has a History A record of that kind of condition, even if it's in the past Is Seen That Way Other people treat or view them as having that kind of condition What is a “major life activity”? Everyday things like walking, seeing, hearing, breathing, speaking, learning, working, and caring for yourself. 4 Examples of Disability Discrimination in Housing: • Refusing to rent to or renew the lease of a person because of a disability • Applying different terms, conditions, rules, or fees because of a disability • Steering people with disabilities to specific buildings or units • Refusing reasonable accommodations or reasonable modifications • Denying a service animal or assistance animal when permitted by law 5 Examples of Disability Discrimination in Housing: • Enforcing policies, such as guest rules, differently because of a disability • Failing to provide equal access to housing or common areas when required by law • Asking unnecessary or inappropriate questions about a person's disability • Retaliating against someone for requesting a reasonable accommodation or filing a fair housing complaint 6 Reasonable Accommodation/ Modification Both are changes that help a person with a disability use and enjoy …
Travis County Clerk’s Office countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado Accessibility Starts Before Election Day Convenient Locations Easy access Consistent and familiar Transportation and surrounding infrastructure Priority Locations Public facilities Schools Churches Traditional & unique locations Accessibility Considered for every potential site ADA surveys conducted Accessibility alongside logistics The DOJ Agreement: A Framework for Continuous Improvement 2020 DOJ surveyed 56 polling places. All 56 were found to have some barriers. In the following election Travis Co. proactively addressed some issues. 2021 County Clerk’s Office formaly creates ADA division Continued surveys & evaluating solutions 2022 Travis Co. & DOJ voluntarily enter into formal agreement 2024 Released from voluntary agreement Ongoing investment in ADA compliance DOJ’s Federal Guidelines & Requirements for & Remediating The agreement continues to inform how we approach accessibility today. Consistent ADA practices and methods Identifying and communicating specific deficiencies Providing guidance for corrective actions Working with entities and stakeholders on permanent solutions How Do We Define ADA Compliance? Sidewalks Entrance Voting Area *Our Standard U.S. Department of Justice ADA Checklist for Polling Places Parking/ Drop-Off Interior Route →→→ How Do We Comply? Select Choose polling places with accessibility in mind. Survey Evaluate every site before each election. Remediate Address barriers with site-specific solutions. Prepare Provide equipment, signage, maps and instructions. What Does Accessibility Look Like in Practice? Accessible Route Minimum 36" width Parking Accessible spaces & access aisles Curb Cuts Accessible slope & transitions Entrances Door clearance & operation Thresholds Correcting level changes Clear Paths No hazardous obstructions What Does Accessible Voting Look Like? ACCESSIBLE EQUIPMENT Tactile controls Headphones/audio Accessible voting interfaces CURBSIDE VOTING Voting without entering the polling place when necessary ALTERNATIVE INPUT Sip & puff and other assistive technology FLEXIBILITY Accommodating voters with mobility limitations Voters who cannot read or write, or who have a physical disability that prevents them from reading or marking the ballot, are entitled to assistance. A Person of Your Choice A voter may choose someone to assist them with voting. The person may not be the voter’s union representative or employer. The person assisting must sign an Oath of Assistance. Voter Assistance Election Workers Election workers may assist a voter by marking a ballot, reading the ballot, or helping the voter physically mark their selections on the ballot making device. In the Community Voting demonstrations Familiar Sites and Partnerships Texas School for the Blind Disability Rights Austin Resource Center for Independent Living …
